.
My daughter, Andrea, and I are Flower Farmers. Well, sort of.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
”
~ Mark Twain
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.’”
Column contents © Deb Bosworth. All rights reserved.
Being a farmgirl is not
about where you live,
but how you live.
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.
Column contents © Rebekah Teal. All rights reserved.
“Keep close to Nature’s heart … and break clear away once in awhile to climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods, to wash your spirit clean.
”
~ John Muir
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.”
Column contents © Cathi Belcher. All rights reserved.
“Wherever you go, no matter the weather, always bring your own sunshine.
”
~ Anthony J. D’Angelo
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.
Column contents © Dori Troutman. All rights reserved.
Previous Ranch Farmgirl,
Oct 2009 – Nov 2013
Wyoming cattle rancher and outpost writer (rider), shares the “view from her saddle.” Shery is a leather and lace cowgirl-farmgirl who’s been horse-crazy all of her life. Her other interests include “junktiques,” arts and crafts, glamping, collecting antique china, and cultivating mirth.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Farmgirl spirit can take root anywhere—dirt or no dirt.
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”.
Column contents © Nicole Christensen. All rights reserved.
Previous Suburban Farmgirl,
October 2009 – October 2010
Paula is a mom of four and a journalist who’s partial to writing about common sense and women’s interests. She’s lived in five great farm states (Michigan, Iowa, New York, Tennessee, and now North Carolina), though never on a farm. She’s nevertheless inordinately fond of heirloom tomatoes, fine stitching, early mornings, and making pies. And sock monkeys.
My dear “sister” 😉 you are a delightful gal and so very much like me it is crazy!! Why do we do this to ourselves? So thankful for wise words out of the mouths of babes and your dear daughter. What a fun flower-filled summer you will have! 🙂 so wish I was close enough to stop by your stand!
Cyndie,
I ask myself that all the time… “Why do I do this to myself”?! 🙂 I wrote this blog post and then was tested at the flower garden again last night when we had zinnia after blooming zinnia with blooms that were not formed correctly, so it resulted in flowers that could not be used (pretty sure it is a result of the bugs that were eating the plants, had obviously managed to get inside the blooms and eat there too). I wanted to cry as we were cutting blooms and handing them to the little girls to dispose of. Then I saw them playing Flower Girl with all the blooms and decided it wasn’t so bad after all! 🙂
Happy Summer, Cyndie!
– Dori –
Dori, what a beautiful post! Love seeing the flowers growing in your garden and knowing you and your family are enjoying sharing them with others. In sharing, you all are receiving many gifts in return.
Take care.
Emily, thank you. You said it perfectly. Sharing really does bring back so much in return.
– Dori –
My dear Dori,
I so loved this post! You ARE a flower farmer! With all it’s ups and downs and worries too, you and your flower farm will continue to bloom. Aren’t daughters just the best?
They always know how to bring us back to center when we start spinning, Don’t they?
Love and hugs!
Fom your flower farming and farmgirl blogging sister,
Deb
Hi Deb,
I can always count on you to lift my spirits! 🙂 I just wish you’d been with me in the garden last night when I almost had another meltdown. I don’t think this is going to be a good Zinnia summer. 🙁
And YES, daughters are the very best. I can’t imagine my life without mine. She is pretty much everything to me.
Hugs to you, friend.
– Dori –
Dori- I can so identify! We always manage to go on vacation in July, leaving a nicely weeded garden. And then come home to a weed infested garden! We have to learn to step back and see the big picture! I hope my daughters grow up to be just like Andrea – such a sweetheart!
Hello Angela,
We are looking forward to Monday!
That was the sweetest compliment you could’ve ever paid. I’ll share it will Andrea!
Hugs,
– Dori –
Dori,
I once read a saying that “out of the worst of situations a rose grows and blooms”.
Think of the Dust Bowl tragedy, the beetles, Hurricanes, floods, drenching rain that tears up the soil and all that is planted there.
You see dear Dori life can be so unexpected that we need to enjoy it while we can and not worry about all the things that befall those who choose to toil in the soil.
I love roses and I have planted many (now even through all the trackters and all the machinery- they are still blooming even with the tall weeds). But I was worned not to plant them because of all the things that go wrong. Well, even through some rust, bad bugs and all, they bloomed and smell so good. I just did not worry about it and they knew and responded for me. You see ? Just go with what ever is given you and you will be rewarded even though sometime it may be so hard to do.
Love and Hugs,
Kay
Hello Kay!
I love that saying. I’m going to write that down and tape it right to my computer monitor! 🙂
I’m so happy that you have your roses keeping you happy, even amongst the construction and the weeds! And they smell beautiful no matter what, don’t they? There’s a lesson in that too!
Hugs back… and thank you so much for always commenting and encouraging!
– Dori –
Dori – Yes, it’s so discouraging to come home to a weed infested garden, but I’m sure it will survive and bloom beautifully! Aren’t daughters and grand daughters just the best for lifting our spirits? I’m noticing this even more as I get older. I’ll bet it won’t be long until you have a Flourishing Flower Farm!!
Hello Esther,
I am so very thankful every single day for my daughter, my grand-daughters and also my daughter-in-law. I would be so lost without them. And yes, I think we need them more and more every year. And yours are especially wonderful!
– Dori –
I love this post, but if your little cart goes missing, don’t come looking at my farm, as I will have it well hidden! Of course you cried; Nature can be a beast! If you didn’t understand that, you wouldn’t be a real farmer. But, as these things go, you will also have flowers. I’d love to see this patch of Wonderful, and I may come visit some day soon, if you’ll have me. The most beautiful flowers in your garden are your family!
Wayve,
I would LOVE to have you come visit! 🙂 Maybe you can give me some advice on the bugs that are wiping out our Zinnia blooms. Maybe what we need are some Marten bird houses like you have in your strawberry fields? Do you think that would help? We are in a bad way.
I’ll be in touch and we’ll set us a date. Early morning or early evening is probably best… this heat is crazy!
– Dori –
Dori, I just read your post. I wanted put out the effort ( & that is what I’m doing) because it made me lol. The part where you said u “sat down and cried” over some type of flower. I can relate. It may not be anything as beautiful as the flowers that you and your daughter grow but after the past 8 months of being laid low I have sat down & cried over a bug eaten anything & everything that represented at one time held a sign of life only to show up dead. It just struck me funny and gave me the one & only lol moment of my cherished day. It means a lot & THANK YOU for posting that comment. Have a great day!
Kathryn,
Thank you so much for writing to me! You can’t know how much I appreciated it! And I’m so happy that I could make you have a good “laughing out loud moment”! After my good cry in the garden, I’ve had a few more close calls (ha ha!) and then forced myself to laugh and move on! Oh is it ever hard!
Thank you again… keep writing!
– Dori –
P.S. And if you could see our bug eaten flower garden tonight you would probably struggle to see anything beautiful in it, just like we did. Hoping it will look a little prettier tomorrow morning! 🙂
Sorry to hear of your bad luck….the first time I grew zinnias they were plentiful, but then the next season they got root ROT and I got nil. I find its best to wait til after fathers day or plant the seeds at the top of a hill for the firstnplanting. Saves. And have better luck, as the hill will melt , if we get too much rain but the seedlings wont drown. Hopefully your next week plantings will come up. Its one good thing about zinnias, you can plant them every week. And cut them and more grow up.
Susana,
Zinnias are so amazing aren’t they? The more you cut and use them, the more they bloom! They are the miracle flower!
Happy Summer to you!
– Dori –
Dori,
KEEP ON planting and taking care of that gorgeous flower garden! I loved seeing all your pictures and look forward to seeing the flowers! Have a great summer!
Colleen
Hi Colleen,
Oh have I EVER been thinking of you all in Utah this month! 🙂 And wishing I was there for about 4 days… or more!
Big hugs,
– Dori –
I love seeing & hearing about your flowers. It’s always hard to have something we put alot of effort into not turn out just right tho, isn’t it! Even if it’s “just flowers” (which are not “just” at all) You have put so much time and effort into your business, and brought so much happiness to others, I can see. Even those of us who can only view them on-line. Everything takes time to learn & work out the quirks, and in nature, so much is out of our control even then! Happy farming!
Hi Maxine,
Thank you. It’s been a frustrating season for sure. We try to only post the positive!!! Ha ha! 🙂 Kind of like the hours at the farmers market yesterday and only sold 8 bouquets… came home and put the other 9 on the flower cart and they were gone this morning! We said, “Now WHY did we go to the farmers market”? 🙂 We are going to give it a month and see if it improves. Mainly it is a good way to get our name out there for more events, which is what we really love to do. Thanks for your encouragement!
– Dori –
Dori, I, too, am a worrier and am finding it hard to be patient. At 67 and newly retired from teaching, I find I want changes now. After all, I’m 67. Doing for fun has never been a part of my thinking. I’m learning. Thank you so much for your beautiful blogs and being there for all of us.
Marilyn,
Doing for fun is one of the hardest things to do sometimes isn’t it? I think part of my problem is that I genuinely love to be busy working… I think I would rather clean house than go anywhere. So it is hard to just let myself jump in and go do something for fun. I’m really working on that!
I appreciate you writing and your sweet words to me. It made my day.
– Dori –
Dori I too love zinnias. I live in Virginia on the Eastern Shore. I have grown zinnias and they grow well here sometimes. I have the most luck with cosmos, but they aren’t good for cut flowers. But when I look at the little barn, when I am coming up our lane It Is pretty and this is a welcoming sight for visitors to see. these cosmos come back every year and reseed. they are orange and yellow. A good ray of sunshine to see. Love your cart and you always have a great blog. Hugs Juanita
Juanita,
I love Cosmos. We do use them in our bouquets for a touch of filler. Have you grown the Double Click? They are a gorgeous pink. And yes, they are the most welcoming flower! Our Zinnias are FINALLY growing normal beautiful blooms, but what a struggle! Thanks for writing!
– Dori –
Dori, thank you so much for sharing your daring flower venture idea! Thanks especially for showing that one doesn’t need to have a business plan, a website, a storefront, a financial justification(!) for doing something like this! How refreshing! You have given me a completely new perspective on sharing my farm bounty with others–if they like it, they’ll happily receive it, if they don’t, at least I enjoyed growing, harvesting, arranging and offering it! And with a supportive family member! A double blessing! I hope some day to have a lovely daughter-in-law who wants to dream by my side, doing similar farmgirl things with me! Bright harvests to you!
Sara,
Thank you so much for writing and for your sweet words. I think winging it is so hard sometimes… but then there are some things that just can’t be learned except by doing! 🙂 And wow, we are learning! I do so love doing this little venture with my daughter. There is nothing like it in the world. Every day I feel a heart full of thankfulness for our relationship. I too hope you have a daughter (in-law) to share your farmgirl dreams with.
I’ll keep you updated on our flower farming venture!
– Dori –