It’s that time of year again…tree-trimmin’ time! Join me, the Suburban Farmgirl, and my family as we head to our favorite tree farm on the hunt for the perfect specimen!
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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”.
Beautiful tree and enjoyed the trip with you and your family!
Thank you, Denise! Thanks for stopping by! -Nicole
What a terrific story and a beautiful tree to create more memories for your family! Enjoy.
Thanks, Adrienne! I realize how lucky we are to have Mrs. Wasserman’s farm so nearby. Not everyone gets to have such a neat experience, and I am so happy to be able to see my daughter so excited over something so simple as cutting a tree. Have a wonderful holiday! Farmgirl hugs, Nicole
I love taking this virtual road trips with you and your family. I can’t wait to see your tree and of course catch up with all my Farmgirl Sisters on Saturday.
Thanks, Barb! Audrey and I can’t wait to see you and Emily Saturday, too! -Nicole
You are truly giving your daughter memories to last a lifetime.
Holly, thank you! I hope so…you’re only little once. 🙂 Thanks for visiting! -Nicole
Merry Christmas Nicole!
I loved my visit to the Tree Farm!…. I bet is smells wonderful!!!
Love and hugs and a safe and happy holiday season!
Your beach blog’n sis Deb
Hi Deb! Thanks for visiting…much love to you, too! I’m sure you are busy decking your halls, too! Hope you and your family have a great holiday season, as well. –Nicole
Nicole,You remind me when we used to cut a Christmas tree from Quail Run, our farm. The first time we cut a cedar tree for our home in the city. The little tree we picked in the woods looked small until we tried to tie it on the car! When I finally got it on the car we couldn’t find the car so we cut it down! When we got it in the house it was so tall it bent over so much we decided to go buy one at the store. You have come a long way. Love Dad
Oh Daddy! That is so funny! I remember all the times we cut Christmas trees! I also remember you ALWAYS cut me a little special tree, just for my room. Audrey has a little (faux) tree in her room, just the same size. When she was very little, she swore, just like I used to as a tot, that she saw Santa put a present under that tree! -Nicole
Love the adventure, Nicole. Here on Long Island we are lucky enough to have several tree farms out East too. There is nothing quite like the experience of "harvesting" your own Christmas Tree!
Enjoyed the pictures- your tree looks BEAUTIFUL!!
Hugs,
Laurie
Thank you Laurie! This year we did white lights, which I love best on the tree, but to be honest, Iam still getting used to the LED ones. Not quite the same as traditional, but beautiful nonetheless. Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting! Merry Christmas, Nicole
Nicole that was a great trip. Love the tree you picked and it decorated so beautiful! Thanks for all the fun! Love Nisee (denise adams)
Hi Denise! So glad you enjoyed the visit!! I do have to say we got a really pretty tree this year, no bare spots, just the right height! It even has little baby pine cones in it…and the smell! Oh my goodness! The scent is amazing. Hope you have an amazing holiday! Merry Christmas and much love, Nicole
Nicole, I cannot believe how tall Audrey looks now. Looks like y’all were having a lot of fun. Decorated tree is beautiful.
Enjoyed reading this blog. Merry Christmas! Love you,
Mother
Hi Mom! Thanks! We all thought of you decorating the tree with some of the ornaments you gave us. Wish you could see it in person. Told ya Audrey is growing fast…time for a visit! -Nicole
I enjoyed the blog..It did remind me of when were growing up and dad would cut a cedar tree for christmas…nice pictures you took for the blog.
Thanks! This tree isn’t as "prickly" as the trees I remember from the farm. -Nicole
We have been cutting our Christmas tree at various farms for about 30 years. Our daughters are now 32, and now we cut with our two grandsons as well. We have such a blast! One daughter has a fake tree, but she comes with us cutting for the fun of it! The boys usually take their sleds and swoop down the hills while we search for the perfect tree for each family. However, no snow this year when we cut, they were disappointed! Enjoyed your story and pictures.
Sandy, how wonderful to hear about your long-standing family tradition! How special for your daughters and grandchildren! Thank you for sharing with us. -Nicole
What a wonderful tradition! Thank you so much for sharing it with us!
You’re welcome…thanks so much for "stopping by"! -Nicole
I loved going along with you on your trip to the tree farm. It brought back memories of picking out our tree when I was a little girl. Now my husband prefers artificial, but I add a Christmas scent to the tree.
Betty, thank you for sharing! I’m so glad you enjoyed our "visit". -Nicole