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WOW! It’s finally here – the dandelions and robins are the harbingers – but this spring is different on our farm, different than any other in so very many ways. Things come and go, and this year there are some biggies.
is a certified farmgirl at heart. She’s happily married to her beach bum Yankee husband of 20 years. She went from career gal to being a creative homeschooling mom for two of her biggest blessings and hasn’t looked back since. Debbie left her lifelong home in the high desert of Northern Nevada 10 years ago and washed up on the shore of America’s hometown, Plymouth, MA, where she and her family are now firmly planted. They spend part of each summer in a tiny, off–grid beach cottage named “The Sea Horse.”
“I found a piece of my farmgirl heart when I discovered MaryJanesFarm. Suddenly, everything I loved just made more sense! I enjoy unwinding at the beach, writing, gardening, and turning yard-sale furniture into ‘Painted Ladies’ I’m passionate about living a creative life and encouraging others to ‘make each day their masterpiece.’”
is a “MaryJane Farmgirl” who lives in a large metropolitan area. She is a lawyer who has worked in both criminal defense and prosecution. She has been a judge, a business woman and a stay-at-home mom. In addition to her law degree, she has a Masters of Theological Studies.
“Mustering up the courage to do the things you dream about,” she says, “is the essence of being a MaryJane Farmgirl.” Learning to live more organically and closer to nature is Rebekah’s current pursuit. She finds strength and encouragement through MaryJane’s writings, life, and products. And MaryJane’s Farmgirl Connection provides her a wealth of knowledge from true-blue farmgirls.
an old-fashioned farmgirl with a pioneer spirit, lives in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. As a “lifelong learner” in the “Live-Free-or-Die” state, she fiercely values self-reliance, independence, freedom, and fresh mountain air. Married to her childhood sweetheart of 40+ years (a few of them “uphill climbs”), she’s had plenty of time to reinvent herself. From museum curator, restaurant owner, homeschool mom/conference speaker, to post-and-beam house builder and entrepreneur, she’s also a multi-media artist, with an obsession for off-grid living and alternative housing. Cathi owns and operates a 32-room mountain lodge. Her specialty has evolved to include “hermit hospitality” at her rustic cabin in the mountains, where she offers weekend workshops of special interest to women.
“Mountains speak to my soul, and farming is an important part of my heritage. I want to pass on my love of these things to others through my writing. Living in the mountains has its own particular challenges, but I delight in turning them into opportunities from which we can all learn and grow.”
Dori Troutman is the daughter of second generation cattle ranchers in New Mexico. She grew up working and playing on the ranch that her grandparents homesteaded in 1928. That ranch, with the old adobe home, is still in the family today. Dori and her husband always yearned for a ranch of their own. That dream came true when they retired to the beautiful green rolling hills of Tennessee. Truly a cattleman’s paradise!
Dori loves all things farmgirl and actually has known no other life but that. She loves to cook, craft, garden, and help with any and all things on their cattle farm.
describes herself as a goat charmer, chicken whisperer, bee maven, and farmers’ market baker renovating an 1864 farmhouse on an Ohio farm. With a degree in Design, Mary says small-town auctions and country road barn sales "always make my heart skip a beat thinking about what I could create or design out of what I’ve seen.”
Rooted in the countryside, she likes simple things and old ways … gardening, preserving the harvest, cooking, baking, and all things home. While you might find her selling baked goods from the farm’s milkhouse, teaching herself to play the fiddle, or sprucing up a vintage camper named Maizy, you will always find her in an apron!
Mary says, “I’m happiest with the simple country pleasures … an old farmhouse, too many animals, a crackling fire, books to read, and the sound of laughter … these make life just perfect.”
is a budding rural farmgirl living in Palmer, the agricultural seat of Alaska. Alex is a graduate student at Alaska Pacific University pursuing an M.S. in Outdoor and Environmental Education. She lives and works on the university’s 700 acre environmental education center, Spring Creek Farm. When Alex has time outside of school, she loves to rock climb, repurpose found objects, cross-country ski on the hay fields, travel, practice yoga, and cook with new-fangled ingredients.
Alex grew up near the Twin Cities and went to college in Madison, Wisconsin—both places where perfectly painted barns and rolling green farmland are just a short drive away. After college, she taught at a rural middle school in South Korea where she biked past verdant rice paddies and old women selling home-grown produce from sidewalk stoops. She was introduced to MaryJanesFarm after returning, and found in it what she’d been searching for—a group of incredible women living their lives in ways that benefit their families, their communities, and the greater environment. What an amazing group of farmgirls to be a part of!
Suburban Farmgirl Nicole Christensen calls herself a “vintage enthusiast”. Born and raised in Texas, she has lived most of her life in the picturesque New England suburbs of Connecticut, just a stone’s throw from New York State. An Advanced Master Gardener, she has gardened since childhood, in several states and across numerous planting zones. In addition, she teaches knitting classes, loves to preserve, and raises backyard chickens.
Married over thirty years to her Danish-born sweetheart, Nicole has worked in various fields, been a world-traveler, an entrepreneur and a homemaker, but considers being mom to her now-adult daughter her greatest accomplishment. Loving all things creative, Nicole considers her life’s motto to be “Bloom where you are planted”.
I chuckle to see your bag of Dandelions because my husband has been attacking them like crazy this year. Digging, digging and more digging because we are having a wedding in our back yard this summer. Our youngest daughter is getting married July 30th and the dandelions can take over our lawn in a matter of days. Yellow is not really the color she is aiming for. Now I am sure jelly would be a much better way to use them. Sorry about the sad times you have had but you are right just need to find something to keep us busy during those times.
Libbie here: Years ago my grandmother came over to visit from Hawaii. She really hadn’t left the islands very often at all, and our lawn had dandelions ALL over it. She wondered how everyone grew those pretty little yellow flowers in their lawns! Greatest wishes on the wedding – I just KNOW it’ll be wonderful…
I really like your family saying! There is wisdom in that "dorky" advice. I’ve practiced it for years but I am thrilled to have a concise saying to prompt myself with.
Life does have a way of happening doesn’t it?
I’m so sorry your little one is feeling the loss of his horse. I lost my faithful companion when I was 12. Hard times. I’m sending good wishes on finding another horse.
Libbie here: There really IS wisdom in "doing" sometimes, isn’t there? I am so happy that you like the "saying!"
Hello dear Libbie!
So nice to have you back in this space! I’ve yet to make dandelion jelly, but certainly have had enough of them around to try it…I’m sorry for your little guy and the loss of his best buddy, but that sweet face on your new puppy will make the hurt go away a bit faster maybe? Spring in your corner of the world looks sunny and bright… Best wishes for more sunshine!
Deb ( Beach farmgirl)
Hi Libbie! So glad to see you are back! I always love reading your blog. So sorry to hear you have had so many tough things to deal with. Your new pup is ADORABLE! As always, your pics are great…love, love, love the owls! Hang in there, sweetie. Big Hugs to you and your family! -Nicole, Farmgirl Sister #1155, Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
Dear Libbie, I so enjoyed every detail in your blog…the owlets(!!!), the puppy, the nest, dandelion jelly (??) etc. Recipe?? I’m so sorry about the loss of your son’s old friend. I know what it is to lose horses … as a child, an adult and a breeder. It *never* gets any easier. Someone once said to me that a person can avoid such losses by not having horses (or other animals for that matter). Maybe that is true, but you would also be missing so much love and added meaning in life. I would rather have all the extra love in life that pets offer and then lose them than to not have such love at all. Ideally, there is a lot of love in a person’s life, but with it comes loss. Absolutely unavoidable for us all. Learning to cope with loss is such an important skill. The acceptance of harsh losses never hurts less; it is the moving on skill that is so important and you never get any better at it if you don’t learn how breathe, let go and move on. Just my 2 cents worth. I’m 55 and still learning :o)
Shery
Libbie, so glad to see you back. I’m sorry for the sadness you’ve had to deal with. Isn’t it wonderful to have beautiful memories though? Hope your little one is recovered from his health scare from a while back. Also hope you find a new friend soon for your son to ride and have fun with.
Karin
Farmgirl #2708
Hi Libbie, I am new to your blog, and I just love it! I am in awe at your home and all the love you have apparently put into what your family has built. My sympathy to you at the loss of your loved ones, It is always hard to let go of those we hold so dear to us, however we alway’s have their words of wisdom and fond memories. I am wonderring about your dandilion jelly, I have never heard of such a thing… would you be interested in sharing the recipie? I have been trying to rid my lawn of the pesky things, however if I can find another use for them, I am always willing to try a new venue! Thank you in advance, from a "northern" farmgirl! Sharon
Love the writing, just what inspires me.
I used to enjoy the beautiful style of VICTORIA magazine and some similar European magazines, love this one, fits my holistic lifestyle.
Thanks for a great job designing and writing this.
I am a rural farmgirl too, but yet, I have so much to learn about the farm life and it is nice to pick up "tips" from you about this life. I LOVE dandelions! I love to see a field or yard full of them! I don’t feel they are a weed at all! They make the yard look so lovely!
Libby have you read Farly Mowats book The Dog who Wouldn’t Be, He write’s about his two Owls. Wol and Weeps There is another book just about The Owls, what a wonderful home you have.