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Merit Badge Awardees - Woo-hoo Sisters!:  Farmgirl Sisterhood Merit Badge Awardees |
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16273 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16273 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 30 2020 : 11:32:11 AM
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Stacy Sundgren, (slsundgren, #7112) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning a Beginner Level Know Your Roots Merit Badge!
“I don’t have many older relatives any more. The few that are still here are not able to recall details about their own young lives or their parents. My last grandparent died in 1991. But long before that, I did talk to relatives, especially my grandparents, a lot. They gave me a great gift which was to build my interest in my family history and I have taken that to places even they could not imagine. I have been researching for 40 years and documented some pretty cool discoveries about both sides of my family. Documentation is the key, because a family history without documentation is just a nice bunch of stories. My son has often been my research buddy and collaborator, but after he started college, I was working pretty much on my own. I had often told him things about my growing up years, but I never wrote any of it down. While in a bookstore a couple of years ago, I found a wonderful way to start doing that. My Life: A Collection of Memories by Alison Bing is a workbook for recording the times of your life. I have been slowly filling it with childhood memories, stories and events, working into young adulthood. I told my son about the book and he definitely approved of it. “That’s cool, Mom. You know I can’t always remember everything you tell me. I’m glad you’re going to write it down.”
Genealogy and preserving the stories of the ancestors is something I am very dedicated to, passionate about and, to blow my own horn a little, pretty good at. It saddens me so much when I hear people say they have no interest in family history, or that it doesn’t matter. The ancestors deserved to be remembered. My efforts have gone well with my own research and I have volunteered my time and resources to help dozens of others. But I realized that I was doing the same thing that my ancestors did, which was to “tell” my stories instead of recording them on paper. You cannot imagine how much I wish my people had done more of that. Taking some time each day or a few times a week to jot down a story here, or memory there in the My Life book has been a great way to save my memories for my son. I would encourage everyone to do something like that. Find a book like My Life or something similar. Even a plain spiral notebook would work. The pre-made workbooks are nice because they contain questions that prompt you to think more and be able to recall more. My Life: A Collection of Memories is over 300 pages of questions and writing space. Writing down anything is better than writing down nothing. Someone will come along one day who feels compelled to learn as much of their family history as possible and they will be so grateful those writings were left for them to find. My "start" for the this badge form is only reflective of the month I bought the My Life book. The real start date is back in the mid 1970's. As for finishing, the truth is that genealogy is never finished. It is always a work in progress. There will always be more questions to answer, new discoveries to make and more mysteries to solve.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16273 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16273 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2020 : 11:33:43 AM
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Stacy Sundgren, (slsundgren, #7112) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning a Beginner Level Farmgirl Grammar Merit Badge!
“I used a spiral notebook to record a word a day from my dictionary. Each morning I opened the dictionary to a random page, read down through the words until I found one I didn't know, then used that one for my word of the day.
This is a fun project! I have always loved to read and when my brother and I were young, we read encyclopedias for fun. No joke! We had a late 1960's set of World Book Encyclopedias plus the Childcraft books. We spent many an hour in those books. I have a pretty extensive vocabulary, but this project is giving me lots of new words! For example I didn't know that the medical term for the bulging eye condition that can accompany thyroid disease and some other illnesses is Exhophthalmos (Day 1). Gracile means "gracefully slender" - like a ballerina (Day 7). How about Icosahedron? That's the name for a 20-sided figure, like the 20-sided die in Dungeons & Dragons (Day 10). Everyone knows what a rainbow is, but I never knew there was a Fogbow. It is shaped like a rainbow but appears as white or very pale colored in the fog (Day 13). Today's word is this strange little "buhl" (Day 14). This word refers to the ornate, intricate inlay of precious materials into wood. The technique was developed by Andre Charles Boulle in the 17th-18th century. He was the cabinet maker for Louis XIV and was known as Le Joailler de Meuble, The Furniture Jeweler.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16273 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16273 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2020 : 12:21:01 PM
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Judith Baker, (StitchinWitch, #7932) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning a Beginner Level Languages/Culture Merit Badge!
“• Choose a culture (other than your own) to research and learn more about.
Mexico — it’s our close neighbor and almost half the population of my state is Mexican so it makes sense to learn what I can about it.
• If they speak a different language, research that language.
Spanish, a Romance language descended from Latin, although there are over 300 languages and dialects in Mexico from Mayan ancestors.
• Learn how to count to 10 in that language and how to say a traditional greeting.
Buenas dias!
Uno, dos, três, quatro, cinco, seis, siete, ocho, nueve, diez
Hasta luego.
It was interesting to learn how many different languages are spoken throughout Mexico.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16273 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16273 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2020 : 12:22:10 PM
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Judith Baker, (StitchinWitch, #7932) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning an Intermediate Level Languages/Culture Merit Badge!
“My influential person is the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.
What a life she led, starting out with three strikes against her: scoliosis, spina bifida, and polio. She began drawing in childhood. In her teens she was in a horrible streetcar accident with a pole clear through her. She started painting laying in bed while recovering. Her sometimes surrealistic art often reflects her pain and some have pre-Columbian and religious influences. She paints in a bright colorful, folkloric style that is all her own and painted many self portraits. She married Diego Rivera, another Mexican artist and became involved in Socialism and Communism which influenced some of her paintings. She was the first Hispanic woman to have a U.S. postage stamp.
• If you are learning a new language, learn a few key phrases and words and use them as often as you can.
Donde esta el cuarto de baño?
Como se llama? Me llamo Judith. Cuantos anos tiene? Tengo setenta y ocho anos.
Muchas gracias
I really enjoyed this research. I love her paintings and learning the background made it all that more interesting and gave me a better understanding of some of her "stranger" pieces.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16273 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16273 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2020 : 12:23:33 PM
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Judith Baker, (StitchinWitch, #7932) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning an Expert Level Languages/Culture Merit Badge!
“• Research the holidays and traditions celebrated by your chosen culture.
New Years Day Jan 1
Constitution Day - Feb. 3
Benito Juarez Birthday March 16
Good Friday
Labor Day May 1
Independence Day Sept 16
Revolution Day Nov. 16
Christmas Dec. 25
• Plan your own celebration of one of those holidays or traditions.
Cinco de Mayo - May 5, which is not a official Mexican holiday; it commemorates winning the battle against the French at the battle of Puebla in 1861. We celebrate it with a homemade Mexican meal, usually chili rellenos, sometimes shrimp and crab enchiladas with salsa verde and rice, beans and tortillas. Flan for dessert. This was interesting because I never knew that Cinco de Mayo wasn't an official holiday.
El dia de los muertos is also starting to get popular out of Mexico. It's celebrated on Nov. 1st and honors our dear departed.
Years ago I had a Mexican friend. I taught her how to bake bread and she taught me how to make tortillas.
• If you are learning a new language, set up a presentation for friends and family of a reading or song in that language.
Much to the dismay of my husband, I like to sing along to Joan Baez’s album “Gracias a la Vida”.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16273 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16273 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2020 : 12:25:29 PM
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Judith Baker, (StitchinWitch, #7932) has received a certificate of achievement in Stitching & Crafting for earning a Beginner Level Cross-Stitch Merit Badge!
“For my first counted cross stitch project I designed and sewed a name badge for my quilt guild. It is 2 ½ by 3 inches.
I think it turned out ok. The guild approved so I don't have to pay fifty cents due to not having a name badge. It can be read from 6 feet away so I guess it's good for social distancing, although that wasn't an issue when I made it.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16273 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16273 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2020 : 12:26:49 PM
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Judith Baker, (StitchinWitch, #7932) has received a certificate of achievement in Stitching & Crafting for earning an Intermediate Level Cross-Stitch Merit Badge!
“Aida cloth comes in various sizes for counted cross stitch. I prefer the 12 to the inch as it is the largest and I can see to do it with good light ad a magnifier. I have also found there is an even stitch linen, monks cloth, and plastic cans to do count stitching on.
When Dad passed last year we cleaned out the house to sell it. I found this piece of cross stitch my mother had started before her passing in 1995. It still had the metal hoop in it which left rust stains. I spent many hours with lemon juice and hot sun to bleach most of the rust. What is left reminds me of the part she started. It was a joy to finish it for her.
I love it. It was our last Mother-Daughter project together. I felt like she was with me.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16273 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16273 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2020 : 1:06:21 PM
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Kristin Sievert, (KESinMN, #6020) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning a Beginner Level Know Your Roots Merit Badge!
“My last grand parent died last summer. She'd been non-compos mentis for years.
We had picture albums of ancestors she had put together. I didn't want it, my mother didn't want it, and I just couldn't throw it away.
I scanned in all the photos on both sides of my maternal line. I then uploaded & tagged them in familysearch.org - the Latter Day Saints genealogy website. I choose that site because the mormons are serious about their genealogy, site not likely to go away & it's free.
Now, anyone on either side can have access to those photos & information.
My grandmother at one time had typed out information about her life on a VERY old (1980's) word processor. I scanned those pages and will upload to site as well put there is a problem that I can't fix until I get a new scanner.
As I was doing all of this, I had to talk with my mother (who is now the oldest on my maternal line) about relationships, locations, family myths, etc. as I entered the information on that website.
I also mailed photos we didn't want and instructions on how to access all I uploaded to my oldest maternal first cousin.
It went GREAT!!! It was a fabulous covid project!
My maternal great, great grandfather, his daughter and then her daughter were all artists. Those paintings get handed down from generation to generation. It was lovely to upload pics of their paintings to a location to everyone can access and see them.
In addition, I could feel free to throw the pictures away. There is a copy of it for posterity.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16273 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16273 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2020 : 1:07:12 PM
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Kristin Sievert, (KESinMN, #6020) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning a Beginner Level Families Forever Merit Badge!
“Discovered an old Hoyle card game rule book. My boyfriend & I go camping. A deck of cards is easy entertainment for camping.
In preparation for camping this summer (which never came!), we had started to play different card games so we knew the rules before summer. Every weekend we try a new game & played another we liked.
My nephew & I started reading the first Harry Potter out load together. After a while, he was reading ahead so I figured mission accomplished!!
It went GREAT!!
We've learned a couple games by the rules which is nice so we don't have to bring the book with. But we have also collected a couple other card game sets (rook, canasta, mille bornes) that we have enjoyed as well.
The kid is reading thru Harry Potter so off to a great start.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16273 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16273 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2020 : 1:08:08 PM
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Kristin Sievert, (KESinMN, #6020) has received a certificate of achievement in Farm Kitchen for earning a Beginner Level Get It Together Merit Badge!
“After matching up all the lids & bottoms, I did set aside the orphans for 1 year. You know how stuff magically reappears so I wasn't willing to take the chance on good Pyrex or Tupperware.
There became a drawer with square containers, one with round containers & the good pyrex in the corner. All with lids on.
It went really well. The system has stayed in place. I was just able to throw the lids out and bottoms went to the garage. Any that I just plain didn't want, got sold at the garage sale.
The sandwich meat containers that we had SO many of, became containers for DMC floss. My cross-stitch patterns are by number so you don't know what color it is. Each container has a different number—i.e. all the 500's or 3300's in one container.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16273 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16273 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2020 : 1:09:30 PM
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Kristin Sievert, (KESinMN, #6020) has received a certificate of achievement in Garden Gate for earning a Beginner Level Bee Good to Your Mother Earth Merit Badge!
“Planted marigolds on the "twine" lines of the sq. ft. garden.
The "dirt" in the beds is compost, there is no need for fertilizer. Normally we don't have a bug problem. But with honey bees in the back, we don't use pesticides. However, when we discovered an aphid problem, we used dish soap spray.
The gardens are at my boyfriend's. He is a very good German Catholic alter/farm boy. Convincing him he didn't need RoundUp wasn't easy. But the practical demonstration of weeding after it rains well was easy!
Took a while to find a free copy but I finally found a copy. My friends mom had it so I was able to borrow it!
It went well. It was a really good thing that we started this before the hives were in place this year. It gave us lots of time to evaluate how effective it was to not use pesticides or herbicides.
This took so long because I couldn't find a copy of the book and in all honesty, could have done without it.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16273 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16273 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2020 : 1:10:38 PM
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Kristin Sievert, (KESinMN, #6020) has received a certificate of achievement in Garden Gate for earning an Intermediate Level Bee Good to Your Mother Earth Merit Badge!
“Portions of the yard were planted into wild flowers years ago. Unfortunately, some didn't thrive. The mixes are generic and multi-zone.
To help remedy the problem, we researched and then purchased specific plants to help fill in.
I took toilet paper and paper towel tubes and re-rolled them. I cut them lengthwise and sprayed with water. Then rolled them around a metal tube to form a straw type structure. Put all the tubes together in a plastic coffee container for certain wild bees. Also had out a butterfly house near the milkweed plants. My father made a wood butterfly for me. Drilled some holes around the edges. It floats in the water pond for bees & butterflies.
Last summer we started a new section of wild flowers over the septic system. Had to do research to make sure none of the varieties would cause problems with the drain field.
Walked thru the wild flowers in the fall to open and spread seeds.
There really is no good solution to get wild flowers to grow in shade unless it's forest type plants and those weren't going to grow in sandy soil. We have simply been trying to make sure we get the seeds off the plants that do grow in those areas & spread them around.
I do have better luck with the lupines if I harvest them before they fall and scarify them before sowing.
My bee housing was a bust after it got wet!!”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16273 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16273 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2020 : 1:11:43 PM
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Kristin Sievert, (KESinMN, #6020) has received a certificate of achievement in Garden Gate for earning a Beginner Level Birds Merit Badge!
“Paged thru our bird guide book to see what birds might be native to my area that I don't see and started my wish list.
There were some song birds in this range that I haven't ever seen and that wasn't surprising.
I love penguins. They are my faves!! They were at the top of my wish list. I did research on how to get to see emperor penguins. It's just not really possible or practical.
However, I did book an antarctic cruise in December with Lindblad that will stop to see the king penguins so I am excited for that.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16273 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16273 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2020 : 1:12:41 PM
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Kristin Sievert, (KESinMN, #6020) has received a certificate of achievement in Garden Gate for earning a Beginner Level Herbs Merit Badge!
“I grew:
Oregano
Basil
Dill
Parsley
Chives
It went well!
Used oregano & basil in making pizza sauce. Froze some as well. Dill was used for making flavored vinegar. I toss hot potatoes with the dill vinegar when I make cold potato salad. Parsley was planted mainly for the swallowtail butterflies but I used it in foil packet potatoes a couple of times. Chives were primarly for fresh ranch dressing which I must say was worth the effort.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16273 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16273 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2020 : 1:13:45 PM
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Kristin Sievert, (KESinMN, #6020) has received a certificate of achievement in Make It Easy for earning a Beginner Level Mindfulness Meditation Merit Badge!
“Researched the types of meditation. Some didn't seem like me.
I tried a free trial of yoga anytime. There was a 5 for 5 meditation challenge. I did it. After each session, I then continued with my eyes open watching Zenimation on Disney+.
It went really well. I've tried using mantras and it doesn't work for me but the challenge was a mindful meditation practice. I found that it's very easy to not have monkey mind with.
I would have continued with the Zenimation but my free trial expired on the 25th!!”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16273 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16273 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2020 : 1:49:05 PM
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Hannah Frankowski, (GinnyBelle, #6994) has received a certificate of achievement in Make It Easy for earning an Intermediate Level Let's Get Physical Merit Badge!
“I continued for another month with my previous goal of 15 miles walked per week. I upped my goal of 20 crunches per day up to 40.
I was already in the habit of buying as much organic foods as possible and affordable to our budget.
I began to pay closer attention to both mine and my husband’s portion sizes.
The exercise portion went great, as did the continuation of organic shopping habits. The portion control watching could use some work. I started strong, but slipped up quite a bit during the Independence Day festivities. Overall, however, I’d say it went successfully, and I'm still losing weight very slowly.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16273 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16273 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2020 : 2:30:02 PM
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Judith Baker, (StitchinWitch, #7932) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning a Beginner Level Civics Challenge Merit Badge!
“Research and learn the answers to the following questions:
• What is the supreme law of the land?
Refers to all of the laws in force within a country
• What does the Constitution do?
The Constitution has three main functions. It creates a national government consisting of a legislative, an executive, and a judicial branch, with a system of checks and balances among the three branches.and it also divides power between the federal government and the states.
• The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are they?
“We the people…”
• What do we call the first 10 amendments to the Constitution?
The bill of Rights
• Name two rights or two freedoms listed in the First Amendment (five are possible).
Freedom of speech, right to peaceful assembly. Unfortunately these are becoming endangered.
•What did the Declaration of Independence do?
Declared our independence from England
•Name two rights in the Declaration of Independence (three are possible).
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
• What is freedom of religion?
Freedom of religion is the right to worship, or not, as you please.
•What is the economic system in the United States?
We have a capitalistic system
• What is the “rule of law”?
All people and institutions are subject to and accountable to law that is fairly applied and enforced.
I spent hot days staying inside and researching this. Things learned long ago and remembered and re-remembered.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16273 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16273 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2020 : 2:30:56 PM
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Judith Baker, (StitchinWitch, #7932) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning an Intermediate Level Civics Challenge Merit Badge!
“• Name the three branches of government.
Executive, Legislative, and Judicial
• What keeps one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
We have checks and balances built into our constitution
• Who is in charge of the executive branch?
President
• Who makes the federal laws?
Any member of Congress can introduce a law.
•What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
Senate and House of Representatives
• How many U.S. Senators are there?
100; two for each state
• Name one of your state’s U.S. Senators and one of your state’s U.S. Representatives.
Jerry McNerny - Senator
Doris Matsui - Representative
• What is the term of a U.S. Senator?
Six years
• What is the term of a U.S. Representative?
Two years
•What is the term of the president
Four years
•Who is commander and chief of the military
President
• Who signs bills to become laws?
The President has ten days after being presented with a bill to sign it into law
Re-learned some things forgotten over the years.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16273 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16273 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2020 : 2:32:16 PM
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Judith Baker, (StitchinWitch, #7932) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning an Expert Level Civics Challenge Merit Badge!
“• Who vetoes bills?
President
• What does the judicial branch do?
The judicial branch interprets laws
• What is the highest court in the United States?
The Supreme Court
• How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
There are nine Supreme Court judges
• Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
John G. Roberts, Jr.
• Under our Constitution, some powers belong solely to the federal government. Name two (four are possible).
Grant reprieves and pardons for federal offenses (except impeachment)
Appoint Cabinet officials, White House staff and Supreme Court justices
• Under our Constitution, some powers belong solely to the states. Name two (five are possible).
Issue licenses and intrastate commerce
• Who is the Governor of your state now?
Gavin Newsome
•What is the capital of your state?
Sacramento
• What are the two major political parties in the United States
Democrat and Republican
•Who is the speaker of the house now?
Nancy Pelosi
We had an intensive US history year in 8th grade, having to memorize all the presidents, Bill of Rights, etc. More again in 11th grade and more required in college. That was a long time ago and a lot of it has been forgotten. The last Speaker of the House I recall was Sam Rayburn. This was a good refresher course.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16273 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16273 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2020 : 2:33:38 PM
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Judith Baker, (StitchinWitch, #7932) has received a certificate of achievement in Cleaning Up for earning a Beginner Level Shopping Green Merit Badge!
“• Collect six reusable bags for shopping.
I have about a dozen big shopping bags; my favorites are the canvas ones—they never wear out. I keep them in the car. When they come home full of groceries they are emptied and the bags go on the table next to the door to be returned to the car. It's important to remember to put them in the washing machine now and then.
• Commit to using them on your shopping trips.
Our state passed a law requiring no more free plastic bags; they now cost ten cents each so more people are bringing their own bags to the store. I wish they had made it $5.00, then even more people would remember to bring their own. Unfortunately, during the covid times, we can’t us our own bags now, but I just put all the grocery items back in the basket and put them in my bags when I get to the car.
The hard part is remembering to take them from the car to the store. I can't tell you how many times I've had to go back out to the car to get my bags.
Oh, well—I can use the exercise.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16273 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16273 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2020 : 2:34:40 PM
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Judith Baker, (StitchinWitch, #7932) has received a certificate of achievement in Cleaning Up for earning an Intermediate Level Shopping Green Merit Badge!
“• When shopping, look at the packaging of the products you buy and try to increase purchases of items that have recyclable/biodegradable packaging.
We don’t buy any pre-packaged fruits or vegetables. It's a waste of packaging materials and the fewer hands that touch my food the better.
Whenever possible I shop at Sac Co-Op or Sprouts were I can buy bulk items. I bring my own containers. Unfortunately, since the virus started, they have discontinued using the bulk bins. I’m glad I'd stocked up good before this all started. I'll be glad to have my bulk bins back again.
• Research ways you can clean your home without the aid of toxic cleaners. (You can get work done on your Cleaning Up > Going Green badge at the same time.)
Vinegar and baking soda are my go-to favorites for cleaning
Vinegar and water 50/50 in a spray bottle for general wipe-ups, ½ cup vinegar in the bucket for washing floors and walls, ½ cup vinegar in the final line in the washing machine instead of commercial softener. Baking soda instead of commercial cleansers like Ajax or Comet. Baking soda and boiling vinegar for drain cleaner.
• Commit to using a product that you have found or that you have made for cleaning your home and laundry.
I make 410 spray—better than 409!
My 410 recipe:
3 T borax
2 T washing soda
2 C vinegar
2 T baking soda
1 T soap
Hot water to make a gallon.
Put in a spray bottle.
I gave bottles of this for Christmas presents.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16273 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16273 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2020 : 2:35:47 PM
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Judith Baker, (StitchinWitch, #7932) has received a certificate of achievement in Cleaning Up for earning an Expert Level Shopping Green Merit Badge!
“• If you belong to a local Farmgirl Chapter, organize a reusable bag swap or a bag making “sew in.”
I don’t have a local chapter but I asked on Merit Badge Chit Chat if any one would be interested if I hostessed a swap for reusable bags.
• If you do not belong to a local Farmgirl Chapter, post your thoughts on the Farmgirl Connection chatroom under Merit Badge Chit Chat, and see if other farmgirls would be interested in a bag swap.
This is something everyone should be interested in. Plastic bags are littering our grounds and oceans. They are not biodegradable, no matter what they say—we buried one for a while then dug it up and it was still a plastic bag. Animals can get tangled in the handles and strangle. Even if you reuse them they are still plastic bags. Apparently they can be recycled into yarn, but that yarn is then probably not biodegradable either.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16273 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16273 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2020 : 2:37:12 PM
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Judith Baker, (StitchinWitch, #7932) has received a certificate of achievement in Cleaning Up for earning a Beginner Level Green Energy Merit Badge!
“• Contact your local power company and find out how your power is generated.
This is from our electric company:
“We get power from various sources, including hydropower, natural-gas-fired generators, renewable energy such as solar, wind, hydro and biomass, and power we purchase on the wholesale market. ... Our biggest single source is the Cosumnes Power Plant and we are always adding to our green energy sources.”
We get natural gas from a different company. This is where it comes from:
“California imports about 85% of its natural gas using six large gas lines. The majority of its natural gas comes from the American Southwest, the Rocky Mountain states, and Canada. The remaining 15% of California's natural gas is produced in-state, both off-shore and onshore.”
• Compare and contrast different methods of energy production (natural gas, hydroelectric, coal, nuclear, or sustainable energy) and share some of your findings and thoughts with your local Farmgirl Chapter or on our Farmgirl Connection chatroom.
Solar, wind, and hydroelectric are the cleanest sources of power. Coal is very polluting and coal mining is hazardous to the health of the miners. Nuclear can be clean but dangerous, and just where do you safely store spent fuel rods for the next 10,000 years? Natural gas obtained by fracking is a crime against our earth and can cause unsafe drinking water and earthquakes.
I keep using less and less but the bills keep going up and up.
I would like to see more wind farms and solar panels. I wold really like to see solar panels on auto dealerships where they keep so many bright lights on 24/7.
Parking lots are such an ideal place for solar, plus you get to park in the shade or out of the rain. I've heard people complain about the space wind farms take up but I see no reason why crops can't be planted under them or grazing animals.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16273 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16273 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2020 : 2:38:42 PM
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Judith Baker, (StitchinWitch, #7932) has received a certificate of achievement in Cleaning Up for earning an Intermediate Level Green Energy Merit Badge!
“• In a journal, keep track of your energy expenditures for a month. Include all of your expenditures, from your monthly electric bill, gasoline and diesel fuel used (paying attention to average miles you drive and the average miles per gallon your vehicle gets), and any other fuel expenditures you may have from oil, natural gas, wood, or alternative energy source.
June expenses:
Electric - $122
Gas - $17
Diesel - $0
Because of the virus, this has been a very cheap month. Due to staying home, hot weather, and not having guests, the laundry is down to one load every two weeks. The air conditioner is the major use of energy. The rates reverse in the winter when the heater is on as it uses natural gas.
•If you use standard light bulbs, convert to energy-saving bulbs.
As bulbs burned out they were replaced with the energy saving ones. There is one old bulb in the bedroom ceiling light that has refused to die.
•Discover and use other methods to reduce your energy expenditures. Some things can include carpooling, mass transit, planting trees to shade your home, installing low-flow faucets and shower heads, or reducing use of major appliances like stoves and ovens by eating more raw foods or building an earth or solar oven.
I haven’t driven my car in three months, so that saved a tank of diesel. My car gets 48 mpg and I usually drive less than 100 miles per month. We have installed low-flow faucets in the bathroom and kitchen. Our electric rates are highest from 5 to 8pm so I try to do cooking before or after those hours. In the summer we are happy to eat at 9pm after dark. Our cheapest rates are after midnight so I turn the dishwasher or washing machine on before I go to bed. I’m a nightowl—always up after midnight. The dishwasher is run twice a week and uses much less water than hand washing every night. We have low flow faucets in the kitchen and bathroom. We recently installed a tankless water heater that only turns the gas on when the hot water is turned on.
• My father gave me a solar oven he made. We have a shady yard so I will probably take it up to our trailer where there is sun.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16273 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16273 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2020 : 2:56:18 PM
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Jill Yelland-DeMooy, (Jill Yelland-DeMooy, #6748) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning a Beginner Level Farmgirl Grammar Merit Badge!
“I mostly avoid using slang, abbreviations and missing punctuation in texts and emails as it annoys me. I find it very distracting when you spend your time mentally editing someone’s email because they have used no punctuation and all small case letters. I'm teaching ESL and am finding a growing interest in understanding why certain phrasing is correct instead of just using it. When I was in school, I saw no point in learning grammar as I could write a sentence correctly. Now that I’m having to explain it to students, I find that I need to look up the background to ensure that I can teach it correctly.
I've used Merriam-Webster’s online word a day to find unfamiliar words. I've written out sentences using each of these words for two weeks. The most interesting word I've found so far is jink—to move quickly or unexpectedly with sudden turns. The soccer player jinked across the field outwitting the opposing team.
I'm contemplating either taking more ESL courses or perhaps an editing course. I'm finding this is a very unexpected interest.”
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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Merit Badge Awardees - Woo-hoo Sisters!: Farmgirl Sisterhood Merit Badge Awardees |
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Farmgirl Sisterhood Merit Badge Awardees
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