Life through the eyes of a child is better than rose-colored! They find wonder and amazement in the simplest of things, learning with gusto! Today’s children are indeed the future, and I love that my daughter’s generation is embracing a “greener” thinking than mine did at her age. I’m really proud of my daughter’s school, introducing kids to gardening and composting. I’ve seen first-hand how excited the kids are to be on-board! Visit with me, the Suburban Farmgirl, and “The Composting Kids”.
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”.
This is great! I think all schools should do this. There is so much waste that could be used as a learning tool for science and future gardeners and farmers! Way to go!
Hi April, I think it is amazing how quickly it adds up, even at home. Thanks for reading and commenting! -Nicole
I loved this article! My son attends Lafayette Charter School in Lafayette, MN, (a pre-K through 8th grade school)and we have an agriculture/technology focus. We have received a Fruit and Vegetable Grant the last few years, and the "remains" from these snacks as well as lunch scraps would be excellent for starting a composting project! We could use the excellent soil produced to enhance our green house and raised bed projects. As I am the janitor at the school, I know how much this could cut down on the amount of waste in the dumpster. Thanks for this information today!
Sandy, How cool that your school has an agriculture/tech focus. I am so glad you found this article helpful. Thanks so much for reading, and drop me a line later and let me know how it goes! Good luck, and Farmgirl Hugs to you! -Nicole
Thanks for mentioning us. We have a booklet with pictures of some of our school gardens and more information about them that can be seen via the web: http://www.teichgardensystems.com/TGS_-_School_Book__-_2012.pdf
Thanks Jared! You were recommended to me. -Nicole
I think what this school deserves to be highly commended in teaching the kids community spirit and helping them to learn the importance of composting and gardening.
I agree! I’m so proud of them. Garden Club has been really special to my daughter. -Nicole
That is so encouraging to see a school participating in something like composting! I remember bringing "nature" things to school when I was young for science classes (which included things like fresh deer hearts and an occasion when I dug up a 3 foot pine tree, not realizing how long a pine’s root system is), because my teachers didn’t have access to things they wanted us to see and feel. I’m so happy for you and your daughter to share common ground both at home and at school.
Thanks, Ashley. I remember being outdoors doing things like this with my parents and hope my daughter will have the same fond recollections when she grows up. My daughter’s elementary has helped her make some great memories, for sure. I’m really proud of the school. Thanks for the comment! -Nicole
Great idea..I’ve composed all my life..learned it from my mom..had a hard time convincing my husband..it took some time for that one..my kids are now asking for their share to take home for their gardens..pass it on people..good for fishing too..we have lots of red worms for bait..
I remember my dad composting when I was a kid, and he and I gardened together. I’ve always had my daughter outside with me when I garden, but this year she really wanted to be involved. She helped me pick out our seeds and start them indoors. She likes to take our scraps to the compost bin and see our progress, and this year has asked for a little part of the yard to be her own "personal" garden. Such a fun thing to do with kids! Thanks for reading. -Nicole
Love this article! What a great idea! I will be suggesting this to our local schools. Thank you so much for sharing in such detail!
Juli
Juli, my pleasure. I have to thank my friend Susan again for help with this article and for her devotion to the kids and the project. She’s so dedicated. Thanks for reading! -Nicole
I am looking into worm composting. I think that would be a great thing to get my kids to get into as well. BTW, I LOVE your snow farmgirl and apron! Very nice!
Sarah, Thanks! We had fun making her.
For the composting and info on worms, you should check out Worms Eat My Garbage by Mary Appelhof. I read it when I was working on my Farmgirl Sisterhood Merit badge. It’s a quick read, but the info in it is valuable with great points on getting started composting. It was a really fun book to read, as well. Farmgirl hugs, Nicole
Nicole I’m surprised it took you so long to remember composting! Dad still has a big compost both at home and at the ranch. Your Pawpaw taught me so many years ago it’s gold for your garden and he would be proud of what your teaching the young coming up. DAD
Thanks Daddy – I learned from the best! You still have the best gardening advice there is. I love you and miss you! -Nicole
Hello sister Nicole! Job well done… at school and here too!
I think it’s wonderful to have a composting program in schools. Train them up right and early! So cute I love your snowburban farmgirl! Too cute!
Happy almost spring!
Your beach blogging sister
xo
Deb
Hey Deb! Thanks so much! Hard to believe it wasn’t a week ago and we were building that snow-girl, and today we broke out the sandals! Alas…the colder air is coming back, but Spring is so close! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
I live in Howard Co. Maryland. I’m currently participating in a composting program with the county. They gave me a bin and they pick up my food scraps every week. It took a little time to get the kids on board but now it’s just routine. If successful, the county will expand the program. Great school!