Farmlife has provided me with more opportunities to think about things. I spend a considerable amount of time using the muscles in my arms or legs, rather than my head. That leaves my head muscle “available.” Available to ponder and contemplate and think things through. Like, when I shovel the manure out of the barn-thinking time! Or when I drive the tractor through the hayfield-thinking time! Or when I weed-eat-thinking time! If you’ve hung out with me for any period of time here, you know that PEACE is one of my quests. For me, for the tiny corner of my world, and for the whole world.
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Debbie Bosworth
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.’”
Rebekah Teal
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.
Cathi Belcher
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
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.
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.”
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!
Nicole Christensen
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”.
Good Job Rebekah, You think like I sometimes think. My little garden boxes make me so happy and I feel good working them. I am 71 and have “old Arthur” which hurts so bad some times, but keep moving and sometimes works it out a little. But I have peace and I try to smile at every one I meet. Maybe it will be the only smile they get and it might make them feel better. Hugs Juanita Massey farm sister #1020
Wonderful post! I have a quote on my desk “do something today that your future self will thank you for”. It’s applicable to so many things, but the greatest reward is helping the people I interact with. Many times it is just listening and a smile that helps the most…..and for me, a restorative walk during my lunch hour! (I must admit, that spinning wool in the evenings helps too!)
Peace from the East, my farmgirl bloggin’ sister!
I so love your way of looking at (and living) life. Love your peace tips…Just think what the world would be like if we replaced peace talks with your peace tips… PEACEFUL, that’s what. As Ive ” matured ” eh hem, I’ve adopted some rituals for bringing myself and others peace too. A good soak is right up there, loving and caring for animals unconditionally is one of the best lessons humans can learn. If we treated each other half as nice as we do our pets, the world would be brimming with happy, loving, accepting people. I love my dog and my girls to the moon! Growing anything plants hope in us and the world. It lets us slow down and appreciate the beauty of life and the cycle of life. It slows us down naturally. I like my thinking time in the garden and at the beach. While I weed, plant, harvest and arrange my flowers I think about how I can share all this beauty and my passion for flowers with more people. Flowers are salve to the soul. All people struggle once in a while. Some people can’t get out of their own way to have even one joyful moment in this world. It’s not up to us to try and change them, just to show them there’s a better, more peaceful way. YOU do that!
Hugs and much love!
Deb
Such a wonderful, right on post, Rebekah! I so agree with all your points to have peace in your life. I have been a 24/7 caregiver to my mom in our home for 3 years now. Boy, do I need peace a lot! I have a little garden in my back yard that I can go and sit, have a cup of tea (hot or iced) and let my mind go blank while she is taking a nap. It’s OK to give yourself permission to not think about anything, but enjoy the sun on your face and feel grateful to be alive and well. Since my time with others is so limited, I practice compassion, love, and acceptance to my mom, who I have had to learn to love in a different way at this stage in both of our lives. Not easy by a long shot, but fulfilling. I try to show grace and understanding to my brother and his friends who are gay, and love them right where they are at no matter what my convictions are. Where are people supposed to find peace in this world unless we model it for them in our everyday life?
Wise Words! My Take Away – Be Compassionate To Self. Hope you find peace today.
I love your sharing!! Makes me feel peaceful when i read them!! Thank you!
Rebekah,
Soul-refreshing. Thank you.
Peace and Joy,
Mary Ann
Thank you for your wise words of wisdom. Good Journeys to you and your family.
Wonderful learning from you, thank you, so much.
have a nice day. I enjoy my tea slow.
Rebekah, wonderful words. To cultivate peace in my world, I try to stop and pray for everyone, there are many that need them and see them theough eternal eyes. Yes it’s hard, and I’m hardest on myself. I’m beginning gardening so I can slow and watch and grow together with my plants. I try to be thankful at least three things daily and tell my family I love them. I love sitting having a cup of tea, I have many if I am tired or my soul is and just stop. I calm down and restore some peace and kindness into my world.
I’m copying your circle, because I love it. Hope you don’t mind.
Thanks for the reminder – I needed it today.
Have a blessed day on your gorgeous farm
From Australia
I have learned that such rituals….only give you temporary peace…because with out God at the center of your life there’s no peace that last. Be cause where there is fear, tbere is no peace. Perfect peace is only attainable if you have christ in you.the only hope for any lasting peace. Perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him.because witb him all things are possible. The King of Peace.He gives peace In A dark and terrifying world.
Rebekah-I had saved your granola recipe on my computer. I can no longer pull it up on my computer and can’t find it on the website. I have made it several times and would live to have the recipe again. Thanks
Lu Ann, I will dig it up! I’m glad you enjoy it! I need to make a batch myself. It always makes me think of Autumn. 🙂 Hope you are well!
Lu Ann, I just posted the recipe on the most recent post in the comment section. ENJOY! I change up this recipe often. Adding chocolate chips is amazin.