December 14th, 2014 marked the one-year anniversary of the tragic event that occurred in my hometown. Residents of Newtown will never forget that day, and I have found myself thinking often throughout the entire year of the families who lost loved ones. There have been tributes to Sandy Hook School all over the world, but one of the most beautiful tributes I’ve ever seen was created by a local group of Girl Scout Cadettes.
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”.
Beautiful indeed. Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you, MaryJane. I am so happy to be able to share the tribute with you all here. Happy New Year to you and all at the farm! Much love, Nicole
What a beautiful tribute and in true, farmgirl spirit!
Thank you, Karen. I feel the same way. I was so grateful to be a part of it. -Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Many Blessings and indeed a touching and beautiful tribute.
This was very touching and oh so moving…a lovely lovely tribute.Thanks for sharing…as a parent I can not imagine experiencing such tragedy… EVER. Hoping this will help heal in some way. An amazing and lovely project and so special to involve the children.They will forever be touched and we as well.
I am so moved by the bird houses and think this is a wonderful, thoughtful thing for all, The girls did great job. May the Lord bless them very much. Juanita Massey, Virginia Farm sister #1020
Thank you all. It moves me even more when I think of the fact that a sweet eighth grader came up with the original idea. So proud of all of our girls. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Hi, I think this is a very loving and caring project. We should all be very proud that is was done.
My prayers are with those that did this project and to those families that are represented by this project.
Thank you for posting this.
Tina
I am so glad you all can see it. To be standing there on a quiet afternoon with snow gently falling was such a peaceful, memorable feeling. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
A moving tribute which will help all who see it remember the innocent lives lost amd how fragile life is.. Great idea for the girl scouts…
Everyone is to be commended and all of you are blessed. What a beautiful tribute and these birdhouses will remind us that love is timeless.
I love this idea. I think I have a few bird houses to paint and hang in my yard in the spring. Great job Audrey and girl scouts.
#2770
I loved the project but did they put little white lights in them.
Thanks for sharing. Those are very thoughtful little girls.
Hi Nancy, No there are no lights in them. They were pre-built, unfinished houses with little openings on rope from the local craft store to start. Some of the houses were cut out by some of those who painted some, and many had trinkets or ornamental touches glued to them. There were no "guidelines" for the painters, only that they reflect the person they were meant to represent. Any lights you may be seeing are snow flurries against a flash. I took pictures several times, and the last time, it started to snow as we were standing there. -Nicole
I was touched to read what these young ladies did for the memory of those sweet, innocent children. As a mother, I know you must be very proud.
I’m a very proud mom to one scout and now a co-leader for our troop, as well. I am so amazed by all of our sweet girls and have watched many of them grow from small children to amazing, talented, thoughtful young ladies. Proud as a mother hen! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Hi Nicole! What a beautiful way to remember those sweet children. Thank you for sharing, and also for reminding me about the Ram pasture, I had forgotten that your town had such a special place preserved. I hope you and your family have a wonderful and blessed new year.
Hi Meredith, So glad everyone has enjoyed the post. I thought Gina, Clare and all the scouts did such an amazing thing, and I am so grateful I could share it with you all. I don’t know how long it’s been since you’ve been through Newtown, but the The Ram Pasture is as beautiful as it has always been. We did lose the big tree a few Christmases ago in one of the big storms, but a new one was planted and is looking great. It’s such a picturesque place. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Wow! Those precious spirits have a beautiful place to rest. Ram park is a fitting place. God bless you all and thanks.
What a lovely tribute……so sorry that it is even necessary but a wonderful way to remember the lives lost. Your article brought tears to my eyes. Thanx to those thoughtful Girl Scouts! 🙂
Wishing everyone a peace-filled 2014. These victims are always in my heart and in my prayers.
Such a wonderful tribute, the girls did wonderfully. Thanks so much for sharing this, my heart is blessed. God bless.
A wonderful tribute to the little lost souls!
I am a 44 year old Girl Scout. Our troop from Sandpoint, Idaho gets together yearly for a reunion to stay in touch. What a wonderful blessing to see that Girl Scouts continue to be busy with peace and love in this world. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Naomi, Once a scout, always a scout, right? What I learned as a Girl Scout when I was a child carries over as a farmgirl. I’m so glad that my daughter has wanted to continue with scouting since she was a daisy. How nice that you still get together with your troop! Farmgirl hugs, Nicole
This is truly a beautiful tribute, Nicole. Beautiful pictures that made me cry. Tears are streaming down my face because there are so many little birdhouses. Thanks for sending this.
Love you,
Mother
Love you, too! -Nicole
Such a beautiful heartfelt tribute. Brought tears to my eyes
Thank you, Denise. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole