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.
Deb, Wow… that is some pretty snow! I’m like you, I worry myself sick over my animals. It is amazing what they can take isn’t it? Your chickens look perfectly well and happy! I loved your video! Shoveling snow must be a nightmare job. I’ve NEVER done it… never lived anywhere where there was enough snow to shovel! My husband was raised in Alaska and he always talks about shoveling snow when he was a kid and how much he loved it. I think he’d be like your husband shoveling paths to every door and to the animals! Glad you and your household are safe and warm. Hugs – Dori, the Ranch Farmgirl –
It is pretty snow, especially when it’s fresh! Shoveling isn’t so bad when it’s light and fluffy… you can hear the crunch of snow under your feet and the air is so pure. It’s the heavier slushy stuff that’s a bear to shovel and more dangerous too. Being a native Nevadan I’m used to 4 seasons and snow. I think I would miss it if I didn’t see it at least once in a winter. I hear from my relatives out West that they are having a drought year. Not much snow in the mountains and nothing on the valley floor as of yet. Having enough water is always a major concern there. NOT so here! Thanks for the warm winter wishes! Hugs! Deb
Sorry to hear of your dreadful weather….we usually get what you got…I’m thankful when I don’t have to shovel three feet of that nasty white fluff! But I’m grateful, that when it does get that high, my neighbor comes and blows the/snow away for us. I’m had you didnt lose your gardening ‘stuff’. It can get expensive replacing it. I’m fortunate, we only gt an inch of snow! But I did lose a few shingle off my tool she and hope t can wait at least until spring ‘ when it gets a little warmer before it as rains so I can replace those shingles.
As for…stocking up, I always have canned goods on hand acted up…plenty of canned fruit nand veggies on hand, and of course bread and peanut butter and eggs in the winter time…plus candles and matches. I have a generator, but I’m thankful I haven’t had to use it. I worry more about the spring thaw or a heat/wave/and we end up with water in our
/basement again. Or dealing with fungus again! Byt I hate winter the most because it keeps us indoors. I try and stay busy.
I love to see your chickens…I wouldn’t sorry about them as long as they have plenty if hay fir their besting area. I have never heard of any chickens/dying from snow. They are pretty girls! Its one thing I miss from my farming past…having fresh eggs every day! ( we do have a friend that/has chickens and when we visit him, he always sends us packing with a Couple dozen. There’s nothing like fresh eggs that have hard shells and a sweeter yolk than store bought eggs! ) Oh, for the good ole days of getting up at the/crack of dawn just to get those pearly white and corn fed eggs! Hunkering down….snow is coming, as were getting a few flurries…One inch so far….love it when I dont see the dirty trash cans on garbage/day…30 degrees here…. our heat wave as were generally in the single digits in January, but dont worry spring will vome early this year….been smelling the musky critters in the sewers….when we smell them, they are active….they only come UP when its warm or when we are going to get an early spring! Spring will definitely come early this year. Muskrats are MoRE precise about predicting spring than ground hogs!
That’s a lot of snow! We’ve had that much here in Colorado in the past and it’s not abnormal but it’s been a while. I”m glad you all came through without too much stress.
Think of all that water for your garden . . 😀
We’ve not had normal snowfall this year. It is starting to snow a little now and we really hope it dumps BIG snow in the mountains which is where we REALLY need it! We always look to our mountains and how much snow is there and how long it stays there for hope for our irrigation season.
Stay warm and safe!
CJ
Hi CJ! It sure is! I know the west is suffering through a dryer winter…We always looked to our Sierra Nevada’s for providing water for our area as well. I remember well, many years of water rationing for watering lawns and gardens. We had drip lines for the gardens. One thing New England isn’t short on is WATER! It’s a blessing for my flowers! Stay warm and thanks so much for the visit! xo Deb
Hi Deb,
Thank you for your entertaining report. I’m glad to know you survived the storm with minimal damage!
Bonnie, in Oregon
Thanks Bonnie! We skated by pretty well! Thanks for the visit! xo Deb
Love seeing all the beautiful snow, it reminds me of the days growing up in the Midwest where we had some beautiful blizzards. I now live in the hills of Tennessee where we get snow but usually is gone in a day or two. I also have chickens and for our nights that get below freezing I ordered a large heated dog dish and hooked it up in their playpen, it works great. Stay Warm..
Hi Teresa,
It’s not everyone who can appreciate the beauty of a blizzard… but it IS beautiful!I’ll have to look into your headed dog dish. Sounds great! Enjoy your mild winter in Tennessee! xo Deb
Hello across the Bay! Glad you too came through that big storm. Although we’re not totally dug out yet, it rained today with hopes of a thaw and melt. Alas it’s dipping down to 17 degrees tonight. (moan) I too have a shoveled path to the bird feeder. Thankfully the kitties are inside and enjoy watching the birds too. Now, to dig the camper out of the snowdrift! We leave in two weeks heading South, hope it’s all melted then! Keep warm!
Hi Sandi! It’s raining here too and we’re hoping for some snow melt as well! Lucky you to be heading south soon! Stay Warm! xo Deb
Love and appreciate this post, as I too, was gifted two+ feet of snow. Loved the video of the girls. Many years ago I had a pet white Plymouth Rock hen. Adored her. She was always welcome to come into the house; she’d go straight to the refrigerator! Have you ever considered slipping a microwavable pet heating disk underneath the water trough? It can maintain its heat for up to 12 hours. Too bad about your greenhouse, but it sounds like you are on to a bigger and better option. How wonderful.
Hi there, Linda! So glad you came by to say hello. you know, I’ve just been in the habit of bringing water out to the girls over the years, but having to worry a little less about them would be a GOOD THING. Perhaps this is the year I’ll actually do SOMETHING about that! Stay warm and dry! xo Deb
I am so glad that you are alright. I wondered. Do you miss the desert when it is like that , all snowy and everything ? Just looking at your pics made me cold. Your chickens are lucky girls. I worry in the summer about the heat. We have never had snow stay on the ground here. I do like a bit of snow as long as it is not enough to shovel.
Spring is just around the corner. Fresh eggs ! Take care and tuck in. G
btw we had a small earthquake yesterday not enough so most would notice. I’m kind of like a dog when it comes to that. I feel them before they hit.
Hi Glenda! Thanks so much for your concern! We had snow in the high desert in Nevada also which I loved. But it wasn’t this intense usually. The mountains usually get most of the snowfall there. I grew up with snow so I guess I’m used to it! I’m ready for fresh eggs too! I used to have premonitions about earthquakes when I lived out west! Maybe I’m part ‘ dog ” too! 😉 be well my friend! xo Deb
Don’t forget any medicines that are needed by pets and humans. This is pretty much what I have on my hurricane list here on the Gulf Coast(Orange Beach,Alabama). I have a plastic tub also with important papers..deeds, insurance, passports, birth certificates, photos that can not be replaced, etc. for a get away or to protect from water damage. So glad to hear of your “survival”. Sunny here, 61degrees in house without heater on and 39 degrees with 35 degree wind chill outside! Happy Saturday and give your girls my love. Someone in Alabama loves to hear about them!
Gosh Gail! You are so right! It’s smart to have important papers and medicines at the ready as well..I’ll give the girls your love!! xo Deb
Wow, Deb! Just read this. It is beautiful but so sorry for the damage. Love your positive outlook though! We have had a mild winter so far here in Oklahoma, but we still have a lot of days left. We can have doozies in March. Your girls look happy and pretty. Stay warm and dream of happy flowers and veggies!!
Hi Raynita! Thanks for the well wishes… All in all both the greenhouse and the gazebo were on their last leg… the blizzard just helped them along to their natural ending!
Stay warm and enjoy your winter at the Lee Lodge!
Hugs, Deb
I live in Clay Center, KS. & grew up near the N-E part of Nebraska. I love, love snow. We haven’t had what you had, but I’d take a couple feet of it.
Well, if I could send you a couple of feet I surely would Linda! We are expecting 18 more inches starting late tonight! xo Deb
Snowstorms make the best “good ol day” stories. Why I remember when we had to park our vehicles a mile away and walk home for a week straight. That was just 8 years ago. 2006-2007 was a winter to remember in South Dakota, caused a lot of flooding in the spring, and left many scarred as we sure didn’t want to go thru that again any time soon! The best snowstorms are those where you don’t even think about going anywhere and just nestle in until it’s over.
I agree, Penny! ” The best snowstorms are those where you don’t even think about going anywhere and just nestle in until it’s over”. Stay warm! xo Deb
Hi Deb, glad to hear yall are ok, and the snow is pretty but I am sure it is alot of strenuous exercise on your handsome yankee. 🙂 For sure Spring will come and we will be playing in the dirt again soon along with your girls. I have a heated waterer for my chickens I got at tractor supply, and the heat doesnt come on until the temp drops 32 or below, so my chickens always have fresh thawed water. cost was $50. Keep warm and be Blessed, Neta.