Hi Dear Readers! I hope this finds you having beautiful, warm summer weather and that you are staying cool! Here in New England, it is summer – finally! Still, it has been sort of a “strange” summer so far. However, in true farmgirl spirit, when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade (or strawberry jam)!
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”.
Twenty-One is such a special birthday! Hope you have a lovely day!
Dear Marge,thank you! It is a very special one. Have a happy fourth! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole (and Audrey)
Have a lovely birthday, sweet lady!
I enjoy your farm girl blog. So Sincere wishes for a Happy 21st Birthday Audrey!!!
Hi Patty, thank you so much! I am so glad you enjoy the blog. Thank you for the birthday wishes for my daughter. I can’t wait to show her all the comments! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
You have definitely grown into a beautiful young woman. It is so nice that your Moma shared your growing up with all of us. Happy 21st birthday, and many many more!
Dear Bonnie, thank you so much. It’s been fun having a “farmgirl” as a mom! Your wishes mean alot. Farmgirl Hugs, Audrey
A very happy 21st birthday to you Audrey! May your years ahead be happy, healthy and filled with adventures!
Your strawberry excursion looks like so much fun Nicole! Have a wonderful summer. Can you believe it is the end of June already? This year is going by fast.
Dear Denise, that is so sweet. Thank you so much for your well wishes! Farmgirl Hugs, Audrey
Hi Denise! I hear ya! It seems that we should just be in the start of June; I guess because the weather has been so different this year. Time sure does fly by. Have a Happy Fourth! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Happy 21st Birthday, sweet Audry. May God bless you today, tomorrow, and for the rest of your journey. ❤️
Dear Terry, thank you, that means so much! Farmgirl Hugs, Audrey
You have been BUSY…
So interesting to hear your tips and tricks.
Wish we had a Michael’s close, so I could check out those paints your using on your cute signs!
Love the wildlife around your home. It’s so inviting like a park…
The mother deer and her twins are adorable.
It’s nice to have Summer here…
Hi Julie, thank you! I am glad that summer has found you all, now, too. The weather this year has been strange, but today the sun is shining and it is warm and perfect! I wonder if other craft stores have similar acrylic paint? Maybe Walmart, in the craft section. It is acrylic craft paint in little bottles. Works so well on a variety of things. The wildlife is such a big reason I love living in New England! The little twins are so cute, they make my day whenever I see them. Happy summer to you, sweet friend. My Prairie Pin Pouch is getting lots of use now that it summer! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Happy Birthday to an awesome daughter of an awesome mom. Enjoy 21!
Dear Lisa, thank you so much! Farmgirl Hugs, Audrey and Nicole
Happiest of birthdays Audrey!!!
Dear Susun, thank you…we love you! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole and Audrey
Thankful I was able to see you growing up from 13 to today, Audrey! Time flew from when I met you, your Mom and I and my friend all toured gardens together with fellow Master Gardeners! You are a beautiful talented and sweet young woman with a love for family, music, reptiles and fashion among other things. It’s wonderful to see your close friendship with your Mom. Hope you have fun celebrating your 21st Birthday and a blessed year ahead!
Dear Diane, thank you so much. That’s so sweet! Hope we see you at this year’s Christmas bash! Thanks again. Love, Audrey
Happy Birthday Wishes to your sweet daughter Audrey! I haven’t been reading your blog that whole time but I feel a bit of a connection since you lovingly cared for my little Ginny doll for me. We’ve had the smoky days here in Wisconsin too and not enough rain but I’m loving summer anyway, strawberry and raspberry jam this week made life sweet. Our little farm is providing for us again. Farmgirl blessings to you.
Marge
Hi Marge, it is always so wonderful to hear from you! I wish we could send you some of our rain! We have never had so much as we have the past two weeks. Audrey’s birthday was great, but it has been raining almost every day this entire month! Between that and the smoke, it has been a bit more effort than usual with the garden, but on the bright side, I am not outside watering as much! Much love your way (and to Ginny)! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Happy Birthday 21st Birthday Audrey!! Stay sweet–like your Mom 😉
Thank you both for letting us into your lives and to Nicole for sharing your always inspiring and uplifting blogs
My fav this time is the photo of Trooper smelling the daisy.
Love to you all! Tammy
Hi Tammy! Thank you for the birthday wishes, and the nice words! We are both glad you enjoyed the blog. Hope you are enjoying your summer! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole and Audrey
Great pictures and beautiful jam, enjoyed your blog.
Hi Pam, thank you ever so much! Hope you are having a wonderful summer! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae): Its a Connecticut tall plant with cheerful purple daisy-like flowers is a favorite for fall gardens. It can grow up to 5 feet tall and blooms from late summer to fall. Worth a look, supercolors! Nice blog.