After a shaky, cold start to spring, summer has finally come to New England! This summer, like many others, we are going to enjoy a “stay-cation”. That doesn’t mean “boring”! From beautiful blooms, a special event, and “new neighbors”, we’ve been busy, and this summer is certainly starting out super!
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”.
Your flowers are beautiful and so are you and your daughter. We stayed home for our 4-day 4th of July holiday. It was heaven…gardening, making pickles, a big batch of homemade dog food and blueberry-peach crumble.
Hi Tracey, awww, thank you SO much! Sounds like you had a dreamy Fourth – my kind of day! Your blueberry-peach crumble sounds divine! I planted blueberry bushes in my garden years ago. They are doing well – blueberries are not quite ready yet, but when they are, a crumble sounds like a good plan! Thanks for reading and commenting! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Wonderful post. I too love badminton and recently got 2 rackets and old feather cocks. . Enjoy your stay cation.
Hi Lori, thank you! I love hearing that others like badminton, and sounds like you found a good treasure! Have fun! Thanks for reading and commenting! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Wonderful post
I loved your staycation. Thanks for sharing It really is about the little things. The things that make you stop and smile. And rest!!! I love not being in a hurry…. I’m going to have a few days of staycation with one of my granddaughters and I can’t wait. It’s not often I have one on one time alone with any of my grands because we live 3 hours apart. When one comes , the rest want to come as well. And who can say no I especially loved your dreamy hammock and I may work on getting one so I have a comfy place to curl up with a good book❤️ There is nothing like turning those pages….( no phone in hand ☺️).
Happy Summer and Treasure Hunting
Hi Marti, thank you! It sounds like you have a wonderful vacation ahead! I loved spending time with my grandmother. I still remember the going to the farmers’ market with her and my mom, and then she would spend the night with us when my dad traveled for work. She and I would stay up late, after my mom went to bed. I treasure those memories, and your grands will treasure their time with you, as well. Have a great time! Thanks for reading and commenting! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
That was a Pileated woodpecker you saw! I’ve only seen one in my life and they are huge! Have a wonderful summer! ❤️
Hi Susan, it was so exciting to see him! At first, I saw this big glob of black spiraling down a tree trunk – at first I thought it was a bear cub! Then I saw the red! He was so spectacular! I am disappointed that I only got the one photo, but he moved so fast, and I have not seen him again. I hope he comes back! Thanks for reading and commenting, and confirming the name of the bird! I will read up more on him. Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
I LOVED reading about your summer-so-far and your staycation plans. Every bit of it. Beautiful in every way! Thank you so much for sharing. <3
Hi Sandra, thank you so much! I am so glad you enjoyed my post. It has been a great summer so far, especially nice weather, too. I hope you are enjoying your summer, as well! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Love reading about all the things going on at your place. Sounds like a lovely and quiet place to spend time.
Hi Marybeth, thank you. It is pretty quiet, and I love seeing all the birds and bugs. My gardening efforts have paid off and I look forward to all the little creatures that visit! Thanks for reading and commenting! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Great post, I loved hearing all the things you’re up to.
Great post! I loved hearing all the things you’re up to.
Hi Jill, thank you so much! I feel like nowadays it is so important to enjoy our own surroundings, make our homes cozy and a happy place to be! Thanks for reading and commenting! Hope you are having a wonderful summer! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Badminton was game of choice as kids. Maybe why pickle ball is so popular with seniors
Hi Donna, funny, I was just thinking about that yesterday when my daughter and I were playing badminton. We have a pickle ball court at our walking trail Fairfield Hills, and it is always filled with players. Looks fun! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Thank you, Nicole for this soothing and inspiring post! ☮️ Kiki
Hi Kiki, thank you so very much! I hope you are enjoyuing your summer! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Such a happy post, a wonderful respite in this troubled world. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your summer with us. Your gardens are beautiful.
Hi Judy, thank you! The gardens do take a lot of work, but I love when they are all blooming, especially since we have such long winters. Enjoy the rest of your summer! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
“Find the happy”-perfect words for this summer! I’m sure trying and thanks for the well-put reminder 🙂
Hi April, thank you, and don’t you think we have had a really pretty one here in CT (even if it has been a wee bit hot lately)…Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Thank you for sharing your stay vacation plans. We enjoy staying home. We fix things around the hose. We are trying to de- clutter a little. We are reading and even have started to read a few Christmas books. We are happy staying home and love our air conditioners. We have the same problem with the squirrels, they dig up all the bulbs we plant. We tried pepper and it does not help. Enjoy your stay vacation.
Joan,Marion and Marilyn
Hi Marilyn, your summer sounds great to me! It’s been a really good one, and I truly have enjoyed my garden and yard more than ever. A few more weeks and we will be thinking fall…and then Christmas before you know it! I have lost some of my hostas to rabbit nibbles, but they are just so darn cute! Always good to hear from you, Joan and Marion. Enjoy the rest of summer! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole