I’m calling you out!!!! On a roll … call, here’s where you can read about the amazing accomplishments of Sisters who earn Merit Badges. “Hear YE!”
Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)
Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)
My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … the Krell family!!!
Alysha, Caleb, Emma, Ethan, and Paige Krell (Young Cultivators of Jessica Krell #5148) have received a certificate of achievement in Farm Kitchen for earning an Expert Level All Dried Up Merit Badge.
“We picked some raspberries and some Saskatoons with my family and our friends. Then we dried some of the berries and used some more berries to make some fruit leather.
Picking the berries was really fun! The hardest part was not eating them along the way! At home, we dried some of both kinds of berries and used them in our oatmeal the next day for breakfast!
Picking the berries was hard work, but we like to work, so it was fun.”
Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)
Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)
My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Jennifer Knox!!!
Jennifer Knox (#4359) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning a Beginner Level Farmgirl Grammar Merit Badge!
“Two weeks ago, I dusted off my high school dictionary and looked up two weeks worth of new words. At first, I was bemused by this Sisyphean task, but soon I no longer yawped at the esse of these new words. I logged my new word friends into a notebook and referred to them during the two weeks.
Being a middle school Language Arts teacher, it was interesting to look up words as if given my own homework assignment. I enjoyed the small task and look forward to the coaptation of more words into my notebook.”
Kay (Old Cowgirl) Montoya says: Way to go. Congratulations.
When I was a Freshmen (no middle school) (9th Grade). I struggled in Liteurature to get the words and language correct. She gave me the greatest advise I have ever received in my 70 years. She said “Get out your Colliege dictionary and start on page one and start reading it. Pay attention to how the word is pronounced, where it is from, and if it is a noun, pronoun, etc. and how to use it in a sentence.” That has followed me all my life. I must say, with regret, that I only got through a 1/4 of the dictionary, but I still look up words that are new to me or that I do not know how to pronounce or do not know the way to use it. Old habits, well learned, are hard to break. So this badge was well earned.
Congratulations again, well done.
Kay
Jennifer Knox says: Thank you MaryJane! You made my day!
The adorable, always humorous MBA Jane is my way of honoring our Sisterhood Merit Badge program, now with 5,518 dues-paying members who have earned an amazing number of merit badges so far—7,301 total! Take it away, MBA Jane!!! MJ
Wondering who I am? I’m Merit Badge Awardee Jane (MBA Jane for short). In my former life …
For this week’s Outpost/Fishing Merit Badge, I was inspired by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Yep, that’s right: that pigtailed whippersnapper who was always scampering off behind the ol’ log cabin to do some fishing. Yes, fishing. She was the quintessential American tomboy, and the kiddo sure knew how to eat. Those books always make me so hungry … mmm, fish!
The only other time I’ve tried the sport of fishing (Is it a sport? A hobby? An art form? A pastime?) was during an especially long employee barbeque, where I got bored, wandered off, offered to man a pole for a pal, fell asleep, and got a wicked sunburn. And no fish. So, I had a bit of PTSD to overcome, but I was all in. Committed. Eager to learn (and eat).
For the Beginning Level badge, I just needed to learn some fishing knots: clinch, Palomar, turle, barrel knot, and double surgeon’s loop. Who knew there were knots in fishing, anyway? Not me, said the little red hen.
Darlene Ricotta says: That sounds like fun, I haven’t been fishing in forever but the knots sound like a good idea.
Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)
Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)
My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Nicole Christensen!!!
Nicole Christensen (Texdane, #1155) has received a certificate of achievement in Garden Gate for earning a Beginner, Intermediate, and Expert Level Heirlooms Forever Merit Badge!
“For my gardening season 2012, several friends gave me heirloom plants, including different varieties of tomatoes, herbs, and flowers. I read the book Gardening with Heirloom Seeds by Lynn Coulter, and was introduced to several heirloom seed catalogs by my dad’s wife, Karen, and my friend, Valerie. I marveled how beautiful the heirloom plants were growing in my garden, and wondered how many people before me had the same beautiful plants. (Prior to these heirloom varieties, my seeds have been organic in the veggie bed).
Seed saving always seemed like it would be difficult before, but I was very inspired by some of the beautiful heirloom varieties of plants I was given by some good friends, including some farm sisters! At the end of the season 2012, I learned how to save seeds, using seedsavers.org as a guide.
Laurie Dimno says: Woohoo Nicole! Can’t wait until I get to see your gardens in person!
Congratulations on being Merit Badge Awardee of the week! Well deserved!
Winnie Nielsen says: Nicole, what an wonderful way to introduce heirloom seeds to your family and your daughter’s Girl Scout troop and Farmgirl Sisterhood meetings! Sometimes, it just takes one person to get the ball rolling and soon others catch on and take off too. There is much to learn about America’s history through heirloom seeds. Not only do you get wonderful flowers,veggies, and fruits, you get stories of families and local economies that would otherwise be forgotten in today’s big Ag culture!
Jacorn says: Congratulations. I’ve never even considered trying heirloom seeds. Now you have inspired me, thanks.
Joey says: Hi Nicole,
I just know that you have a beautiful full garden. Your pics are so nice. I plan to start a few heirloom tomatoes next summer. I love the colors and thicker firm flesh. I agree, thinking about all the generations who planted the same seeds before us warms my soul.
Hugs to all, Joey
The adorable, always humorous MBA Jane is my way of honoring our Sisterhood Merit Badge program, now with 5,518 dues-paying members who have earned an amazing number of merit badges so far—7,301 total! Take it away, MBA Jane!!! MJ
Wondering who I am? I’m Merit Badge Awardee Jane (MBA Jane for short). In my former life …
For this week’s Each Other/Languages/Culture Merit Badge (Level Two … you heard it here first!) I brushed off my American Sign Language skills. They had gotten slightly rusty from disuse, but since all I had learned earning my Beginning Level Badge was the Alphabet and how to count to 10, it didn’t take long to jog my memory.
I had recently connected with a girlfriend—a Sister, if you will—who was learning sign language too, so we decided to meet for coffee and earn the next level together.
Solidarity, sisters!
That’s where it’s at.
And if there’s a grande, full-fat mocha with a shot of caramel, a drizzle of hazelnut, whipped cream, and a scone involved, then that’s where I’m at!
Winnie Nielsen says: I am in awe over those who have mastered sign language. It looks so difficult to learn with having to listen and move your hands at the same time!
By the way, I see your button for Nice Laundry on the sidebar. When you first brought it up, I joined and my socks arrived last Friday. Wow, they are so nice!! Plus, I have already recycled 6 old pairs with their recycle program. Easy, peasy– just place old socks in same shipping bag and and they send you a shipping label in an email. I love this company and they make a very fine sock. I sent them a thank-you note and they actually promptly write back! Customer service to boot!! Anyway, they will be offering some new patterns in a few more weeks and will send out information to you if you sign up for their newsletter. Can’t wait to see what fall/winter prospects are out there. In the meantime, mine are all packed in the suitcase for Norway trip THIS SUNDAY!!
MaryJane says: Bon Voyage dear Winnie!!!! I will be thinking of you. That’s cool that you tried Nice Laundry. Big red apple love your way!
Winnie Nielsen says: Thanks Mary Jane! Depending on wi-fi I may not be around until Sept. 4. Last year connectivity was very sketchy at best!
Kay (Old Cowgirl) Montoya says: I would love some info. on the socks. Thank you. How do I sign up?
Kay (Old Cowgirl) Montoya says: Winnie mentioned buying socks and mailing back her old one’s. I sure would like to now about that company.
I am packing and packing getting ready for the big move to Salem. Oh course I have to wait on who buys my house and when but still am packing what I might need. I figure I am probably packing to much but I will be able to sort that out when I get to where I am going. I would love to go green with my products but do not have a printer at this time ( might have to buy one before I move) and could not copy all the recipes down. I wonder if you might have a new new’s letter with the recipe’s in it so I can set here and write them down in my going green folder?
Thank you. Must go now the box’s are calling my name.
Kay
Ace says: Hi Kay! To search for a post on Raising Jane after entering the site, there will be a “search” option on the right-hand side of the page. You were wondering about a sock post, so for instance, type in your keyword “socks” and the second post that pops up is the one Winnie told you about. 🙂 Here is the link to that post: http://www.raisingjane.org/journal/34804
The recipe posts are all listed under the “Growing Jane” tab on RJJ: http://www.raisingjane.org/journal/category/growing_jane which you can access from the homepage anytime you’d like! 🙂 I hope you get your printer soon, it’s much easier to copy the recipe into a Word document and print from there.
Hope that helps Kay! -ace
I am so very pleased to announce our Farmgirl Sister of the Year! Meet Karen Price. Karen has been a Sisterhood member for five straight years, but this is the first year she’s applied for Merit Badges because, as she puts it, “I recently changed my occupation to allow for more fun stuff.” Karen has gone after some of the more difficult badges—like Entrepreneurial Expert, Ink Slinger Expert, and Farmgirl Spirit Expert—that require extra effort and have a net positive affect on the world.
Karen spent 18 years as a Methodist Minister throughout Michigan before settling in Fenton, Michigan, two years ago. Read her wonderful blog here.
Karen and 10 other women comprise the Dandelion Farmgirl Chapter. They’ve been meeting once per month for the past four years. “We usually make or create something. We’re very hands on, things like ‘puttin’ up a swap’ or canning or crafting. For our last meeting, we made terrariums.” Karen says she loves a good swap and has been active in the swaps on our Farmgirl Connection chatroom.
We couldn’t help but fall even more in love with Karen when we found out she fought for a change to local ordinances in her hometown to allow for backyard chickens. You can read about it here. She showed up at the city council meeting in a chicken-embellished dress. Walking around the room, she pulled white plastic eggs from her chicken purse, asking those in attendance, “Have you hugged a chicken today?”
Successful in her attempt to change the law, her hens Cagney and Lacey are now members of her family. (Stay tuned for the Oct-Nov “Turning the Page” issue of MaryJanesFarm, where our Urban Homesteader will give you tips on how to change the zoning laws in your community.)
Let’s give Karen a loud and raucous round of clucking!!!!!!
Laurie Dimno says: Woohoo! Congratulations to Karen for being selected as 2013 Farmgirl of the Year! What an amazing honor for an amazing lady! Love the chicken story…you Go Girl!
Enjoy your year Karen!
Winnie Nielsen says: Yay for Karen Price!! A big congratulations on this very special award!!! I love how she brought urban farming changes to her community. A task that is quite hard to accomplish sometimes because of differing views of the public. Thank-you Karen for your leadership in politics and your Hen House group. The world is a better place!
Terry Steinmetz says: Good for you Karen! CONGRATULATIONS!!!
I received this darlin’ little gift set from The Red Tractor Girl—Winnie Nielsen. When she was earning her Intermediate Knitting Merit Badge, she learned to knit on circular needles, and because of that, I now have the perfect Apple Pickin’ Season accessories for 2013!!!!
Winnie must have seen the battered apple I had in my purse when we met up for lunch recently. It’s the last thing I always toss in my purse before I walk out the door. What a clever idea—an apple cozy to keep my fresh-picked apples free of bruises and scrapes. And some apple pie spice mix for my next batch of breakfast quinoa. The hat is simply adorable and the perfect fit. I’m all set. Much love, Winnie! Thank you. Thank you.
Elizabeth says: Oh that is adorable Winnie! Nice work & so creative too:-)
Laurie Dimno says: What beautiful work by Winnie! Love the apple cozy, too! I received on in a farmgirl swap a few years back and it is perfect for protecting your fruit on the go!
Winnie Nielsen says: Hi Mary Jane! I am so happy that you enjoyed your apple box and that the hat fits perfectly too. With the photo today of those beautiful apples ripening on your trees, it looks it won’t be too much longer before you can harvest them! I hope the weather is cool enough to wear my hat to pick apples. It is “me” tagging along and vicariously joining in with everyone. Apple harvesting is one of America’s best known Fall rituals and Farmgirls need the proper embellishments for the occasion. After all, it is a day of celebration when the apple harvest is nigh!! Int this book I am currently reading, the author showed financial records of apple sales in Maine in 1849. The top farm sold $75 worth of apples that year which was incredible money. For the same year, records show that 175 farms around Palermo, Maine sold a total of $2300.00. Apples were a mainstay of every family farm. They were made into cider, vinegar, eaten fresh, and preserved in every household. Apple orchards were the most profitable industry in farming according to the 1856 Maine Agricultural Year book.
Then there is the legendary Johnny Appleseed based on the life of John Chapman who lived in the Wilkes- Barre region sometime in the 1790s and a practicing nurseryman before becoming a missionary.
Don’t even get me started about apples!! Hahahaha!!
No more bruised apples! Get an apple cozy today!
This is so sweet! What a charming hat Winnie made. It looks like a perfect gift. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Cathie Paul says: Beautiful job! I’m addicted to knitting so I can tell you truthfully you will soon be a fiber addict too.! The apple cozy is a neat idea. Thanks for sharing!
Annie MacSuibhne says: So warm and wonderful Winnie, bring on the autumn leaves and hot cider!
Winnie Nielsen says: You just can’t have enough apples and apple paraphernalia in your life!! I BELIEVE that an apple a day keeps the doctor away! At least that is what my Dad always told us every year when we went up to Carter’s Mountain orchard, in Charlottesville Virginia, and got a bushel or so of apples when the Winesaps came in. Mmmmm, hot apple cider sounds perfect! Mary Jane, do you make cider from those apples in your photo today? Or are they cooking apples? I love the red blush against the green. Picture perfect!!
Kelly O says: Oh my goodness what a sweet gift. I love the apple cozy. All of it though is just wonderful.
Buy props used in MaryJane’s books and magazine!
5% of profits will benefit www.firstbook.org, a non-profit that provides new books to children from low-income families throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Here’s how:
MaryJane will post a photo and a description of a prop and its cost along with a few details as to its condition here: https://shop.maryjanesfarm.org/MaryJanesCurations. It’s a playful way to be the new owner of a little bit of farm herstory.
Does this dessert get watery as melon does after sitting in a bowl overnight? Thanks.
Patting the melons down with paper towels helps remove some of the moisture. We ate ours right after chilling for 2 hours, and stored a few leftover slices in the refrigerator overnight. They were fine the next day. I’m not sure how well it would hold up being stored for much longer.