Close to New York City, our suburban town is sandwiched between two other big cities, yet also surrounded by very rural areas. Driving on our highways, you might not think “farms”, nor on our Main Street with the bustle of traffic. Yet, nestled on a little back road IS a farm, with some of the friendliest and most interesting livestock imaginable. Come visit with me, the “Suburban Farmgirl” and meet my friend, A.J., a “Suburban Farmer”.
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”.
Awesome AJ! Congratulations–
Nicole, I know A.J. appreciates that. I see from your email address, you must be a goat lover, too. Take care, Nicole
What beautiful photos! Thank you so much for sharing!! Your article gives me renewed hope of becoming a Texan suburban farmer myself someday!
Thanks, Belinda! A.J.’s animals were fun to photograph! Thanks for reading, and follow your dreams! -Nicole
AJ is my inspiration! Our sweet girl, Kalila is from Rowanwood;)
This is a very nice piece:)
Jennifer, if Kalila is anything like the animals I met at A.J.’s, she must be a doll! Thanks for reading! -Nicole
Nicole, wow, AJ is an inspiration to us all!
I think so, too! Thanks for reading!- Nicole
The beauty of the animals is amazing. Thank you for taking time and love to preserve these beautiful creatures.
Liz, aren’t they adorable? My daughter and I had so much fun snuggling them all. Such sweeties. -Nicole
Ahhh, this is my dream…and realistically I know it will probably never be a reality…but OH how I envy her…even all the hard work. What a life. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for reading! -Nicole
What a wonderful home those animals have…so clean and well attended! Love the repurposed crib feeder.
Nicole, I really enjoyed your article today. I too have a friend who raises goats and makes goat soap to sell at the farmers market. I love her soap. She makes lavender, rosemary and unscented. Also she makes a pine tar soap that is really good for those who suffer with psoriasis and other dry skin issues, and also for helping to clear up poison ivy. Your friend has a great price on her soap. My friend sells hers $5 a bar and no pretty bag. She has people wanting to order from her, but she has a full time job so she doesn’t want to get into all that. Can we order soap from your friend on line? I think your friend has a great farm and I envy her. Be Blessed.
Hi Vivian! Yes, my friend will sell her soap through her website. Just email her and she can answer you with all the details. It is lovely, and makes a nice gift. Thanks for reading, and Happy Holidays! -Nicole
Hey Nicole,
Looks like a wonderful field trip to the farm! I love A.J.’s farmgirl determination and her mission! The animal pic’s are wonderful… They all look so happy and loved. Thanks for sharing! This one is inspiration for all us farmgirls who are still dreaming of " more farming " in our futures!
Happy Holidays,
Deb ( your beach bloggin’ sister )
Hey Deb, Weren’t those animals just the cutest? I’ve been there when she had new babies, too. Those animals know they are in good hands, I think. Take care, Nicole
Congrats AJ! I’ve been to her farm for 3 years after working with her at an animal hospital for an internship. It really is a great barn and I love all the animals! I hope to see her lovely farm again soon!
Thanks for reading, Elizabeth! -Nicole
A.J.,
This is a wonderful article. I too love your soap.
So jealous! Goat kisses are the best love Evah!
Heidi, I agree! Hugs, Nicole
Great pictures, this sure like a fun place to visit. I crochet topper son kitchen towels and dish clothes I give to family and friends. I use to sell them but everyone sells them at those bazzars and flea markets. I use to sell homemade soap in the ’90’s around here and it wouldn’t sell, I was a head of my time for now you see people selling it everywhere! lol!
Sounds like it, Kimberly! Maybe you should try again! Thanks for reading. -Nicole
What a great article! AJ is THE BEST!
Love your stories and photo’s. Did you sneak one of the little guys home with ya. Just tell the hubby it’s a small funny dog. The closest I get to farming right now is my little garden. I have tons of lettuce & spinach, hopefully the squash will start producing soon.
TC
No, but I did warn A.J. she should check my pockets for Rosie before I left, ha ha! They really were the sweetest little babies! Good luck with the garden, mine is put to bed for the winter! -Nicole
Another great article by a good friend about a good friend! I miss you both and wish I could have been there during your visit. I love all of AJ’s products, the soap is wonderful. I send AJ items that I acquire for free from other veterinary hospitals and meetings for her to re-use and re-purpose on her farm. I love to visit her and assist in taking care of some of the goat babies! I assisted in delivering a set of triplets last time I was there.
We had a recent amateur radio Christmas party and AJ provided soap medallions and gift baskets for the women attending the event. She did this project in addition to her million other things to do.
Thanks for a great article with pictures. I plan to share this with friends when they ask me who the "goat milk soap lady" is.
PS – I don’t have any of those wool weights yet if Santa needs a gift idea for me….
Rosemarie Niznik, DVM
Rose, Love you! Thanks for reading! -Nicole
Fantastic A.J., she should be called, what amazing talents abound. What a kind heart and life A.J. leads. We should all be so lucky.