Dear Sisters,
Holy Hydrangeas! How have you been? The past few days have been beautiful here in New England along the shorelines. The skies are clear and there’s a refreshing nip in the air just right for getting some farm chores done. Right now, I’m swimming in hydrangea blooms ripe for harvesting to be used in seasonal arrangements. Come on out to my virtual “plein air” flower studio and let’s get crafting. I’ve got a bucket of blooms with your name on it! 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”.
What a creative, beautiful way to use dried corn and hydrangeas! I’m pinning to save in case I have access to hydrangea flowers in the future to make a wreath like yours.
Hi Paula, Thanks so much. I’m glad you found this post inspiring and useful!
Deb
Oh my, Deb. Absolutely beautiful wreath!!!!! I so totally love that.
And you look totally darling in that picture, by the way!
xoxo
– Dori –
Hi Dori,
Thanks so much! I had a ball putting it together and my son was a sweetie to take my picture with my bucket of blooms. Your flowers have been beautiful this month too! Love seeing them on your cart.
Big Hugs!
Deb
Im jealous…for three years I have not gotten any flowers on My hydrange bushes. I don’t know why….but it has been very cold these last three winter’s In My area. I cant figure out why I havent gotten any blooms on Mine…..other people In My area dont seem to have any issues. Could I be doing something…wrong? Like.. over watering or under watering them? I miss my hydrangea. Susana
Hi Susana,
I would go to your nursery and tell them what’s going on. I bet they’ll have some suggestions for you. I had one that was stunted for a few years and I finally moved it into a sunnier spot with better draining soil and that did the trick! Good luck. Deb
Deb – How beautiful! Love the wreath. I love that hydrangea flowers stay beautiful even after they are dried. Great ideas for display.
As for the flies, there’s not much you can do about that. I wouldn’t do anything unless the plants were ill and needed treating, and yours certainly are lovely!
Farmgirl Hugs,
Nicole (Suburban Farmgirl)
PS: If Susana isn’t getting any flowers, perhaps she is pruning them too much. They bloom on old wood. 😉
Hi Nicole! Thanks so much! I’m sure the flies have a purpose for being drawn to those blooms, I just haven’t learned what it is yet. I will report back!
Hugs to you and happy fall!
Deb
WOW everything looks AWESOME. LOVE LOVE LOVE the dried hydrangeas especially since mine didnt even bloom this year. What’s up with that?? Oh well there is always next year. Be Blessed and keep creating beautiful flowers. 🙂 Neta
Hi Neta!
I’ve had years like that too. Last year was a sparse year for my hydrangeas and this year they were amazing. I take what comes, but I sure miss them on an off year. Great to hear from you! Hugs,
Deb
These are gorgeous and especially
Love the colors. Soft greens and purples are my favorites. Just curious. What beautiful beach is close by?
Hi Carol,
Thank you! Sagamore Beach and Scusset beach right at the opening of the Cape Cod Canal on the South Shore of Boston.
Happy Fall!
Deb