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.”
Column contents © Mary Murray. All rights reserved.
Farmgirl
is a condition
of the heart.
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!
Column contents © Alexandra Wilson. All rights reserved.
Libbie Zenger
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.
René Groom
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.
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My one and only turned 18 a few short weeks ago. A newly blossomed maturity came almost simultaneously with her birthday.
She also accomplished a lot this past year, fulfilling her goals, and getting ready to start college in July. (yes, July)
I take comfort in knowing that even though she is not a child, I can still be her guide.
Blessings to your son – may he grow to be a strong, prosperous wise man.
Congratulations Rosanne! It’s a wonderful feeling to know we got them this far isn’t it? And, that we will still be their guiding light as they continue to grow… Many blessings to you and your daughter as she begins a new life in college!
xo Deb
Hi Deb! Congrats on your son’s (and your & your husband’s) milestone! My firstborn was also born in January along with my youngest. In fact, one is twice the other’s age (13 and 26)!
Congratulations to Zach and you and Boz, a huge milestone for sure. It’s been 25 years for me but I remember it like yesterday, enjoy it and love each second. Thanks for sharing. God Bless
Hey Deb, what a great post about parenthood and its marvels. I love to celebrate each new milestone for my [now grown] children. They will always be my children…so don’t feel like this is anything but the end of one chapter of your lives.
You have so much to be proud of, and you can must feel an extra sense of accomplishment from home schooling Zach. Way to go, farmgirl sister!
It’s wonderful and awful at the same time when they grow up. We’re proud and scared at the same time. How can that be. And I’ll tell you what Deb, they never stop being our little ones. Look at the age of mine and I still want to take of them. You know what I mean. You must be so proud. His journey is just beginning. Lots of hugs to you on that one girl.
Merrilyn