Spring is in full force! The trees here in New England all now have leaves, everything is blooming, and soon it will be summer. I simply can’t wait! I love the outdoors in summer…birds singing, fresh veggies, campfires, dining alfresco, picnics…and picnic baskets. A picnic basket is the absolute epitome of summer. My favorite baskets are vintage, and they aren’t just for picnics, anymore!
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’m on vacation in Fl. so no better time to find a good picnic place. Thanks for the inspiration! Such a visual treat.
Hi Prudence, Lucky you! Soak up some good sun and sand for me! I am so glad you enjoyed the post; thank you for reading and commenting! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Love This!!!
I have a childhood friend that collects metal picnic baskets. Didn’t realize in 1888 there was a picnic basket company
In Burlington, IA. (That’s 80 miles from us)
Enjoyed your pictures and your “background ” stories of the different types of baskets…
Thanks so much.
Julie
Hi Julie, thank you! I am so glad that you enjoyed the post! They really do make great storage, and were made so well “back in the day”. The little one reminds me of Dorothy’s in Wizard of Oz! Thanks for reading and commenting! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Nicole, I love all your picnic baskets. I had one that had plates and tableware in plastic but was well worn out when I got it. It went in a yard sale a few years ago. I do have lots of tins, the ones that had popcorn 3 flavors in them and I use them for storage too. Going to have a yard sale this weekend in our community so maybe I will pick something grand up or maybe sell something grand to someone else. Have a good day.
Hi Sandi, I love tins for storage of all kinds, and those popcorn tins are great for that, too! I love the big tins similar to those that are from the 1940’s and 1950’s that had chips, marshmallows, or lard in them, though I have never found one in my budget! Love going to tag sales, too, happy hunting! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Such lovely baskets, thank you for sharing
Hi Heidi, thank you! They also make great storage for knitting projects. Have a happy spring! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
I’ve also collected quite a few picnic baskets, some with plates & cutlery included.
Hi Leisa, aren’t they nice? I love how they come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Thanks for reading and commenting! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Nicole, You have a lot of baskets! Good your house is big enough to show them. Very nice blog. I love summer best of all too!
Love,
Mother
Thanks, Mama. Love you.
I have one of those vintage baskets. I found it out on the curb for trash pick up from an antique store that was going out of business.
Marilyn
Hi Marilyn, wow! What a lucky find – you were in right place at the right time! Thanks for reading and commenting. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Hi Nicole, I am a basket lover too and have collected many Longaberger baskets of all shapes and sizes. I also have purchased patterns for many of them to dress them up and use them in every room of my house. I did not know about most of the picnic baskets that you own, so I find your basket collection story very interesting. I have seen some of those in resale shops here in Wisconsin but never purchased any. I too use my baskets to store items like you do. Thanks for all your interesting articles. They make my day. Bye the way, last months article about the turquois collectables took me back to the 1960’s when I was a little girl growing up in the country, my mom had a lot of turquois dishes and serving items in the kitchen, even flour and sugar cannisters. I was just about ready to donate the few Melmac dishes that were left but could not bring myself to part with them, so many happy memories eating around the kitchen table. I put them under my indoor flower pots and use them to bring in the tomatoes in the summer. Thanks for your wonderful articles.
Hi Patricia, Longaberger baskets were so nice! The parties were such fun to go to back in the day. I have the recipe basket with lid and liner – almost 30 years old and filled with treasured hand-written recipe cards. I loved that their building was shaped like a basket. I am so glad you found a repurpose for your melmac dishes! Thank you for reading and commenting – it means a lot that you enjoy the blog. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
I too LOVE picnics – it always puts a smile on my face.
Lauri
Hi Lauri, I agree. Picnics are a happy part of summer! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Nicole…loved the post. We received a woven picnic basket for a wedding present back in 1962 from a favorite aunt. It was well loved and used over the years and went on many a picnic with our three boys. One summer they started hiding zucchini from each other in crazy places. Out on a picnic to the river, I opened up the basket to get out our lunch and was greeted by a very large zucchini! Sadly it got caught in a flooded basement room and was ruined 3 years ago. I still have the plates and utensils in their little zippered container. Thanks for the memories!
Hi Deanna, Oh, I love the sweet memories you shared, but I feel so sad for you to hear that your basket got ruined. I understand. We lost all of my childhood (and vintage) Christmas ornaments one year when our garage flooded. I was a teenager, but still feel sad that I lost the Christmas stocking that my beloved neighbor, who was like a grandmother to me, hand made and beaded when I was only four. I still remember it. At least you have your plates and accessories. Have you ever looked on eBay for a replacement basket? I know it isn’t exactly the same, but worth a shot. Anyway, thank you for reading and sharing. Have a happy summer! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Nicole, I enjoyed your article on the baskets. It was so interesting. I found a basket in the Country Sampler store(years ago) that was small and had a decorative lid. I think it was meant to be used like a purse. A little online research is on my schedule after reading your article.
My husband is from Iowa and a Hawkeye sports fan.
Love the basket collection and your kitty, Mittens, is adorable. Our cat is named Fifi and pets bring such joy to our lives.
Hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day.
Hi Deb, thank you! I am so glad you enjoyed the post. Your basket sounds really cute, too. Don’t you just love researching the treasures we find? I think it is part of the fun. I love your kitty’s name – so cute! Yes, our pets do bring so, so much joy! Happy Memorial Day, to you, as well. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Thank you Nicole, After your post I did look around the house and found an old picnic basket that I had as an ornamental maybe this Summer will be a good time to fill it and take to the beach for a picnic creating new memories!
That’s great – I am glad you found one. Enjoy every minute this summer! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Love the article on vintage picnic baskets. My mom had a vintage picnic basket and plaid cooler which went with us to many family reunion picnics. I live in Iowa and was interested to learn of the Iowa picnic basket company in Burlington. Also Iowa Hawkeye fans. Fun collection to have.
Thanks so much, Marlene! I have really enjoyed finding and using the baskets. It always amazes me how they are so well made and have lasted so long. Thanks for reading and commenting! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole