Dear Sisters,
Where did nine years go? Have we really been meeting here ” on the shorelines” for that long? Honestly, it seems like just yesterday I was crafting my introductory blog post as the MJF Beach Farmgirl Blogger. A title that has etched its way into my farmgirl heart and brought me so much joy! Continue reading
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”.
live long and prosper.
Thank you, Marlene! I’m doing my best!
Thank you for sharing so much of your life these last nine years. I can certainly feel your heartbeat in this blog more than ever. It has been a wonderful trip and I feel as if I’m saying good bye to a good friend. I’m so happy you have your own get away cottage and can relax and restore. I’m not on any social media so this is a farewell and fond memories for the future of your family!
Deb,
Thank you for all you have shared with us over the years! I always loved your inspirational posts
Blessings to you, and yours, as you begin your next adventure!
Bonnie, in Oregon
Sad to see you go, but wish you the very best in your future efforts. Thank you for all you have done and I have truly enjoyed reading your blogs. God bless.
Now I am mad at myself for not directly writing to you more. I just sat here and loved your articles from afar and never told you how terrific you are. (And your Dahlias are to die for.) You seem complicated in a way because there is always a “new side” of you popping out and then when you explain about a new project or venture I can tell that it has been within you for a long time just itching to jump out and fly! Thanks for all the time and effort to produce these articles for us to share a slice of your life.
I was 81 the other day and have been following you from the day you showed up. Your sweet personality seems to speak to all age groups.
What would Deb do? That is certainly the truth through the years, as you are truly an inspiration. I will miss your stories and ideas and new adventures in creativity. I certainly understand the desire to lighten the load, and wish you happiness as you move forward !
Thank you for all the years of sharing your life. It’s a good thing! :))))
xo Laura
I’ll still see you on the Facebook! ❤
I’ll miss the blogs that pop up in my email! I do understand about taking another direction though and hope your flower business is blooming so that you felt you needed more time for it. Someday I’ll get up to Plymouth and hopefully will see you with your flowers! Best of everything Deb and here’s to a quiet summer at your beach cottage!
Live and enjoy the new adventures that await you!!!
Dear Deb, I’ve been a “silent” reader for years! Will miss you. Wishing you all the very best always!
Alice Farmgirl #12
The journey of your adventures shared where beautiful ,heart warming ,amazing and fun !
Thank You ! God Bless
I’m so sorry you’ll leave us, but wish you the best on your new adventures.
Loved reading your blog. God bless your present and your future.
Oh, when I read the blog title my heart sank…but I understand. As the saying goes, enjoy the season you are in, and sometimes that means making changes. It’s been a joy to read all of your adventures and the encouragement you’ve given us. The cottage will be a lovely place to relax, unwind, and settle in.
Before I know it my teenagers will move on to chase their own dreams, it makes me think of what I will do to fill the time…while I write about our little farm in the Midwest, I think I’d like to do more of that, maybe open a farm market, write a cookbook, who knows. What I feel certain of is we can never stop making wishes…follow your dreams and enjoy ever minute!
I remember years ago that you asked if you could use my garden sink picture in one of your blogs. I was tickled, and so was my husband! I’ll still be watching you while you approach your new creative adventures!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful pictures, what a cute little cottage beach home…enjoy..
I have looked for to your Beach posts because the Beach is one of my goe-to places as well and when I can’t physically be there, I can
‘be’ there with you. Safe journey and great life to you!
As a fellow farmgirl who is also making a huge change in my life, (closing down my own seed business of 20+ years at the end of this month ) , I wish you well and safe sailing indeed!
Please Remember all the good times and humor over these past 9 years and don’t dwell on the bad.
it is time of huge change for us all and we all know what we wish for , so you are doing just that.
Good luck !!!
BE HERE NOW
BE SAFE
BE WELL
So sorry to see you leave. I have so enjoyed your blog. Best wishes.
Have so enjoyed all of your posts over the years. Best of luck in new endeavors.
Deb
I have enjoyed your blog so much, and you gave me inspiration with your beautiful flower gardens!!
I started a bed of zinnias, and have added more!
Blessings to you!
Joy , Love, and Peace!
Susan
Oh I will miss this but will still connect by other means. I love my memories from my birthday celebration at your cottage. A very sweet place with very sweet memories for me. Hugs!
Sorry to see you go Deb, but I do understand. So much, SO VERY MUCH, has changed for me in the past 3-4 years, mainly due to dealing with significant health issues. It’s been very difficult to let go of so many things that I enjoyed but I’m trying to do it gracefully, with patience and dignity. I wish you well in your future endeavors. I have certainly enjoyed your posts, your flowers and tales of the beach. Take care of you and have fun out there!
HUGS. . . from a farmgirl in southwest Colorado
CJ
Best wishes Deb in your future plans. We don’t know each other but I feel like I know you. You have touched my life and I am grateful for having read your wonderful blog. I’ll think of you when the dahlias I finally had the courage to plant begin to bloom. I planted them because it was on my vision board which I never dreamed I’d create, but you came to mind at a time when I needed inspiration. Thank you my dear, all the best to you!
peace and hugs
Sorry to see you go. You will be missed.Wishing you success in your new endeavors. God Bless.
Marilyn
Thank you for being in my life. It’s been a pleasure listening to you.
I wish you the best of everything in your new adventure
Take care and be safe.
Thank you so much for the many years of encouragement and beauty you shared. You have been both and inspiration and source of hope. Thank you for sharing the photos of your lovely beach cottage.
May God bless your future endeavors, strengthen and protect you.
Oh my, Deb! It has been such a long time, my fellow New England blog sister! Much love and luck your way in all you do! Love the pics of the beach and your adorable cottage…enjoy this summer; I think we are in for a pretty one. Maybe our paths will cross in person one day.
Take care, and be well! BIG Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole (Suburban Farmgirl)
Life marches on..will miss you. Happy Trails..
Thank you all for your kind words! I’m more than grateful for each and every one of you!
You’ve been a part of my journey and will always be in my heart. Such fond memories as these never fade but grow brighter with time. I wish you the very best in ALL things.
xoxo Deb