The adorable, always humorous MBA Jane is my way of honoring our Sisterhood Merit Badge program, now with 5,344 dues-paying members who have earned an amazing number of merit badges so far—7,177 total! Take it away, MBA Jane!!! MJ

For this week’s Garden Gate/Bee Good to Your Mother Earth Merit Badge, I tackled the garden. Now, it’s not as though I’ve neglected the ol’ patch out back completely: I have a lovely collection of garden gnomes, stepping stones, and a fairy house made out of pine cones and twigs and moss that one of Midge’s triplets made for me. But as far as veggies and fruits? Well, let’s just say my thumb isn’t naturally green and leave it at that.

It’s more of a brown. Brings to mind a dying plant, actually.

But my agricultural prowess (or lack thereof) aside, my will was strong, and so was my hankering for all things cucumber-like. Pickles had gotten me through the winter, but I was really up for the crunch and snap of the real thing. And all my neighbors assured me that cukes were easy-peasy, lemon-squeasy to grow.

And after all, my herb garden was thriving in my kitchen! My confidence bolstered, I relocated a few gnomes to the porch (I’ve always liked men with beards … kind of an outdoorsy-man-lovin’ gal that I am) and got to work. I had bookmarked some helpful pages in “Montrose: Life in a Garden,” by Nancy Goodwin, and it sat beside me for moral support as I dug a neat little row. Well, it was supposed to be a neat little row, but it turned out I can’t hoe a straight line any better than I can cut one. Ah well. Don’t think the little cukes will mind. They’re a forgiving sort of veg, I hear. My sweet green babies tucked in for the night in no time at all, I thought I’d better rig a bit of fencing around them. Toile, my chicken, especially goes crackers for seeds and green bits poking out of the ground.

Continue reading →

Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Jacqueline Ferri!!!

Jacqueline Ferri (#1664) has received a certificate of achievement in Stitching & Crafting for earning an Expert Level Knitting Merit Badge!

“I learned to knit when I was 9 from my mother. I made a simple scarf. Over the years, I did other needlecrafts. I didn’t pick up knitting again until 23 years later. After my third child was born, I took a continuing ed. class to refresh my knitting skills. The instructor had us make a cardigan. I joined a knitting guild, and here many of the members helped beginner knitters. From there, I just took off with new and varied knitting skills. Our guild provided workshops with renowned knitters, so we acquired interesting techniques. We went to Stitches, TKGA East Coast Conference, and a local knitting shop sponsored a “Ewephoric” Knitting Weekend. At these events, one breathes, sleeps, and eats knitting!!

I have learned the following techniques and have used them in various projects,.

Cables
Entrlelac
Drop stitches
Aran knitting
Short rowing
Intarsia
Tunisian knitting
Lace knitting

and many more.

I have covered clear Christmas ornaments with a lacy beaded net that I knitted. I’ve knitted a sampler afghan, a winter white throw with chevrons and bobbles. I’ve made a shawl, sweater, and purse by knitting them on the diagonal using Jane Elliott’s designs (Not Your Plain Jane). I’ve knitted and felted a fun evening bag accented with eyelash yarn and a beaded handle. I have made hats, scarves, mittens, sweaters, blankets, and much more! I taught all four of my children how to knit when they were young, Two of them made scarves recently. My friend and I taught two Brownie troops how to knit. During our guild meetings, I have assisted beginner knitters. Our guild knits for various charities. I’ve knitted preemie caps, Oxfam sweaters, squares for blankets for the Linus Project. Presently I have a few projects going. I am knitting an aran pullover, a pattern from Vogue Knitting. The pattern has lots of cables and twists! It’s fun to knit! I’m also knitting a Mary Maxim poncho with some cables.”

The adorable, always humorous MBA Jane is my way of honoring our Sisterhood Merit Badge program, now with 5,344 dues-paying members who have earned an amazing number of merit badges so far—7,177 total! Take it away, MBA Jane!!! MJ

For this week’s Each Other/Know Your Roots Merit Badge, another trip to see my Grandma Barbie was in order. She was out of my world-famous strawberry jam and due for a fresh pedicure anyway, so I packed up my car and off I went to Florida! This merit badge requires some family history, some digging, some reminiscing, and a sparkly topcoat (toluene-, formaldehyde-, and DBP-free, naturally!)

Grandma was in a Hot Yoga class when I arrived at the retirement community and I had to kill some time with nice old Mr. Joe (his friends call him G.I.) out front. We swung a bit on the porch swing, my flipflops and his combat boots dangling in the breeze. He’s a sweet gentleman, albeit a bit of a flirt.

Continue reading →

Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Missy Durant!!!

Missy Durant (OrganiGal, #5271) has received a certificate of achievement in Going Green for earning a Beginner & Intermediate Level Going Green Merit Badge! She did this using a copy of MaryJanesFarm “Nature Knows Best” special issue, no less!

Here’s what Missy did…

“I’ve been planning on doing this for a long time and I finally did it! I went through my entire cleaning cabinet and tossed everything that contains harmful ingredients and replaced them with safer products that aren’t harmful to the environment. As for the green journal, I’ve been doing this for a while now! I clip articles and store them in a black & white journal that is home for green ideas only. It gives me a focus and is handy for when I’m lost on what to do next.

To make my own laundry soap, I used MaryJanesFarm magazine, “Nature Knows Best” special issue, page 58, titled “Carol’s Herbal Liquid Laundry Liquid.” I purchased soap nuts from a seller on Etsy and followed the directions. I also made the “Herbal Dryer Sachets” on page 60 with some dried lavender I bought at my local Farmers’ Market.

Continue reading →

How cute is this invitation I received?

Dear MaryJane,

Each year, to celebrate the last day of school and the beginning of summer, my daughters and I host a “Farmgirls” party for the girls at our Christian school, the Oaks (sister school to Logos, in Moscow).

Because you inspire us, we would like to invite you! We share an afternoon of crafts (homemade potpourri) and mingle with farm animals. We have a baby pig ready to make her debut.

Thanks for being a role model for girls to get back to nature and celebrate being a girl.

-Jackie Etter
Spokane Valley, Washington

And their invitation was just over the top awesome!

Continue reading →

Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Lynne Parmenter!!!

Lynne Parmenter (Sister #5089) has received a certificate of achievement in Garden Gate for earning an Expert Level Herbs Merit Badge!

“This year, I have planted six types of herbs: lavender, Italian basil, pineapple sage, oregano, parsley, and thyme. In the past years, I have grown herbs and always dry them to use during winter months and will continue to do so. I like to use them fresh during the summer and fall months. My family and friends have always taken some home with them, both fresh and dry.

I have grown mint and chocolate mint. With these herbs, I use them in drinks during summer and fall seasons, sharing with family and friends. Once dried, I shared them and we use them in many recipes. The chocolate mint was delicious in the crock-pot cakes when we were home and in the Dutch-oven cakes we made camping. This year is the first year growing lavender. I will dry it and include it in the grapevine wreaths I make in fall—which I give away—and I also want to make some sachets for fresh scents.

I have always done well growing my herbs. This year, I had to grow them in containers on my deck, but in the past, I have had them grow over their beds and when my husband mowed the lawn, you could smell their fresh scents. I have already used the herbs that I have grown this year. This is the first year for pineapple sage, and I enjoy using it when I prepare and cook pork. So delicious!!! I look forward to continue growing and using herbs. It certainly is enjoyable and relaxing.”

The adorable, always humorous MBA Jane is my way of honoring our Sisterhood Merit Badge program, now with 5,344 dues-paying members who have earned an amazing number of merit badges so far—7,177 total! Take it away, MBA Jane!!! MJ

For this week’s Farm Kitchen/Cheese Making Merit Badge, I was movin’ on up, to the East side, to a deluxe apartment in the sky … Oops. Sorry. Sometimes I am overtaken by a wild urge to sing the lyrics to classic television shows. Anyway, back to the badge, Madge!

I was movin’ on up, if you will, to the Intermediate Level of the Cheese Making badge. Because, let’s face it chickadees, if there is cheese, I will be there. When it comes to snack foods, I come to snack foods! And since my buttermilk and yogurt were both a resounding success, I was feeling pretty confident. I was already having daydreams about Aged Gouda, Smoked Mozzarella, Garlic Jack, Drunken Goat, and a creamy Bleu! The stinkier the cheese, the closer to heaven, isn’t that right? I’m pretty sure I read that somewhere.

Continue reading →

Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … April Choate!!!

When a Farmgirl Sisterhood member earns a certificate of achievement in the Farmgirl Legends category, it is a really big deal. That means that this Sister has taken on a particularly monumental farmgirl task and met the challenge head on.

April has earned a certificate of achievement, and the honorary title of – Chapter Guru. The requirements for earning this distinction takes a lot of planning and work. Here is how it is listed:

• A Chapter Guru is a Farmgirl Sisterhood member who shares her expertise on at least three subjects at chapter meetings. She must create a lesson plan and projects for her Sisters to engage in to ensure her knowledge has been successfully conveyed. The Guru can teach projects that fulfill requirements for Merit Badges or create a lesson of her own devising.

So what does April do?

Over the last 3 years April has hosted TEN meetings. That’s more than 3 times the effort required and deserves a standing round of applause! Here’s the full report…

“Presentation Number 1
The second meeting that I held after the startup of River Valley Farmgirls in 2010 was on Square Foot Gardening. I could hardly believe the attendance! There were 13 of us in my small living room. I took them through the basics of what Square Foot Gardening was using Mel Bartholomew’s book as my guide. I had a handout for them to write notes on and everyone had a bazillion questions. It was a super successful and fun evening of learning about the ins and outs of Square Foot Gardening. From that one meeting, 7 of the ladies started their own Square Foot Garden in their backyards and still have them today!

Continue reading →