Farm Girl...The Rust & The Crust

focus.....

2011-03-29T08:04:00.000-07:00

Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.-Dietrich Bonhoeffer

get ready......

2011-03-20T12:19:00.000-07:00

I'm........ a rebel. I'm not consistent with my blog posts because.....I don't want to!

The truth is I'm busy, but with the world in disarray I've decided it's time to post, AND because my "Farm Girls" club has inspired me. I've been busy planning my garden, expanding the farm, reading :), coaching, mothering, wifing?, saving, couponing, researching and praying. Blogging seemed....not so important.....I guess. But I woke this morning excited to up-date. I won't have any pictures to keep you stimulated, just.....words;)

I have felt an urgency in my soul (for those of you who know me personally I'm sure you are rolling your eyes, but you love me anyway) Urgency to prepare. For what? I don't know exactly, so many things are hanging by a thread right now and if your an informed person you already know.

Self-reliance has been a passion of mine for many years now. Learning skills that have been put to sleep. Standing on my soap box and sharing with like minded people. We are so disconnected, with people, the earth, our food, and most importantly our God.

So now the real reason for this post, you guessed it...FOOD STORAGE! I've been researching and researching some more! Everyone should have some form of food storage. The average American has 3 days worth of food in their home, that's pathetic! I know it can be overwhelming but I have put together some helpful tips to get you started.

There is something thing called "The Mormon 4" I'm not Mormon however they have the food storage thing down!

*The Mormon 4*

Wheat
Milk
Honey
Salt

1. VARIETY...is the key to successful food storage and storing what you eat. So you have 200lbs of wheat don't you think your family will get sick of it? What if you have an allergy to wheat and you don't know it until your forced to eat it as a main staple several times a day. Eat what you store, store what you eat. A large variety of spices will help make anything taste different or better. Eating plain beans and rice for a month would be taxing on mind, body and spirit in a stressful situation, however if you had some spices it could be different every meal.

2. EXTENDED STAPLES....don't put all your eggs in one basket...so you have 200lbs of wheat, what are you going to make with it? Don't wait for a disaster to learn how to cook with what you have stored. It will add stress to an already stressful situation if you don't know how to prepare what you've stored. Stock up on store bought freeze dried and dehydrated foods, home canned and store bought canned goods. Cooking oil, baking soda and powder, yeast and powdered eggs (if you don't have a flock of hens) You cant make a basic recipe with out these.

3.VITAMINS....my hub is nervous about scurvy... I know it sounds funny, but we live in Oregon if gas is done for or it's 10.00 a gal how much do you think an orange will cost? Good quality vitamins are a must!

4.BALANCE.......stock up in balance, you never know when your going to need that storage. Don't buy 200lbs of wheat this month then wait till next month to add something else. Try to buy a little in each category at a time. Buying 25lbs of wheat, 5 lbs of sugar and oil, 25 cans of green beans, corn, tomatoes and fruit is a better buying plan then just the wheat.

5.FOOD CONTAINERS......never store in bags. Use food grade buckets, cans or barrels. All food stored will store a very long time if stored below 70 degrees in a dry place, longer if it's colder. Also make sure your storing your food with oxygen absorbers. Oxygen turns food rancid.

I'm about 6 month out with my food storage, this IS NOT where I want to be, I would like to have at least 5 years stored.

RICE- brown rice is better for you and packed with amino acids, however these acids go rancid if not store properly. Brown rice stored in "normal" conditions will keep for 6 months. If it's air tight and stored below 70 degrees it will keep for 2-4 years maybe longer. White rice has had much of the "good stuff" stripped out of it so it will store much longer, 8-10 years in airtight container below 70 degrees.

BEANS-10-12 years in airtight container below 70 degrees.

GARDEN SEEDS- 4 years in the fridge or a cool dry place.

HONEY, SALT, SUGAR-indefinitely

OATS- 8-10 years in an airtight container below 70 degrees.

You should have everything in an airtight food grade container with oxygen absorbers in it and stored below 70 degrees. If you have a colder place the food will last longer.
Canned goods stored in the proper temperature can last 10 years. Just remember cool, dry and little if no oxygen for everything.

Hopefully this will help you get started. I have only just scratched the surface. I know this task can be VERY overwhelming but what would be more overwhelming, facing a disaster without being ready or being somewhat prepared for whatever is waiting around the corner weather it be job loss, sickness, the fall of the dollar or world war 3-blessings

update

2011-01-24T07:41:00.000-08:00

I'm so happy to have my computer back! The sound doesn't work because "someone" spilt coffee on it and fried the "mother board". Who could have done that? ;) I'm okay with no sound......for now. I WILL NOT go into debt for a new computer. Hope your New Year is off to a good start. I'm coaching 6th grade girls basketball right now and we are in the home stretch with our home addition (4 years later)

It has been raining soooo much this winter in Oregon. The sky finally parted and this BIG yellow ball appeared!! I thought for a moment it might be the second coming but then I remembered..... THE SUN! I spent all day in the garden on Saturday, spreading compost and old wet hay, dreaming about what to plant this spring.

Jason and I want to expand the garden this year, that makes my heart happy:) I hope y'all are busy planning your gardens.

We are getting 2 pigs this week, I'm so excited! I'm not a big pork eater (unclean meat) but it's nice to have on occasion and I can sell it for 2.50 a pound. We just butchered our BIG red Angus last week, we've been out of hamburger for 2 months, I've had to buy it out of desperation, can I just say that store bought meat SUCKS! It's so fatty even the so called "good" stuff. One of our freezers is full of chicken, Jason and I have raised Cornish cross meat chickens for a few
years now, but we always brought them to the processing plant.
They come back nice and clean, in there perfectly sealed bags. We decided we were
paying someone to do a job that we're capable of doing ourselves. I'm the kind of person that has to see someone do something before I can do it.
I don't have a mentor, I've always wanted one. ;( Most things I've had to teach myself and I knew it would be the same with home butchering. Thanks to you-tube and one of my farm heroes
Stella at mcguirehomested@blogspot.com We have butchered lots of birds, 4 turkeys, over 40 chickens and a few ducks. Thanks Stella! More to come in the next few days. The sun is out and I must go get my hands dirty-blessings

back

2011-01-22T18:22:00.000-08:00

My computer broke..but now I'm back. I missed my blog and being....connected... not a good thing when you think your a back to the basics kind of Gal. I have so much to share but all that goodness has to wait! Soon very soon-blessings

Truth

2010-11-10T08:32:00.000-08:00

I know I've been missing for a few months......School and sports started for the kids and that's all consuming in my house. I coach the older girls volleyball team and we had a very busy/successful season, also buttoning up the farm and getting it " winter ready" I had no time to blog or really read any blogs. However, now with the short days of winter approaching and the Oregon rain pouring down I have more time:)

New subject Heavy on my heart......

Have you noticed how far 100.00 goes at the grocery store?

Have you noticed gas eking up?

My child's lunch got stolen at school yesterday.

I'm starting to get a little nervous...

I'm sad for the kid that stole her lunch....breaks my heart...In the news (of course not the mainstream) they say major food and beverage company's are raising their prices come the new year. But it has already started to happen. Also the "Fed" made a statement yesterday saying, "There is going to be some inflation to counter the deflation"? WHAT?

If you haven't started food storage start today PLEASE! If not for yourself for your kids, grand kids, grandparents, neighbors. Start small, start now.....don't be foolish.

Rice, beans and pasta store well. Canned goods and condiments.......ahhhh the list goes on.

Speaking of list...Make one!

When making your list remember toiletries, Meds and water.

People make fun of me for being a food "hoarder" I'm okay with that, it's kind of the joke now.

DO THIS before prices get any higher.

SAVE, SAVE, SAVE....your money ( not that the dollar is going to be worth much soon)

Look for sales, use coupons.

Meal plan... this saves BIG at the market. My sister got me started on this and it saves hundreds of dollars a month, NO JOKE! I make my meal plan according to what is on sale and when I go to the market I stay focused on ONLY what is on my list. Some weeks I get distracted, but for the most part I do good.

Stop eating out....eating out in my family is such a luxury. I HATE spending money on food that tastes nasty. I cook so much better and it costs so much less and it's WAY better for you. When we treat are family and go out the kids get so excited.....it's actually pretty funny. WE NEVER EVER go though the drive through. Why do people still eat that CRAP. It amazes me!

Stop taking endless trips to town....do all your errands in one or two days...then you have more time to be busy in your home, being a homemaker...some people don't like that title....I LOVE IT!

Simplify this Christmas....get out of debt.

Have a "Homespun" Christmas!

Give this season....find a family in need and help them.

Stop.... be still...listen to your gut......what does it tell you? Are you so disconected that you don't hear it anymore?

Prepare for the worst HOPE for the best.

blessings

Think

2010-09-07T10:16:00.000-07:00

Y'all know how much I LOVE Greens Bridge. Jason (the farmer) is a family man, his wife Julie is a stay at home farm mom, she always has a bunch of blond kids with her (like myself) Last week when I went to get corn I checked to see if they had any old produce that I could bring home to my animals. This is what I found-

They had a huge tote full of beautiful produce!

I dug through the tote and 80% was fine, maybe a blemish here and there but not bad at all!

Tomatoes!

Yellow squash and Lemon cucumbers!

Egg plant!

3 beautiful cantaloupes!

Some of you, I'm sure, are reading this in disbelief. YES I dug though the cast offs, and yes I washed them up and ate, canned, and dried all I could.

If this freaks you out your probably in the "pre packaged" club, sure you can't pronounce any of the ingredients on the box of crap you just put in your microwave but at least you didn't dig though some farmers compost for a meal...right!

Lots of people won't buy produce if it's not perfect!

So the farm throws away anything that there is no demand for and blemished produce falls in that category. I can't stand to see produce go to waist! When I see apples falling on the ground and rotting I think of all the folks that could benefit from eating them, and with Oregon being in the top 5 states with the highest unemployment why are people not lining up for all this free produce? I'll tell you one of the reasons- It doesn't come in a box.

Back in the depression people would have KILLED for that and I'm sure some did. Sad that we have become so wasteful and food stupid. - blessings

food has a story.......

2010-09-05T14:06:00.000-07:00

Farming is hard work. It's taxing on you physically and mentally. Jason and I have been raising our own meat sense year 2 of living here. We began with cows and added meat chickens, turkeys, duck and pig. The first few times our birds were ready, we would drive them to the butcher and pick up the finished package the next morning, all nice and tidy. We decided it was time to butcher the birds ourselves.

We raise birds twice a year making sure we don't have them when it's really HOT or when it's COLD. I sell to whom ever orders in advance and I add more for our family. I lost 14 birds in July to a skunk, while we were camping. Mind you we go camping once a year 'cause it's SO hard to leave the farm and we always take our dog Lucy (black lab) We set a trap and killed the skunk however I'm now 14 birds behind and I had to re-order. So with that said we only had 11 chickens to butcher and 3 turkeys.

We put the stock pot on the burner and heat the water to 150 then hung bailing twin from the barn to hang the birds from. I can't really explain the vibe in the air......Jason and I started getting kind stressed and short with each other. We had read everything there was to read on butchering and we watched every You-tube video we could find. The truth was, we both were unsure of what we were about to do.

You can see it all over Jason's face!

Jason wanted to say a prayer before we started and that seemed to give us some peace. It went really smooth. Some of the kids watched and then helped pluck. We took that time to explain how we love our animals and take care of them and in return they take care of us by building our body's strong and healthy, good clean food, the circle of life. It's amazing how many people are disconnected from their food. They think that there is always going to be food at the store. You already know how I feel about that.

We butchered 5 chickens and 1 turkey that night and saved the rest for the next night. Now we have a system, we know what to expect. It's still not an easy thing to do. It still sort of bothers me, the first bird, and cutting it's throat. I think if it didn't, maybe, there might be something wrong with you, I'm not sure. We love our animals and taking another living creatures life is not easy. I totally understand why some folks choose to be a vegetarian. i was foe a while and then my hair started falling out due to a lack of protein. So I pull up my "farm girl" panties and do what needs to be done-blessings

harvest........

2010-09-04T07:36:00.000-07:00

Happy harvest to all who are harvesting! I have been canning for what seems like months but it's more loke weeks. My kitchen looks like fresh produce market :)

French chard and romaine lettuce have been coming out out ears, good thing my family likes salad.......Let me rephrase that.. Good thing I offer lots of salads to my children and explain the benefit's of eating lots of green food. I believe it's important to teach your children how to fuel their body properly and why garbage food makes them feel yucky. You get ONE body treat it right!

Friend and fellow "farm girl" Tiffany brought over her pressure canner so we could can turkey (I have TONS of turkey...another post) We both had NEVER canned meat or used a pressure canner. It was my goal this season to start using one. I was shocked at how easy it was.

Turkey......from my farm! This is why we moved to Oregon, I cant believe 5 years later I have raised my own turkey, butchered it and then canned it! God is good.

We LOVE all the relish recipes from the Ball blue book! I bought a box of 48 ears, 4 for 1.00 from Greens Bridge (my fav farm in Jefferson)

LOTS and lots of Oregon blackberry's!

I did NOT plant zucchini or yellow squash this year. My neighbor did and so I am getting all his extra. I cut them up and put them in my dehydrator and make chips! My family LOVES these with a little salt and pepper, dipped in hummus...yummy!

bread and butter pickles!

A friend of ours owns a nursery and he has a connection with a farmer in Salem for peaches. I got 100lbs for 65$. May seem like a lot but it was the best deal I could find. Greens Bridge wanted 1.00 a lb. Canned peaches are like gold in my home. I use honey instead of sugar and the peaches take on the flavor of the honey, this year I used blackberry honey.

Free!

So far 36 quart and 12 pints of applesauce and 13 quarts of apple pie fill! I also use honey in my applesauce and I add cinnamon. Those apples came from Tiffany's house. Olivia and I picked for maybe 1/2 hr. Her apples were beautiful! She uses what she can and then lets others come pick and feeds ALL the apples on the ground to her chickens, alpacas and cows. Nothing goes to waist....A TRUE FARM GIRL! It bugs me when I see fruit or veggis go to waist.

If I got married again this would be my bouquet!

I have lots more canning to do today. Tiff is letting me borrow her pressure canner for a few days. I have more turkey to can, salsa, apple pie fill.....Yadda, yadda! -blessings

Awakening....

2010-08-25T07:17:00.000-07:00

The morning of Wednesday august 21 I woke up early to go see a surgeon about this pesky "node" that had been growing under my chin for the last year. I never thought to much about it because it started small. I thought for awhile it was an "under" ground zit however after 6 months I realised it wasn't and made an app. to see my WONDERFUL Doc. She felt around and told me it was a Lymph node and sent me over to get an ultrasound. The technician confirmed it. Patty (doc) asked me if I had any dental issues going on. I told her that I had never got my wisdom teeth out and that I was in the process of getting it done.The dentist I saw as a child thought I had a "BIG" mouth and there was no need to take them out :) Patty gave me the number for the surgeon and said to give her a call to get 'it" removed but not to worry. That was in May.... This of course had been in the back of my mind through the beginning months of summer and I noticed that it wasn't going down, even with getting some of the dental work done, in fact it was growing and I was starting to get self -conscious with a big "node" growing under my chin....Fast forward to August 21, last week. I go in bright and early to see the surgeon I wasn't really nervous until I sat in the waiting room. I hadn't really "gone there" in my mind, until that moment..... A few minutes later they call me in. The surgeon feels around and tells me that they can cut "it" out next week and that I might have cancer of the Lymph system! Of course I hear nothing else, she is rambling on about further testing and I practically fall on the floor and start to have a fricken melt down. She tells me it's a small chance, and she felt around for more lymph nodes that might be enlarged and finds non...thank God! The nurse handed me a tissue and sent me out to the front to make an appointment for the following Tuesday (yesterday) for surgery.After surgery they would send it to Salem and I would know by Friday what the next step would be.

Walking out to my car I was sick I felt this BIG ugly gray cloud position it's self over my head about a foot behind me threatening to hail. I called my husband and told him what the surgeon said, he didn't know what to say, I called my sister, it was harder to tell her than any other person, I'm not sure why, I'm still processing that. The drive home was very confusing, however I needed to pull it together for the kids, Lexi was home watching the little ones. I got home got them settled with lunch and sent them out to swim and I began to make calls and ask for prayer.
I am a Christian and not in the lose term it's used in today. I believe in Jesus, I believe he is the son of God, I believe he is the ONLY way to the father as said in the Bible. I LOVE the relationship I have with my maker, he created me so he knows me better that I know myself. I have not been a perfect child, but Gods forgiveness is as far as the east is to the west however sin has consequence and I AM a dirty rotten sinner and I have a sorted past.

You never know how your going to respond in a situation like this, never did I think I would be the one to tell everyone but I needed to put my pride aside and ask for prayer. Those prayers were the only thing that kept me going through the next few days. I broke down in a sobbing mess every time I would talk to someone. NOTHING seemed to matter. I didn't care about the garden, the canning, the animals nothing had any meaning unless it was what I could carry on with me into eternity, Faith, Hope, Love, Charity, Kindness, Forgiveness the condition of my heart and soul, my kids, that was a tough thought, my mother passed away when I was 6, I didn't want that for my kids or my Husband.

After two days of the "cloud" following me I really started to feel Gods peace, I felt the prayer of people and that is what got me through that VERY long week. On Sunday my pastor talked about putting on the armor of God because satin is out to seek and destroy. The belt of truth, the shoes of peace and the breast plate of righteousness, that is what I wore for the next few days.

Tuesday came, I was covered in prayer, Jason brought me in to the surgeons office and she met me there with a smile and began to prep me for the quick, in-office surgery. I was shaking in my boots! I knew that we would know a little more after she saw exactly what it was. I was ready to go...

The surgeon cut me open and said, " this isn't a lymph node, it's a cyst"!!!!!!!! "We have nothing to worry about your fine." Of course I started to cry and thank God for answering every ones prayers.

What a life changing week, I have learned so much! YES! I have pride issues! (I'm french)

1. God is BIG, bigger than any ones mind can EVER imagine

2. I DO NEED PEOPLE

3. people care

4. I LOVE my life! (kids, hub, friends, family, farming all of it!)

5.There is consequences for sin but God can heal and restore.

6. Stupid stuff doesn't matter and most things are stupid :)

7. Why do we work so hard on the external when it's rotting away and abandon the internal?

8. I LOVE my sister!

9. Mya is my very best friend on the planet, I'm so grateful for her friendship!

10. Watch out word 'cause God is NOT finished with me.

blessings-johnna
back to canning :)

The Auction

2010-08-11T15:21:00.000-07:00

Took some friends to the auction.........

We left at 7:30 am, two hours before it began, wanting to get a GOOD look at all the "goods" before it started. They had furniture, books, tools pretty much everything you could think of. My friends and I went to see livestock and poultry. I have NEVER seen anything like this! First off I was WAY over dressed in my cowboy boots and prairie skirt. Second, I had a Starbucks in my hand (my friend treated me for driving) Third, I had make-up on. Apparently you DON'T have to bath to go to the auction or brush your teeth, heck you don't even need teeth! I AM a country girl, NOT a snob, however this was a little over the top. We decided to start at poultry, early enough to take a look at all the birds before the auctioneer arrived. Let me just say that these birds were bottom of the barrel birds, I WOULD NEVER buy one of these poor animals and bring it on my farm for fear they would give my "spoiled" flocks some kind of disease! I felt sad in my heart for these birds, however I had to "suck it up" and get on with the auction. While looking at the birds I met a very nice "veteran of the auction" she has a farm and sometimes if she finds a good bird buys it, she introduced us to this man who comes every week and buys almost all the birds, sick or well and takes them home, butchers them and sells them to restaurants and private buyers under the banner of "buy local", "farm fresh", "free range". I WAS HORRIFIED! I work so hard to sell my meat under those titles because I believe in providing for my customers the very best quality food for them and there family's. It made me sick that some one could lie like that and really be selling complete crap! I wanted to take him out! Instead I chalked it up to a lesson learned. We moved on to the livestock, still sicked out from poultry and people, went to wash our hands and made our way to the benches and waited for the cows to come in. Not so bad, the other animals were not as "ghetto" as the poultry. I MIGHT buy a cow next time. I would have taken pictures but they had signs EVERYWHERE prohibiting it....hmmmm I wonder why?

If you buy your food from a local provider ask if you can visit their farm, if they have nothing to hind they will welcome you. I welcome all our customers. If you buy your meat from the grocery store......that sucks for you......I mean... find a local farm or raise your own! The funny thing is it's not that hard to provide a humane environment for your animals, it's not hard to have "free range" if you have the land. It's sad how the mighty dollar has corrupted the hearts of man. People have no conscious anymore. The folks who are buying the chicken that 2 days prior had No feathers due to mights, have no clue! YUCK!

Okay, okay I'm done ranting for now! On a happier note I've been very busy canning. Canning feeds my soul, I LOVE IT! I know I'm late with "survival story" I'm work'en on it. If you have a farm, garden and kids you know how busy the summer is. I heard it's going to be a early, cold winter here in Oregon! DAMN that "global warming" :)

blessings

Stocking up!

2010-07-19T06:51:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling very inspired today! I've been stocking 2 blogs that I love, first one is http://mcguirehomestead.blogspot.com/ this lady is a "Rock star" in the world of canning. Every time I read her blog I want to can something. The best part is EVERYTHING comes from her own land....Go check her out and leave her a comment! Someday that will be me, but in the mean time I choose to support my Local farm! I love Greens Bridge!

Strawberry and Raspberry, Marion Berry jam......Yummy!

I also make pies and freeze them, I started that 3 years ago and my family loves it! I make about 15 pies Marion berry, Blueberry, Cherry and peach!

We also harvested onion last week.

Treasure hunting! Digging for potatoes is the ultimate treasure hunt. I had so much fun digging up our spuds!

I keep our onions and spuds in the barn were it's cool.

I also just harvested some of our cauliflower and my dill is ready to pickle something however the cucumbers this year are very slow going, it's that way for everyone. The wet spring has made it a ruff garden year. I'm going to pickle today....Onion, cauliflower and eggs. My family loves picked eggs.

I feel like summer is getting away from me, I have only canned jam! I need to get off this computer and get to work! -blessings

P.S. I REALLY want to can stew! Who wants to come over and teach me?:)

Summer time!

2010-07-07T06:53:00.000-07:00

I know.....I know.....it's been awhile. We've had a busy summer. It's funny how I long for summer, so that I can have a "break" there's no "break" for us, I don't think I'm a break kind of person. This is what we have been up to....... Alexa...her favorite pass time....

Emma found this nest for me:)

Our meat birds.....

1st "french chard" harvest...

beautiful isn't it....

I think I can....I think I can....

Onions! I LOVE to eat these...the blooms of the onion! My "fancy" sister has some "fancy" french word for them. I just call them onion blooms!

Had lunch out of the yard the other day....Yummy!

I had an "Eclipse" party for my older girls the night the movie came out. I had 17 girls stay the night and we went to the 12:10 am showing of the movie... We had a blast!

The next morning...

Before we left for the movie we had some backyard fun....farm girl style!

Jason........on our camping trip.

Camping.....
Granger with his buddy!

And now the MOST important thing....my derby skate!

Hope you enjoyed the pictures....we've had a fun summer so far. Now it's time to kick it into "ant" gear...we have been kinda "grasshopper'en" it. I'm working on the next "survival story" post....now off to pick Raspberry's......happy summer all -blessings

p.s. I think I've found it...... the blog I was looking for a few posts ago, I'll let you know if it's a "goodie" soon :)

Hear comes tha sun!

2010-06-14T07:10:00.001-07:00

AHHHHHH......... Finally the sun has come out in Oregon. My hubs told me that he heard on the radio it was the wettest spring in 50 years! Most gardening has been put on hold for the last month because of this guy and all of his slimy friends frolicking in the spring rain! I have lost all my cucumbers and bush beans, trying everything to get rid of him I let my ducks out of the pen willing to sacrifice my lettuce, as long as they also feasted on the slugs. Now that the clouds have parted and that BIG YELLOW BALL in the sky has emerged this guy and all his friends are done making me miserable. You reap what you sow..... this is true in all areas of life... There is such an unexplainable feeling of contentment and connection I feel to the earth and our Creator when I eat something so pure and scrumptious that we grew on our farm...NATURALLY!

I'm so excited to work in the garden, I feel like I've been waiting forever for the rain to stop. Oregon is beautiful....when the sun is out :) Our broccoli loved the rain and is growing big and strong. I'm glad for that because last week we used up our last frozen bag.

Now time to go re-plant bush beans and cucumbers. Strawberry season is also here so dust off those canning jars it's time to make some jam....farm girl style-blessing and HAPPY gardening-

Survival Story

2010-06-02T10:47:00.000-07:00

Survival story..... the first phase

This is something that has been written on my heart by our Creator for awhile now and because the rain is coming down in buckets, my gardening skills have been put on hold. I now have time to share this very important information with you. My intention is not to scare you, or make you nervous. I want you to take this information and do with it as you please. My hope is that you will work to prepare your family. We live in uncertain times, things are very shaky to say the least. It is very important that you ready yourself, so hear we go......emergency preparedness farm girl style...

Your living conditions...do you live in a big city or a small town? Rural or urban? Do you know and trust you neighbors? So many people live in city's now, more that ever before in history. So what happens in a disaster ?(hurricane Katrina) If there was no electricity would you trust your neighbors if they had no food, water or heat? My advice (not that it matters) get out of the city.... if you can't, get to know your neighbors so you know who you can trust and make a plan.

-extra gas if you have to leave

-emergency route if main road ways are closed

-ready bag with food, water, clothes, matches, meds and cash (for your car)

-think about self defence, what if someone tried to hurt you or your family because you had something they wanted? Think about it!

If you can't leave, secure your home and make sure you have.......

1. FOOD... during a disaster food is the first thing to disappear..

Have at least a months food supply stocked up, it doesn't have to be hard or break the bank.

EVERY time you go to the market but extra, even if it's just one can of black beans you will be loving those beans if you have nothing else. Winco (Oregon grocery store) sells brown rice in 25lb bags for 13.00 I buy one every month as part of my emergency kit. Buy seeds and LEARN TO GROW YOU OWN FOOD! I can't say this enough, learn to forage, read about wild foods. Learn to can or dry your food.

2.WATER... even more important then food. If you have a well with a hand pump..GREAT! I'm blessed to have a well and we are in the process of getting a hand pump. If your on city water, PLEASE make sure you have plenty of extra water stored! I use my old juice jugs and fill them with water. Have a camping water filter so you can make sure your drinking clean water and remember you can boil your water to purify it. Start small, pick up one extra case a month of water or fill up old jugs with water. Your recycling and stocking up all at the same time!

3. LIGHT....my family has way to many head lamps. We have one for every member of the family. If there is NO electricity there very handy. Candles are a must. Buy matches or lighters every time you go to wal-mart. A lighter is also something you can barter with because in a disaster bartering will be the new way of doing business.

4. Battery's...get them

5. A.M Radio....hand crank or battery operated

6. Generator.. to run your fridge or for me, my freezers, they are full of food. This is an investment but you will be very happy you have it in a time of a disaster.

7. Heat..if you don't have an alternative heat source and the power goes out what are you going to do? A wood stove or fireplace is the answer. Be sure you have lots of extra wood. Old pallets are a great wood source and they are free, all you have to do is ask.

8. First-aid..they sell first aid kits at wal-mart for 5.00. Hydrogen peroxide works for so many things have several bottles. Vinegar is another thing you should have TO much of. I wont get started with how many things you can do with vinegar, we will save that for another post.

9.Personal Hygiene items..In the move "The book of Eli" (great movie) shampoo was worth more than gold! Soap, lotion, deodorant, tampons or maxi-pads, toothpaste (baking soda and peroxide will clean your teeth too) I have lots of extra soap on hand. If all hell breaks lose I WILL smell good!;)

10. Self-defence.. Guns don't kill people, people kill people and I don't EVER want to hurt someone, but if my kids or hubby was being threatened I would defend my family. Make sure you have a gun and you know how to handle it, and make SURE you have extra ammo. I know some of you are anti gun. If you think that the police are going to protect you in state of panic your a fool! They will be busy protecting there family's.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, however I don't want to overwhelm you. Start small. Thinking about this can be scary, I have peace because I know how the story of earth ends. I have been graciously chosen buy my Creator, I have prayed about my responsibility during these unstable times and I would urge you to do the same. I will be doing "Survival Story" bi-weekly to help you get prepared for our uncertain future- blessings

blog cool kid?....{what}

2010-05-30T19:08:00.000-07:00

Yes there is a club and much to my delight....I'm not in it!.....People bug me.... I know that may seem like a broad generalisation and a little harsh but it's true and the few people that read my blog that's lost out in blog land (and I'm thankful for that) now know the truth about me...

One rainy night (tonight) after saying good buy to my sister, who just came to visit. I decided to go on a blog adventure. I soon realise that there is a "cool kids club" in blog land (stupid) and these people really take themselves seriously. Funny......very funny... I want to find a blog that know one knows about...With gardening, kids, animals, the simple life and getting back to basics someone who loves the earth because it's the home that our loving Creator made for us to enjoy and take care of, with witty writing, not trying to impress the masses. I'm anti "cool kids club" so if you visit my blog and you think, based on my blog that I would enjoy your blog or your friends, sisters, moms grandmas cousins blog, leave me a comment and let me know.....I'm on a blog mission!

Life......

2010-05-25T05:58:00.001-07:00

I know it's been a long time. With basketball ending, softball and t-ball beginning, PTA, 4-H, field trips, planting, mowing, yadda, yadda.... I've had NO time to blog, I'm sure the same is true for lots of "Farm Girls" Ahhh...... there is nothing like fresh cut flowers from your yard. I love putting my worn Muck boots on with snips in hand, making my way though the gardens and bringing in the harvest, weather it be flowers, fruit or veggies. It brings me back to the simple things in life and right now boy do I need simplicity! Sometimes I think I'm NUTS! I'm sure all of us have those moments. Spring is such a busy time for my family. Actually.......all seasons are busy for me.

I tend to say, "yes" to almost everything! I have so much going on everyday, I need summer to come FAST! However summer, has taken the slow boat to Oregon, it has been cold and raining for most of spring, we've had record rain fall this year. (global warming...ha) Yes it's good for the water table, and good for all my seeds and starts but I NEED some organic vitamin D.

This is my favorite tree.....I'm not sure what kind it is and I really don't care, I just love to watch it go though the seasons.

I planted my asparagus 3 years ago not knowing that it takes 3 years to get a crop, my sister told me, and I being...well.....me.... told her, "oh...ya.... I know that." I'm such a punk!

I love me clothes line!

This is my sassy 2nd born Olivia! We celebrated her birthday recently and this is such a classic picture of her all dressed up to go to the big city with Mom and Dad for Greek food, we had so much fun! I really can't believe that she is 10!

This hansom guy turned 5 three days after Olivia turned 10, this was a hard one for me, Granger is my only boy out of 5 kiddos. He is such a treasure.

Because I have sooo much extra time I decided to add one more CRAZY thing to my schedule..... Roller Derby!!!! I'm VERY excited about this NEW venture. It takes me out of my comfort zone and I LOVE that! My first practice was last week, I was so excited and VERY nervous. Well... 5 minutes into "open skate" I fall.....and sprained my ankle and now I'm out for 3 weeks. Ahhhhh what a blow to my spirit, I do not like to sit! I'm a busy bee and 2 days into my sitting I told the hubs, "I don't know how folks can just sit and watch T.V. all day, I'm going CRAZY just sitting! I'm happy to report that I am walking now and my ankle IS getting better! I'm taking lots of supplements and soaking my foot in apple cider vinegar (shocking I know). I'll have a lot of derby "make up" to do after my foot is better. Life is funny like that ;)

Hey....it's Organic!

2010-04-13T13:32:00.000-07:00

While on my quest to find a new bathing suit and some new Summer digs this is what I've concluded-

I'm taken care of it....Farm Girl Style-

A day in the life.......

2010-04-05T09:13:00.000-07:00

What a weekend! I love Easter! Thank you Jesus for dieing on the cross for my sin! With that said can I just tell you how much I dislike the Easter Bunny, I always have....bad childhood memories I guess. Our "Laying Lady's" one, not so good thing about Farm Fresh eggs is that it's very hard to peal them after being boiled....Yes I know, if you add salt to the water, or oil, or pour cold water over them right after boiling they SHOULD peel better....well that never works for me so I have 2 bowls, one for the deviled eggs and one for egg salad, the eggs that turn out"nice"are for the boiled eggs and the ones that turn out shmaggy I use for egg salad.

Well, well......here I am. The kiddos and I made these fantastic head bands with just a little moss, fake flowers, butterfly's and a hot glue gun....so much fun!

Farm Girl Johnna

3rd born Emma

So cute!

Baby Eve

Alexa 1 born, Olivia 2nd born and Eve 5th born, I know it's funny that I'm giving you their birth order but......I don't care. The girls helped me make the best potato salad I've ever had and I don't like potato salad. I got the recipe from Mary Jane's Farm Mag.

Greek Potato Salad

2/3 cup plain yogurt

1/3 cup sour cream

1/3 cup grated cucumber

(squeeze to remove liquids)

1 garlic clove, finely minced

6 cups roasted potatoes

1 cup cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped

1 cup black olives

1 cup feta cheese, crumbled

salt and pepper to taste

1. In a small bowl, combine yogurt, sour cream,grated cucumber and garlic and mix well.

2. In a large bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Add yogurt sauce and toss gently.

When roasting potatoes coat in olive oil, salt and pepper, cook at 400 for 30 min.

Ahhh.... Farm Fresh Milk!

My friend and neighbor raises Dexter cows. We get to enjoy her cows fresh milk which is so good for you! My family LOVES home made butter so here we go...

-spoon out all the cream off the top of the fresh milk and put it in a mason jar-

A little shaking

Strain it-

Add some honey(if you want)

Put in the fridge for about 1 hr

yummy!

We also made cupcakes!

Then after we were done in the kitchen on Saturday Jason and I jumped in the car and went to the neighbors to pick up our piglets. Yes...that is Jason holding the Pig....in my car!

Farmer Jason getting piggy out of the car! This was so fricken funny, pigs are strong and very LOUD, I thought the pig was going to break the window.

Pork is an"un clean" meat however every now and then we like to have some. I will not buy store bought meat AT ALL! So if we want bacon we have to raise some pigs!

After a hard day of cooking, baking and pig getting I decided to give the kiddos a pedicure, they worked so hard getting ready for our Easter feast they needed a little pampering.

Granger 4th born, loved it!

Sunday...

All the Farm kids ready for church-

Hope you all had a blessed weekend, we sure did. Now kick off those Sunday close and put on your muck boots and start planting!-blessings

ADHD (self diagnosed)

2010-03-30T15:37:00.000-07:00

I have ADHD (self diagnosed) when it comes to a lot of things. I think it's a gift! Like when I'm cleaning, I start a room, have to go pee, so I go into the bathroom and I start cleaning, forgetting that I was cleaning the other room until I'm done with the bathroom. This also is why I can handle the CRAZINESS of my life! The hubs, our 5 kiddos, the farm, and the addition to our home (more about that later). However with all the wonderful things about being ADHD (self diagnosed) ( I'm really liking ( ) today). It seems to be running into my blog. I can't seem to focus on one thing. I start with a post on Honey and the wonderful benefits of it, then I get side tracked and start a post on Farm girl frugality, then I told my SISTER about my problem and she told me to do a post on Our house expansion also I've been working the soil in our garden, I have many things planted and I wanted to do a Farm girl gardening post, I'm confused! So....instead of doing a post on any of the titles listed above I'm doing it on my ADHD (self diagnosed) Maybe you fabulous folks could tell me what you want! Like a readers choice! (I just came up with that right now)

HIGH SPEED!

2010-03-17T14:41:00.000-07:00

It just took me 5 minutes to upload 4 pictures!!! With dial-up it took me 20-40 minutes to upload 1 picture. I'M A NEW WOMAN!

I love every season, that's part of the reason I moved back to the "mainland" and spring is in the air. Flowers are blooming and the trees are budding. I feel fresh, new, and excited about our farm and all the new exciting things that are happening here. (like high speed) The potatoes, onion and peas are in the ground, we are planting spinach, radish and carrot this weekend! I found a pressure canner at an estate sale for 15.00, I'm very excited about canning more veggies season, I'm excited the sun is out, my garlic is coming up and I have dirt under my nails, and the best part is that I can blog about it in 15 minutes!!

The chickens are happy on there pasture, we seem to be getting more eggs that we can eat. I'm adding 10 more to my flock this spring, because now that I have "high speed" I will be promoting all my "farm goods" on line, also our Jefferson Farm girls chapter is starting a farmers market in Jefferson!
Our first hatching of the year gave us 12 duckings! Duck are fun to watch and fun to roast. We are hoping to start selling our ducks to an Asian market. Muscovy ducks are a heritage breed, they prefer to free range and they keep the land clean of slugs and bugs.

Blessings to you and happy planting!
(I heart high speed)

Thank you!

2010-03-12T13:57:00.000-08:00

So, I haven't gotten high speed yet, that's happening on Tuesday the 16th, the process has taken 3 weeks:( They had to climb on my roof and see if they could find the tower and then schedule to come " hook it up" so in just a few days my life will forever change;) Also my computer has been broken. I got on today for the first time in 2 weeks, decided at the last minute to check the blog that I thought know one read except for my sister, WELL! I was surprised to find that I.... farm girl Johnna, had 7 fricken comments! I can't believe it! I'm shocked! I just thought I was writing to myself, my sister and some of her "popular" friends. Thank you so much for all your love, I'm TOTALLY feel'in it! I'm so excited to show you all what's new on the farm-blessings

Construction....

2010-01-11T10:21:00.000-08:00

My blog is under major construction! One of my resolutions is to become more " computer savvy" I have dial up........that's really all I need to say. It takes me 3 hrs. to do 1 blog entry with pics. NO FUN! Living in the country has made it hard to get high speed, however now there are several company's to choose from for fast and friendly service, so in the next 3 weeks, give or take a week, I will have high speed! My sister tells me it is going to change my "computer life" I'm super happy about that! So to the one person reading this (my sister) get ready for a BIG CHANGE! Farm Girl Style....

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FARMER!

2009-06-13T14:46:00.000-07:00

"Man must go back to nature for information" -Thomas Paine

I know it's been a very long time...... almost 2 months since my last post! I've been beyond busy.... Spring is almost over, and Summer is fast approaching. Have you planted you garden? My weeds seem to be growing faster than my veggies!

My wonderful neighbor had 3 of these full of FREE strawberry plants, and if you know me, you know, I LOVE FREE STUFF!

Adding to the flock...8 heritage Dominique chicks.....

4 Araucana chicks....2 turkeys

My chickens seem to think there eggs are as yummy as the customers I sell them to.....not good..... so I covered their nesting boxes to give them some "privacy" and to darken up the space so they can't see the eggs they lay.

So............Do you know where your meat comes from? I have asked you this before.... I know most, if not all of you do NOT know where it comes from, or how it is processed. I want to encourage you to change that!

This is one of the 4 cows we have that is fed on....well.... the grass you see it feeding on.

The 4 cows we have, have 9 acres to graze on! We have Happy, Happy cows!
( if you have a weak stomach do not continue)
"Home grown food" is something I am VERY passionate about (as most of you know) I WILL NOT eat " ghetto" food... Garbage in Garbage out! I want to remind you to SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL ORGANIC FARMER this summer! This is the butchering process..........

30/30...Shot in the head, a fast, quick death..

Wendy...this head is for you!

Skin off!

getting down and dirty!

This is what lives inside the cow! I thought about doing a "guess" give away with this pic. but nothing can top the placenta!

922 lbs!

this cow cost us 200.00 to raise.

How much do you spend on meat at the local grocery store? Once you have "Naturally raised" beef it's very hard to eat the garbage they sell at the store.

The Meat birds!

Jason and I were "green horns" in raising meat birds, we started with 50 and had 12 die, sad, but very much part of the process!

Emma and Granger with the birds!

"Range free" - "Free range" -"Cage free"-"Naturally raised" WHATEVER you call them, our birds had all the pasture they wanted to graze on!

I sold 20 of the 38 birds, for 12.00 each.....

5 I sold to a customer.....

55 beautiful pounds of strawberries!

=46 containers of yummy freezer jam!

I WILL be picking more next week for canning!
I wish to inspire you to begin your "stocking up" for the tough months ahead. Work with your local farmer your family and friends to provide good food for you and the people you love. I sell beef, chicken, turkey and duck meat, also duck, turkey and chicken eggs. I will also be selling produce out of my garden. I support other farmers in my area that sell goods that I don't produce on my land, I also LOVE to trade and barter.. this is a lost art that I believe is being re- born out of the economic problems America is facing.

"Nobody ever drowned in his own sweat"-Ann Landers

So get to work....Farm Girls!

"He that waits upon fortune, is never sure of a dinner"-Benjamin Franklin
-Blessings-

CRACK KILLS!

2009-04-15T09:45:00.000-07:00

It's official! Spring is here and it's beautiful! This post will be different, it wont be about "The Farm" or dirt, animals, worms yadda, yadda. Yes, I'm busy planting, taking care of chicks, waiting the arrival of ducklings and excited about the sun. But with this excitement comes frustration, because like most of you (maybe not) it's time to think about tank tops, shorts, skirts and bathing suits, a season I look forward to and also a season that makes me sorta cringe. As I write this I am eating my trusty organic apple and an avocado for breakfast, yummy right? In my quest to lose the last 10-15 lbs of baby weight( Eve is 18 months old now) I find myself frustrated with the progress. Am I always going to have 10 lbs to lose? I exercise more that any person I know (really) so it must be the food in take right? One of my life goals is to be totally"raw" by 45. That means only eating raw food! I know 45 is years away, however I try to stay close to raw most of the time, except for in the fall, I LOVE to eat in the fall! I know I'm one of those people who could survive on 1 nut and 2 berries, the people who just... "stop drinking soda and lose 20 lbs" or "start walking out to get the mail" and drop 10, really kind.... piss me off! My SISTER reminded me about my last Dr. visit and how the Doc. was REALLY HAPPY with my over all health. :) I'm thankful for that because health has always been my #1 goal .....or has it? My sis also reminded me that we are French and the French are very vein... so am I really just striving toward outward perfection which I could NEVER reach. My stretch marks alone, if connected in a straight line could circle the entire earth! I know tons about food and nutrition, people call me when they want to lose a few. So in my frustration I am writing about it on my blog and many Folks are going to read it (thanks trusty 7)

The hubs just asked me last night why I red "SELF" mag. I had to stop and think about it... Well...... I've been reading self on and off for 16 yrs. I know more than they do sometimes, I'm not trying to boast (french) but when they have articles that say... "New study says if you eat more fruit and vegis your chances of developing cancer drop 60%"..... really? So why do I read it? To look at the 20 year old models with NO fat, NO stretch marks and perfect arms? Never mind the fact they eat napkins, diet coke and smoke like a chimney. The other day I thought to myself, " if I smoke American spirit cigs, they are "natural" and maybe that would help with the last 10" then I smacked myself with a banana peal (really) and did some yoga, and no I didn't feel more "centered". So.... the "food journal" is becoming my new BFF. I will write down everything I put in my mouth along with the exercises I do everyday, if this doesn't work I'm going on the "CRACK DIET"..... But what about the picking you do to your skin? Yuck! Your hair falls out, I have good hair,(french) not sure I want it to fall out just to be skinny, you also start to talk to yourself and bat make believe bugs out of the air, and your mouth does really weired things and your eyes get all buggy, I'm sure it would FREAK my kids out. CRACK BAD! FRUIT GOOD!

P.S. NO I don't have a thyroid problem!....but I might have an attitude problem!;)

don't give me your advice on this subject! (french) I just wanted to vent!

blessings

SPRING!

2009-03-31T21:14:00.000-07:00

Spring is in the air, and I'm sooo excited about it! Trees have buds, bulbs are popping up EVERYWHERE. I have been picking flowers from the yard to bring into the house and the birds are busy building there nests and chatting about it. I LOVE waking up to the birds singing a morning song!

We have been busy! We went to my parent house for spring break and had a wonderful time! On our way home we drove though the gorge and saw SO many windmills, it was AMAZING!

Okay folks, now lets get down to business.......Spring planting.....what have you done? How are you improving your soil? This is a picture of the "organic matter" I added to my onion patch. I put in some extra egg shells and coffee grinds for nitrogen, which feeds the plant. I LOVE getting my hands dirty!

When I was done.....I had wonderful rich soil, you can't see in the picture but their are tons of worms in this soil.

I have started my tomato's, broccoli and basil. This weekend I will get my peas and carrots in the ground. I ordered my seeds online from www.grannysheirloomseeds.com they have GREAT deals and online help and tips, check them out!

Some women get excited about new clothes, jewelry, a new car, yadda, yadda. These things are very nice, however, when I saw what my hubs made for me this last weekend, my heart skipped. I was so excited! This is the beginning of our NEW chicken tractor for the "free range" chickens we are adding to our farm. We will be butchering them in 9 weeks, we ordered 50 of them from the Jefferson feed store and they will be here on Friday. I have already sold 18 of them! I'm excited and nervous about this, as you know butchering is NOT fun, however it is our goal to have food freedom and to help others do the same. This is a heavy burden, and reading more about the way animals are treated in commercial poultry factory's, the living conditions and the digestive failure's people are experiencing from eating tainted meat, I know folks are looking for a healthy alternative.

The best thing about this is that it was all free! The old canopy was left here from the previous owner and the wheels came from some old wheel borrows the hubs found in a dumpster. The kiddos and I are going to paint it with rainbows and flowers. This will be the chickens "happy place" before they.......well.......die.

We have to make one more so that they have plenty of room.

Speaking of chickens.. Have you gotten yours?

I have a new friend, she is totally crazy, (like myself) but very smart in her quest for a healthy life. Check her out at theelliotfamily@blogspot.com. She has been making chicken stock with her mail order chicken heads! YES! Mail order chicken heads... hey Nina I'll have 50 chicken heads in June.... I can make you a great deal, like buy 1 get 49 free!

This is our Turkey flock, they are heritage turkeys, Bourbon red and Silver slate. This picture is for the sis... I wanted her to see her thanksgiving dinner!

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL ORGANIC FARMER!

Grab your puke bowl sis...this one's for you!

2009-03-19T19:51:00.000-07:00

HI! My name is Eve. I have been re-uniting with my "old friend"...... PLACENTA! This kept me healthy and strong for 40 weeks when I lived in my Mommy's belly and now my FREAK MOM is making me hold this nasty, cold thing. My Daddy said my Mommy has "crossed over" and is worried that she might be scaring away the 4 people that read her blog! I think he might be right;)

I was going to plant it in the yard with an apple tree, but I forgot I had it! Congratulations WENDY! You are the winner! My sister thinks an "old cow head" is the prize (now who's the freak) It's NOT a cow head......that's gross!

My hubs says I can no longer come through our front door! Hey at least I didn't eat it! I'm off to grammy's for the week with the kiddo's, I will send out your TOTALLY AWESOME prize when I get back...I'm glad Wendy won...she's just as freaky as me:)
P.S. the white noodle thing is the umbilical cord.....now that's gross!

Inconvenient, convenient sizzle?

2009-03-15T19:57:00.000-07:00

I watched "An Inconvenient Truth" this weekend and it got me thinking....... poor Al Gore needs to get over his loss to Bush!( i know the movie was made in 2005) It also made me think of EARTH! I LOVE EARTH! I love the artful hand of the CREATOR when making flowers, animals, water, trees, the sky and sun and how it all works in perfect harmony allowing humans to live and thrive on a big ball floating in space! That's a BIG deal! I do believe in "global warming" NOT because Al Gore says so, an not to the degree that Al says either...however I do think that humans have been poor stewards of Earth....and why, if you are a lover of the earth are you put into some "hippie liberal" box? I love earth because it's a gift from our CREATOR, a place of beauty and life! So with that said I'm letting you in on a big secret.....my cleaning products...they are earth friendly and VERY cheap. I use baking soda for the tub, toilet and sink, then I pour vinegar over it and..... along comes the SIZZLE..... and then I scrub..Yes the vinegar stinks but if Eve comes in the bathroom while I'm cleaning I don't have to worry about her touching anything or smelling the fumes! I also use vinegar for windows and mirrors and all my counter tops!

I use Hydrogen peroxide instead of OxyClean because it's cheaper and the EXACT same thing!

This is what I use when I make laundry soap...I also put in 20 drops of lavender Essential oil.

1/2 cup washing soda

1/2 cup borax
1 bar fels naphtha

20 drops oil of your choice

All can be found at WinCo

Grate the fels naphtha in a large saucepan with 6 cups of water over med. heat, heat until soap melts. Add washing soda and borax, stir until it dissolves. Let sand for 5 min. over heat stirring occasionally. Remove from heat let stand for 5 min. Put half the mixture in a 1 gal. jug and the other half in another gal. jug (old vinegar jugs work great) fill half way with warm water and shake..fill the rest of the way with warm water and shake. Let sit for 24 hrs. It will gel up! Use 3/4 cup per-load. I think if you use these products you will be very happy with their cleaning ability and...you are making your home healthy and the planet happy!

I'm sure your wondering what this picture is! I'm doing a "give away" and if you guess right, you will win something fab...
Good luck!

Few hints

-not meat-

-you dont eat it...well some do-

-it's organic-

Yes...it's the same picture!
You have until friday!

INSPIRATION!

2009-03-10T14:37:00.000-07:00

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there"-Will Rogers

What is your inspiration? Spring is in the air...and I am inspired! I'm busy planning my garden and with the world in the state that it's in I want you planning to get dirt under you nails this spring. Growing your own food can save BIG money and it's very easy. If your renting......container gardens are perfect. If you don't like to get dirty.....please remember to support your LOCAL farmer, search out farmers that also sell meat and milk, Craig's list is a wonderful way to find farmers! I see the cow everyday that I get my milk from, I checked out the barn before buying this milk from my neighbor to make sure that she was practicing "clean" and "natural" farming, this woman has turned out to be one of my biggest mentors on organic gardening and farming! I have been trading eggs for buffalo and elk meat and 10lb bags of dry beans! Yesterday I traded 2 doz. eggs for a 7lb. beef roast (home grown). We raise our own beef already but this lady needed eggs and I've got lots of mouths to feed so yippi for beef!! You have a chance this spring to plant a garden that can feed you family for a year! Canning and freezing all your extra harvest or you can go to u-pick farms. I still enjoy making zucchini/blueberry bread and apple butter in my oats is a real treat! I've made fresh pasta sauce all winter long with the neighbors tomatoes that were going to waist. Things are tough for many folks and I give THANKS to the Creator for his provision over my family. My goal is to harvest 3 times as much as I did last year and possibly start a farmers market in my small town. This summer I wont be doing any "vendor sales" with my "rust and crust" that season has passed..... I want to do something BIGGER!

My chickens have also been busy in the garden doing ALL the prep work for me. They eat bugs, fertilize and till the soil as they scratch around. This year I'm doing a movable "salad table" like the one in MaryJanes Farm mag...we eat lots of salad and having a movable table will increase my harvest and then it leaves room in the garden for other vegis. This is a great thing to do if you rent, you can move it with you everywhere you go!

Doesn't that soil look fab!

Chicks are in the feed stores right now! GO GET SOME! Fresh eggs are so yummy and a great bartering tool, even if you live in town you can have a few chickens! I am adding 8-10 chickens to my flock this spring and we are also doing 25 meat birds and yes.... we will be butchering them ourselves.

I want you to be inspired! Inspired to do what the Creator intended you to do..that's different for everyone...... Listen to that small voice in your head and obey! We were created to live in THIS time, a time when thing are hard and I believe they are going to get harder. MOVE on your ideas... they are put in your mind for a reason....GOD put them there! He has chosen you for GREATNESS, however you have to ACT on that GREATNESS! Lastly...maybe? My sis is going to have a class with my Dear old auntie Trish..oh wait she is younger that me....anyway, the class is about shopping at Winco, making yummy food, meal planning, saving money and I am trying to talk her into doing a "how to"on making your own cleaning products. TAKE THE CLASS! I'm SURE you will find inspiration there! God bless-

IGNORE!

2009-02-24T09:14:00.000-08:00

"Do not go where the path may lead,
go instead where there is no path,
and leave a trail for others to follow." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Okay, I'm going to preface this with letting you know that I'm on a cleanse and if you've ever cleansed before you know that you have some CRAZY moments, I have CRAZY moments when I'm not cleansing so my cleansing CRAZY moments can be pretty CRAZY! This might be a cleansing CRAZY moment!

A few weeks ago I went to visit my sister and on that visit she turned me on to "facebook" just like she did with "blogging". I was sorta scared and excited all at the same time. I thought it would be a GREAT thing to re-connect with old friends that I had lost contact with, and I have! I found old friends from Maui (yippi) and friends from High school that I really did miss, and facebook has been a great way for my mom to check up on me! (thank you Zach) However........ what about the randoms? I don't care how many friends it shows I have.....I have people asking to be my friend that never were my friends before, that never even talked to me before, yes we may have gone to the same school or know the same people but who fricken cares... So who do I call when this happens to me the first time? My SISTER! She tells me, "Well you kinda have to accept," so I accept the first random...fine whatever maybe there is this unwritten code on facebook that I don't understand. However.... if you know me even for a minute you know that I an a non-conformist. I cant do something I don't believe in to the core of my person, even with facebook... some call it crazy I choose to call it passion, I justify this behavior by telling myself that Christ is a non-conformist....this works for me! I have chosen to hit IGNORE! Instead of saying "You have a friend request" it should say," You have a random request". I'm starting a facebook revolution!

Weekend fun!

2009-02-22T20:02:00.000-08:00

This being human is a guest house, every morning a new arrival.
a joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes

as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if they are a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house

empty of it's future, still treat each guest honourably.

He may be clearing you out for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing

and invite them in. Be grateful whoever comes, because each has been sent

guide from beyond.

-Rumi, 13th century poet

Something to think about!

This weekend was full of fun and wonderful new things, the sun was out Friday and Saturday and we went to pick up our new Turkeys, 9 of them, a Tom and a Hen and 7 baby's.

We will be butchering the baby Toms when they are full grown! We have already sold one to a guy we saw at the feed store! Jason had to clip the wings or they would try to fly.

I also made granola this weekend! I got my oats from winco in a 25lb bag for 10 bucks!

We get our milk down the road, from our neighbor, this is the real stuff folks, with the cream on top and the kiddos love it. I have been wanting to make butter with the cream, so the kiddos passed the jar around shaking it.........
Lexi, my first born.

It took about 1/2 hr..

Granger ...

and we had a bowl of yummy butter to put on the bread I had just pulled out of the oven...sooooooo good and so easy! It poured out chunky, then I spooned the chunks out into a bowl an that was it!

Sunday Dinner

2009-02-15T20:30:00.000-08:00

This weekend for Sunday dinner things were a little different,
With Jason and I on a quest to raise our own food we decided to butcher one of our ducks. I was not going to be involved in the actual "act" however, my hubs said, "Don't you call yourself a "Farm Girl"? So it was settled, I would be there to witness the death of one of my ducks! This is why God made MAN the hunter gatherer, it was VERY hard for me to watch this, Emma, my third born, really enjoyed the whole process and told me I should, "Go inside and have some tea!" Shocking! This is Emma, sitting across from me at dinner, knowing that I was pushing back the vomit which made her want more and more!

WARNING! IF YOU HAVE A WEAK STOMACH DO NOT READ THE REST OF THIS POST!

This is the duck...obviously. Such a pretty duck, fly away little friend!

On our way to the chopping block, Jason had the duck in his arms as Emma is defending it's life and Jason is teaching a life lesson.....Granger just thought we were taking the duck to see the goats!

The kiddos watched this, some of you may think that is horrible! However we believe that it was a good time to teach a lesson. You go to your grocery store, buy your 5 lbs of meat, what- ever kind and go on your way, never knowing what it took to get to YOUR plate. Guaranteed the living conditions of the animals that provide your meat, unless all organic are AWFUL and CRUEL. We love our animals and know why our CREATOR gave them to us. So off came the head and up came the chunks, Granger yelled,"What in the world, why did you do that?" Emma just sat back and instructed me to go have tea and..... the duck was dead. I didn't puke, just a little in my mouth, and Granger is now a vegetarian!

This was also hard for the hubs. He skinned it instead of boiling and plucking feathers!

I know I'm smiling....I'm not sure why. Maybe because I'm sick, maybe because there was a camera in my face. This is what raising your food is all about, this is REAL country living, it's hard work, and sometimes very sad. So folks.....do YOU know where your food comes from?

That's fricken sick!

P.S. I roasted the duck with olive oil, coconut oil, fresh basil and fresh garlic, I didn't eat it but the family loved it!

I'M POOR-ISH?

2009-02-11T13:29:00.000-08:00

I got my favorite mag. in the mail yesterday, so instead of reading my favorite book (The Encyclopedia of Country living) I sat down with this after the kiddos were off to bed, and again like past issues, I read it cover to cover, trying to stop because it will be 2 months until the next issue arrives. It got me thinking, just like my fav. book gets me thinking. It is funny to me what Americans view as poor, most think that if you don't have a new car, a BIG new fancy house a lot of consumer debt and fancy clothes your poor. I wouldn't like it if people viewed me as poor however the life style I choose to support looks, somewhat poor-ish to the average American. I have a old van that is payed for (my nephew Shad loves it, and all the yummy smells) my hubs truck is payed for and my parents gave me there old suburban after giving birth to my 5th kiddo, I think they felt sorry for me! But they are payed for and I am very proud of that and YES there are times when I think,"BUY A NEW FRICKEN CAR!" but I just cant justify it. Our house is small along with our mortgage. We mostly live debt free, that means Cash folks! I get most are clothes form the thrift store or on sale! I do spend money on GOOD shoes! I even scrounge off forgotten fruit trees and stock-up(freeze,can and dry) we buy organic when ever possible and always try to buy local, not because it "cool " because I believe in it! We have chickens that give us eggs, cows and ducks for meat and goats for milk and cheese. I am happy with this lifestyle it's who I am to the core of my person. I don't feel poor-ish, lots of times I feel rich-ish. The other night I was chatting with a lady about my "Farm Girls Sale" and I told her it had lots of "Homespun" goods... and lots of "Old Junk"she looked at me sorta funny and said,"What is homespun?" I felt poor-ish.

SISTERS?

2009-02-09T09:17:00.000-08:00

I know I haven't posted forever.... I'm a very busy lady! However after spending the weekend with my sister I decided it was the perfect reason to update my failing blog! We had a fab time and I left feeling rejuvenated and inspired! I also got to spend time with "Auntie Trisha". Thank you lady's for a wonderful time!

The Farm!!

2008-11-23T13:49:00.000-08:00

Howdy Folks! I got a new camera (finally) and it just occurred to me that I have never given y'all a tour of the farm, now that I have a bright new shinny camera I'll be exercising my "blog muscles" The weather has gotten colder and the days shorter and I'm enjoying the season. We are planning a trip to My parents for Thanksgiving, I'm very excited for the rest and relaxation.
Here are some pics of our chickens...That's my lone white leg horn with the buff's and a sex link (that's what type of chickens these are not porn talk;)most of the chickens are out of "molt"now so I'm up to 12-14 eggs a day now!

This is one of our cows, his name is YUMMY, I mean Lighting, he was going to go out to the butcher last week but after 4 hrs of trying to get him into the trailer we decided to re-schedule for a January date. I'm not a huge beef eater but I will tell you there is NOTHING like home grown beef...it is NOTHING like what you buy at the market!

This is Popeye the cow.. he is next on the chopping block!

This is Lighting with our neighbors cow Ope.......

God Bless Flash... the best dog ever! He will be going to Washington with us for Thanksgiving!

Now for the ducks... I love having ducks they are so much fun...Oh and our turkey, Mr Scout!

Ivory and the duckings..

and the Daddy.. Turk

I LOVE our goats they are so much fun! We are expecting our first "KID" in January so we are busy making a few stalls in the barn for our Mama's that are expecting, we believe 3 are pregnant! We have been making sure they have there apple cider vinegar with the mother in it for parasite health and plenty of minerals, I'm excited and nervous for the kidding season, I have heard good and really bad storeys.

We have 2 Males "chucky" with the horns and "bucky" without horns, he is in the lower left side of the pic. and "Pearl" in the middle!

Goats are natural foragers so we make sure they have lots of yummy land to chomp on.. grain is hard on there digestive system and can cause acidosis in there body. We believe in Natural animal care! Gretal, Roxy and Charlotte join the others.Fresh goat milk in just a few months, I'm making cheese and soap...Do you have any good recipes?

The duck family....

baby duckings...sooooo cute
Chucky the Goat!

So that's the farm folks, I LOVE our little farm, it's so much fun.. a lot of work but so rewarding! I'm very blessed to have these Animals!

A TRIBUTE...to the sis

2008-11-07T14:54:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Amberrrrr happy birthday to you!

Today, November 8th is my SISTER AMBER'S BIRTHDAY! She is finally 21 and now she can have her very FIRST sip of "wonder juice" cheers Amber! My sis and I have not always been close, in fact for most of our lives we have not preferred each other. However that has changed in recent years, in fact I have to thank the Lord for moving her to AZ, because that move changed her, she had more time to chat with me and we got to know each other and a relationship bloomed and out came this beautiful friendship and I treasure her more than ever before, I can honestly say she is one of my very BEST FRIENDS! She is truly one of the neatest people that know and I am blessed to call her my sister! (not blood because the milk mans her daddy)

BIG THANK YOUS......

10. Thanks for being obedient to Gods call on your life because you obeyed I've been blessed!

9.Thanks for making my 16th b-day the best b-day to date!

8.Thanks for pointing out my crooked nose! (I never noticed it!)

7. Thanks for not killing me with the broom 15 years ago!

6. Thank you for your inspiration!

5. Thanks for letting my Hub "shack up" with you for a year! ( he knows he got the better sis)

4. Thanks for chopping broccoliiiiiiiiii...ya

3. Thanks for not judging me!

2. Thanks for teaching me how to smoke!

1. Thanks for being honest, kind, funny, REAL and just yourself! I love you sis!

P.S. You have a pony at home waiting for you.... I'M NOT KIDDING! Happy birthday.. I'm glad you were born!

Molly Mo's Holiday Treasures!

2008-11-06T08:55:00.000-08:00

Friday from 6-9 and Saturday from 10-4 Diane a.k.a Molly Mo's and Martha a.k.a VintageTrifles are having a HOLIDAY TREASURE sale at Diane's shop in sublimity. Diane has asked me.... the rusty, crusty( I'm not really crusty) farm girl to help behind the counter (she must not know about my math skills) This is a good time to start your holiday shopping and supporting your local crafter/junker. Junkers are the ultimate recyclers, so instead of supporting china this holiday season look for ways to keep your money in America, in the hands of hardworking artists like Diane and Martha. Diane's home/shop are beautiful and warm, Friday night is EARLY BIRD shopping and nibbles(that word makes me laugh) 5.00 admit. Saturday is free. So Lady's and Gentleman if you want have a great time with some really nice folks come out to sublimity and support the recycling movement!

Directions from Salem: I-5 exit 253, onto Hwy 22 east approx. 12min toward Stayton, take Golf Club Rd. exit, turn left at overpass, right on Sublimity Rd. to 4-way stop. Continue straight on Starr st., curve left on Berry, turn left on Cherry and look for the signs. Checks and cash only!

SEE YOU FRIDAY!!! YIPPI!

SORRY!

2008-11-05T12:11:00.000-08:00

So...... I had to take a "blog break" I kept waking up in the middle of the night thinking about "the blog" all I could talk about was my "next post" my Hubs went on a weekend fishing trip and the first thing he said to me when he got home was..."how's the blog" I had to stop... cold turkey....I didn't even check my e-mails! Actually, I have been busy.....Volleyball party, Ivory the duck hatched 4 ducklings, the opening of High school musical 3 (yes, I waited in line for 2 hrs and bought tickets a week in advance) harvest party/ Eve's 1st b-day, helloween..... Oh.. I mean Halloween, basketball and play practice...Wow! My camera is broken so I scrounged these up from Grammy Barb. Harvest party games with the kiddos and there friends... we had so much fun!

Kiddos playing musical chairs! We also had adult musical chairs which I won because I am a FREAK! I beat out 4 Big guys, 3 chair were broke, maybe I'll go pro.... self sponsored!

Grammy Barb with baby Eve and cousin Trinity going for the face!

My Mom ordered this from her good friend Elaine for Eve......

She is such a blessed jewelry maker...

I know... I know...crappy pics.. Leave me alone I have 5 kids! It says... Eve...heavens child.

Beautiful! Beautiful! Thank you so much Grammy Diane and Elaine! WE LOVE IT!!!! If you like this Elaine does custom orders!

Random thoughts.....

-If my "helloween" comment bothered you....um..I don't care, well maybe I do. I just think that is kinda evil, and really, do American children need candy?

-Are you "stocked up" for winter? What does your freezer and pantry look like? I am STILL eating tomatoes from my garden, Alexa(oldest kiddo) put all the green tomatoes in a big paper bag and they are ripening slowly! I cant believe it's November and I'm eating FRESH tomatoes from the garden!

-I'll have pics of Ivory and her ducklings soon.

Okay blog stalkers that's it for today.. I will be posting again tomorrow because I am doing something REALLY, REALLY fun on Friday night and YOU are all invited!!! I will have all the details tomorrow!

Yup......he's taken!

2008-10-15T17:07:00.000-07:00

This is the "hansom man" I said, "I do" to 10 years ago AND pro created with (5 times) AND I was sober! I love my Hubs a ton! If you know "farm boy" (jason) this is soooo him.....giving our baby beer and posing for the camera, the only thing missing is his tobacco pipe!

2008-10-11T20:32:00.000-07:00

Hello fellow blog stalkers! Fall is in full swing and the count down for rain has begun. Have you taken a walk in the brisk fall air? The weather in Oregon has been beautiful!

The weekend was full of "soul food" my kiddo's had no school Thursday and Friday, so off the 6 of us went Thursday morning to pick "free apples" 3 of these bushel baskets full!

We made apple butter, apple pies, apple crisp, to put in the freezer for winter and to give as gifts for the holidays. We also made a big pot of chicken soup and had the in laws over for Sunday dinner. Eve and Grandpa

The hubs finished the addition to our chicken coop and finished the cosy nesting boxes for my "laying Lady's".

We have 25 hens and 1 rooster (harry) and for the last month we have only been getting 2-5 eggs a day, I know its molting season, however, I was doing everything to encourage them to lay, even dedicating 20 min. of "special " time for the hens, I knew they were laying somewhere.....???Well Emma (3rd born) found 5 dozen eggs under the new hen house.. Jack pot!!!
So now we will be getting hopefully around 20 eggs a day! I need to sell some, or my kids are going to be the kids that bring boiled eggs to school.. remember those kids? I do, and I remember thinking, "um....stinky".
My best friend Mya in Texas has finally started a blog, YIPPEE! So please check it out it's going to be full so sassy inspiration, you will love it!

personal note: blogging is funny, do you even give a crap that I made pie and fricken chicken soup? So I spend all this time writing.... I made soup, Emma found eggs and my kids might stink at school, we ate Sunday dinner......Um big fricken deal. I should be exercising. Why is blogging so addictive? I'm off to think about what other random nothingness I'm going to blog about... wait isn't this whole post a personal note? oh yeah, welcome home sister tres birds and auntie la.te.da, hope your mexico trip was......mexican. blessings

Get Ready!

2008-10-07T21:00:00.000-07:00

Okay rust and crusters, I (Johnna) have taken over the blog and that means it's going through some "special" changes meaning poor spelling, poor grammar, crap pictures and not at all PC. So for all you smart folks out there have some grace while I figure this thing out. Blessings

The Farm Girls Fall Sale

2008-10-07T15:18:00.000-07:00

The FARM GIRL Johnna Sutton

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Me and my daughter Lexi

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Me and my Aunt Sarah

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The kiddos directing cars up to the sale.

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Farm Girls All Sale

2008-10-06T19:52:00.000-07:00

WOW! What a sale! I have so many people to thank! A big thank you to my Mama for coming to help with the kiddos, thanks to my AUNTIE Sarah for all of her help and inspiration, thank you to Leslie-Ann for all your hard work, thank you to my hubby and my kiddo for being WONDERFUL! Thank you to Mya (bff in Texas) for your words of wisdom, thanks to Diane Kaser (Molly Moe's) because... your nice, and very supportive, thanks to Pam lamb and her clan of sassy lades, cant wait to sip coffee with you! Thank you to all the wonderful folks who support Farm Girls, WE LOVE YOU GUYS, and last but never ever least a HUGE THANK YOU to my blessing of a sister (tresbirds)who has been my biggest cheerleader. Now it's time to rest and read a book, maybe do a cleanse. blessings-J

Giveaway Winner

2008-09-18T07:21:00.000-07:00

Congrats Wendy, you are our give away winner!

You are also a "blog award" winner for your blog Water Girl It's your lucky day lady!

I have to say thank you to all who entered our challenge.

Thanks to Timi for being so supportive and so fricken excited about supporting your local farmer. Please check out her blog here Timi

Waste Not Want Not

2008-09-11T06:03:00.000-07:00

Thank you fellow "Farm Girls" for accepting the challenge of supporting your local farmer. We have enjoyed your posts and are looking forward to hearing more from you.

I have had a very blessed week. I harvested about 25lbs of tomatoes from my neighbors garden that were going to waste, 6 more zucchini, 4 cucumbers and a hand full of strawberries. Another neighbor saw us picking and brought us over a big brown bag full of pears and 5 persimmons!

Just this morning a different neighbor let me and my 3 little ones pick 2 full brown bags of pears and a brown bag full of the most delicious apples I have ever had. Shortly after picking, he came back out with a bag of grapes and said, "Come back for more whenever"!...........What?

I asked these folks why they don’t use this free food. These were the responses that I heard:

‘It's only the 2 of us and we don’t can or freeze anything’
‘The fruit has bugs and I don’t like to eat bugs’
and my personal favorite; ‘I don’t like fruit’! …….WHAT?!!?

So farm girls, in 3 days I have gotten all this for free! I’m very excited about this free blessing and THANK THE CREATOR for his bounty. I also can’t help but wonder why these folks would let all this wonderful food go to waste.

*ENTER SOAPBOX*..... The reality is that obesity is at an all time high, diabetes, mental illness, depression, ADHD (aka crock of crap) yadda, yadda; so I ask you, what is common in all of these illnesses? Minerals... YES, proper nutrition; you can weigh 350lbs and still be malnourished.
We load up on boxed food and pass up the "apple with bugs"…

Hunger is America is on a constant rise yet there is tons of rotting produce because ‘We don’t like fruit or veggies'. So I’m frustrated with fact that many of us in America would rather eat out of a box then off the trees that were created to nourish us mind, body and soul.

With this blessing I am going to make grape juice and the hub is going to make wine (shocking, I know), L and I will be canning pears on Friday and tonight I will be making apple butter (my kiddos fav), as well as applesauce for baby Eve to enjoy this week!

The large amount of tomatoes I froze whole for stew, soup and what ever else I choose. I also made a HUGE bowl of salsa. I will of course have more tomatoes out of my garden and again from my neighbors, which I intend to use to make pasta sauce, slow roasted tomatoes and stewed to can( with L).

With the zucchini, Olivia (my 2nd born) has requested zucchini/pumpkin bread, yummers! I'll shred the rest and freeze it. The persimmons didn't even last a day and was such a HUGE treat for our family.

Our cows, goats and chickens are enjoying the harvest also as they grub on all the rotting fruit that we pick off the ground on farmer road at night when we take our walk.

Enjoy the harvest girls and Let no zucchini go to waste!

Weekly Challenge: 1

2008-09-06T05:58:00.000-07:00

Flash the Farm Dog says 'Git ready fer the Farm Girls Challenge'

Can you feel it? Can you smell it? Fall is in the air!

So to all you lovers of summer, it's time to retire your beach bag and put on an apron and bake a pie!

I love a good challenge, so L and I decided to challenge our "blog groupies".

I have been thinking about the harvest and how busy it has been around our farm and how busy farmers are right now. Summer for a farmer isn’t an endless BBQ, it doesn’t involve taking long trips away from home and there is never a "lazy day". A farmer is an "ant"; working hard while the days are long to support there families. Did you realize that sometimes three generations of family rely on the money from one farm?

So we are asking you; have you ever had a blueberry right off the bush? Have you ever taken a bite of fresh corn that you just picked while standing out in the field (raw)?

We challenge you to support your local farmer this weekend. Instead of buying produce at your grocery store; go to the farmer’s market, stop at a road side stand and talk to the person that grows the food you are buying. With what you have purchased, go home and create something delicious for you and your family.

L and I want to hear about your experience; tell us where you went, what you learned, what you purchased and what you went home to cook, bake or create. When we receive your post, we will enter you in our giveaway next week.

We look forward to hearing from you!

J and L

Our first award!

2008-09-05T06:36:00.000-07:00

WHAT?.....

My sis (AKA Tres Birds), has given the Farm Girls an award.

My sister loves the blog world she has a fancy camera and takes fancy photos of things like hard boiled eggs, olives and her glasses. She buys "creative blogging mag" and she leaves comments on every post. Obviously she is our #1 fan. I am still trying to remember my password so that I can leave a comment. That word verification thing what’s with that? I had to redo it 6 times and then they make you feel bad by putting a wheelchair by it. WHATEVER!

So I would like to start off by saying ‘Thank You’ to the sis, whom I love dearly and very happy to have in my life. I also want to thank my parents for making me take typing 101 in high school and I want to thank our fans because with out you we would be.....ummmmmm, fanless?

I also want to say a ‘Thank You’ to L because she is the mastermind behind the blog; I just write little ditties and she fixes ‘em.

Now we are going to have to give this fancy award to 4 other bloganaters, however these blogmysters have to be just as Fancy as the Farm Girls, so *‘Get that corn out of my face’ I’m on a blog frick’n mission!

*Jack Black quote number 1

Busy Harvest

2008-08-28T06:49:00.000-07:00

We are still here.......just busy as bees with farm work and preparing for Harvest.

Aside from projects and planning for Farm Girls Fall Sale, we will soon be posting our canning and preserving happenings.

We hope all of you are busy with your gardens and proud of what it has produced for you and your family.

"Waste not, want not".

J and L

Farm Girl at Molly Mo's

2008-08-17T16:53:00.000-07:00

J sold many of her little succulents nested in vintage tins and jello molds. Our customers couldn't resist their cuteness!

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On our way.....

2008-08-16T04:56:00.000-07:00

Hey ya'll!

Here are a few photos of our day hauling the Rust and the Crust to set up in Sublimity at Molly Moe's Antique Faire!

We think yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far, if it wasn't it sure as heck felt like it.

Hope you enjoy and we look forward to posting several at the weekend.

J and L

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Cute Hen House

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Fire King o'plenty

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See you soon!

J and L

Another little taste

2008-08-12T07:45:00.000-07:00

We wanted to post at least one more photo to give our readers an idea of what Farm Girls will be bringing to Molly Mo's August 16th!!!

We've had lots of interest in our little orange apron posted earlier; however, I'm sorry to disappoint, but J is the proud new owner of her and she will be sportin' this little number on Saturday.

I'm torn between which apron to wear, but I obviously will be the 'other Farm Girl' wearing one!

Productive Farm Girls last week = Enjoy garden time this week!

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Cute bean poles....

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Very Sunny Sunflowers!

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Welcome to FARM GIRLS!!!

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We've been very busy girls working hard so we are ready for Molly Mo's Summer Antique Faire.
August 16th is just around the corner.

Here are a few snippets of our very cool stuff that you can expect to see at the Farm Girls booth!

Please keep comin' back to visit us!!!

J and L

Rusty stuff

2008-08-07T18:41:00.001-07:00

Make sure you look for J's very cute and rusty Rosemary topiaries!

Crusty stuff

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