| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| MaryJanesNiece |
Posted - Oct 22 2015 : 7:57:05 PM
I am excited to begin working on my merit badges and sharing my experiences with everyone! After much debating I was finally able to pick the top 4 badges I plan to accomplish first!
I chose….
1.Pampered Pets (Outpost)
-It’s important to me that my pets are healthy and will live a long happy life. Knowing what is best for them will allow me to enhance their life.
2. Bread Making (Farm Kitchen)
-I have always enjoyed cooking and now look forward to a better way of cooking.
3. Embroidery (Stitching and Crafting)
- Would love to make something special for my baby boy just like my Grandma Butters made for me.
4. Water Conservation (Cleaning Up)
- I love the idea of helping save the planet as well as help me save money on my bill.
With that in mind, what merit badges do you fellow farmgirls plan on accomplishing first? Or working towards right now? Any of them hold a special meaning that drives you to accomplish one over another?
Much luck and enjoyment in your merit badge experiences!
|
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| shennandoah |
Posted - May 18 2026 : 3:39:27 PM
Joan I actually mailed your letter last week so you should get it soon! I got 10 off in the mail getting the other 9 out this week.
Making memories, building connections, and adding color and magic to every day life!
Farmgirl of the Year 2024
Farmgirl #8578 |
| MaryJanesNiece |
Posted - May 18 2026 : 1:09:43 PM
Joan, that is a great first badge! You are going to have so much fun!
Krista
Farmgirl Sister #528
Farmgirl Of The Year 2025 |
| debbieklann |
Posted - May 15 2026 : 7:12:13 PM
I agree! And the one you picked is like a gift that keeps on giving!
Debbie Klann
Farmgirl Sister #770
2018 Farmgirl of the Year
"Well behaved women seldom make history"....Laurel Thatcher Ulrich |
| Blessed in Colorado |
Posted - May 15 2026 : 6:58:29 PM
Once you get started on badges it is hard to stop and so much fun.
Big Hugs,
Debbie
#1582
Blessed in Oregon
With Colorado on My Mind
Farmgirl of the Month September 2012, February 2018, September 2022, August 2025
“My altars are My Mountains
and the Ocean.” Lord Byron”
When I am Old I Shall Wear Purple, I am Old now!!
|
| Simple Living |
Posted - May 15 2026 : 3:18:15 PM
I'm going to try to complete my first badge this weekend. It's the Lost Art of Letter Writing. I love writing and being pen pals. I look forward to having a pen pal write back.
Isaiah 30:15 Your strength will be in keeping calm and showing trust.
Farmgirl #3842 |
| Bellepic |
Posted - May 15 2026 : 08:55:57 AM
Right, Joan! There are so many interesting badges to choose from, it can be overwhelming to focus on finishing one.
Krista, it is cool they at least cover the cost for your husband, but such a hassle. We started partially reimbursing our school room parent volunteers out of parent group fundraising activities which is a start, but not ideal.
Farmgirl#8680
www.steamstead.blogspot.com |
| Simple Living |
Posted - May 11 2026 : 12:10:54 PM
Christine, know I feel better that I'm not the only one with out badges. There are so many to chose from.
Isaiah 30:15 Your strength will be in keeping calm and showing trust.
Farmgirl #3842 |
| MaryJanesNiece |
Posted - May 11 2026 : 12:06:29 PM
Christine, I know we have that similar issue here. They just recently announced that in order to volunteer at the schools or attend field trips they require a background check. When my husband went to attend a field trip they would not accept this background check that he already completed for his work. We felt that was a little frustrating since it was not long ago that it was done. Luckily the school district is providing theirs free of charge for right now, but then it does come back to the long wait times.
Krista
Farmgirl Sister #528
Farmgirl Of The Year 2025 |
| Bellepic |
Posted - May 10 2026 : 12:03:50 PM
A little late to the merit badge chitchat party, but excited I'm in good company with Joan!
Shennandoah-- your Community Service badge update is so inspirational! I just wrapped up 30 cumulative hours tracked (it is so hard to keep track, isn't it? A few minutes texting here, an email there, ...). Most of my service was booked co-leading my daughter's scout troop and helping my school's parent group reinstate its 501(c)(3) non-profit status as their treasurer.
I applied to help shelve books in the local library while my daughter is across the street in piano and sewing lessons but discovered that they too require fingerprinting and background checks and their intake system is down indefinitely. Have you all struggled with this lending a hand in your states? Has anyone else landed on a better way? Every volunteer opportunity that works with at-risk populations (kids, elders, sick, etc.) in my state requires a background check and there isn't a way to release your [clear] results to multiple organizations, so every time you want to volunteer, it is another trip to the UPS store, another $90 scan and a wait for the results. What a hassle. I didn't book it as volunteer hours, but I took this morning to write a letter to my state assemblymember running for re-election to see if his team can streamline the red tape a little.
Farmgirl#8680
www.steamstead.blogspot.com |
| Simple Living |
Posted - May 07 2026 : 06:12:15 AM
Thank you Krista. They all look fun to accomplish.
Isaiah 30:15 Your strength will be in keeping calm and showing trust.
Farmgirl #3842 |
| MaryJanesNiece |
Posted - May 06 2026 : 12:47:29 PM
Way to go Shennandoah on starting another badge! We definitely get cold enough here, so we have tons of apple trees around. 2 years ago I planted my first apple tree. I went with Ambrosia. They are my favorite. Last year I got 2 big beautiful apples off of the tree. It only produced 5 and the other 3 had blown off before they were ready. I am hoping this year it will produce some more. We did have a freeze come in after the fruit trees started blooming. We covered them to help protect them, so I hope it was enough.
Welcome back, Joan! I look forward to hearing about the badges you work on.
Krista
Farmgirl Sister #528
Farmgirl Of The Year 2025 |
| Simple Living |
Posted - May 05 2026 : 11:41:26 AM
Thank you for understanding my absence. Love you all.
Isaiah 30:15 Your strength will be in keeping calm and showing trust.
Farmgirl #3842 |
| jillyd |
Posted - May 05 2026 : 11:41:10 AM
Excellent plan, Joan!!
Jill
Farmgirl #6748
"When life gets super crazy, do your art. It helps you remember the exquisite, imaginary, delightful, lovely side of what is otherwise sometimes a bit much" Sylvia Olsen |
| Blessed in Colorado |
Posted - May 05 2026 : 09:51:37 AM
I am so proud of you Joan and so happy you are back, we miss you. The badges are so much fun you will enjoy working on them.
Big Hugs,
Debbie
#1582
Blessed in Oregon
With Colorado on My Mind
Farmgirl of the Month September 2012, February 2018, September 2022, August 2025
“My altars are My Mountains
and the Ocean.” Lord Byron”
When I am Old I Shall Wear Purple, I am Old now!!
|
| debbieklann |
Posted - May 05 2026 : 09:01:42 AM
I agree!!!
Debbie Klann
Farmgirl Sister #770
2018 Farmgirl of the Year
"Well behaved women seldom make history"....Laurel Thatcher Ulrich |
| Nancy Joplin |
Posted - May 05 2026 : 08:33:29 AM
Joan, that's what you should do. Welcome back.
Nancy 8352
FGOTM Oct 2024 |
| Simple Living |
Posted - May 05 2026 : 06:11:49 AM
Thank you Nancy. I'm starting to think of myself and treating myself good.
Isaiah 30:15 Your strength will be in keeping calm and showing trust.
Farmgirl #3842 |
| Nancy Joplin |
Posted - May 04 2026 : 10:17:14 AM
Welcome back, Joan! Earning the badges has been so much fun! Glad that you have come back! Happy badge earning!
Nancy 8352
FGOTM Oct 2024 |
| Simple Living |
Posted - May 03 2026 : 11:54:58 AM
Thank you Debbie, I will do that.
Isaiah 30:15 Your strength will be in keeping calm and showing trust.
Farmgirl #3842 |
| debbieklann |
Posted - May 03 2026 : 07:57:35 AM
Joan, if you click on Earning Merit Badges it will take you right to the information. There will be a whole list of badges and the requirements for each one. Then you can apply!!
Debbie Klann
Farmgirl Sister #770
2018 Farmgirl of the Year
"Well behaved women seldom make history"....Laurel Thatcher Ulrich |
| Simple Living |
Posted - May 03 2026 : 07:26:59 AM
It's been a while since I was active on here. But how do we receive badges again. I remember when I subscribed to the magazine, that helped.
Isaiah 30:15 Your strength will be in keeping calm and showing trust.
Farmgirl #3842 |
| shennandoah |
Posted - May 02 2026 : 3:27:09 PM
Hey Heather! Yes we have citrus but we have to still grow it in pots so we can bring it indoors during a freeze. Peaches is what we are really known for (and pecans). And yes Nancy I’m planting a couple of Anna’s hoping to have a first harvest in a couple of years.
Making memories, building connections, and adding color and magic to every day life!
Farmgirl of the Year 2024
Farmgirl #8578 |
| Nancy Joplin |
Posted - May 02 2026 : 10:58:13 AM
Great Job, Shennandoah! We have Anna apples here in Southern California. We only have one tree as we live on a small city lot. but, they are so good. Very tasty/
Nancy 8352
FGOTM Oct 2024 |
| nndairy |
Posted - May 02 2026 : 07:02:28 AM
Great work, Shennandoah! I didn't realize that not many apples grew down south. It's amazing what you learn from fellow farm girls. Does citrus grow in your area? We have lots of apples around here, but no citrus.
~Heather
“I would rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world.” — George Washington
|
| shennandoah |
Posted - Apr 27 2026 : 6:31:01 PM
Thanks Krista! I also got started on my Apples badge. I live in South Texas, so unfortunately there aren't any apple orchards near me to go picking (there are strawberries though!). Many temperate stone and pomp fruits require a certain number of chill hours (hours below 55) in order to bud and produce fruit. The majority apples have high chill hour requirements (generally 500-800, with some requiring over 1,000). Where I live we get 200-400 chill hours on average, so we have to rely on low chill hour varieties that can handle zone 9a - not just our heat, but also drought and humidity. I did find that Anna, Granny Smith, Fuji, and Pink Lady apples are all suited for my region. Gala apples, which are one of my favorites, require 500+ hours, so would not be able to provide enough winter for them here.
I wish we could go apple picking. My great grandmother would get baskets of apples and make apple butter and fresh bread. I've been steadily planting apple trees in the hopes of one day being able to make my own apple butter and apple pie filling from scratch. For now I have to watch for deals at the grocery store or the bulk produce supplier downtown.
Making memories, building connections, and adding color and magic to every day life!
Farmgirl of the Year 2024
Farmgirl #8578 |
