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Farmgirl Chapter Chatter:  The Mavens' Haven - January 3, 2009  |
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LivingWell4You
True Blue Farmgirl
1411 Posts
Karen
Hillsboro
MO
USA
1411 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 03 2009 : 06:47:52 AM
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THE MAVENS’ HAVEN
December 20, 2008
Save Our Seeds – Feed Our Future
Welcome to MJ’s Heirloom Mavens!
Baking, Gift-making. Scrapbooking. Card-making. Shopping. Animal-sitting. Power outages. Snowdrifts. Icy roads. Frozen pipes. Mail delivery woes. Toppled Christmas trees. Sprains and strains. Family reunions……or not. Computer woes and woo-hoos. Doggy dietary “choices.” These are some of the mavens holiday week experiences. Some wonderful times, some disappointments, always having each other to lean on and plow through together whatever life brings us.
The gardening discussions have begun in earnest on the DOE. We mavens are known for our “ecstatic garden babble” (to quote Annika). I’m saving the gardening babble here for next week though. This week I want to leave you with some of the best quotes from the DOE during the holidays – our wishes for each other.
Everybody have a fabulous Christmas - your friendship is a wonderful gift this year and I feel truly blessed to know y'all.
Merry Christmas to every one of you and your families dear Mavens, you've taken me by the hand and walked by my side the past months, you've made my days brighter, you've brought both smiles and tears to my face.
Words are too limited to say how much I love you…But what you all gave me is a lifetime friendship, love and laughter, a sense of belonging and a sense of our future.
Love you all.
You, all of you, are the best present I have received this year!!
You are all wonderful ! I love our little community that we have formed and thank MaryJane for creating such a loving and supportive environment for us all to grow in.
Sisters - and I mean that from the bottom of my heart - you are the dearest and best thing that has happened to me this year.
I also wanted to add, that while I received several gifts dear to my heart (monitor, money). NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING compares to what I get from all of you. The phone calls, the homemade, albeit, silly gifts. I love them and they mean so much to me.
**** MAVEN TO MAVEN ****
In the Life of a Maven
Denise (levisgrammy) fell and sprained/fractured her wrist a few days before Christmas.
Annika (Annika) has been laid up with tummy troubles but is on the mend.
Ruth (homemom) is still struggling with her flaky monitor but help is on the way. She’s just waiting for Teresa Sue’s (Contrary Wife) monitor to show up in her mailbox.
Tina (Tina Michelle) was able to visit with a fellow farmgirl over the holidays. Zan (from New York) was in the area visiting family. She and Tina were able to meet and had a wonderful visit.
New Mavens
Talk about generating excitement on the maven henhouse! We have three – 3! – farmgirls who are chatting with us on the DOE. WOO HOO!
Cristine (MsCwick) first popped in on December 12 to answer Dawn’s recipe poem. Now that the holiday season is over and gardening season is ramping up, we’ve been chatting more with her.
Dalyn (QueenofQuiteAlot) had posted a request for heirloom seeds in the Garden Gate forum. After a bit of mavenly coaxing, she has been a welcome addition as of December 29.
Surprise! Surprise! Cheryl (K-Falls Farmgirl) followed Dalyn over to the DOE and showed up two posts after Dalyn’s.
Welcome to you all and to Sue (Sue Feely), who was introduced in the last newsletter. To those of you reading the newsletter but haven’t decided to come in yet, just jump in. We’re a friendly – and talkative – bunch and the more the merrier. (That saying is quite true with our group.) If you are staying away because you are not in the sisterhood yet, come anyway. In these economic times we realize that not everyone has the resources to join the sisterhood so we have created a companion thread, the HHM/HM Henhouse Connection http://www.maryjanesfarm.com/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=25556&whichpage=1 . This way you can read the posts in the henhouse and post on the connection. For those already in the sisterhood, just send Gabe an e-mail at gabe@maryjanesfarm.com to be added to the henhouse. For those not in the sisterhood and are just waiting for a reason to join, this is it! And remember, 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 ****
IT’S HERE!!!!!
What a wonderful new year’s surprise from Rene’ (prosserfarmgirl)! The Heirloom Minor Curriculum arrived in our mailboxes New Year’s Day as promised. Thank you for all your hard work on this, Rene’, and thanks to everyone who helped her put it together. If you didn’t receive a copy in your mailbox, let Rene or me know and we’ll get you one a.s.a.m.p. Okay, mavens, let’s go rock the world!!!
And the winner is….
Dawn (deeredawn), our very own QMD, is the winner of the apron from the Plowin’ Through thread. To read her entries, along with others, go to http://www.maryjanesfarm.com/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=25987 Congratulations, Dawn! We can’t wait to see you wearing it.
Getting to Know You
Corinne (Corinnelouise) put together a list of questions to help us learn a little more about each other. “I was reflecting on all the good things that have happened in this wonderful group of loving and caring ladies and I want to know you better.
So I came up with a list of questions, they are pretty generic but can be helpful to decide of a birthday gift, a packet of seeds to send out or just for letting each of us entering into Mavenhood sisterhood a little deeper.
Please send the answer back to me and I will email you the final list with all the details.”
If you have not responded to Corinne’s e-mail, this is a gentle reminder. If you did not receive the mailing, please e-mail her and let her know.
Monday Night Maven Madness
Monday night chatting is has a new hangout. To join us for live chat nights, contact Tina at gardengoose at gmail dot com and she'll send you the link needed to join in the fun. Hang on because it can be a wild ride but it’s one you definitely don’t want to miss! The gab-fest begins at 9pm EST / 8pm CST / 7pm MST / 6pm PST.
QMD Requests
Dawn definitely has the scrapbooking bug after making two as Christmas books. (Her daughter cried! What an achievement!) Her next project is a scrapbook of, you guessed it, mavens! “I would like pics of everyone..... so I can scrap them. I want to make myself a FRIEND scrap book next.”
HELP WANTED! If you can sew and would like to earn some extra cash, Dawn is looking for help making chicken saddles (yes, chicken saddles – used for rooster protection, if you know what I mean) for the hatchery ( www.meyershatchery.com ). Click here for more information: http://www.maryjanesfarm.com/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=24908&whichpage=235
If you would like a chicken catalog from Meyers, give Dawn a call at 1-888-568-9755 extension 116. The phones are ringing off the hook and she won’t be able to talk long, but it will sure brighten her day!
Spring Fling ideas needed for concessions, food, plants, etc. Read Dawn’s post, http://www.maryjanesfarm.com/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=24908&whichpage=228 then send her your input. Also, please post on the DOE if you are planning to attend. We will be flinging Memorial Day weekend.
Looking for a place for your creative outlets? Dawn is looking for items to put in her market. “… I want to fill the market with homemade goodies. If any of you want to send me things to put up in the shop I will. All I ask is that you pay for your shipping and handling, and I will send you all your profits. I think it'd be neat to say "oh, my sister makes those....." wink wink!” Send Dawn an e-mail if you’d have something you’d like to place in the market.
Dawn also has some Detroit Dark Red beet seed available as well as some Maven seed that she has left. She has also graciously agreed to share the seed she received from Tina’s site.
HMBC (Heirloom Maven Book Club)
Do you have your copy of “Gardening with Heirloom Seeds” by Lynn Coulter? Are you ready to read and discuss our latest book? If so, sign up in the henhouse http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/HenHouseSnitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=710 or, if you are not in the sisterhood yet, use the HM/HHM Discussion Thread http://www.maryjanesfarm.com/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=25556&whichpage=1 . From Teresa Sue: “That book will lay the foundation on the how-tos. I think it will help us understand, hence we will be able to articulate to others the basics of heirloom gardening and seed saving. To convince others, we HAVE to know what we are talking about.”
FYI: A great website Teresa Sue found is www.organictobe.org . The website is “For you, for us, for our kids, for our future… reconnecting our food to its sources is the goal of this blog. From the farms to our tables, from growing food to enjoying food, from nutrients to ingredients, from farm markets to restaurants, from news to reviews… OrganicToBe.org is a conversation about organic food and farming.” – Dave Smith, Creator/Editor
For those of you warming yourselves by the fire or those wishing you were, check out “The Fire Fiddler” by Gene Logsdon, one of Teresa Sue’s and MaryJane’s favorite authors.
Patchwork Pillow Squares
Now that winter is officially here, it’s time to cocoon and work on your pillow square. If you don’t know what this refers to, click here and look for Dawn’s IDEA: http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/HenHouseSnitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=551&whichpage=1 Due date: Memorial Day weekend. Hmmmmm, isn’t something else happening then too?
**** FUTURE ATTRACTIONS ****
Heirloom Maven Badge
Teresa Sue (Contrary Wife) came up with several designs for our Heirloom Maven badge. They are on their way to Dawn for her perusal/approval.
Heirloom Mavens in Next Edition of MaryJane’s Farm Magazine???
After dropping this little tidbit on the DOE, Rene left us drooling for the arrival of the next issue. We’ll just have to be patient, mavens. Easier said than done, I know.
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.
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
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.
***********************
P.S. In order, the Christmas blessings quoted were from Amy Grace, Corinne, Teresa Sue, Annika, Karen and Dawn
God bless -
Karen ~ Chickherder & Maven's Haven Editor
Farmgirl Sister #311 |
Edited by - LivingWell4You on Jan 03 2009 5:50:57 PM |
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Contrary Wife
True Blue Farmgirl
2164 Posts
Teresa Sue
Tekoa
WA
USA
2164 Posts |
Posted - Jan 03 2009 : 07:05:06 AM
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Whew! Bet that one took you a while Karen, lol. Great job, as always!
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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LivingWell4You
True Blue Farmgirl
1411 Posts
Karen
Hillsboro
MO
USA
1411 Posts |
Posted - Jan 03 2009 : 07:08:33 AM
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Yea, I'm hoping to not have another two-week break until next Christmas!
God bless -
Karen ~ Chickherder & Maven's Haven Editor
Farmgirl Sister #311 |
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ruralfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
4309 Posts
Rene'
Prosser
WA
USA
4309 Posts |
Posted - Jan 03 2009 : 09:13:23 AM
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Karen, Karen, Karen... girlfriend how do you do it.. I mean, "Up yourself evertime".. You do such an awesome job and we are so blessed to have you...............Ok Mavens lets keep Gabe busy with all those badges.... :)
Rene~Prosser Farmgirl #185
http://farmchicksfarm.blogspot.com/
Circumstances made us FRIENDS; MaryJane's has made us SISTERS :) |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Jan 03 2009 : 5:55:32 PM
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And again, a big huge hats off to you Karen!!
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" |
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Tina Michelle
True Blue Farmgirl
6948 Posts
Tina
sunshine state
FL
USA
6948 Posts |
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Farmgirl Chapter Chatter: The Mavens' Haven - January 3, 2009 |
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The Mavens' Haven - January 3, 2009
