Giving back | Raising Jane

4th of July Farm Fair

Posted on July 4, 2012 by maryjane

Our 4th of July Farm Fairs are a magical experience, for my family and guests alike. They are an enormous amount of work, but the reward is a wonderful community experience—time to connect with new and old friends, take home plenty of fresh produce, and shop for a plethora of handmade treasures.

Our first Farm Fair took place in 2004, followed by two more in 2005 and 2006. We took a brief hiatus, then held another Farm Fair in 2009.

I chose one of my favorite holidays to celebrate rural life and Independence Day. Naturally, I thought a jaunt down memory lane was appropriate. So grab your red, white, and blue apron and let’s roll …

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Terry Steinmetz says:

July 4, 2012 at 6:48 am

How wonderful! I wish that I could be there. But…I can dream and enjoy the journey. I will fall asleep tired from the dreaming.

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Winnie Nielsen says:

July 4, 2012 at 1:10 pm

This looks like just a best farm day fair to enjoy on the fourth with the family. I love the diversity of things you offered and that homemade strawberry shortcake is beyond wonderful !! Just a day on the farm for some good old fashioned fun!

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Kathy S says:

July 4, 2012 at 6:01 pm

Happy July 4th from north of the border!

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photo-of-the-day

Posted on July 2, 2012 by maryjane

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Vote for MaryJane!

Posted on July 1, 2012 by megan

This year, More magazine featured Mom in a year-long campaign detailing companies started by 10 women who were intent on creating jobs for other women. (YES, I can hear you say, you go girl!)

Her Project F.A.R.M. (First-class American Rural Made) helps rural communities and …

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Winnie Nielsen says:

July 1, 2012 at 5:22 am

We got a link on the MJF Connection last week about this and me and lots of others have cast our votes for our Queen Bee! It is such an honor that Mary Jane is up for the award and even if she does not win, we all know that her work and philanthropy has changed lives of many people in creative and meaningful ways! She IS the winner to me. I thank her for her work and outreach from the farm to the homes of so many women who are eating healthier, living greener, and reviving farmgirl skills and spirit for the 21st Century! We are all winners who have been uplifted by her efforts!!

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Joan N. says:

July 2, 2012 at 8:27 am

Got my vote in MaryJane….Hope your a winner (but in all our farmgirl’s hearts) you are our winner a long time ago!

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julia hayes says:

July 3, 2012 at 9:47 am

I love you QB…you got my vote hands down..mind body spirit too! ~j

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- MaryJane says:
  
  July 3, 2012 at 10:58 am
  
  I sooooooooo owe you a love note. Been on the road. LOVE!
  
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photo-of-the-day

Posted on June 28, 2012 by maryjane

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photo-of-the-day

Posted on June 13, 2012 by maryjane

bobbi says:

June 13, 2012 at 4:09 am

Hey MaryJane…
What are those lavendar / light purple flowers in the background behind your signpost?
Thanks.

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- MaryJane says:
  
  June 13, 2012 at 5:37 am
  
  Damsel’s Rocket (or Dame’s Rocket), hesperis matronalis. She is a relatively new wild plant species (in luscious hues of lavender, pink, and bright white) that has taken up residence on the Palouse (a designated two-million-acre region), but she isn’t difficult to tame so no one is worried about it or getting out the chemicals. She loves to border our roadways, fields and ditch banks, preferring the open and the sunlit, avoiding shadowy and shady. I think of her as our reminder to be reslient but beautiful, to gracefully and quietly live in the open.
  
  “Well, there is time left–fields everywhere invite you into them.” -Mary Oliver
  
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Winnie Nielsen says:

June 13, 2012 at 8:35 am

Mary Jane– What a welcoming sign for your home!! I love the inclusiveness message it sends!!

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- MaryJane says:
  
  June 13, 2012 at 9:45 am
  
  Thanks Winnie!
  
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Kathryn says:

June 13, 2012 at 10:07 am

We are building on our amazing 7.3 acres starting this week! Next spring I get chickens and the following spring we get cows. Already have the children so I think I may steal your idea as one person on the narrow, dead end road is always in a hurry. Unfortunately they are the only people who live past us so maybe they need a reminder! BTW I thought of you when I found this property. Cold calling people and could have never, ever believed that such a gorgeous piece of property could be found (in our price range). Love your magazine!

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- MaryJane says:
  
  June 13, 2012 at 10:23 am
  
  That is just so awesome that you found your PLACE! I wish you all the best. Our sign really does help with what we call “pilgrims” … strangers wandering up our dead-end lane with their foot on the gas pedal. What you don’t see in this photo is the “open range” sitting next the sign–an antique range (oven) with the oven door open:) Too cute, right?
  
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  - Kathryn says:
    
    June 13, 2012 at 12:22 pm
    
    So cute! This is my first time to own my own country property although I always knew that was where I belonged. Spent my summers in Colorado at our rural Rocky Mountain compound and I left crying every year. With four boys we needed this property. Creek in the back and barn already there. As soon as we saw it we just knew. Funny thing is the husband always wanted to live in your state. Coeur d’ Alene (sp?) was his dream but could never get a job in the area to support our family. His bff is in Rexburg so we will visit! Love the oven idea BTW!!!
    
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    - MaryJane says:
      
      June 13, 2012 at 12:47 pm
      
      You would have loved CDA (you spelled it right but us Idahoans condense it). Again, way to go farmgirl!!
      
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photo-of-the-day

Posted on June 8, 2012 by maryjane

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photo-of-the-day

Posted on June 2, 2012 by maryjane

Winnie Nielsen says:

June 2, 2012 at 10:58 am

Oh, how I wish I lived closer and could at least visit in Coeur d’Alene with others who are attending! I did pre-order your new book which I am very much looking forward to. From the pictures of Glamping event of the many farmgirls on the Connection, vintage campers have really experienced a complete make-over!!

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Posted on May 30, 2012 by maryjane

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Kind Kids

Posted on May 3, 2012 by maryjane

You and I see eye-to-eye.

We love random acts of kindness.

Who doesn’t?

The concept is contagious, no question, and farmgirls have the fever.

But what if you had contracted the bug years ago? What if, as a kid, you could have flaunted it, flown it like a kite, and spurred a trend toward a kinder tomorrow?

What if …

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Kathy Beachy says:

May 8, 2012 at 6:54 am

I’d like to see an adult version of this app to help adults randomly be kind too.

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- MaryJane says:
  
  May 8, 2012 at 7:01 am
  
  Agreed!
  
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Beautiful BALD Barbie!

Posted on April 21, 2012 by maryjane

Barbie has taken a lot of flack over the years. The brunt of countless jokes and the unwitting victim of scathing criticism, this deceptively dulcet darling has hung in there with her head held high.

Barbie knows how to stay on her toes, if you know what I mean.

Of course, doll devotees (count me in) have always known there’s more to Barbie that just a pretty plastic package. After all, she has seen generations of girls through good times and bad. She inspired our daydreams. She forged our fashion sense. Barbie helped lead us gracefully along the winding path to lady-hood.

That deserves a dollop of deference, don’t ya think?

True to form, Barbie continues to evolve with the times, and she only gets more benevolent with age. Our golden girl, the original American idol, has a heart every bit as bountiful as her bosom—and she’s losing her lustrous trademark locks to prove it.

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