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Farmgirl Chapter Chatter:  The Mavens' Haven - November 22, 2008  |
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LivingWell4You
True Blue Farmgirl
1411 Posts
Karen
Hillsboro
MO
USA
1411 Posts |
 Posted - Nov 22 2008 : 05:32:19 AM
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THE MAVENS’ HAVEN
November 22, 2008
Welcome to MJ’s Heirloom Mavens!
Recently I was on a website where I read this quote: “Our problem in America is not that we don't know we are to be thankful, but often we choose to complain instead.” It took me a moment to realize why I wasn’t thinking, “That’s right!” like I have so many times before when I’d heard a similar sentiment. Then it dawned on me: it’s because we’re choosing to take action. Not just the mavens, but all of the farmgirls on the connection. We truly are connected, not by blood or by location but by heart. We care – about our families, about our farms (or farms-to-be), about our communities, about nature, and, what I am so thankful for this year, about each other.
As mavens, we’re choosing to make a difference in our gardens, saving our seeds to feed our future. It isn’t that we don’t see things that make us mad and frustrated. We do and that’s what motivates us. We are capable of working up a good rant when the situation calls for one…but we don’t stop there. We choose to take control of our future and share what we learn with others. We are passionate about the kind of world we will be leaving for future generations. There is a genuine longing to educate others about the condition of conventional food that many eat without realizing it’s nutritional value (or lack of) or where it came from. There are so many pleasures that await them and they have no idea. We want them to know the joy we find in simple things.
This Thanksgiving I am incredibly thankful for this group of women. How it’s possible to feel so close to women I’ve never met is beyond me. Working around the house this week, I was thinking about how similar the mavens are to Ladies Aid my mother participated in at her church when I was growing up. They quilted together. They baked together. They made apple butter together. They laughed together, cried together, rejoiced when there was a birth, comforted when there was a death. Then I cried – because I realized I have that too. Right here.
**** MAVEN TO MAVEN ****
Mavens on the Road
Lora and Dawn both survived the big birthday bash weekend – and don’t we all wish we could have been there with them.
Corinne is on her way to France to visit family. We’re all wishing her a safe trip and an enjoyable, relaxing, fulfilling time.
New Mavens
Are you someone who’s reading the maven posts but unsure about jumping in? Does this newsletter rev up your interest? If you want more information about MJ’s Heirloom Mavens, check out the Heirloom Mavens Beginners Guide http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/HenHouseSnitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=667 and then go to Magazine: Call for Entries / Keeping in Touch / Danger of Extinction Thread and introduce yourself. We’d love to get to know you!
**** WEEKLY UPDATE ****
Maven Alert in MJ Magazine
This edition of MaryJane’s magazine is loaded with mavens! How exciting is that? Here’s the run down:
Page 6 – Karen’s blurb in the “Letters to Us” section on how finding her farmgirl sisters changed her life
Page 8 – Linda (LindaEllen) is mentioned in MaryJane’s “Here for Life” article. “What do you do with a big bag of wild-haired, naked Barbie dolls? Make ‘em MaryJane farmgirls instead!” This is a must read for anyone with a little girl in their life. Linda has a lot going on and isn’t able to participate in the DOE thread right now, but she reads it and the newsletter, hoping to be able to take a more active role come gardening season. If you girls, haven’t visited her blog you should. Awesome outpost!
Page 39 – Rene’s well-written (as always) article on citygirl-turned-farmgirl authors of the Mokiville books, Corinne Isaak and Karen Cooper (wonderful names, don’t ya think?) Again, if there are youngsters on your Christmas shopping list, check it out. www.mokitime.com
Pages 94 & 95 – Tina and Paul’s graphics business, www.wilsongraphics.net , is mentioned in “Memory Pillows” and Tina’s tree received the Free-Style honorable mention in the Christmas tree contest
Page 110 – Marcy’s blurb regarding eating locally (way to go, Marcy!)
Maven Directory
With everything she had on her plate while preparing for her trip, Corinne also put together a directory of all the mavens, including birthdays, and e-mailed it to everyone before she left. If you did not find a copy in your e-mailbox, please post on the DOE and someone will forward it to you.
Seed Saving Considerations:
“One thing we have to consider, especially as Heirloom Mavens, if we are going to save seed from our heirlooms, we have to know if whatever we are going to save seed from, does it cross pollinate with other varieties, because if it does cross, the seed won't be true. In that case it is recommended that you only grow one variety at a time to keep your seed true…. Girls, I don't think we even knew how much knowledge we were going to have to have for this gig.” Thoughts from Teresa Sue (Contrary Wife) To read more from TS and others, click here: http://www.maryjanesfarm.com/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=24908&whichpage=168
The Thompson & Morgan catalogue arrived in Annika’s mailbox this week. “They've signed the safe seed pledge and have a lush and colourful catalogue, so you may want to order one...lots of eyecandy and a welcome first to keep me looking through it all winter long.” The web address is www.tmseeds.com
Another Maven motto: “I know enough to know that I don’t know enough” Annika expressed how many of us are probably feeling as we continue on this learning path.
A new Maven theme song: “Sometimes you just stumble into a song that says, EVERYTHING! and this was certainly one of them for me.. Hope you like it.” With that opening comment, Rene posted a link to a wonderful song that speaks to a maven’s heart. She also posted the words for those of us with slow-speed service (thanks inserted here from Lillian and Karen). For the video link and to read the words, go to
http://www.maryjanesfarm.com/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=26770
Here are the words to the chorus. Don’t they just resonate in your maven heart?
I wanna do something that matters
Say something different
Something that sets the whole world on its ear
I wanna do something better
With the time i`ve been given
And i wanna try
To touch a few hearts in this life
Leave nothing less
Than something that says "i was here"
Countdown to a Maven Christmas!
One week til the “deadline” for mailing your maven Christmas present. But don’t stress about it. This is the time for giving thanks and finding each other this year is a pretty good gift in itself. You can tell from the posts that this is a busy time for the mavens – Christmas gift making & shopping, getting ready for Thanksgiving with friends and/or family, house cleaning (seems there’s a lot of that going on these days), baking, working, traveling … the list goes on. Do what you can and if it’s mailed a little after the date, just let your partner know. Even with the best laid plans, things can still delay you. Like today when I had everything together for some packets to mail out, got to the post office and realized I left the addresses at home. One of the things we can be very thankful for is that we’re a forgiving bunch! If you’re still looking for ideas, go to http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/HenHouseSnitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=644
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
You can tell it’s holiday season. The posts on the DOE are slowing down as other activities take priority and the same effect is felt here. Nevertheless we’re plugging along this week in chapters 13 and 14: “Life in a Red State: August” and “You Can’t Run Away on Harvest Day: September.” I have the feeling that in January, when garden planning hits in earnest, there will be a lot of discussion about this book! Remember you can follow the discussion at http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/HenHouseSnitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=597 in the henhouse or in the HHM/HM Henhouse Connection thread http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=25556
Also this book is one of the requirements for the Farm Kitchen “Know Your Food” Beginner Level badge. See the Teresa Sue’s “Badge Alert!!!!” post for more info: http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/HenHouseSnitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=609&whichpage=1
**** FUTURE ATTRACTIONS ****
Heirloom Minor at Farmgirl U
The curriculum is nearing completion. Be watching on the DOE for an announcement from Rene in the near future.
Guess Who’s Coming to PBS…(Part 2)
Did you see it? The video for Farmer’s Almanac TV on PBS? Read Rene’s blurb at http://www.maryjanesfarm.com/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=26916 then click on the video and settle in for a wonderful visit with MaryJane and Meg.
**** REMINDERS ****
American Farmland Trust – www.farmland.org – still needs your vote. Please support them by letting them know your priorities so that America’s farm and ranch lands can be preserved.
Monday Maven Madness: If you have trouble remembering the when the chatting begins, follow Dawn’s example and set an alarm! Then join us for at 9pm EST, 6pm PST, every Monday evening.
Here’s where you can find information on badges the mavens are currently working toward:
Beginner Farm Kitchen Badge: http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/HenHouseSnitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=609&whichpage=1
Beginner Farmgirl Gratitude Badge: http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/HenHouseSnitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=637
Beginner Bustin’ Out Badge: http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/HenHouseSnitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=638
***Note from Karen: On Thanksgiving Day I’m going to start my gratitude journal (again). I figure what better day to start, huh? It will also help me to be consciously grateful at least once a day during the time of year that is usually the most stressful. I’m going to fight the commercialism associated with Christmas with gratitude in my heart for everything I’ve been blessed with. Care to guess what my first entry will be, mavens?
Remember to check out Our Mother Hen’s nest box in the henhouse where she will be laying her eggs filled with gardening tips, tidbits and treasures. It’s labeled as the bulletin board, but Nest Box is much more mavenly, dontcha think? http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/HenHouseSnitz/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=169
Be sure to check out maven Tina’s online magazine, Small Town Living at www.stliving.net
The Heirloom Mavens Save Our Seeds – Feed Our Future bumper stickers are now available. For more information, go to the Heirloom Mavens Beginners Guide http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/HenHouseSnitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=667
You can use PayPal to purchase Heirloom Maven bumperstickers, bracelets and to donate to the Maven Scholarship Fund ( http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=24908&whichpage=89 )
Check out the Heirloom Maven blog site at www.heirloommavens.blogspot.com
When possible, purchase books through Seed Savers Exchange to support their efforts in saving heirloom seeds for future generations www.seedsavers.org
Mark your calendars for the first annual Heirloom Maven Spring Fling and Farmgirl Round-Up http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/HenHouseSnitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=568
If you get lost in the Heirloom Maven lingo, you can find the lingo list in the Beginner’s Guide http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/HenHouseSnitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=582
That’s all for this week, mavens. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please send me an e-mail and I will get back with you a.s.a.m.p. In the meantime, have a great week and see you in the DOE and/or henhouse.
Karen – Maven Chickherder / Sister #311 |
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Contrary Wife
True Blue Farmgirl
2164 Posts
Teresa Sue
Tekoa
WA
USA
2164 Posts |
Posted - Nov 22 2008 : 07:13:02 AM
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~Applause!!!!!~ Karen you do such a great job every week with this, you must have hours into it and I really do appreciate it. You are such a sweetie. Love ya!
Teresa Sue
Farmgirl Sister #316
MJ's Heirloom Mavens Badgebadger
MJ's Heirloom Mavens Bookclub Coordinator
"Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly." The Dalai Lama |
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Annika
True Blue Farmgirl
5602 Posts
Annika
USA
5602 Posts |
Posted - Nov 22 2008 : 07:43:23 AM
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Very much appreciated Karen, I love reading the Maven news and I'm going to go start printing them off to have a paper copy as well. Thank you for the "Air time" =) The T&M seed book is pretty and free, so go tell them ya'll want one. Looking at pretty picture of bright growing things is a sure fire cure for the weather-got-you-down blahs!
TS is right you are a sweetie!
Annika
Farmgirl & sister #13
Mud Hen Queen
MJ's Heirloom Maven's Librarian
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ruralfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
4309 Posts
Rene'
Prosser
WA
USA
4309 Posts |
Posted - Nov 22 2008 : 07:43:25 AM
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Awesome! truly awesome! as always Karen brilliant job!
Rene~Prosser Farmgirl #185
http://farmchicksfarm.blogspot.com/
Mavens are "information specialists", or "people we rely upon to connect us with new information."[6] They accumulate knowledge, especially about the marketplace, and know how to share it with others
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Ms.Lilly
True Blue Farmgirl
826 Posts
Lillian
Scotts Mills
OR
USA
826 Posts |
Posted - Nov 22 2008 : 07:45:48 AM
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Karen, Once again you have done a wonderful job!!! I have been printing them off and keeping them in binder, it is great to be able to go back and reference something. Keep up the great work!!!
Lillian |
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marcy jo
True Blue Farmgirl
453 Posts
Marcy
Wawaka
Indiana
USA
453 Posts |
Posted - Nov 22 2008 : 08:47:42 AM
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Thanks Karen! I always look for these to keep me updated and informed!!
Marcy #257
When I stand before God at the end of my life I hope that I would not have a bit of talent left and could say “I used everything You gave me”.(erma bombeck) |
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Tina Michelle
True Blue Farmgirl
6948 Posts
Tina
sunshine state
FL
USA
6948 Posts |
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LindaEllen
True Blue Farmgirl
275 Posts
Linda
Missouri
USA
275 Posts |
Posted - Nov 22 2008 : 4:12:26 PM
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Hey Karen this is another great newsletter. I got your E-m thank you, trouble is I can't send reply : (. I just had some time to read my e-m and what a surprise to see that I'm mention here in your great newsletter and in MJ mag, about the bag of naked Barbie dolls, lol. WOW!!!
You have a newsletter that is packed. After Thanksgiving I have some time to work and gather and share in the Maven's Haven. I'm so excited about gardening. I would like to share about Winter Sowing those great heirloom seeds that many will be getting. This will be my second season of Winter Sowing, I will be starting after Christmas and boy is it fun : ). I will share if theres an interest.
I like the idea Ms.Lilly has about coping these newsletters and binding them up for quick reference.
Karen you have a gift of writing and gathering really good information, thank you so very much. I had a tear in my eyes when I read this months newsletter, your intro. This is a big family of love that I'm so Blessed to belong to.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and all my farmgirl friends and families, safe travels, eat well and God Bless.
Linda
Farmgirl Sister #343
Locust Trail Homestead
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/walkabout/
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Tina Michelle
True Blue Farmgirl
6948 Posts
Tina
sunshine state
FL
USA
6948 Posts |
Posted - Nov 22 2008 : 6:55:52 PM
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Linda Ellen...yes! by all means do share! that's what we mavens are about..sharing info with each other and learning along the way. so..yes indeedy..we want you to feel free to share what you have learned.
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~
visit me at:
http://gardengoose.blogspot.com/
and at www.stliving.net
you can also check out my etsy shops at:http://GardenGooseGifts.etsy.com |
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Farmgirl Chapter Chatter: The Mavens' Haven - November 22, 2008 |
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The Mavens' Haven - November 22, 2008
