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**News from MaryJanesFarm:  FARMGIRL SISTERHOOD/VIRTUAL CHAPTERS  |
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16367 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16367 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 30 2007 : 7:52:02 PM
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Here's what we've come up with so far:
Somewhere here on the main forum, there will be an ongoing, ever-changing list of FARMGIRL SISTERHOOD members. No addresses or anything, just our names and our numbers according to when we sign up. (i.e. For Idaho, I’m Organic Grower No. 8 according to the official state records and every year I have to renew my certification.) Ha, I’ve reserved Farmgirl No. 1 for me!!!
In honor of my mother and what I grew up hearing everyday, I’ll become Sister MaryJane, and/or member No. 1. (If you’ve read my book, you’ll know what the sister thing is all about.) We’ll pay $20 per year to be a member and receive one aproned-hen embroidered badge with some rules concerning its use elsewhere on things like dishtowels, etc. Okay to do but we want to honor her sacred status with a few rules! When a farmgirl’s membership is about to expire, we’ll get a postcard and an e-mail reminding us to renew. (Someone like me will need to buy several extra hens at a lesser charge because I have more than one denim jacket!)
Chapter starter kits will continue to go out the way they go out presently, free-of-charge. Sign-ups for those will stay the same. HOWEVER, each active chapter will soon have their own virtual "henhouse” on our website. This is where it gets more regulated. An appointed chapter leader (must also be a member of the sisterhood) will moderate their chapter’s “site” and be the only person that can update or change the chapter’s bulletin board. (It’ll even look like an old-fashioned chalkboard.) Other features will include an area for PROJECT DISCUSSIONS (like interoffice memos), BOOK DISCUSSIONS, and HOGS & QUICHES (this is for chapter "hugs & kisses," congratulations, condolences, prayers, etc.) There won't be any search function capabilities on the chapter sites. We’d still like chapter members to join in on all the many discussions on our main forum and utilize our existing topics for sharing ideas at large! And if you are a dues-paying sisterhood member, you’ll have a special emblem near your name on the main forum.
Members of a particular chapter will have a password to pitch in, post photos, instructions, tutorials, etc. on their chapter’s site. (But remember, in order to do so, chapter members will also need to be dues-paying sisterhood members in order to have access to their site for posting.) I expect we’ll start seeing a lot more virtual chapters but face-to-face chapters will get a site as well. Virtual chapters will need a theme to organize around, no numbers there. (I’m hoping someone starts a chapter for luring in those of us who fish or snag those who hunt--that kind of thing or maybe even organized around a particular charity.) Members of the public can view these sites, but only members of a chapter (who are also dues-paying sisterhood members) can post.
We’ll be in touch by routing our news through chapter leaders, just like we do now. Chapters will continue to get newsletters on a regular basis, but the leaders will have to distribute them to their chapter members. As you can imagine, this will only work if members send us strong, reliable, organized chapter leaders and everyone keeps up with their dues in order to generate the necessary fuel to fund all of this. (For extra historical inspiration, re-read the section Finding Each Other, in our No Place Like Home magazine issue.)
The badges that only SISTERHOOD MEMBERS can earn will be taken care of in an area on our main site. There will be a gallery of sorts for photos, stories, etc. (I had a couple of out-of-town girlfriend guests here this weekend that are known for their outrageous story telling. After a round of WOW! around the campfire each evening, we eventually got into some hilarious PROVE IT! banter.) Rules for earning badges will be posted along with the lists of the women who have earned them and the date they earned them. Sorry, they can’t be grandfathered in. It’ll be way too much fun for all of us to start over with a clean slate, struttin’ our stuff, hen and cackle style.
And since we farmgirls are made of the right stuff, the list of badges we can earn will be long, everything from engine overhaul to doilie construction. So please be patient while we get this up and running. It’s going to take a minute or two, because soon I’m off to earn my travel badge to GA and KY!
Sister MaryJane
Look for my new book, "MaryJane's Stitching Room," in bookstores now. Coming next in 2008: "MaryJane's Outpost Guidebook - for Cultivating Your Inner Wild." |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
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sunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
4877 Posts
Wendy
Utah
USA
4877 Posts |
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Marybeth
True Blue Farmgirl
6418 Posts
Mary Beth
Stanwood
Wa 98292
USA
6418 Posts |
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Annika
True Blue Farmgirl
5602 Posts
Annika
USA
5602 Posts |
Posted - Sep 30 2007 : 8:19:41 PM
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Well, since I live around my computer when I'm not off in a whirlwind doing this project or that, I would eventually love to start a virtual chapter. I can think of several that would be fun (gardening, home and garden, mini-farming...) This is really exciting. To be at the dawning of a new way to "gather and share" for those of us who want to share what we love to do, but don't have the time, transportation or what have you to get to regular live meetings.
Kudos!
MaryJane this is all going to be so much fun
Thank you
Annika
http://people.tribe.net/58d06a60-1cdd-4357-b4e3-bc523ed51ff5 |
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16367 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16367 Posts |
Posted - Sep 30 2007 : 8:24:39 PM
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Hi Mary Beth,
You can be a member of the sisterhood, but in order to be an official chapter you'll need at least one other member in the beginning who joins you in making a commitment to grow and maintain your chapter. Maintenance of the "henhouse" sites are going to be a lot of work for us, so we want everyone to make a serious commitment.
MaryJane
Look for my new book, "MaryJane's Stitching Room," in bookstores now. Coming next in 2008: "MaryJane's Outpost Guidebook - for Cultivating Your Inner Wild." |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
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idcityrose
True Blue Farmgirl
202 Posts
Rose
Idaho City
Idaho
USA
202 Posts |
Posted - Oct 01 2007 : 06:07:43 AM
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What an exciting idea! I will be one of the first to join, count on that. With the size of our chapter there will be lots of posts.
Count on us!
Rose (idcityrose)
We are never alone in the forest of Sisters! We "Mountain Farmgirls" are outstanding in our field! |
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Mumof3
True Blue Farmgirl
3890 Posts
Karin
Ellenwood
GA
USA
3890 Posts |
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Libbie
Farmgirl Connection Cultivator
3579 Posts
Anne E.
Elsinore
Utah
USA
3579 Posts |
Posted - Oct 01 2007 : 07:12:24 AM
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YAY!!! This is SO exciting. I just love the idea of "henhouses" for the Chapters. I absolutely CANNOT wait!
XOXO, Libbie
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16367 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16367 Posts |
Posted - Oct 01 2007 : 07:17:49 AM
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Well now, both Bev and Libbie have called them HENHOUSES. What were we thinking...farmhouses. Henhouses it is! Although I have to tell you, the conversion can be real. One time when my kids were little and I was a single mom, the door to our farmhouse blew open while we were away. We came home to a full-scale hen PARTY. Think poop down our curtains, on our counter tops, feathers everywhere--three dozen chickens snooping and pooping throughout the house. But the funniest part was when we walked in, they got really quiet and just walked out, almost single file. I know, PROVE IT! Meggie, can you help me out here?
My fantasy is this: our first annual SISTERHOOD gathering (for members only) will be held in Idaho City... I show up in my teal colored 1956 two-ton "pick-up" truck pulling an Airstream (already adorning the front cover of my next book).
Oh, and once when hubby and I went on an extended camping trip to Canada, we met a farmer who had thrown open the door of a rundown single-wide manufactured home for housing his flock. Hens and trailers go nicely together. Instant coop.
Look for my new book, "MaryJane's Stitching Room," in bookstores now. Coming next in 2008: "MaryJane's Outpost Guidebook - for Cultivating Your Inner Wild." |
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chessie
True Blue Farmgirl
403 Posts
Karen
Vista
CA
USA
403 Posts |
Posted - Oct 01 2007 : 07:51:17 AM
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I, too, am so excited. Gotta tell ya that I taught sunday school for a dozen years in a reformed hen house. So, I guess the kidlets were my chicks. Cluck-cluck!
www.edgehillherbfarm.com "where the name is bigger than the farm, but no one seems to mind" |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22937 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22937 Posts |
Posted - Oct 01 2007 : 08:01:00 AM
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This is a FANTASTIC idea MaryJane! Oh I can't wait to pay my dues!!!
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora!
http://home.test-afl.tulix.com/aleeandnora/ |
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Annika
True Blue Farmgirl
5602 Posts
Annika
USA
5602 Posts |
Posted - Oct 01 2007 : 08:59:24 AM
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MaryJane, the hen story is still got me laughing, poor girl, I've had hens loose in the house and I know how fun that is to clean up, but it's still one of the funniest images. All of those hens walking out with out so much as a "peep" LOL!
I love the Henhouse idea, I'm partial to the little feathered creatures. They all have such a personality.
On another thought, I think because I cannot have any of my own, I would love it if some one were to come up with a children of the world charity theme to work around.
=)
Annika
Annika
http://people.tribe.net/58d06a60-1cdd-4357-b4e3-bc523ed51ff5 |
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~Tracey~
True Blue Farmgirl
351 Posts
Tracey
TN
USA
351 Posts |
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CabinCreek-Kentucky
True Blue Farmgirl
8529 Posts
Frannie
Green County
Kentucky
USA
8529 Posts |
Posted - Oct 01 2007 : 9:26:30 PM
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this sounds like fun! maryjane ..
remind me to tell you of 'the story' of when we lived in colorado .. and our MEAN old rooster chased me into our tiny hen-house .. and kept me captive for several hours .. with the girls (about 5 and 10 years old at the time) ... outside the chicken yard 'wailing' for their momma's safety! i ALWAYS collected eggs with a basket in one hand and a BROOM in the other .. to knock the rooster across the yard when he came at me. never stopped him from pickin' himself up .. clawin' the ground and coming for ROUND TWO though! This fateful day .. i dropped my broom and had no weapon!
ha! not long after that .. we found the rooster laying dead in the chicken yard .. hank said a 'hawk' musta' gotten him .. AND WE BELIEVED IT .. until about six months later .. when he confessed to 'rooster-cide'! Said that 'bad boy' came after HIM one too many times! (so much for 'fertilized' eggs!)
i hope to be hearing more about the 'sisterhood' soon. xo, frannie
True Friends, Frannie
FREEDOM VALLEY FARM
KENTUCKY
http://freedomvalleyfarm.blogspot.com/
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mima
True Blue Farmgirl
1573 Posts
1573 Posts |
Posted - Oct 02 2007 : 06:24:28 AM
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| me too! |
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chessie
True Blue Farmgirl
403 Posts
Karen
Vista
CA
USA
403 Posts |
Posted - Oct 02 2007 : 10:01:58 AM
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Hey all in the HenHouse, I don't play online games but if you do, then you need to know about "Chicktionary" that i found on msn live
http://club.live.com/chicktionary.aspx?icid=chick_wlhmadmodule330X125_oct
The game description is "Ready to cluck about all the words you know? Chicktionary matches you against seven alphabet loving hens. Choose from a roost full of letters and peck out as many words as possible. The more you spell, the more words fill up the Chicktionary's egg rack. Hatch out enough words and you'll move on to the next round". That is so cute it makes me almost want to play! If any of you play, tell me how you many eggs you collect...
www.edgehillherbfarm.com "where the name is bigger than the farm, but no one seems to mind" |
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Carol Sue
True Blue Farmgirl
4033 Posts
Carol Sue
Washingtonian
USA
4033 Posts |
Posted - Oct 03 2007 : 02:47:51 AM
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Maryjane,
How great is this. It will really help to be able to have a henhouse to post bulltetins about our chapters. Sisterhood is vital and what a wonderful way to have it. Thank you.
I love LOVE the chicken stories.....LOLOLOL it made my night. Thanks!!!!!
Carol Sue
Enjoying life. |
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levisgrammy
True Blue Farmgirl
9321 Posts
Denise
Beavercreek
Ohio
USA
9321 Posts |
Posted - Oct 03 2007 : 03:16:26 AM
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Wow! just think it wasn't long ago we were all just chatting on the apron sew along thread and look what has happened. all these ideas have come in such a short time. What wonderful creativity!
I'm not sure I understand it all but I'm sure I'll catch on as we go.
Denise
"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof and all that dwell therein."
www.torismimi.blogspot.com |
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asnedecor
True Blue Farmgirl
1054 Posts
Anne
Portland
Or
USA
1054 Posts |
Posted - Oct 03 2007 : 06:56:32 AM
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So if I get this right - these can be virtual chapters, along with "face to face" chapters correct. Since my chapter has a hard time getting our "so called" act together to meet - I could actually turn our chapter into a virtual one? That might work better for us. Is this correct - or I could join a virtual chapter, right? It's still early here and the coffee hasn't sunk in yet - am I correct or way off base?
Anne in Portland
"Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them" Eyeore from Winnie the Pooh
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16367 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16367 Posts |
Posted - Oct 03 2007 : 07:04:20 AM
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Morning Anne,
Wish you were here for a cup of coffee! Yes, you can turn your existing chapter into a virtual one. There won't be a distinction really. Every chapter can have a henhouse here. Whether or not they meet up in person is up to them. Make sense?
Look for my new book, "MaryJane's Stitching Room," in bookstores now. Coming next in 2008: "MaryJane's Outpost Guidebook - for Cultivating Your Inner Wild." |
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asnedecor
True Blue Farmgirl
1054 Posts
Anne
Portland
Or
USA
1054 Posts |
Posted - Oct 03 2007 : 3:53:47 PM
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Makes sense - thanks MaryJane.
Anne in Portland
"Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them" Eyeore from Winnie the Pooh
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jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
Posted - Oct 04 2007 : 06:43:37 AM
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I love reading about this, but I am afraid I am still a little old-fashioned and behind the times! Our chapter does not even have a blog! But it sure will be fun to visit everyone else!
I remember my grandpa's henhouse - actually it was my aunt's and my grandma's. The eggs for sale paid the food bills for a long time on the farm. Those chickens were hilarious, and very poopy! I cannot imagine the mess you had to clean up when you got home, MaryJane! I do remember the chickens getting quiet when my Aunt Avis walked in to gather eggs. When I went with her, they would walk around my feet, and peck a little, as if to say "Who is she?"
Looking forward to visitng virtual chapters!
Psalm 51: 10-13 |
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Photobugs
True Blue Farmgirl
363 Posts
Pamela
Post Falls
Idaho
USA
363 Posts |
Posted - Oct 04 2007 : 10:23:37 AM
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This is going to be so much fun! Our chapter has had a hard time meeting lately as some of the gals had to go to wrok...Can you imagine such a thing?!!!
So this may be a way for us to fellowship, I do miss the girsl so much when we are not gathering.
As for me I spend so much time on this computer, mostly doing genealogy research, being a virtual chapter leader would be a piece of cake. Some of you gals know I am working to become a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.), it has been a long haul for me. Some people walk right into it as their mothers or grandmothers before them either kept good records of family history or they were just able to prove their lineage easily. Not so for me. Thus hours on end of research. But I am ready to submit my final papers and so happy to be at the end of this road.
So count me in when things get going, I would love to do this.
I have a wonderful photo of my great grandmother sitting by an old fence hand feeding her chickens, is there a way to use photos like this on our website, patch, or ???
Pamela
Kindred Spirits Chapter
http://homesteadmercantile.blogspot.com/ |
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**News from MaryJanesFarm: FARMGIRL SISTERHOOD/VIRTUAL CHAPTERS |
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FARMGIRL SISTERHOOD/VIRTUAL CHAPTERS
