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Farmgirl Chapter Chatter:  The Mavens' Haven - January 24, 2009  |
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LivingWell4You
True Blue Farmgirl
1411 Posts
Karen
Hillsboro
MO
USA
1411 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 24 2009 : 06:09:59 AM
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THE MAVENS’ HAVEN
January 24, 2009
Save Our Seeds – Feed Our Future
Welcome to MJ’s Heirloom Mavens!
Timing is everything. This week I went to our local library to renew the two gardening books I had out (and to pay a two day late fee – timing is everything). In the entry to the library they have a table where people can drop off their old magazines for anyone to take. Along with a stack of Handyman magazines that caught my eye were two Mother Earth News mags from 2005! Yes, I know, I have the last four decades of MEN on CD but still, there’s nothing like holding a real copy in my hands.
“Delicious ‘Ugly’ Tomatoes” was the editorial in the April/May 2005 issue. The bulk of the article was about Florida Tomato Committee’s refusal to let the Procacci Brothers sell their tomatoes, trademarked UglyRipe, “because the heirloom variety doesn’t meet the committee’s ‘round tomato’ appearance standards.” What I found most interesting about the article was the last three paragraphs. They listed three reasons why growing our own food supply is foundational to, as they call it, wise living.
1. It’s empowering. Think about it. When you grow your own food you only have to walk as far as your backyard for your next meal. No arranging your time around a trip to the grocery store. No traveling X number of miles in your car (need I even mention the dependence-on-foreign-oil-for-travel issue). No limit to your selection based on what’s in stock that day. You are the master of your own food fate.
2. Homegrown food can be more nutritious. Heirloom varieties have stood the test of time. That means they are sturdy stock; flavor has not been sacrificed in an effort to produce perfectly round tomatoes or zucchini that stacks well in a box. We’re mavens. We so get this point.
3. Growing your own food is great fun. This is my favorite point. How much fun have we had talking about our garden plans this week? And the itch we have to be out there digging in the dirt? Fun, fun, fun! Reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and Gardening with Heirloom Seeds and chatting about the things we’ve learned – so much dad gum fun! To be able to share all of these experiences and the ones to come when the weather is more agreeable and we can actually bring our gardens to life – yep, growing your own food is great fun!
**** MAVEN OF THE MONTH ****
She’s the Heirloom Maven Book Club Coordinator. She’s the force that keeps us on track with our badges. She’s the creator of our beautiful Heirloom Maven Badge. She’s smart, generous, ready to give us a motivational kick or a warm hug. Yes, it’s Teresa Sue (Contrary Wife) – our maven of the month.
WHAT DOES BEING A MAVEN MEAN TO ME
I am a MJ's Heirloom Maven because I don't like a big companies like Monsanto literally stuffing genetically modified foods down my throat. Especially when it's all in the name of money and power.
I am a MJ's Heirloom Maven because it gives me an outlet to fight greed that benefits few, but harms many. I may be one person but within MJ's Heirloom Mavens I am one of many like minded woman who refuse to be told what to do, and how to eat it.
I am a MJ's Heirloom Maven because within this Sisterhood we can learn from each other. We can plant genetically diversified seeds. We can save heirloom seed. We can feed ourselves. We can teach others. We can stand strong and bring heirloom seeds to another generation.
I am a MJ's Heirloom Maven because of you, Sister Mavens. We have a spark of like-mindedness that runs through our conversations. We connect on such a gut level. We share our joys, our griefs, our fears and HOPES for the future. We hail from across great expanses of land and ocean, from different experiences, from different lives. But we connect. We know that as human beings our future depends on dependable food sources. We may not be scrounging berries and eating bugs for protein like our distant ancestors, but we know that having a small group of individuals controlling our food supply is not in our best interests.
That is why, in a nutshell, I'm an O-fficial, Outhouse Hollyhock lovin', card carrying member of this whacky, wonderful group. Y'all are just FABU!
**** MAVEN TO MAVEN ****
In the Life of a Maven
Apologies to Sue (Sue Feely) for forgetting to list her birthday (it was Thursday) in last week’s newsletter. Thank goodness the rest of the mavens didn’t forget. She was showered with happy birthday wishes.
Teresa Sue (Contrary Wife) birthday has a birthday coming up this Friday. Let the showers continue. Drench her – she can take it!
Marcy (Marcy Jo) has a blog! www.marcyjosmarket.blogspot.com You really need to check out her aprons and pictures of the farm. Editor’s favorite: Baab.
Dawn’s (deeredawn) Harvest Thyme Farm and Market is now listed with Local Harvest ( www.localharvest.org ). It’s listed as “a fresh food market specializing in heirloom produce and farm eggs.”
And the hits just keep on comin’ for Lora (FARMALL Chick). “My week just keeps getting better (sarcasim) With the bitter cold temps - our pipes froze then burst. We had the plumber out this afternoon $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ and he has to come back on Monday. We will have no water for the whole weekend.” Let’s keep her in our thoughts and prayers this week. Send so many good things her way that she won’t know what hit her!
New bios in the henhouse: Diana (gramadinah) and Julie (ClaireSky) http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/HenHouseSnitz/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=170
Looking for some good cast iron bread pans to use for that herb bread you’ll be making with those fresh garden herbs? Lillian found some: “Dh just called me to let me know he found a link for my cast iron bread pans.... I have 2 lodge bread pans and I absolutely love them so I went to order more from them and found out they were discontinued and did not offer them. I have been on a mission to find a place that still carries them at a decent price.” Later that same day: “I got them from the Lodge outlet store in Tennessee (865)429-1713. I love mine….”
FYI: As of 9:50:29 PM January 23 MaryJane time, we are only 55 posts away from 4000! We’re averaging almost 1000 posts a month. Rock it out, mavens!
New Mavens
Now is a great time for those of you who have been thinking about checking out the mavens. Lots of gardening talk, good info and good company awaits. If 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 ****
Lynn Coulter and the Mavens
From Rene’ (prosserfarmgirl):
“SO this morning imagine my surprise when I opened my email to find an email from Author extraordinar Lynn Coulter... yep, that Lynn Coulter..."gardening with heirloom seeds"... She was on the forum and saw that we were reading her book... (Does it get any better than that?)... I am enclosing her email below. I extended an offer to her to come chat with us at the end of the month about her book.. We will see if that works out for her or not.” To read the e-mail from Lynn, click here: http://www.maryjanesfarm.com/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=24908&whichpage=255
Rene’ tasked Teresa Sue, our book club coordinator, with arranging the details. She jumped on it immediately and this Monday, we will be chatting with the Lynn Coulter. Here are said details:
CALLING ALL MJ'S HEIRLOOM MAVENS!!!!!!!!
Here it is, Lynn Coulter, author of "GARDENING WITH HEIRLOOM SEEDS" is going to chat with us, via Tina's site, www.stliving.net , this coming Monday the 26 of January, at our regular time, 9pm est/6pm pst. So bring your questions and observations and plan on being there, even if you only lurk and read, lol. If you aren't registered at Tina's site, go ahead and do so, do it early then you'll be ready for the chat. You register, then come chat time, go to the site, click on the chat tab and voila, you in like flynn.
Lynn also made a very generous offer to the mavens. If you would like a signed bookplates for Gardening with Heirloom Seeds and a bookmark for her latest book, Mustard Seeds: Thoughts on the Nature of God and Faith (B&H Books, Sept. 2008), send an e-mail to Rene’.
Lynn, we are equally blown away by your generosity. Looking forward to chatting with you Monday night. (What an understatement!)
HMBC (Heirloom Maven Book Club)
This is our last week with “Gardening with Heirloom Seeds” by Lynn Coulter. The exciting news is posted above. This is the obligatory informational post. Post your thoughts, comments and questions 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 . Also, be sure to check out the author’s website, www.lynncoulter.com .
Need more Lynn Coulter? From Rene’: “She will also be blogging live on this blog in the near future. http://www.flowershowblog.com/ ”
Seeds, Seeds, Seeds
We experienced some growing pains this week trying to figure out how to coordinate the seed-swapping activities this year. Per Amy Grace (graciegreeneyes): “I was racking my brain trying to figure out how to coordinate everything and couldn't come up with a good idea plus Marcy Jo had volunteered to keep track of wish lists etc, so I thought since we are all just starting we could order what we want, then trade…. So anyhow, I am planning on ordering the seeds that I want to try, then offering the extras to y'all. Then, next year when we are all seasoned seed savers (nice alliteration, no?) we can trade what we have saved.”
Some of the mavens have already posted their planned/purchased seed for the 2009 in the henhouse. http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/HenHouseSnitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=561&whichpage=6 (This sends you to the last page and you can work your way back from there.) If you don’t have access to the henhouse, remember you can post to the HM/HHM Discussion Thread http://www.maryjanesfarm.com/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=25556&whichpage=1
Seed Offers:
Tina (Tina Michelle): Dwarf Green Pod okra seed
Lillian (Ms. Lilly): (Baker Creek) Purple of Sicily-cauliflower and (Pinetree Garden) Vermont Cranberry-bean
Gardening Tips and Quips
Lillian (Ms. Lilly): “In the back pages of the Baker Creek catalog there is a thingy called the ‘Clyde's Garden Planner’. I bought one of those last year and used the heck out of it. Takes the guess work out of when should you plant something.”
Teresa Sue: “…I finished my "COLD CLIMATE GARDENING", I really enjoyed it and I think I will use it a lot. I also bought "ORGANIC COLD CLIMATE GARDENING", it was good too but I think I like the first one the best….I remember in my master gardener class one of the profs stated that you can grow anything anywhere. The only limit was the ones you wanted to put on your time and money. Myself, I don't want to work that hard! lol. Or spend that much money! The book had just a common sense about it.”
From Our Mother Hen
Our QMD (Queen Maven Dawn) has laid another egg. “I’ve been researching and reading about companion gardening and I've posted in the henhouse. Me thinks that I will def try that out this year.” Click here to crack the egg: http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/HenHouseSnitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=724
Reminder: Dawn has made gardening journals for the mavens. “They are preetty dang-gone cute if I must say so myself….. They are $5 each and the $ goes in THE FUND. Just email me when you've paid and I will send it out asap.” You will find more information in the henhouse http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/HenHouseSnitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=721
Great Moscow Meetup
All you lucky mavens in the great northwest, the first Great Moscow Meetup at the coop is in the works. Be watching on the DOE for more information. Those of us not in the great northwest will be (jealously) with you in spirit.
**** FUTURE ATTRACTIONS ****
Heirloom Maven Badge
It’s here! It’s here! Go to the henhouse http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/HenHouseSnitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=719 , click on the Heirloom Maven blogspot link to see the design, then come back to henhouse, leave a comment (if you haven’t already) for Teresa Sue and tell her what a fabu job she did. Then wait patiently for your badge to arrive in your mailbox.
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 ****
Pillow Squares: Time to get working on those pillow squares! 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?
Mother Hen’s Nest of News: 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
Maven Chat Night: Monday night chatting is has a new hangout. Tina has graciously offered the chatroom on their STL site for our weekly hen sessions. You will need to sign up on the site, www.stliving.net , and then jump in. 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.
Maven Lingo: 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
Badge Info: 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
Small Town Living: Be sure to check out maven Tina’s online magazine, Small Town Living at www.stliving.net
Heirloom Maven Bumper Stickers : The Heirloom Mavens Save Our Seeds – Feed Our Future bumper stickers are available for purchase. 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 )
Heirloom Maven Blog: Check out the Heirloom Maven blog site at www.heirloommavens.blogspot.com
Seed Saving Support: When possible, purchase books through Seed Savers Exchange to support their efforts in saving heirloom seeds for future generations www.seedsavers.org
Heirloom Maven Spring Fling and Farmgirl Round-Up : 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
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.
God bless -
Karen ~ Chickherder & KMW (Keeper of Maven Words)
Farmgirl Sister #311
"To own a little bit of ground, to scratch it with a hoe, to plant seeds and watch the renewal of life - this is the commonest delight of the race, the most satisfactory thing a man can do." Charles Dudley Warner |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2009 : 08:17:24 AM
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Wow Karen, I guess it wasn't a "light week". As usual you do a fabulous job of pulling it all together. Congrats on the MEN find at the library too - I got 4 MEN and 4 Countryside for free at our tiny town thrift store once.
Thank you!!
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" |
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ruralfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
4309 Posts
Rene'
Prosser
WA
USA
4309 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2009 : 09:06:22 AM
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Woe, Wow, WOw! Amazing job AGAIN Karen... Don't the mavens just blow you away? SO great!
Rene~Prosser Farmgirl #185
http://farmchicksfarm.blogspot.com/
Circumstances made us FRIENDS; MaryJane's has made us SISTERS :) |
Edited by - ruralfarmgirl on Jan 24 2009 09:07:02 AM |
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gramadinah
True Blue Farmgirl
3557 Posts
Diana
Orofino
ID
USA
3557 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2009 : 09:35:53 AM
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Karen,
You Rock I have only been a member her for a short time and you keep me up to date and in the know Thanks
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
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Annika
True Blue Farmgirl
5602 Posts
Annika
USA
5602 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2009 : 09:42:25 AM
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Karen, you really do rock Chickie! Glad it was such a light week heehee  What with Lynn on Monday and Emilee popping in to say hello in the Welcome wagon... and all of us crazy Mavens plotting our gardens and waiting out winter. We are so lucky to have you to keep us up to date!
Annika
Farmgirl & sister #13
Mud Hen Queen
MJ's Heirloom Maven's Librarian
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Contrary Wife
True Blue Farmgirl
2164 Posts
Teresa Sue
Tekoa
WA
USA
2164 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2009 : 12:01:13 PM
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Great job KMW!
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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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 24, 2009 |
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The Mavens' Haven - January 24, 2009
