Mary Murray
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.”
Column contents © Mary Murray. All rights reserved.
Farmgirl
is a condition
of the heart.
Alexandra Wilson
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!
Column contents © Alexandra Wilson. All rights reserved.
Libbie Zenger
Previous Rural Farmgirl,
June 2010 – Jan 2012
Libbie’s a small town farmgirl who lives in the high-desert Sevier Valley of Central Utah on a 140-year-old farm with her husband and two darling little farmboys—as well as 30 ewes; 60 new little lambs; a handful of rams; a lovely milk cow, Evelynn; an old horse, Doc; two dogs; a bunch o’ chickens; and two kitties.
René Groom
Previous Rural Farmgirl,
April 2009 – May 2010
René lives in Washington state’s wine country. She grew up in the dry-land wheat fields of E. Washington, where learning to drive the family truck and tractors, and “snipe hunting,” were rites of passage. She has dirt under her nails and in her veins. In true farmgirl fashion, there is no place on Earth she would rather be than on the farm.
Simply lovely Dori!!!
We don’t have acorns in this neck of the woods, but we could even do this with the pinecones and greenery!
Beautiful idea for the up coming family gatherings!!
Xo,
Kim
Simply marvelous Dori, thank you for the great tutorial.
What an adorable craft idea! I just love it! Thanks much for sharing
Such a sweet garland! Thank you for sharing this idea!
Thank you for sharing .I love this idea!
The natural, woodland theme is so magical! I love this idea! Thank you for the tutorial.
Love this look! Raining outside right now in E. TN, or I’d be out there gathering! Having Thanksgiving with the sister of a friend and think I’ll make a garland to take to her as a hostess gift! This is organic enough to be on display for autumn, winter, or the holidays!! Thank you for such an enjoyable craft!!
I always pick up acorns and pinecones and always will what a sweet idea
So sweet.
I love this idea. I will have to get my grandchildren and head to the woods for some hemlock cones and small acorns, they will love it.
Oh! The possibilities! Thanks Dori!
Love it! Will have to make some of these. 🙂
Adorable and so pretty!
What a fun idea. We have larger pine cones, so I may try this on a larger scale for our front porch. Thank you for sharing!
Sincerely,
Joei Gifford
I love it. !!! Will try to make one for a fall decoration. THANKS for sharing
So simple and fun and easy to make. I love the spareness of the garland. Making asap! Thank you.
So lovely, thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Dori, this is just what I needed. I am the hunter/gatherer who needs ideas of what to do with what I have collected. I love all things natural, in their natural state. Maybe after the season, these could make mini feeders for the animals and birds. We had a good crop of gourds, which are drying in the greenhouse, so put your thinking (acorn) cap on.