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.
I listened to your daughter’s music while reading the blog :o) Impressive enough is her skill at playing, but I was really wowed to know she WROTE the piece! You must be very proud. Loved the colorful flurry of leaves and fall scenes — it matched the music. Ok, I’ve got a nice fall fix…Thank You.
Hey Deb!
It was wonderful to peer at your gorgeous photos and visit with some members of your family. Just noticed the LOVELY and UNIQUE purse that Aunt Nan was carrying! Gosh, your mom looks young! So nice that you are able to have their companionship..
Beautiful!
Thank you for sharing your fall tour. Beautiful pictures! My favorite thing about fall. Back into the house, crocheting, sewing, gift making, spending more time out and about with my friends. The respite before winter. I am not a winter person. Would stay in the whole winter if I did not have to take care of my chickens and go to work each day.
My Dear Friend Deb,
Thanks for such a wonderful post. Fall is my favorite season by far … I LOVE it! Your beautiful photos were a treat, and it’s possible that you might even have had a smidgen more color than we got up here this year. Our leaves are flying fast and furious these days (we’re supposed to get a FOOT of snow tonight!!!) … so your photos will help prolong this beautiful season for me. We’re on the same page when it comes to picket fences, too. I absolutely love them! Long walks in the woods with leaves crunching underneath my boots are one of my favorite activities this time of year. I adore the ‘smell’ of fall, too … that earthy, organic scent of fallen leaves and acorns. Autumn blessings to all, Cathi
P.S. Henry David’s cabin has YET to be crossed off my bucket list. I can’t wait to get there … hopefully soon. But a few months ago I bought myself the most wonderful (unabridged) edition of Walden I’ve ever seen: Laura Ross’ version which is very tiny in size, and has Thoreau’s ideas for living a truly simple, transcendental life in bold-faced red letters. A neat idea for the ‘bible’ of simple living!
Ah! Would have loved driving around to look at ole silly leaves with you! And Walden Pond!?!?!
Tried to listen to your daughters song, but it said it was unavailable…will try again. A blessed and happy Autumn to you!
Just wanted to wish you a happy birthday. I am a Nov. (12th birthday girl too. Autumn is my favorite time of year.
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