It’s my favorite time of the year, as spring morphs into summer! Connecticut winters are often harsh, but summers are really pretty, full of changes! We’ve been busy bees ourselves making changes- sprucing up, cleaning up, and even adding a new family member!
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 really enjoyed your post as always, Nicole. Your home Improvements and family addition are wonderful and I love how you decorate your home in patriotic colors, very happy and cheerful but still cosy and welcoming too. Well done to your daughter on finishing her first year of high school. How did she find it?
It’s winter here in Australia, but we live in a mild climate, so cooler temps, but no snow. Still busy days here, with family, work, painting, daily walks, and working on making my goals happen. happy summer days to your and yours
Hi Denise! Thank you so much! Big hugs to you. It has actually turned quite chilly this week. A year ago we were in the 100 degree temps, this week lows got down to the 40s and 50s! Brrr! Warmer weather is on its way, though. I love summer!
Enjoy your winter…sounds like some cozy, nice days ahead. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Love reading your blog! Took me a while to find it! ❤️
Hi Connie! Sorry you couldn’t find it. Glad you did finally and thanks for reading! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
I LOVE geraniums…so cute that your’s became a “home” for a family of birds.
Hi Julie, I have to admit, I felt a bit of an “empty nester” when they all flew away! One little bird (mama?) still lands on top of the hanging plant from time to time, as is to say “hello”. Thanks for reading and commenting! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Thanks for sharing. I love Geraniums.
Marilyn
Hi Marilyn, aren’t they lovely? I like all colors, but my favorite is classic red. Thanks for stoppin’ by the blog! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Love your decorating style, I do the ‘summer look’the same. We had a late, if any Spring and having Summer storms, gardening is getting a late start but on I go on a season of ‘Harding’. Great addition to your family. God bless
Hi Joan, our spring is very late, too! We’ve had some very chilly rainy days as of late, but next week should be toasty, just the way I like it! Thanks for reading and commenting! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Nicole, I am impressed with your vegetable garden and all you have planted. Nice chicken coop too! Great pictures and cute of puppies. I love you.
Mother
Hi Mom, Glad you liked the blog! Love you, too! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Hi Nicole, I love your chicken coop. I wish I had made mine like this, but maybe later when my girls are worn out and tired of laying eggs and it is time for them to retire, I will change my coop around abit and get some new girls in. A good floor is always a blessing when it comes to cleaning it out. I also love geraniums, especially the lemon ones that keep the mosquitoes away. Kudo’s for using a rescue site to obtain another canine pet. It’s great when an animal chooses you. Keep on blogging.
Hi Sandi! It took us a lot of time and research to realize just what we wanted in a coop. If you change yours, I highly recommend that fiberglass floor! It is so easy to take care of.
The lemon geraniums do shoo those pesky mosquitoes away! I love it. Thanks for the wonderful comment. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
What a sweet family, farm and lovely home!
We moved to the Midwest a little more than a year ago from the Bay Area in California. Iowa and farm life always had my heart as my Grandparents and Parents were raised on the farm…sooo…I am also canning and learning to garden again, I’ve thought about chickens but haven’t taken the plunge! Lol
Just wanted to pop in and say hi! Have a wonderful blessed week lil Farmgirl!!
Hi Bobbie, Thank you so very much! I am so glad you enjoyed reading the blog. I have always wanted to visit Iowa. Twenty years ago, I even sent away for the Iowa state tourist book! Someday I will visit the Midwest. It looks so wonderful from what I have seen in books, movies, and magazines. Enjoy your farmgirl life, sounds like you on your way to being a true-blue farmgirl! Thanks for reading and commenting. Big farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Oh how reading your blog just got me super excited for summer! During the first part of this week we took 3 trips to the swimming pool and now I’m ready to get my own kiddie pool. The boys just loved it. I also have my garden planted, but no quite as much as you. Good luck with your garden. I hope it gives you mounds of fresh produce. Your little Oidin is still adorable as ever! Love the little car seat for your little fur baby. As for our summer I’m hoping to go camping, swimming, and have plenty of BBQs. Then fill in the rest with small fun activities with my boys.
Hi Krista! Thank you! It is now warm and beautiful…the way summer should be. I went to a plant sale this weekend and bought some new plants, too. Love all the summer color in the yard. I miss when I would spend summer days with my daughter watching and playing with her in the kiddie pool. Every summer now, I think, “Childhood summer days are winding down”. They grow too fast! Savory every minute. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Nicole, loved reading your blog before bedtime today…….reminded me of growing
up in Pennsylvania. We had a wonderful garden and my siblings canned veggies,
and fruits, made jelly….wonderful memories and we had a lilac bush. I absolutely
love lilacs. You are so talented …. wish you and your family and all your pets
a very Happy Summer.
Love,
Mary Ammerman
Hi Mary, Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed the blog. Sounds like you had a wonderful childhood. I hope all is well! Much love, Nicole