MaryJanesFarm Sister Issue - March 2013 by MaryJane Butters

Sister Issue

March 2013

W ith some

added pluck, we came up with this easy way to click (er, cluck) your way back to the farm in between magazine issues. As with any nesting hen, we prefer to accomplish our work with regularity. That’s why, if you’re an official member of MaryJane’s Farmgirl Sisterhood, our Sister Issue (formerly MaryJane’s CLUCK) will be showing up in your e-mail box on the first day of every month (well, except for January, because we head henchos take a much-needed break every December). With a cluck-cluck here and a clickclick there, we’re here for you just when you need a sisterly cyber hug the most. Let the braggin’ (er, clucking) begin!

Life made us

FRI ENDS,

MaryJanesFarm made us

SISTERS

© 2013 MaryJanesFarm • Moscow, Idaho Print Shops: You have our permission to print this in color for your customer, one of our readers. We do not consider it a violation of our copyright. –MaryJane Butters of MaryJanesFarm.

Contents

{ just a click away! } p. 16

p. 6

m Hello fro

Melyssa W illiams’ mommy hu mor

Sister #

p. 24

p. 18

greeting card dow nload you won ’t want to miss! wing need ideas for thro a baby shower?

p. 14 welcome new and renewing sisters

March 2013

p. 22 stop homesc by Cathi’s hooling dispens ar y

p. 26

ts e doughnu homemad y with Ashle

p. 36

p. 28 ad 39 bales hey! how do I lo ckup? of hay in one pi

let Irene s how you 10 herbs for spring time

p. 32

p. 41 Rebek ka Ma e of some DIY dr fers up yer ba lls

ÂŠ 2013 MaryJanesFarm â&#x20AC;˘ Moscow, Idaho

p. 34

rning old ith Shery, tu get crafty w ders into bird fee re a lw e m a n e

get crafty with CJ, making a smash book

continued ... March 2013

Contents continued ... p. 48

p. 58

p. 62

who’s gabb ing and who’s gush ing

cleaning up with MaryJane

odie

Sister Ho

p. 61 p. 51

decolatage

p. 66

décor

to y! It’s time don’t dela tage of this take advan special isterhood S ’s th n o m

who’s earning and who’s learning

p. 53

join in on ou

r Farmgirl c

hatter

March 2013

Sister L|ves

{ staff picks ... only a click away! }

What girl doesn’t love to shop, even if all you can afford is some window shopping. In this, and future issues, we’re treating ourselves and our readers to the things we love most. Come shop with us! Our favorites are only a click away.

Molly

MaryJane

Louise

Carol

Ace

Mega

Kim March 2013

m o r f Sister #1 Hello Welcome to the new and improved Sister Issue of MaryJanesFarm! You’re in for a treat this month because we’ve had a radical make-over. It all started several months ago. Actually, it started more than a year ago, when our Mountain Farmgirl blogger, Cathi Belcher (Sister #1295), proposed a regular how-to homeschooling column. That seed grew into, well, another regular mommy columnist, Melyssa Williams (Sister #161), who’s coming on board with a regular dose of something every mother craves, humor. When my children were little, I hung an inspirational message above my kitchen sink that said simply, “laugh at it.” As the official Mother Hen of the Farmgirl Sisterhood, I was painfully aware that my little “Cluck” had grown up and needed to spread its wings and turn into a full-fledged older sister, hence the new name, “MaryJanesFarm Sister Issue” (stay tuned, we have even more changes in the wings). To launch our new look, wouldn’t you know it ... our favorite local musician, Brian Gill, called to say he’d done his farmgirl homework and had written us a song. He was teaming up with a young woman I’d met at a recent book signing to perform its debut at our local co-op. Could I be there? Heck, yeah!

P.S. Spoiler alert: At the end of the video, I’m sitting at the table as deadpan as can be. It’s just that our videographer, Ace, didn’t capture my rapture (hootin’ and hollerin’) at the END of their performance. Let’s just say I was “expressive.” And they were mighty “impressive.” I know you’ll agree. Get ready to sing along. It’s a catchy tune.

March 2013

Sister L|ves

{ our favorites ... just a click away! }

s ’ e n a J y r a M

picks ks c i K ust a click away) (j

) CEO (Queen bee ) #1 (sister

Biker Kicks

Toni Brownlee: Love your FB site … and the new afghan your Sisters made for you! What wonderful friends you have. I love those boots you have on and wondered what brand they are? I’ve been looking for some gray boots and these are wonderful. Would you please share your source with me? MaryJane: I’ve had them for several years. The brand is ENDEVUR motorcycle boots. (I bought them online.) Here’s the thing. I took them to my local shoemaker to put Vibram soles on them. Also, the leather heel was boxy, so I took them to my shop and “whittled” them on the grinder to a cowgirl boot shape. Good luck!!!! (I do love them. They’re so comfortable, I could sleep in them.) Oh, and they had some sort of biker chain around the back heel that I took off and turned it into a necklace! Lookee, here’s a pair on eBay.

New Kicks

My favorite brand of NEW cowgirl boot is Corral. They’re comfortable the minute you put them on (no pain spent breaking them in) and the tops aren’t too snug on my calves.

Old Kicks

When I find an old pair of cowgirl boots in a secondhand store, I take them in to our local cobbler for a new pair of rough-n-ready Vibram soles. I also have them put Vibram soles on new boots that I buy. I’m not a fan of the smooth leather sole in ANY weather, especially when I slide around on slick carpets.

Old (don’t ask) Kicks

This pair of Tony Lama’s have been with me forever and then some. They no longer make this cut of boot, so I’ve vowed that if they ever completely wear out,

March 2013

Sister L|ves

continued ...

continued ... I’m going to find a boot maker willing to use them as a “boot last” and make a new pair for me. The leather has started to crack, so I make sure I keep them well oiled, BUT it wasn’t easy finding a neutral oil. The leather oils I’ve always used—saddle oil, neatsfoot oil, mink oil—all of them turn light leather much darker, as in “OMG, I’ve just ruined my boots!” Tarrago makes a “neutral” treatment that does the trick.

Not Right Just Yet New Kicks

I’ve had this pair for a couple of years, buying them about the time we started seeing so many new styles hitting the marketplace. Once I got them home, I realized they were too tight on my calves, so in my closet they sat UNTIL one day I used a seam ripper to unpick the sides of them down about 4 inches, found a somewhat matching piece of leather from an old belt, and gave my calves an extra 1/2 inch on each side. Stitching them back together again with an old-fashioned leather awl worked just fine. Once I got the pull straps back on, you could hardly see my mend. This brand is Dan Post. I find his styles delicious on the eyes but too tight in the calves.

Best Farm Boots Evah!

For winter boots/mud boots/summer gardening in rattlesnake country boots, I’m madly in love with my pair of Suffolk Ladies Boots by Tuffa of England. Best investment I ever made.

Red Boots!!!!!

Sandi O’Connor, Sister #3956, who posts her travel musings regularly on our Facebook page, Glampers on the Loose, made a comment when I was bragging about the great boots I find around here in secondhand stores. She said she’d love a pair of red boots in a size 8 1/2 if I ever see a pair. Well, wouldn’t you know? Here’s a pair I found for $25. I sent her a pic. She said. “MINE!” I went back to the store and grabbed ‘em quick. (I know the desperation when you’re “this close” to the perfect pair of RED cowgirl boots.) Back home, I couldn’t resist throwing in a matching apron we made here at the farm (pattern featured in my Stitching Room book).

March 2013

Two Last Boot Things:

If you’re new to boots, it pays to buy socks made specifically for boots. And remember this tip: ifn’ you find a pair of boots just a little too big or too hard-soled, slip a pair of those pamperin’ foam or gel-acious inserts into ‘em. Ahhhhhh. Happy “puppies,” happy life.

Suitcase Full of Aprons

I cleaned out my apron closet last weekend and put together a pile for our very own Beach Farmgirl (Deb Bosworth, Sister #1199) to sell in her new antique shop (a donation to the farmgirl apron cause).

Apron Giveaway

Now here’s an adorable apron that COULD BE YOURS! Tell me where you’ve seen it before. One of my books? Maybe an issue of my magazine? For all of you who get it right, your name will go into the pocket of the apron and someone will be the lucky winner of a little bit of herstory.

March 2013

Sister L|ves

{ our favorites ... just a click away! }

Carol’s picks

(just

a click

away

)

, graphic designer usiast ukulele enth (sister #3) I love funky, fabulous fashion! And since I’m plus size, I find a great selection of handmade creations in my size on Etsy— sometimes I’m just window shopping, sometimes I’m fishing for DIY-someday ideas, and once in a while, things actually end up in my closet.

March 2013

Sister L|ves

{ our favorites ... just a click away!}

Karina’s picks (just a

)

click away

graphic designer (sister #4) I’m a small-town girl from Salmon, Idaho. My wedding next August will be outside, surrounded by mountains. I have always loved anything that has vintage inspiration behind it, especially old cameras. Here’s a sneak peek at my outdoor vintage wedding I’m planning.

March 2013

Big welcome to our new and renewing Sisterhood members! Janice K. Sturgill Linda Dunkley Joyceanna Archie Dolly Sarrio Carol A. Norwood Krystle Campbell Annie McCorson Marie Hartman Sandi O'Connor Brittany McLaughlin Cynthia Graziani Diana Prollock Becky Colpitts Toni Lachine Akasha Heart Kim Reineke Debbie Montgomery Karen Stoll Lori Day Lisa Barnhart

Deanna Corbeil Mary Bronson Alison Bayne Renee Chance Louella Hoffman Andee Dekofsky Shelley Jewell Christina Pascual Janice Mainini Courtney Robbins Brianna Evanger Margaret Houchins Deborah Boutwell Heather Smith Barb Dickinson Debbie Wherry Pamela South Ellen Jeffery Cynthia Smith Lynn Peskoran

Vanessa Carter Judy Martin Melinda Danford Wenda Elliott Deborah Bangert Marcella Williams Monica Skeisvoll Wendy Darnielle Laura Bales Rachel Maurer Penny Powell Margaret Karner Lori Barnes Girdner Lana Yager Gail Miller Angela Bradley Robyn Lamb Carolyn Lemery Christine Lennon Cindy Thompson

“

Tamara Oster Margaret French Skye French Linda Cole Laurel Wise Suzanne Lucas Sarah Stehr Peggy Hohnstein Deanell Sandoval Maria Thomas Jeny Dowlin Barbara Floyd Cheryl Severeide Marie Messinger Sallie Dee Walker Debra A. Facer Shari Kuenzi Bertha Bush Gail Springman Carol Lou Gustafson

A true f riend

reaches for yo ur han d an d t o uches yo ur heart. – Author Unknown

March 2013

”

Rebecca Gour Martha Koukios Mary Jane Dunn Connie McCaffery Kimberly Galbreath-Fleming Linda Rogers Barbara Wilcher Jan Carreiro Bea Cleveland Helen L. Olson Julia Coates Deborah A. Horn Kim Campbell Donna Switzer April Reese Lori Nickel Loran Watkins Gail Holzman Melissa Schirmer Tamaya Hoyt

ÂŠ 2013 MaryJanesFarm â&#x20AC;˘ Moscow, Idaho

Rebecca Mcginnis Jo Anne Willers Fran Dewitte Karin Thomas Leigh Harner Rachel Smith Katrina Peabody Jennifer Evans Angela Raab Jacqueline Bilder Olivia Sporinksy Laurie Taylor Debbie Ornquist Sophie Messinger Ann Socolofsky Dawn Gusoff Marlene Chadd Leblanc Doris Meisell Heidi Gonzales

March 2013

Each Other

Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Mamas { EACH OTHER } with Melyssa Williams | to earn a Sisterhood badge in our { EACH OTHER } category, CLICK HERE { E A C H O TH E R } with Megan Rae | to earn a Sisterhood badge in our { E A C H O TH E R } category, CLICK HERE

Mama’s Revenge Sometimes I daydream about when my kids are grown and gone, and I can pack my bags and go visit them. Here are my plans for when I come a’callin’: We first “met” Melyssa Williams when we resoundingly chose her essay (Family Outings and Other Tales of Woe) for the Reader’s Write section of the April/May 2012 issue of MaryJanesFarm magazine. I eventually met her in person at a book signing. Going forward, we’ve officially signed her on to write a regular feature, “Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Mamas.” Now YOU can fall in love with her humor as much as we have.

Melyssa Williams (Sister #161) was a homeschooler back in the day. She spent a perfectly ridiculous amount of time reading and writing, usually in a tree, sometimes with pet chickens. Now she stays out of trees, but still reads and writes. There are three small fry in her house that refer to her as Mom, and keeping in tradition, she puts them in trees with good books. She is the author of the Shadows trilogy for Young Adults, and can be reached at www.shadowsgray.com.

March 2013

1. I will demand a certain spread for dinner, practically faint from the hunger I feel, and then refuse to partake when it is on the table. 2. I will promise to be good when they need to run errands. But I will lie. 3. When my kid peels my banana wrong or it breaks in half, I will cry and flop onto the kitchen floor in despair. Same goes for tacos. 4. I will eat so many yogurts at their friend’s house that they will rush out and buy a case of the same brand and flavor of yogurt for me at home. But I won’t eat it. 5. I will never, never, ever flush the toilet, and I will need to use every public restroom in town. 6. I will take all the pieces out of their board games and spread them all over the house. Oh, they’ll find them eventually and sort them out. But they will never find one piece from each game. 7. In my efforts to hang up my coat, I will knock down every other one in the closet. 8. I will use up every drop of their salon conditioner in one bath time, but not on my hair. No, my hair will remain full of tangles so I can wail like a banshee when they comb it for me. 9. I will crush up a bag of Cheerios and distribute them evenly in the couch cushions. 10. I will say embarrassing and questionable things when they invite the family minister over for tea. 11. I will shout for them from across the house. Even if they’re right beside me, I will go away purposefully so that I can shout something. 12. Every time they need to talk on the phone, I will suddenly need something RIGHT NOW, even if I have completely ignored them prior. 13. I will cut my own bangs without a mirror right before we go for family pictures. 14. When they take me grocery shopping, I will want to ride in the car-shaped cart. But whenever they are in a tight squeeze in an aisle I will suddenly sustain an earsplitting and horrible injury. 15. They will be so proud of my accomplishments for my age that they will want to show me off to their friends whose parents aren’t as smart as me. But I will just pick my nose. It never hurts to have a plan, says I!

Sister L|ves

{ our favorites ... just a click away! }

Molly’s picks (Just a

)

click away

graphic designer (sister #1867) I find inspiration by mixing the vintage, funky, and modern. Take a historic photograph, add a sketchy font, place a green cow on top of it, and you have yourself some uniquely beautiful art. Here are a few of my favorite fonts, colors, photos, printables, and inspirations …

March 2013

Each Other In the Shelter of Each Other

{ EACH OTHER } with Megan Rae | to earn a Sisterhood badge in our { EACH OTHER } category, CLICK HERE { E A C H O TH E R } with Megan Rae | to earn a Sisterhood badge in our { E A C H O TH E R } category, CLICK HERE

Homemade Baby Shower I’m always game for offering to throw a baby shower. Maybe it’s because I feel like a birth should be a huge celebration, or maybe it’s because I figure every mother deserves a little pampering … or maybe it’s because I love an excuse to throw a party!

Megan Rae (Sister #2) grew up “on the farm”— MaryJanesFarm. She attended Gonzaga University and received a bachelor’s degree in Journalism. After marrying her college sweetheart, they moved to Kansas and bought their first home on a cobblestone street. Her love for writing, editing, and well, her Mom, finally brought her back to the farm. Raising her 6-yearold and 3-year-old farmgirls and working alongside her husband, mother, and family is the perfect lifestyle mix for Megan. She rounds it out with travel across the country to visit her five dearest college girlfriends who she loves with all her heart (they’ve all been in each other’s weddings), and one of her favorite farmgirls that she met when she lived in Kansas (scheduled around working the cows, of course).

March 2013

When my childhood BFF, Willow Venzke, announced her third pregnancy, she made me promise “no fanfare.” I assured her I would keep it low key. So I did. We enjoyed a simple brunch complete with breakfast salads, French fries, and doughnuts! Total comfort food —with a salad thrown in for good measure. Every girl deserves a homemade doughnut during pregnancy, right? For my gift to Willow, I recruited our very own sister #665, CJ Armstrong, to stitch each guest an apron they could wear while making dinner deliveries— we all signed up for nightly deliveries of dinner for a couple of weeks after Willow brought baby home. I enjoyed using the scraps from CJ’s apron-making for the invitations and decided to use all the fabric scraps for décor. For the table runner, I simply sewed a straight stitch down all the larger pieces of fabric and saved the smallest pieces for decoupaging to canning jars for matching vases. And if you’re inclined to serve up some doughnuts for your next gathering, my SIL, Ashley, came up with a totally yummy doughnut recipe over in Farm Kitchen (p. 26).

P.S. I have another idea for a baby shower party in the April/May 2013 Issue of MaryJanesFarm magazine.

March 2013

Sister L|ves

{ our favorites ... just a click away! }

Louise’s picks (just a

)

click away

magnet refrigerator idea!) is th (steal

& Digital Photographer Specialist Imaging (sister #1862) Having a wine taste with a beer wallet, budgeting doesn’t come easy for our upcoming wedding. I’m a cowgirl at heart and putting a bit of rustic along with elegance is my ideal type of wedding. Here are a few of my favorites for my Western Elegant Wedding. A girl can dream, can’t she?

March 2013

Each Other Home Schooling with Cathi

{ EACH OTHER } with Cathi Belcher | to earn a Sisterhood badge in our { EACH OTHER } category, CLICK HERE { E A C H O TH E R } with Megan Rae | to earn a Sisterhood badge in our { E A C H O TH E R } category, CLICK HERE

Homeschool Know-how With longer days and warmer weather on the horizon, it’s more likely you’re thinking “Spring Fever” or “Summer Vacation” than “School” at the moment. But if you are homeschooling your children, or even just considering this fast-growing educational option, now is exactly the time to start planning ahead.

Cathi Belcher (Sister #1295), who pens our Mountain Farmgirl Blog, lives in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. As a “lifelong learner,” she fiercely values self-reliance, independence, freedom, and fresh mountain air. She’s also a multi-media artist, with an obsession for off-grid living and alternative housing. Cathi is married to her childhood sweetheart, and owns and operates a 32-room mountain lodge. “Mountains speak to my soul, and farming is an important part of my heritage,” says Cathi. “I want to pass on my love of these things to others through my writing.”

Howdy, Farmgirls! I’m Cathi, also known as The Mountain Farmgirl, and I’m a dyed-in-the wool homeschooler, now in my third decade of teaching my kids at home. Granted, three of them have left the nest, but one fledgling still has a couple more years to roost before he flies the coop! In the meantime, he’s a “full-fledged” homeschooler. I’ve been homeschooling since September 5, 1986—the day my oldest son Christopher was born. I didn’t know I was going to homeschool at the time—in fact, I never even knew the option existed. But the seeds were planted the first time I looked into his eyes. I KNEW that his future and our family values were too precious to trust them to the luck of the draw. As a parent, I had a sacred responsibility to this amazing little person … and in that very moment, I became my son’s first teacher. It was one of the most important decisions of my life, and our family has been on magical educational adventures ever since. Dana and I went on to have four children, and all of them have been homeschooled. I’ve been through the process from start to finish, and I can tell you first-hand that homeschooling DOES work … and that you can do it, too! Our oldest, Chris, is now 26 and the Assistant General Manager of a 4-star hotel in Pittsburgh. Noah, 23, is finishing up his BS and MS degrees at Johns Hopkins University. (By the way … the first time he ever sat in an “official” classroom was his first day of

March 2013

college.) Our daughter Alida is 21, and the Manager of the Dobra Tea House in Portland, Maine, where she is also a sophomore at the Maine College of Art. For one year, she attended a private alternative school dedicated to the arts. Our youngest son is Joshua, who is 16, and still has a couple of years left at home. Our little grammar school here in Jackson was a phenomenal experience—too good to pass up—so Josh has a couple years of the public school experience as well. Now we are cherishing every minute of the homeschool years we have left with him, knowing from experience how fast time flies. I’ll introduce you to them and their own particular homeschool challenges and successes in much more detail in future installments of this regular column. In each issue, I’ll dive into some aspect of homeschooling from every possible angle. Things like: • Is it legal? What are my state’s requirements? • Do I have what it takes to do it? • What about socialization? • Where do I start? • What curriculums should I use? • What about college … Whether you’re just thinking about it, already doing it, or just curious because you love the topic of education, I’m excited to be sharing these important topics with my Farmgirl Sisters from around the country. See you back here next month when I cover Homeschool Know-how!

“

The mother’s heart is the child’s schoolroom

– Henry Ward Beecher

” March 2013

Glamping Greeting Cards “Why wait on Hallmark?” I thought. Here are three cards for you to print and send to all your glampin’ galfriends. To keep up on what’s happening, go to InternationalGlampingWeekend and join us for some Facebook fun.

Over tea one morning, my husband and I were talking about our plans for International Glamping Weekend, June 1 & 2, 2013. As I listed all the event descriptions coming in, he said, “Well, you’ll know you’ve arrived when Hallmark offers a card about it.”

international glamping weekend 5x7 Folded Photo Card

GLAMPERS have s’more FUN ...

Inside Text: international glamping weekend june 1–2, 2013 Campers camp in tents, glampers glamp in style. Happy Glamping!

Inside Text: ... on international glamping weekend june 1–2, 2013 Happy Glamping!

March 2013

5x7 Folded Photo Card

where’s the campground at? who’s going to tell molly not to bring the preposition? ... glammar queen. 5x7 Folded Photo Card Inside text: international glamping weekend june 1–2, 2013 Happy Glamping!

your destination for what to wear when you get away

Farm Kitchen Where the Cookin’ Begins!

{ FARM KITCHEN } with Ashely Ogle | to earn a Sisterhood badge in our { FARM KITCHEN } category, CLICK HERE

Homemade Doughnuts I have always loved taking an idea and running with it, so naturally, when my sister-inlaw, Megan, asked me to develop a recipe for Budget Mix cake doughnuts, I was elated. I had always wanted to try making doughnuts, but it was one of those back-burner projects that never really progressed beyond a thought. When Megan suggested Budget Mix, a lightbulb went off, and I set to the task. It only took me one tester batch to know that my recipe was a winner, and before long, I had a baker’s dozen of fresh doughnuts and doughnut holes. I couldn’t believe how easy it was, and was chiding myself for my lack of ambition in trying to make doughnuts sooner. These guys are ready in about an hour, and seriously, nothing tastes better than a fresh doughnut that is still warm! Ashley Ogle (Sister #2222) was born and raised in northern Idaho, and has always had an intense interest in anything kitchen. Shortly after marrying MaryJane’s son, Brian, at the historic one-room schoolhouse his grandfather attended, Brian and Ashley moved back to the farm and began renovating the 1890 farmhouse that both Brian and his grandmother grew up in. And in keeping with tradition, they’ve begun to raise a family in the same house—their daughter is now 3 and another baby is on the way. Ashley works here at MaryJanesFarm as a recipe developer/food stylist, and now spends each day inventing and preparing the delicious food you see in our magazines, books, and websites.

March 2013

Budget Mix Doughnuts Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 40 minutes Makes: 13 3" doughnuts, and 13 doughnut holes

• • • • • • •

1/2 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup sugar 1 cup milk 2 eggs 1 t vanilla 4 cups MaryJane’s Budget Mix (p. 40) 32 ozs safflower oil

Topping • 2 cups sugar • 2 T cinnamon

Directions: 1. In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. 2. In a small bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, and vanilla. 3. Alternately add the Budget Mix and milk mixture to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with Budget Mix. 4. Dust a clean surface with flour and roll out dough to 1/2" thickness. Using a 3" round cookie cutter, cut out circles, then using a smaller round cookie cutter, cut holes in the center of the circles. 5. Heat about 2" safflower oil to 220°F (you can also test the oil by checking if bubbles travel away from the end of a wooden spoon inserted in the oil) in a Dutch oven or a deep saucepan. You want to have at least 3" of empty head space in the pan to prevent overflow. 6. While the oil is heating, mix together topping ingredients and set aside. 7. Once the oil is hot enough, begin frying the doughnuts in small batches, leaving enough room in between each doughnut for flipping. 8. Flip the doughnuts about every minute to promote even browning. Each batch should cook for about 6 minutes, or until doughnuts are a deep golden brown color. 9. Remove the doughnuts from the pan and place on a plate lined with paper towels Allow doughnuts to sit for about 30 seconds, and then place the doughnuts into the bowl with the cinnamon and sugar coating. Flip several times to coat. 10. Repeat this process until all the doughnuts and doughnut holes have been fried and coated.

March 2013

Garden Gate Bloom Where You’re P lanted

{ G A RD E N G A T E } with MaryJanesFarm | to earn a Sisterhood badge in our { GA RDEN GATE } category, CLICK HERE

How to Load 39 Bales of Hay (or Straw) in a Standard-size Pickup Truck A farm is all about hay and straw. Whether you’re bedding down your garden with straw or introducing your new babies to a tasty diet of new-mown hay, fact is, you’ll need a bunch. Here’s a handy guide for maximizing the load the next time you tote those bales. Just cut ’er out, stick ’er in your glove compartment, and when it’s time to load the truck, you’ll be prepared!

how to FIT

39 bales of hay in a standard-size

pickup truck

bottom 1st row

tire

2nd row

✄ January babies Piper & Patches ... ca-ute!

tire

9 bales on their 10 bales on their bottoms sides 3rd row

4th row (top)

10 bales on their 10 bales on their bottoms bottoms

Now, rope ‘er down!

March 2013

Sister L|ves

{ our favorites ... just a click away! }

Kim’s picks

(just

a click

away

)

dream boat dream boots (not in my closet any time soon)

Livestock manager (sister #666) Between working at MaryJanesFarm and taking care of my own farm, my top priorities are my hands, feet, and yes, sometimes my aching back. Here are some of my favorite things that keep this farmgirl plowin’ through.

March 2013

Sister L|ves

{ our favorites ... just a click away! }

Megan’s picks a (just

click

away)

Editor Staff writer / (sister #2)

I can completely immerse myself in the planning of a party, from the initial theme to the final logistics. My favorite part is that moment when the first guests arrive. Prior to that moment, I am busy perusing the Web for DIY stuff and/or the perfect accent to my party. Here are a few links I found while Baby Shower planning …

March 2013

Raising Jane M ary J aneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

ÂŽ

Journal

www.raisingjane.org daily entries fresh from the farm

Brought to you by:

To find out more, scan here with your smartphone.

}

Stitching & Crafting Room Stitches of Fun & Laughter! { STITCHING & C RA FTING } with Rebekka Boysen-Taylor | to earn a Sisterhood badge in this category, CLICK HERE

Wooly Dryer Balls A few winters ago, I discovered dryer balls and they have really cut down on our drying time. At that time, conventional dryer balls were made of hard plastic, and the thought of heating them made me nervous. Now, there are PVC-free versions available for around $25, but there’s a DIY alternative that is easier on your clothes and your wallet.

Rebekka Boysen-Taylor, (Sister #40) was born in Spokane, Washington, right around the time Mount St. Helens blew her top. She studied Geography at Portland State University and taught grade school in the Bronx and inner-city Los Angeles. She lives with her family on the Palouse. As a stay-at-home mama to two organically growing little ones, Rebekka rounds out her organic lifestyle by volunteering at the Moscow Food Co-op, working as an instructor for MaryJane’s Pay Dirt Farm School, embracing a DIY ethic, winning blue ribbons at the county fair, and living simply.

March 2013

With some un-dyed wool batting and a bit of worsted wool yarn (make sure it’s not “superwash yarn”—you want it to felt), you can make a pair of dryer balls in under a half hour. To begin the first dryer ball, form a golf-ball-sized ball using a few strips of the batting. Wrap your yarn snuggly around it to make a dense ball. When the ball is your desired size, tuck the loose end of yarn in tightly and run it under a bit of hot water to start the felting process. Squeeze out excess water, and if your wraps are still firmly in place, toss the ball into the dryer to finish felting. If your yarn starts to come undone, just rewrap it, get it wet, and then toss it into a stocking and return to the dryer for about 20 minutes. Repeat, and you will have a pair of wooly dryer balls. To use, just toss both balls in with your clothes. They’ll help to lift and separate the load, reducing both drying time and static cling. For sweetly scented laundry (lavender is nice), you can add a drop or two of essential oil to the balls before you start your dryer.

March 2013

Make it Easy Happy Hearts Make Light Work

{ MA KE IT EA SY } with Shery Jespersen | to earn a Sisterhood badge in our { MA KE IT EA SY } category, CLICK HERE

Enamelware Birdfeeder If you enjoy secondhand shops and antique stores, it will be easy for you to find an old pan and lid of some description for this very easy DIY project. I used old enamelware because I collect it and I had a couple of pieces that matched nicely. The pan already had a hole in it, so it was a good candidate—you’ll need to drill a few holes in the bottom of the pan for drainage. Any size pot will work. If you happen to find a pot with a handle, the handle will serve as a perch. Picture a red and white enamelware pot with a matching lid or even an old jello mold with no lid. A large roasting pan would make a good hanging feeder too—no need for a lid. Shery Jespersen (Sister #753) is a Wyoming cattle rancher who’s been horsecrazy all of her life. Shery is a leather and lace cowgirl. Her other interests include “junktiques,” creating eclectic “make do” arts and crafts, collecting antique china, and cultivating mirth.

March 2013

You’ll need: • • • • •

pot lid (optional) 1 1/2 yards of small S-hook chain and one 1" S-hook soft tie-wire, wire snips, pliers, needle-nose pliers, drill marking pen

1. With a marking pen, make three equi-distant dots on the pan. Repeat on the lid so that the lid and the pan holes line up. 2. Using a drill bit that will make holes about the size of a wooden match head, drill holes in the pan and lid on the dots. 3. With the wire snips, cut six pieces of wire about 3" long. Using the needle-nose pliers, make a curlicue circle and a half at one end of each piece. 4. Slip the straight ends of the wire pieces into the holes of the pan one at a time. Then, make a curlicue circle and a half at the other end. Repeat this process until you have little hangers in each hole of the pan and the lid. 5. Measure about 5" of the S-hook chain and make three pieces that length by separating the ‘S’ at the bottom of one end of a link. (You’ll have three pieces 5" long.) Now loop the open ‘S’ end of the chain link piece through the top loop of your wire hangers and pinch the ‘S’ shut with pliers. 6. Attach the lid to the pan the same way, inserting an open link ‘S’ into the other end of the wire loops. 7. Separate the chain into three pieces about 10–12" long. Attach the chain pieces to the top of the lid the same way you attached the other pieces to the pan. To connect the three chain pieces at the top, simply insert the large S-hook through the last holes in the chains and pinch the bottom of the S-hook closed, and it is ready to hang.

March 2013

10 Herbs for Springtime Spring is the classic time for deep-cleaning your home, but it is also a perfect time to cleanse and nurture the body. These herbals gently cleanse, nourish, and are perfect for providing energy and warmth after the cold winter months and before the busy summer months begin.

Irene Wolansky (Sister #1144) is the Marketing Director at Mountain Rose Herbs. Born and raised on the Oregon coast, Irene spent her childhood learning about beekeeping, growing and preserving fruits and vegetables, building forts in the forest, and going on adventures with her dog. She has many interests, which include making her own body care products, mushroom harvesting, gardening, arts and crafts projects, nature photography, mead and beer making, camping, herbal medicine, baking, traveling, hiking, and spending time with her boyfriend and friends. Click here to visit Mountain Rose Herbs on the Web.

Burdock root

Burdock root contains calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and other minerals. Often used for the liver, poor digestion, and as a “blood purifier.” It is a popular remedy for treating skin conditions, including eczema; psoriasis; acne; and dry, itchy, or irritated skin. Fresh burdock root can be incorporated into a stir-fry, soup, boiled, or steamed as a root vegetable. For external use, the fresh or dried root can be made into a tea and applied as a compress, or the tea can be poured directly into the bathtub.

Cayenne

This warming spice is beneficial for poor circulation and is also a digestive aid. It is also a classic ingredient in topical treatments for arthritis, muscle, and joint aches. Simply add a pinch to stir-fries, salad dressings, curries, soups, and other dishes.

Dandelion

A traditional spring tonic, the roots, leaves, and flowers of this sunny “weed” are useful

March 2013

medicine and food. The bitter roots are beneficial for the liver, a blood cleanser, and help with digestion. The leaves contain potassium, iron, calcium, and other vitamins and minerals. Enjoy them in salads. Fresh flowers may be dipped into batter and fried up as little fritters or pancakes, or made into dandelion flower wine.

Ginger

This stimulating, warming spice is beneficial for sluggish digestion, colds, poor circulation, inflammation, and is a classic treatment for motion sickness and nausea. Delicious in tea, stir-fries, curries, miso soups, and just about everything else.

Milk Thistle Seed

The classic liver herb, used to help protect the liver and regenerate liver tissue. Crush the whole seeds and brew them into a tea, grind over salads, or use an herbal extract.

Nettle

Nettle is a useful spring tonic to restore energy and vitality. This nutritious plant has many medicinal uses, contains a host of vitamins and minerals, is a blood builder, cleanses, and helps build resistance to seasonal allergies. Brew this plant into nourishing infusions that give a boost of energy and are chockfull of minerals and vitamins including iron, calcium, chlorophyll, potassium, and magnesium. Nettle grows wild throughout North America and Canada. Pick the fresh tender tips in the springtime, before they go to flower. Be careful when handling this plant, it stings! Harvest safely with gloves, and make sure to fully cook, boil, or steam the plant before consuming it.

Oats

Milky oat tops and oat straw are a favorite amongst herbalists. Once of the best nutritive herbs, this herb benefits the nervous system, relieving stress, exhaustion, irritation, anxiety, adrenal burnout, and sleeplessness. They can also be used externally to sooth dry, itchy, irritated, and chapped skin and sunburns. Brew into a tea, and enjoy the fresh green flavor.

ÂŠ 2013 MaryJanesFarm â&#x20AC;˘ Moscow, Idaho

continued ... March 2013

continued ...

Red Clover

So pretty, with its colorful flowers, this common “weed” is high in calcium, Vitamin C, B vitamins, beta-carotene, minerals, and has a long history of use as a blood and lymphatic cleanser. It can also be used externally as a wash or compress for eczema, psoriasis, and other skin conditions. To take advantage of red clover’s benefits, simply brew into a tea, and sip away.

Turmeric

One of the most well-known and beloved Ayurvedic spices, turmeric is popular for its anti-inflammatory and immuneboosting properties and is a helpful digestive aid. It is also a traditional treatment for arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. It may be easily incorporated into curries and other dishes. Or, make a traditional Ayurvedic “golden milk” by mixing a small amount of powdered turmeric root into a cup of milk and add honey to taste.

March 2013

Recipes

Nourishing Infusion

These nourishing herbs provide essential vitamins and minerals, are so nourishing, taste delicious, and give a nice caffeinefree energy boost. Perfect as an afternoon “pick-me-up” or when the body feels run down or in need of nourishment. •nettle leaf •oats, milky tops or oat straw •red clover Use one of the above herbs or a combination. Simply place a handful of dried herbs in a glass quart jar, pour boiling water over them, cap the jar, and then the mixture sit overnight. In the morning, strain the mixture, and then drink throughout the day.

Rooty Bitters

The bitter taste of these roots stimulates the flow of saliva and digestion. Bitters are beneficial for poor and sluggish digestion, gas, bloating, and constipation, they help our bodies process nutrients, stimulate the metabolism, and increase appetite. Simply take a few drops before a meal to get the digestive juices going. • • • •

1 part burdock root 1 part dandelion root 1/4–1/2 part binger root (depending on how spicy you like it) 100-proof vodka or other alcohol of choice, or use a 50:50 mixture of Everclear to water

Place all herbs into a glass Mason jar, cover with alcohol. Make sure that the herbs are covered by at least 1–2" of alcohol. Add more alcohol as needed if the herbs swell above the alcohol. Place the jar in a dark area, and shake at least once per day (or as often as you remember). After 4–8 weeks, strain through cheesecloth, reserving the liquid and composting the spent herbs. Pour the bitters formula into glass bottles, and store in a dark, cool area.

Cleansing Tea

A twist on the classic lemon juice and cayenne “master cleanse” drink, this beverage incorporates ginger and turmeric. This spicy and healthful beverage is especially beneficial first thing in the morning to help cleanse and flush the body. • • • • •

squeeze of fresh lemon juice or apple cider vinegar pinch of organic cayenne powder pinch of fresh or dried powdered ginger root a pinch of dried powdered turmeric root honey, maple syrup, or molasses (optional) to taste

Mix all ingredients into a cup of hot water, and enjoy. Happy spring!

March 2013

MARYJANESFARM

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SPECIAL ISSUE • SPECIAL ISSUE • SPECIAL ISSUE • SPECIAL ISSUE • SPECIAL ISSUE • SPECIAL ISSUE • SPECIAL ISSUE

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EVERYDAY ORGANIC on a BUDGET

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To find out more, scan here with your smartphone.

Outpost

Unleashing Your Inner Wild { OUTPOST } with CJ Armstrong | to earn a Sisterhood badge in our { OUTPOST } category, CLICK HERE

Smash Book Project Photo Album

In this Sister Issue, we’d like to welcome guest writer and apronista, CJ Armstrong (Sister #665). CJ, who was our 2010 Farmgirl of the Year, is the one woman we know who’s capable of stealing anyone and everyone’s heart. CJ and her sidekick daughter, Robin, can be found in campgrounds around the country glamming up their tricked-out tent, wearing CJ’s tricked-out aprons. CJ makes the world a MUCH better (and properly aproned) place! See CJ’s creations at FarmFreshAprons.

This is a simple little craft project that would be great for a group project at your next glamper gathering and as a “take-home” memento to put photos in from the event. I purchased albums at Walmart that cost $1 each and hold 24 4" x 6" photos. The cover is clear plastic and has removable cardstock inserts in both the front and back. Use these inserts as a pattern to cut your piece of MaryJane’s Glamping Oilcloth (check with your local quilt shop as to when they will have it in stock–tell them it’s a Moda fabric) so they are a good fit. I suggest reinserting them to help stiffen the covers a bit. Some of the ones I purchased have a glittery pink side, so I put them to the inside where you can still see them, but the glamping cover is to the outside. Cut grosgrain ribbon to the length that fits all the way around the album, allowing plenty to tie a bow with a little room to tuck other mementos in your album. For these albums, the ribbon should be at least 28" long. I found ribbon in lots of fun colors, some with polka dots, some with checks, and some with stitching lines on the edges. Using Aleene’s 7800 All Purpose Platinum Bond, I put an adequate “dab” on the spine of the album and another dab on the ribbon at the point where it would attach to the album. Wait just a few seconds, then press together. This glue will not set up right away, and I use clips to hold items in place until they have dried. There are many other adhesive choices available; this is the one I like the best. The E-6000 craft glue is another one that works well; however, I

March 2013

continued ... find it has a very strong odor that does not dissipate for a long time. If you want to have more surface of the ribbon glued to the album, you could put more glue on the cover, but you don’t want to take up the slack in the ribbon on either the front or back so that you can’t tie it in a bow. After it has dried for a while, I then select buttons and narrower ribbon, silk flowers, or whatever I like to decorate the cover, using the same adhesive and process. Place the album under something flat and heavy to press until everything has dried.

Supplies for Group Craft Project: • photo albums of your choice • MaryJane’s Glamping Oilcloth (check with your local quilt shop as to when they will have it in stock–tell them it’s a Moda fabric). Yardage determined by size of albums. (The books I have take two pieces that are 4 1/2" x 6"). I suggest these pieces be precut to save on trying to roll out the oilcloth, mark it off, and cut nice straight pieces. • Aleene’s 7800 All Purpose Platinum Bond clear glue • buttons in a variety of colors, sizes, and shapes • grosgrain ribbon in a variety of colors, 1/2–3/4" widths • 1/8–1/4" ribbons in a variety of colors to use to tie through buttonholes • clips or clothespins to use to help keep things secure while glue is drying. • small silk flowers, if desired … or anything else that suits your fancy. Take photo, make memories, insert in your little album, and enjoy ... small enough to pack it around to show your friends and make them jealous!

Memory Book

I took 50 sheets of 8 1/2" x 11" white cardstock to a local printshop and asked them to cut them in half and bind with a spiral binding. They also added a clear plastic cover on the front and back. I have also had them bind the cardstock without cutting it, so that I have a larger book. While I chose white cardstock, it would be any color or combination of colors. Fortunately, we have a local family-owned printshop that does this for me, and the cost is less than $3 per album.

March 2013

Cut two pieces of oilcloth just a wee bit smaller than the size of the top cardstock page, and I cut mine with pinking shears. Using a 1" paint brush, with the oilcloth laying on protective paper with the print side down, brush on Aleene’s White Tacky Glue, keeping it as even as possible and not too thick, and then press onto the cardstock page, watching for nice straight even margins. Repeat for the back cover and then let dry for a short period of time. After they are partially dry and before the pages might begin to bend, I press them under a stack of books for several hours or even days to make sure they are dry and there is no buckling of the pages. This book isn’t embellished on the front cover yet because it’s a book I want to take on my glamping adventures this summer and the things that go in it and the embellishments are things that must evolve as the adventures unfold. But I did take lengths of ribbon, approximately 5" long, to tie on the spine to doll that up a bit.

Smash Book

Basically, this a book where I can tuck things, write little notes, jam and cram, and just “smash it” in. I made this book as well, using an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of chipboard, cut it in half on my paper cutter, and then started cutting all kinds of scrapbook paper, cardstock (some of it patterned on both sides), envelopes, and calendar pages from my older MJF calendars, and took it all to the same printshop for spiral binding. The pages are not all the same size or dimensions, and I didn’t want them to be. The calendar page with the sewing machine on it is folded in half with the fold to the outside, and using glue, brads, and a bit of lace, I cut a curve in the top of the page and made a nice pocket page for tucking things inside. The other calendar pages will have the photos on one side and the calendar pages on the other side, which is upside down. The calendar page is where I can glue photos or other things like that and it will cover the upside-down day blocks. For some of the pages, I used double-sided cardstock, 12" long, cut to 4 1/2–5 1/2". Measuring 8" down, I then scored the page for folding and folded it up to make a pocket. I used a glue-dot runner on the edges to seal them down and then eyelets at the corners to secure them. The front and back covers of the chipboard are covered with the MJF Glamping Oilcloth in the same manner as the Memory Book, and the contents and embellishments also will be added as the adventures happen.

March 2013

continued ... Options for Binding Journals or Smash Books

If you are not able to find a printshop or someone who can do the spiral binding for you, other options would include punching the holes yourself with either an awl, paper punch, or drill with small drill bit. Then you could bind them up with hinged snap rings, ribbon, or twine. You could also purchase a 3-ring binder with clear front/back pockets that you can slip your own photos, cards, etc. into to decorate and then fill it with your own pages, envelopes, pocket pages, and such. I’m not sure you would be able to get a piece of oilcloth into the clear front pockets without gluing it to cardstock for firmness. But you could also purchase a binder that the oilcloth could be just directly glued onto, along with all the embellishments you want. There are all kinds of scrapbooks out there in a variety of sizes already bound with heavy cardstock pages that could be purchased, the front and backs decorated with the oilcloth and embellishments galore. The same could be done with some ready-made smash books that are available; however, the pages aren’t blank or without design or color. So, you’d have to check that out to see if what’s already printed there is to your liking. Taking my books along allows me to add to them as we go. I carry a ziplock bag with one pair of regular scissors, two pair of fancy edge scissors which are “deckle” and “pinking/zig-zag”, pens, felt-tip pens, glue sticks, glue-dot runners with refills, paperclips, and a few smaller envelopes just in case I want to keep track of small items without putting them in the book. Voila! After you’ve made CJ's memory book, you'll need to store it in a safe place, right? Have you heard of ZquaredAway? Roberta Flood wants to help you protect your every memory. Roberta, the mother of three and the spouse of a Coast Guard pilot, was an Army Aviator before motherhood who also has degrees in horticulture and landscape architecture. After Roberta witnessed the sadness experienced by a friend who lost hundreds of hours of scrapbooking memories in a fire (and the subsequent efforts to douse it with water), Roberta used her aviator knowledge of materials that provide life-preserving shielding from fire to create scrapbook covers that protect them from fire, heat, and water. (Both CJ and MaryJane have lost homes to fire.) www.zquaredaway.com “Fire Fighter Gear for What You Hold Dear”

March 2013

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MaryJane's GPDB Sampler Hi girls! I've found something that's close to my heart, a company that is very much in line with my own. The Green PolkaDot Box (“GPDB”) is an organic foods buying club committed to making healthy foods available everywhere and affordable for everyone. I love what they’re about. Plus, they make it easy. I’ve asked them to make a MaryJane’s GPDB Sampler Offer for readers of my magazine. To claim your free sampler with free shipping (at no cost whatsoever), grab your April/May 2013 issue of MaryJanesFarm magazine and follow the instructions on their ad.

Because this offer is only available in a limited supply, don’t delay. I want my Sisters to be first in line!

Sister L|ves

{ our favorites ... just a click away! }

Ace’s picks ) (just a click away

ucer Multimedia Prod 2) #4 (sister I graduated from Washington State University and live with my cat, Rascal, in the wilds of Viola, Idaho. When not shooting food photography, I bartend for the local hooligans, shuck corn, shoot squirrels, and knit beer cozies. Here are a few things that tickle my fancy.

March 2013

Cleaning Up The Work of Our Hands

{ CLEA NING UP } with MaryJanesFarm | to earn a Sisterhood badge in our { CLEA NING UP } category, CLICK HERE { CLEA NING UP } with MaryJanesFarm | to earn a Sisterhood badge in our { CLEA NING UP } category, CLICK HERE

Turning the Tide You’ve heard the expression. It summons notions of the impossible, impractical, insurmountable … Not in this lifetime, honey. Stuff like that. But “can’t do” isn’t part of Lori Alper’s vocabulary. She set out to turn the Tide, and, by golly, she did it ... Lori is the Founder and Editor of Groovy Green Livin, a Web collective of eco-friendly lifestyle ideas, news, and info. In 2011, she featured a report released by Women’s Voices for the Earth that revealed high levels of the cancer-causing chemical 1,4-dioxane in Tide and Tide Free & Gentle laundry detergents. (And, no, it wasn’t listed on the product labels.) Not satisfied to simply put the info “out there,” Lori took action. “I started a petition over at Change.org demanding that Procter & Gamble (makers of Tide) strip this harmful cancer-causing chemical out of Tide Free & Gentle,” Lori explains on her website. “As it turned out, I wasn’t the only one who wanted these cancer-causing chemicals out of their Tide laundry detergent.” This is why the Internet never ceases to amaze me … Lori’s petition went viral, in the best sense of the word. Over 78,000 concerned citizens signed on, insisting that Procter & Gamble change the formulation of their Tide detergent. Now that is how tides are turned. “We knew Procter & Gamble could make this change because they’ve done it before. Back in 2010, the company reformulated its Herbal Essences shampoo to eliminate 1,4-dioxane. We continued to turn up the volume, letting Procter & Gamble know that we wouldn’t stop until they made a change.” The result? On January 24, Procter & Gamble agreed to reduce levels of the carcinogenic chemical in Tide Free & Gentle to below 25 parts per million by September 2013. “I want to thank everyone who signed my petition and sent a message to Procter & Gamble,” Lori says. “I am so happy to be a part of the movement to keep our families safe. I can’t wait to see what we do next.”

March 2013

The next step toward safer laundry? DIY. You can rest easy knowing exactly what’s in your detergent (and your fabric softener) if you make ‘em yourself. Don’t worry—it’s easy! Here are two of my favorite farmgirl-approved formulations:

Powdered Laundry Soap 1 2 2 1

bar Castile soap, grated cups Borax cups washing soda cup baking soda

Combine all of the ingredients and store in a covered jar. Use 1/4 cup per load.

Lavender Laundry Softener 1 cup dried lavender buds 1 qt white vinegar 2–4 drops lavender essential oil Combine the mixture and let it sit for a week before using.

March 2013

The Scoop MaryJanesFarm News

Index Available!

We have all the back issues of MaryJanesFarm Sister Issue available for download on our website. CLICK HERE to read back issues.

[TIP] Use the seach/find tool in your browser to look up keywords in back issues.

Farmgirls Unite! If you are hosting a farmgirl event, open to all farmgirls, send the event description, date, location, and contact info to megan@maryjanesfarm.org. Megan will keep Sisters up-to-date on upcoming gatherings.

Upcoming: Farmgirls on the Loose: “There’s No Place Like Home!” (see p. 53) Finger Lakes Farmgirls Gathering (see p. 53) Glamping Weekend (see p. 53) If you’re a Sisterhood member, click here to download a FREE Farmgirls on the Loose logo! Enter your Sisterhood number; password is: FGLoose (case-sensitive) (Fun logo ideas: frame it, use it for transfers on shopping bags, totes, and pillows, or make it into a sticker for your trailer!)

March 2013

MARCH Sisterhood Special

20% OFF Bulk Foods Let the world know (for free):

You’re a Farmgirl!

MaryJanesFarm P.O. Box 8691 Moscow, ID 83843

Marie Hilliard 1798 Pannell Rd. Monroe, GA 30655

MaryJanesFarm P.O. Box 8691 Moscow, ID 83843

Here’s how: When you place an order with us, write the address text you want on your return mailing labels (3 lines preferred, 4 lines okay) in the “order comments” during checkout; we’ll print up one page of return address labels, drop them in the order going out to you, and you’re good to go … tell the world you’re a Farmgirl (and mighty proud of it!).

any order over $50 FREE SHIPPING on (U.S./Domestic orders only) (Exclusive to MaryJane’s Farmgirl Sisterhood members only. Offer good the month of March, 2013 only. Offer applies to UPS Ground and Standard Post only.) When checking out, log in to your account to receive free shipping. For questions, call Brian at 1-888-750-6004

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WHY ORGANIC? Organic cotton is safer for you, for farmers, for your children, and for the environment. My 325 thread count percale sheets feel softer, smell cleaner, and are more hypoallergenic. Not only do they coordinate with the bed sets in my MaryJaneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Home collection, the fitted sheet has deep corners that fit even the thickest of mattresses.

farmgirl ingenuity

WHY PERCALE? In a percale sheet, yarns are woven one over and one under each other to produce a tighter, higher-quality weave than that of standard sheets. Percale sheets are longer lasting, hold up better to washing, and are smoother. They also have that crisp, oldfashioned, delicious feel from an era gone by when sheets were built to last.

Modern. Southern. Style.

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Farmgirl Sisterhood Share in the Fun!

Farmgirl Chatter

What are farmgirls chatting about? Check it out at The Farmgirl Connection link here!

Farmgirl Calendar: Western NY: Finger Lakes Famgirls Gathering, March 24 Hello to all my NY state farmgirl neighbors! You are invited to a Finger Lakes farmgirl gathering on Sunday, March 24, at my home in Avon (about 20 minutes south of Rochester). Come spend a cozy afternoon (2–4 p.m.-ish) with fellow farmgirls, join in with a “I made this” show and tell, and enjoy some English tea-time confections. (Lovingly created by non other than my sis “DEVONGAL” here on the farm, who will be visiting from the UK). Let’s kick off spring and have some Farmgirl Fun! All are welcome, just let me know here (or PM me) if you will be able to come, and don’t forget to subscribe also so that you don’t miss any important details! West Bend WI: Glamping Weekend, September 20–22 Calling all WI, IL, MN, and everyone one else ... I would like to do a Glamping weekend here at my place in West Bend, WI. September 20–22. Weather here in Wisconsin will still be very nice. We have room for Campers and Tents; we have a small 1-car garage-size cabin and hopefully by then, a composting toilet. TeeHee!!! We all ready have a firepit for cooking and every other luxury we need. Crafting classes and a trunk sale, along with games, and I am sure LOTS of YUMMY FOOD and Farmgirl Chitchat!!! West Bend has a wonderful Farmers’ Market on Saturday morning and close-by antique shops, resale shops, and lakes for fishing. Hope to see you all in September! Click here to learn more. Lindsborg, KS: Farmgirls on the Loose, May 2–5 It’s time for the Farmgirls on the Loose to follow the yellow brick road and go to Lindsborg, Kansas, “Little Sweden USA,” the land of the Wild Dala, Swedish meatballs, shopping and more! We’ll be glamping along the Smoky Hill River from Thursday, May 2 to Sunday, May 5, 2013. Click here to learn more.

A Farm of My Own: Hawks on the Feeders. Submitted by HemetGardener Does anyone else have trouble with hawks attacking the little birds on the feeders? How can you keep the hawks away? Share your experience here. A Farm of My Own: Is a move to Idaho in our future? Submitted by JoyIowa Greetings Fellow Farmgirls, After having lived in the Midwest most all of our lives, the time has come to move on. We have known for about 10 years that this day was coming, and have spent a fair amount of time camping our way through a lot of the U.S. looking for a place to

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March 2013

continued ... call home. About 3 years ago, we visited friends in Idaho southwest of Stanley and fell in love with Idaho. We have spent a total of about 6 months since all over Idaho in all seasons. It is the one place my hubby and I feel totally at home, and keep coming back to as we continue to ponder. We are both teachers. I was offered a position last summer at a small school, but was unable to take it at the time due to some family obligations. I know the physical features/climate/etc. varies greatly. We live pretty simple, homebound lives and ideally would like to live in a small, remote town. (I have dreamt of teaching in a one-room schoolhouse since college.) We have no children and pretty much no ties. My questions (in no particular order): 1. What Idaho-specific questions do we need to ask ourselves to make this decision? 2. How do people native to Idaho really feel about outsiders coming in to make a new life? (This question stems from the one “interesting” encounter we had while fixing a flat tire on a fire road. It didn't scare us off, just made us more curious.) 3. Anything else you think we might need to consider? Share your thoughts here. Barnyard Buddies: Dairy goats and medicated feed? Submitted by kristin Sherrill If I do put my goats on medicated feed like the vet suggested, can the milk be used for human consumption? Give your advice here. Barnyard Buddies: Looking for a good hatchery Submitted by rubyleesmom With spring on its way, we want to order some new chicks. Does anyone know of a good hatchery? Share your advice here. Cleaning Up: How Can I Remove Grease From Clothing? Submitted by Ninibini My son has a terrible habit of forgetting to put his work clothes in the work clothes basket, and last week, I didn’t catch the work shirt he threw in with the regular clothes. Long story short, I now have oily stains on one of my cotton blend dresses. I did wash the dress twice, pre-treating with an all-natural cleaner that usually works, but these stains just aren’t coming out. Do you have any suggestions? This is a fairly new dress, I'd like to salvage it, if possible! Share your experience here. Family Matters: Spouse date night. Submitted by FieldsofThyme We are back to trying “date night” again. Now I don’t mean we’ll be going out to eat every time, and I don’t mean the movies every time, either. Sometimes, we just lock ourselves in our room, rent or get a free movie, take our dinner with us, and simply separate ourselves from the kids for one night. I loooove pasta for these nights. In the summer, date night can typically start on the porch or patio—again no kids. Don’t get me wrong ... I love the kids, but “date night” means my husband and I “dating” again. If you do this too, what types of entertainment do you do? (Other than the movie theater and out to eat.)

March 2013

I recently found out about a local winery that does wine-tasting nights. I’m considering that too, but we are looking for more inexpensive ideas too. We enjoy going out for coffee and browsing bookstores too. I’m looking into museums that have low entrance fees as well. Share your experience here. Farm Kitchen: An Eggsperiment. Submitted by prariehawk I just fixed two fried eggs in my cast-iron skillet. Egg #1 was from a factory farm. The yolk was pale and runny. Egg #2 was from a free-range chicken. The yolk was bright orange and stayed firm. Guess which egg tasted the best? I’ll never buy factory eggs again. Share your story here. Farm Kitchen: What’s on your kitchen table right now? Submitted by HodgeLodge Farmgirls, I am just curious about what is on your kitchen table right now. I know I always have something or some project I am working on. This weekend, it is sewing French-cut pantaloons and paracord bracelets. I usually keep my great-aunt Jean’s silver candlesticks, silverplate salt and pepper caddy, 4 placemats with napkins, and under one placemat, my mail or most recent paperwork I'm working on. At the end of the weekend, I will clear away my project and start again. All my friends in the neighborhood come through the back door right into the kitchen. So ... always something on the table. What’s on your table? Share here. Garden Gate: Who has started this year’s gardening? Submitted by Tina Michelle Getting ready to plant soon. I normally start planting seeds for peas and lettuces on Feb. 14. And yes, today I have one 4-foot by 8-foot garden bed ready for seeds. I assembled and filled a large tower planter today that will hold 26 strawberry plants. I put that at the end of a 4-foot by 8-foot raised bed that has my raspberry canes in it also so all my berry plants can be near the same area for easy harvesting. I have about eight strawberry plants that survived the winter that I will remove from a 4-foot by 8-foot garden bed and put them into the stacking tower planter. Then I’ll replenish soil in the area they were in and sow seeds for veggies in that garden bed. I am going to take some leftover herb plants out of another area and pot them up and add new soil to that raised bed area also this week for sowing beans and a few other things. I have a total of five 4-foot by 8-foot raised bed garden areas, plus an 8-foot square iris bed. One garden area houses raspberries and will now have the strawberry tower in it too, one had herbs but will be converted back to veggies, one had strawberries but will be converted back to veggies also, and one is a permanent asparagus bed (yes, asparagus can be grown in central Florida—yay!)

Gosh, I am excited about seeing the first seeds sprouting … what about you? What garden plans do you have this year? Share about your garden plans here.

Garden Gate: Rose Starts. Submitted by FARMALLChick I was given two roses from the funeral of a dear friend. My DH and I wanted to try to make them start. His grandmother used to do it all time. We looked online for tips for doing this. We decided that since we had two stems to use, we would try

March 2013

continued ... two different methods. He used honey and I used rooting hormone. We put the two stems in a pot and put it on top of the fridge where the cats can’t get to them. That was one week ago. I have been checking soil moisture and keeping it moist, not wet. I looked last night and all the leaves had turned brown and crispy and fell off. I checked the soil again and it was still moist. What did we do wrong? Or maybe it was just the type of roses? I haven't pulled them out of the soil to check for roots—too scared to! Give your advice here. Herbal Wisdom: Severe chapped hands. Submitted by queenmushroom I work in fast food. Going from dish water to cold frigid drive thru has done a number on my hands. I put some bag balm on them and put socks over them when I went to bed last night. Has helped some. Will have to again tonight. Share your suggestions here. Off the Grid/Homesteading Skills: Fireplace question. Submitted by katlady93 Can anyone explain the concept of banking a fire? We are trying to use the woodstove more, and it is okay as long as we are awake to keep feeding it. Someone told me I needed to “bank” the fire but wasn’t able to explain how to do it. I have tried reading about how to do it; so far have not been successful. Can anyone help? Give your advice here. Here’s to Your Health: Genetic Roulette–GMOs and Our Health. Submitted by Fiddlehead Farm Here is the link to the full documentary on GMOs and our health. We as farmgirls can unite and pledge not to buy GMOs. As consumers, we have the power to hit them in the pocketbook. This documentary is a rude awakening and has me emptying my cupboards. I didn’t think I had any GMOs, but alas I found some and in the trash they went. As of today, I am committing to ALL organic and non-GMO. I have been growing and buying local or organic including my meat for a couple of years now but still have some hidden in things I buy. I have an I-phone app that helps me identify them. After watching this documentary I am sure that my Rheumatoid Arthritis is due to the GMOs that have been in my diet. Most people don’t even realize it. If we all stop buying these items and purchase organic and local not only will this impact the big companies that make the GMOs (Monsanto), but it will also bring up the demand for organic and local which will help to lower the prices. Who is on board? For a donation of $2.99, watch the 1 hour, 27 minute movie here.

March 2013

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Farmgirl Sisterhood Social Media I’m doubling back to make sure you’re aware of all the social media happenings at MaryJanesFarm, because you won’t want to miss a thing—especially the moment when YOU’RE the sister featured on one of our Facebook pages simply because you’re just so farmgirl awesome or you’ve earned a badge or your blog post from our Sisterhood blogging community over at www.GirlGab.com was featured. (This is my favorite daily pleasure. I LOVE GirlGab!) As ladies of the Sisterhood, now numbering 4,882 (and counting), we’ve earned an amazing number of Merit Badges so far—6,641 total! We’ve recently started alerting earned Badges daily on our MaryJanesFarm Facebook page. We started out alerting just the expert-level earners, but decided recently to alert all levels AND add photos if you include them. We’re just so durn proud! Can you hear the clucking? My blog, www.raisingjane.org, is a little bit more of the fun and frilly that you’ve come to expect from MaryJanesFarm, and is my outlet for conversation in between magazines. If you’re a Facebook or Twitter kind of gal, you’ll find my posts teased on my Twitter account and my Facebook account. Updates for all things glamorously glampifying for International Glamping Weekend can be found here, at its Facebook fan page. Facebook and Twitter not your thing? Then, our Pinterest page can keep you up-to-date with recipes, projects, products, and beautiful images captured here at my farm.

March 2013

Exclusive for Sisters! Fr on t

Back

Sisterhood Necklace

We’ve partnered with Elaine Tolson of Washington to offer this lovely bit of vintage-style jewelry—for Sisterhood members only. Your necklace will be emblazoned with your own unique Sisterhood number, setting your braggin’ rights in stone. Whether you wear it as a secret code for those in-the-know, or as a conversation starter about the Sisterhood, is up to you. Click here to order yours.

arm Sisterhood ch It is a Farmgirl e. m r fo m ar ch d you made a is Veronica an u. yo l Hi, my name ai m on the I just had to esaw my name necklace and detail. When I d saw the to an n e io ag nt ck te at pa ened the quality and op I ch n su he en, when w ed Th ct en ?” pe r ex ne I knew! Th a, what’s that eo am m First off, I neve so “M , m id fro sa 3) ght it was ughter (who is package, I thou iled and my da sm I h, uc po . p little burla erally gasped website, e necklace, I lit ar yJanesFarm M e th I pulled out th me on o ot have bought so e from a ph of the chain. I would look lik it th e t ng Th ha le t. w e or th ew sh d ! I kn soooo . I love It’s so beautiful y expectations ball chains are ! nted that the ce exceeded m oi the perfect size la pp is ck sa is ne di th is s e, th ay t lik w al bu as w I I’m d it, an w n I sa Etsy.com ebsite, so whe necklaces on your to me on the w l al sm s ok ve you put into lo charm the obvious lo am most d I an d il An ta . de ds ally for such l of my frien al on rs ith pe w u te yo si k eb ur w to than ture. itely sharing yo I just wanted m you in the fu Etsy? I’m defin fro on ) u (s m yo e ar Ar ch r t. he craf ot an ng yi g to be bu definitely goin necklace. bargain for this a t go I e lik el n, and I fe Thank you agai

Hello Elaine!

Sincerely, ette Veronica Laviol

March 2013

Sister Hoodies Get Your Sister Hoodie On! I’m a hoodie aficionado. The first thing I do when I get ready for some down time is evacuate my bra, put on a baggy cotton shirt, some loose tights, comfy socks, a pair of Tom’s shoes, and a HOODIE!!!! But not all hoodies are created equal. Some are a bit too heavy and stiff, especially after they’ve been washed the first time. Some are too thick and bulky. Those hoodies that are partially synthetic, pill over time. (Gross.) Some are too tight or too short in the arms, or baggy going into the banding on the waist. Some are … See what I mean? I’m a hoodie fussbudget. Speaking of budget, I went on a mission. I wanted to come up with a 100% organic hoodie that didn’t cost a fortune and met all my fussy particulars. I wanted it in several different colors to suit my mood and the season (I wear a hoodie in all four.) I wanted … There I go again. Fussy. When I finally came up with my dream hoodie, my husband said, “You should share them with your Sisters and call them Sister Hoodies.” (Now you know why I love him.) Here SHE is … and with a SISTERHOOD embellishment thrown in (for you to attach). Read on ...

March 2013

With your Sister Hoodie, you’ll receive one washable 4 1/2" printed muslin square, some embroidery floss, and a needle. For now, we have four different embellishment choices (below). Then, you decide where to announce your Sister Hoodie uniqueness! Think top of arm, middle back, lower sides (for the more trendy, groovy Sisters—I mean younger), lapel, or why not, she even looks “good in the hood.” One last thing: Because each hoodie is a custom order, please be patient with us. It may take a couple of weeks before we can ship it, but we’ll let you know the minute it’s on its way to you.

Choose from:

farmgirlat heart

busy bee,

happy me!

sister #

your Sisterhood Number HERE

continued ... March 2013

7527 U

continued ...

281 U

Colors

Made in USA Certified 100% ORGANIC COTTON fleece combed ring spun 7.2 oz/sq yd. Item Details: hood with drawstring full front zipper two front pouches

7527 U

Women’s Sizes

Black U

Laundry instructions: Cold wash, like colors. Line dry preferred or dryer/very LOW heat.

March 2013

blueberry

7527 U 281 U charcoal

S M L XL 2XL Front Body Length (from HPS) 27" 28" 29" 30" 30" Bust Measurement (1" below armhole from 19.5" 21.5" 23.5" 25.5" 27.5" armhole to armhole, NOT around chest)

Please note: • Front Body Length could vary 1" up or down in length. • Chest Measurement could vary 1/2" up or down on width of chest. • Because dye lots may vary, color matching on all shipments not guaranteed.

sweet cream

chocolate

Black U Black 4 U

Meg is wearing a size small

HPS (high point shoulder)

BUST (1" below armhole)

Black U

Black U Black 4 U

,eeb ys

!em yppah

# retsi

Order your Sister Hoodie! (CLICK HERE)

P.S. Don’t forget to give us your Sisterhood Number.

$53.49 your Sisterhood Number HERE

# re65 tsi March 2013

Merit Badge Awardees

Merit Badge Awardees Alison Bayne: MumtopianAlly #4833 Beginner badge: Stitching & Crafting / Sew Wonderful Barbara Roberts: Healthy Eating #2237 Beginner badge: Each Other / Blogging Beginner badge: Cleaning Up / Recycling Beginner badge: Garden Gate / Herbs Beginner badge: Make it Easy / Relaxation Intermediate badge: Garden Gate / Herbs Intermediate badge: Make it Easy / Relaxation Intermediate badge: Cleaning Up / Recycling Intermediate badge: Each Other / Blogging Expert badge: Cleaning Up / Recycling Expert badge: Make it Easy / Relaxation Breanna Helgesen: Breanna #2507 Beginner badge: Make it Easy / Let’s Get Physical Christine Andrade: mtcs777 #4612 Beginner badge: Farm Kitchen / Recipes Beginner badge: Stitching & Crafting / Sew Wonderful Beginner badge: Stitching & Crafting / Buttoned Up Beginner badge: Stitching & Crafting / Aprons Intermediate badge: Stitching & Crafting / Aprons Intermediate badge: Farm Kitchen / Recipes CJ Armstrong: ceejay48 #665 Beginner badge: Cleaning Up / Recycling Beginner badge: Each Other / Languages/Culture Beginner badge: Make it Easy / Relaxation Beginner badge: Outpost / Glamping Beginner badge: Garden Gate / Herbs Intermediate badge: Outpost / Glamping Intermediate badge: Cleaning Up / Recycling Intermediate badge: Each Other / Languages/Culture Intermediate badge: Make it Easy / Relaxation

March 2013

Intermediate badge: Garden Gate / Herbs Expert badge: Make it Easy / Relaxation Expert badge: Cleaning Up / Recycling Expert badge: Each Other / Languages/Culture Colina Washburn: rubyleesmom #3408 Beginner badge: Cleaning Up / Recycling Intermediate badge: Cleaning Up / Recycling Expert badge: Cleaning Up / Recycling Darla Armstrong: cowgirlup@21 #4391 Beginner badge: Make it Easy / Let’s Get Physical Diane Kasperzak: DiDi #3657 Beginner badge: Make it Easy / In the Garden Beginner badge: Outpost / Fishing Beginner badge: Each Other / Languages/Culture Intermediate badge: Outpost / Fishin Expert badge: Stitching & Crafting / Knitting Emily Hack: alterationsbyemily #2951 Beginner badge: Farm Kitchen / ChillOver ComeOver Beginner badge: Cleaning Up / Recycling Intermediate badge: Outpost / Rocks & Minerals Expert badge: Each Other / Blogging Erin Rockafellow: Erin Rock #4131 Beginner badge: Farm Kitchen / Cheesemaking Heather Smith: hsmith #4844 Beginner badge: Cleaning Up / Going Green Beginner badge: Cleaning Up / Shopping Green Beginner badge: Farm Kitchen / Self-Sufficiency Intermediate badge: Cleaning Up / Shopping Green Intermediate badge: Farm Kitchen / Self-Sufficiency Expert badge: Farm Kitchen / Self-Sufficiency Kara Matson: Girlscout #4736 Beginner badge: Cleaning Up / Going Green Karen Stoll: beyondthe3rs #4828

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March 2013

continued ... Beginner badge: Cleaning Up / Shopping Green Beginner badge: Cleaning Up / Recycling Karen Price: kkprice #411 Beginner badge: Stitching & Crafting / Safe Toys Beginner badge: Stitching & Crafting / Ink Slinger Beginner badge: Cleaning Up / Shopping Green Beginner badge: Cleaning Up / Recycling Intermediate badge: Cleaning Up / Recycling Intermediate badge: Cleaning Up / Shopping Green Intermediate badge: Stitching & Crafting / Safe Toys Intermediate badge: Stitching & Crafting / Ink Slinger Expert badge: Stitching & Crafting / Ink Slinger Kristina Nelson: FieldsofThyme #800 Beginner badge: Outpost / First Aid Beginner badge: Cleaning Up / Recycling Beginner badge: Each Other / Languages/Culture Beginner badge: Garden Gate / Herbs Beginner badge: Make it Easy / Relaxation Intermediate badge: Cleaning Up / Recycling Intermediate badge: Garden Gate / Herbs Intermediate badge: Stitching & Crafting / Scrapbooking Intermediate badge: Outpost / Rocks & Minerals Expert badge: Garden Gate / Herbs Expert badge: Cleaning Up / Recycling Expert badge: Garden Gate / 3 R’s (Reuse, Recycle, Revive!) Expert badge: Outpost / Rocks & Minerals Krystle Townsend: countrymommy85 #2595 Beginner badge: Cleaning Up / Recycling Intermediate badge: Cleaning Up / Recycling Laurie Conner: Montrose Girl #1587 Beginner badge: Each Other / Languages/Culture Leigh-Ann Whitten: Ms. Treadle #1178 Beginner badge: Each Other / Blogging

March 2013

Intermediate badge: Each Other / Blogging Expert badge: Each Other / Blogging Loran Watkins: Loran #2471 Beginner badge: Stitching & Crafting / Aprons Beginner badge: Stitching & Crafting / Buttoned Up Intermediate badge: Stitching & Crafting / Aprons Intermediate badge: Stitching & Crafting / Buttoned Up Peggy Smith: forever young #1815 Intermediate badge: Cleaning Up / Recycling Sandra Morris: SandraM #4384 Beginner badge: Each Other / Entrepreneurial Spirit Expert badge: Each Other / Blogging Tami Erwin: mrschupa #4684 Beginnger badge: Stitching & Crafting / Quilting Terry Steinmetz: teryouth #3600 Beginner badge: Stitching & Crafting / Knitting

ÂŠ 2013 MaryJanesFarm â&#x20AC;˘ Moscow, Idaho

March 2013

Farmerettes & Young Cultivators Young Cultivators

Jacob Thompson: Mentoring Sister #2904 Beginner badge: Sitching & Crafting / Toys Intermediate badge: Stitching & Crafting / Toys Jessie May Hoover: Mentoring Sister #4313 Beginner badge: Stitching & Crafting / All Buttoned Up Intermediate badge: Stitching & Crafting / All Buttoned Up Expert badge: Stitching & Crafting / All Buttoned Up Sydney Deberdt: Mentoring Sister #4313 Beginner badge: Stitching & Crafting / All Buttoned Up Intermediate badge: Stitching & Crafting / All Buttoned Up Expert badge: Stitching & Crafting / All Buttoned Up

What’s a Farmerette? Farmerettes are young farmgirls-in-training between the ages 14–18. They can earn the same Merit Badges as adult Sisters, so long as there is a Farmgirl Sisterhood member nearby to work with them. Click here to find out more. What’s a Young Cultivator? Young Cultivators are girls and boys between the ages 6 and 13. They can work with Farmgirl Sisterhood members to earn badges, but have their own unique program. Click here to find out more.

Woo-Hoo!

March 2013

Young Cultivators Group

Rebekka Boysen-Taylor, our Stitching & Crafting columnist, also coordinates a Young Cultivators group. She’ll report on their activities here and in future issues.

Fun with Shadow Puppets This month, our Young Cultivators met to earn their Toys badge. The usual schedule when we meet is to start out by playing for about 20 minutes while I get everyone settled in. Then we dig into our activity, followed by tea, toast, and some outside play until families come, for a total of about 2 hours start to finish. The Toys badge was a very simple activity to organize. Before we met, I asked each child to tackle the beginner level of the badge at home. This part of the process had each child talking to family members about what toys they played with when they were little. When they shared their stories with each other, the kids were fascinated by the similarities and differences between the toys that their grandparents and parents played with. When it was time to start making the puppets, I shared examples of finger puppets and stick puppets and let them get to work without too many directions. I provided art pencils, fine-tip pens, sturdy paper, tape, and sticks. They each made simple wraparound finger puppets and shadow puppets on sticks. I really love the shadow puppets they created and it was interesting to see them think through making a character that was recognizable by their silhouette alone. (This Paris Shadow Puppet set from Moulin Roty is a good example of shadow puppets in action.) To finish their badges, each child planned a little puppet play to share with their families.

March 2013

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Meet our Bloggers

Being a farmgirl isn’t where you live, but how you live! Farmgirls are tapping away at their keyboards to bring you news from the homefront, no matter where you live or what your interests. Rebekah Teal, a former judge, writes about being a farmgirl in the city; Alexandra Wilson blogs from the rural perspective; Nicole Christensen gives you the suburban viewpoint; Cathi Belcher shouts-out from her mountain top, Shery Jespersen shares the ranch view from Wyoming, and Debbie Bosworth writes from the beach. You can click to our farmgirl blogs right on our home page (www.maryjanesfarm.org). While you’re there, sign up for our e-mail blog alerts and recipe of the week.

city

rural

suburban

mountain

f a r mgi r l

Rebekah Teal is a farmgirl from a large metropolitan area who recently made her dreams come true by moving to a farm. Given her dyed-in-the-wool city-girl background, she still writes our City Farmgirl Blog. She’s a lawyer who has worked in both criminal defense and prosecution, and she has been a judge, a business woman, and a stay-at-home mom. She’s not only downhome citified, she’s a true-blue farmgirl ... in (the occasional) pair of stilettos!

Alexandra Wilson is a budding rural farmgirl living in Palmer, Alaska—the agricultural seat of the last frontier—and she shares her adventures on our Rural Farmgirl Blog. Alex is a graduate student at Alaska Pacific University, pursuing an M.S. in Outdoor and Environmental Education. She is focused on developing a program to inspire young women to become beginning farmers. She lives and works on the university’s 700-acre educational farm. When Alex has time outside of graduate school, she loves to rock climb, repurpose found objects, cross-country ski on the hay fields, travel, practice yoga, and cook with newfangled ingredients.

Nicole Christensen, our current Suburban Farmgirl Blogger, calls herself a “knitter, jam-maker, and mom extraordinaire.” Born and raised in the great state of Texas, she now resides in suburban New England in picturesque Connecticut, just a stone’s throw from New York state.

Mustering up the courage to do the things you dream about, she says, is the essence of being a farmgirl. Learning to live more organically and closer to nature is Rebekah’s current pursuit.

Married for 18 years to her Danish-born sweetheart, Nicole has worked in various fields and has been a worldtraveler, entrepreneur, knitting teacher, and homemaker, but considers being a mom her greatest job of all. Loving all things creative and domestic, Nicole considers her life’s motto to be “Bloom where you are planted.”

Cathi Belcher, who pens our Mountain Farmgirl Blog, lives in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. As a “lifelong learner,” she fiercely values selfreliance, independence, freedom, and fresh mountain air. She’s also a multi-media artist, with an obsession for off-grid living and alternative housing. Cathi is married to her childhood sweetheart, and owns and operates a 32-room mountain lodge. “Mountains speak to my soul, and farming is an important part of my heritage,” says Cathi. “I want to pass on my love of these things to others through my writing.”

N E W S FR O M T H E H O M E F RON T ... w h e t he r t hat ho me is

city, rural, suburban, mountain, ranch, or beach

I lo v e

spring

anywhere , b u t

garden

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Shery Jespersen, Wyoming cattle rancher and outpost writer, shares the view from her saddle in our Ranch Farmgirl Blog. Shery is a “leather and lace cowgirl” who’s been horse-crazy all of her life. Her longtime love is Apple Pi “Dolly” Rose, a 20-year-old Morgan otherwise known as “The Best Darn Horse in the Universe.” Her other interests include “junktiques,” creating eclectic “make do” arts and crafts, collecting antique china, and cultivating mirth.

Debbie Bosworth 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, Massachusetts, where she, her “beach-bum Yankee” husband of 20 years, and her two homeschooled kids are now firmly planted. Debbie writes our Beach Farmgirl Blog. “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.’”

– Ruth Stout

March 2013

Coming Soon to a Magazine Near You I’m such a tease ... What? You don’t know what a keeper-game room is? Don’t worry, I’ve got it covered. That and a sofa chair, that is. Now, we’ve all been told not to judge a chair by its cover, especially when you can paint the fabric a different color. I kid you not. I’ll show you how. Also, torn fabric décor, rebel quilting, DIY bedskirts, E-Z homemade feta cheese, and wadingpool gardening. Don’t risk missing MaryJanesFarm magazine on newsstands. Subscribe here!

March 2013

“

Hi MaryJane, My name is Linda Stritzel and I’m the one attached to this jar of jam! I live in a rural area near Robertsville, Missouri. I love gardening, cooking, sewing ... Oh, what the heck, I just love LIFE! I was so excited when I found your magazine. It’s been very inspiring to me. I feel a connection with every page, front to back. It’s strawberry season here in Missouri, and I was looking for an easy way to make lowsugar strawberry jam. I love using the whole fruit. I was thumbing through my favorite MaryJanesFarm magazine— the one with the ChillOver recipes—and I thought, ‘Why can’t I make jam with MaryJane’s ChillOver powder?’ So I came up with this supereasy jam recipe. The results were amazing. I actually like it more than traditional pectin recipes—I didn’t realize how much flavor pectin robs from the fruit! The color, taste, and texture are perfect. I’ll be sure to have plenty of ChillOver powder ready for the next jam season!

”

Your Midwest farmgirl, Linda

❉ You’ll find several jam recipes using our ChillOver Powder in the magazine section of our website: www.maryjanesfarm.org/ Recipes-Patterns-Instructions

To order, call 888-750-6004 or go to www.maryjanesfarm.org

Looks like gelatin. Tastes like gelatin. But it isn’t. It’s better!

My innovative ChillOver® Powder is for all the people who grew up loving gelatin desserts but gave up on them, knowing their animal origin. It sets up in half the time gelatin does. It seals in flavors more quickly. And it doesn’t melt at room temperature. Once you try it, you’ll never go back!

To buy, scan here with your smartphone.

MaryJanesFarm Marketplace

H E A LT H B Y E L D E R B E R R Y ! G R O W I N G & P R E S E R V I N G E L D E R B E R R I E S

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At Orchard Farm all of our products are made from scratch

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ROAD TRIP ISSUE JUNE–JULY 2012

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Health & Beauty

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DOYOU YOUHAVE HAVE AA PRODUCT DO PRODUCT ORSERVICE SERVICE YOU YOU WOULD OR WOULD LIKE TO PROMOTE? LIKE TO PROMOTE? PLACE PLACEAA CLASSIFIED AD AD HERE CLASSIFIED HEREAND AND SELL SELLTO TOFARMGIRLS OUR VERY NATIONWIDE! RESPONSIVE AUDIENCE. Call CALL Brian 203-263-7171 1-888-750-6004 OR EMAIL OR EMAIL MARYJANESFARMADS@AOL.COM advertising@maryjanesfarm.org

Fast, confidential shipping. 800-807-9350

American Garden Tools

FREE ESSENTIAL OIL GUIDE & NATURAL PRODUCTS CATALOG. 170 pure essential oils. www.AmericanGardenTools.com 800-294-1951. Large selection of blends, liniments, creams, rubs, Incredibly durable and exclusively American-Made cosmetics, diffusers, and supplies. 800-308-6284. Garden tools and accessories. The best American-Made www.AromaTherapeutix.com/mj gifts to give yourself and others.

Project F.A.R.M.

Business Opportunity Buying something made by hand from someone you is our concept of howPRODUCTS the world should $500"know" WEEKLY ASSEMBLING from be. Become oneinformation, of our Project sellers and home. For free sendF.A.R.M. SASE: Home Assembecome part of a powerful rural movement. bly-MJ, PO Box 450, New Britain CT 06050-0450 iris@maryjanesfarm.org

Juice Beauty

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USDA certified skincare line&includes skin, BALLS. hair, and HAWAIIAN SEASONING LAUNDRY makeup not choices suited Woman-based for all types. Why organic? Physics, chemicals. business in Because our customers expect all the great benefits Iowa since 1997. Many green products. Free newsletof of efficacious beauty products without harmful ter: 888-452-4968. www.mysticwondersinc.com chemicals.

Interest to all J.R. WATKINS ALL NATURAL PRODUCTS. Shop & Buy with us - Phone, Email, or Website. Or start your own WATKINS from Home Business. Barb Birch – WATKINS No. 080207 Call 800-215-2743. barbbirch@mchsi.com or visit. www.watkinsonline.com/birch

Music Instruments ACCORDIONS, CONCERTINAS, Button Boxes, Rolands. Buy, sell, trade, repair, tune. Catalogs, $5. Castiglione, PO Box 40, Warren MI 48090. 586-755-6050. www.castiglioneaccordions.com

Composting Worms RED WORMS(Eisenia Fetida) perfect for composting.$26.00 per pound, five pound limit per order. Free Shipping. Greenway Farms of Georgia, 1100 Beasley Rd., Roberta, GA 31078. www.greenwayfarmsofga.com

Earth Worms www.GreenGregsWormFarm.com Bedrun Redworms – 5,000/$42, 10,000/$65, 20,000/$118, 50,000/$280. Postpaid. Fishing, Composting, Gardening. Greg Allison, 112 Stilwell Drive, Toney, AL 35773. Free “How To Guides” included. 256-859-5538

European Garden Tools The Marugg Company European-style scythes, snaths, and sickles. Free catalog. P.O. Box 1418, Tracy City, TN 37387. www.themaruggcompany.com

Organic Beehives QUALITY TOP BAR Bee Hives for easy backyard beekeeping. Raise Bees, process your honey the natural, organic way. 270-703-5877. www.organicbeehives.com

Wanted WantedtotoBuy Buy

LOOKING FOR VINTAGE SHASTA: I live in New BUYING VINTAGE RADIOS, vacuum tubes, York and am very eager to buy a vintage Shasta trailer. microphones, Western Electric items, audio ampliRenovated or partially renovated/decorated would be fiers, turntables, old movie equipment. 203-272-6030. fine. Willing to pay for shipping! Please get in touch at Larry2942@cox.net your earliest convenience. lainesiklos@aol.com

YOUR AD HERE YOUR AD CAN BE HERE Call Brian

Call 203-263-7171 1-888-750-6004

Magazines, Books & More Our April/May issue (“Mother Lode”) hit newsstands on March 12. In it, you’ll find recipes for canning-jar syrups and desserts; get ideas for a handcrafted baby shower; see amazing hexagonal quilts (made by a man!); meet some fascinating Farmer Janes; and more.

Click here to subscribe to MaryJanesFarm magazine. If you have a subscription, you should receive your magazine by about March 15. (Those of you near postal hubs get faster delivery; rural delivery takes a little longer.) If you don’t receive your magazine, you can call our publisher’s subscription department at 800-476-4611 to check on your delivery.

MaryJanesFarm

Calendar

Our 2013 calendar is now available! Each month’s top page features a full-color image from our farm and each calendar page includes dates, holidays, inspirational sayings, lunar phases, and fabulous farmgirl culture. This is a Project F.A.R.M. (First-class American Rural Made) product. All 26 pages are printed here at the farm on 8 1/2" x 11" card stock and are bound with black spiral wire, unfolding to 11" x 17". Current Holidays: March 1 ~ Employee Appreciation Day, World Compliment Day March 2 ~ Read Across America Day, Dr. Seuss Day March 3 ~ Daughters & Sons Day March 4 ~ National Grammar Day March 8 ~ International Womens’ Day March 16 ~ National Quilting Day March 17 ~ St. Patrick’s Day March 19 ~ National Agriculture Day March 20 ~ First Day of Spring March 21 ~ National Common Courtesy Day March 24 ~ Palm Sunday March 29 ~ Good Friday March 31 ~ Easter Sunday

March 2013

Magazine “Goodies” on the MJF Website “For those who are looking for the magazine portion of the website, here is the place to find additional patterns, instructions, recipes and such! Yum!” – Alee, Farmgirl Sister #8 To find the goodies, click here!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

2013 Farmgirl C

“

alendar

If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass spring ing up in the fields has pow er to move, if the simple things of nat ure have a me ssage that you understand, rejoice, for you r soul is alive.

”

– Eleonora Duse

4,882 Sisterhood members and 6,641 Merit Badges earned — growing stronger every day!

Until next time ... don’t be a stranger suspended in time—let me know what kind of project I should conjure up for my collection of suspenders??? maryjane@maryjanesfarm.org Put S.O.S. SUSPENDERS in the subject line.

ber 1995,

, Decem Geographic

dson

Jim Richar

March 2013