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Across the Fence:  Your first memory of wanting to be a farmgirl  |
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jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 24 2009 : 5:23:46 PM
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Were you a young girl when you first knew the country was calling to you? Were you raised on a farm? Were you always in love with the simple things of life? Tell us when you first felt in your heart that you were a farmgirl.
Farmgirl Sister # 31
www.blueskyjeannie.blogspot.com
Psalm 51: 10-13 |
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mulegirl
True Blue Farmgirl
184 Posts
rosemary
cottonwood pass
co
USA
184 Posts |
Posted - Apr 24 2009 : 6:53:44 PM
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I didn't grow up on an official farm, but we lived smack in the middle of a few dairy farms, and were surrounded by herds of cows, tobacco, corn and hay fields. Both grandparents lived within two miles and spent many many wonderful days helping a wanna-be veternarian grandfather tend to sick sheep, horses, cows, and collect milk and eggs at the other farm. At our home we had a garden and fruit trees with just about every variety of fruit and vegetable you could imagine. Mom sewed most of ourclothes, canned, and made her own ketchup and icecream. My dad was so handy with woodworking tools and hunting and fishing and fixing stuff. And I wonder why I have more tools than most men! So even though we didn't have a barn or a hunk of land I was and am a real farmgirl!
Rosemary
smile, follow your heart and don't look back
http://web.mac.com/rosemaryart |
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KJD
True Blue Farmgirl
402 Posts
402 Posts |
Posted - Apr 24 2009 : 6:55:02 PM
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| I was born a farm girl. Both parents raised on farms, down the road from each other in East Texas. I was raised in the nearest city, but the farms were part of our life growing up - every weekend, and summers. I was completely at home there and fondest memories growing up. Most relatives still live in that small community, but each farm sold along the way. Dad's farm sold about 10 years ago, so my 3 boys have great memories of the farm as well. We all miss it terribly, but know the taxes and the work was too much, so sadly understand the decision. My husband and I have been in this house for almost 20 years, raised our boys here - we have had a big veg. garden out back every year, and have always had a variety of animals. Doing what we can here on our suburban piece of land...we also love to sail and my husband races sailboats. Living near the Gulf coast, we have a sailboat and he has opportunity to do that - we have also raised our boys at the beach and the lake, sailing. Not sure where we are, categorically... |
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deeredawn
True Blue Farmgirl
2306 Posts
Dawn
Cordova
TN
USA
2306 Posts |
Posted - Apr 24 2009 : 7:02:04 PM
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I knew I was a farmgirl when I was 9 and the cows got out at 2am, and I was roused to help get them in. Another memory of mine would be getting to finally go to the auction barn with my grandfather and eat in the diner with him while he talked "shop" with other farmers. My final decision came 2 years ago when my mom died. I just knew in my heart I had to get back in the "farm" of things if I was ever gonna be right again.
Dawn #279
MJ's Heirloom Mavens-QMD
http://harvestthymefarm.etsy.com
http://harvestthyme.blogspot.com
~live big, ride hard, and shoot straight~ |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Apr 24 2009 : 7:06:10 PM
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I grew up in the suburbs but boy howdy did I want to be a farmgirl. I devoured the Laura Ingalls Wilder books and really wanted to live that lifestyle, unfortunately it was hard to find mentors for that in 1970's suburbia. I absorbed a lot from the books I read and from my grandparents - they lived in a house my grandpa built smack in the middle of what is now the most yuppified suburb of Seattle. They grew most of their food, Grandma canned and sewed and recycled literally everything (I posted about this yesterday, I inherited a dresser from her with 70 years worth of sewing odds and ends in it). It took me a while as an adult but here I am finally getting it together and really glad to talk with other farmgirls too.
I remember driving onto the dairy farm my other grandma grew up on and remarking to her that they should make the scent of fresh cut hay into a perfume (I was about 10) my grandparents, both of whom were raised on farms thought that was the funniest thing they had ever heard. I still think fresh cut hay is a perfectly marketable scent!!
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
Posted - Apr 25 2009 : 2:08:12 PM
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I grew up in a town, too, but spent summers at my grandparent's dairy farm in Iowa. I was up at dawn, and outside all day. When the day came to go home, I was so sad to see the farm grow smaller in the rearview mirror. I have loved the simple and farmgirl thinking ever since I was about five. Even in my 20's, I wanted a log cabin, vacations were to places quiet and away from cities, and I loved to quilt, and be outside and garden. None of that has changed in all these years. I think I will die never having actually lived on a farm, but still I love my home, my little piece of land, my gardens, my time away from "hubbub", and time spent using my hands, and being with family. And, I tool, love the smell of fresh cut hay! And I never minded the smell of the barn either! :)
Love the photo Rosemary! I need to figure out how to get an old photo on here. I have a few I would love to share.
Farmgirl Sister # 31
www.blueskyjeannie.blogspot.com
Psalm 51: 10-13 |
Edited by - jpbluesky on Apr 25 2009 2:09:05 PM |
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Bellepepper
True Blue Farmgirl
1207 Posts
Belle
Coffeyville
KS
USA
1207 Posts |
Posted - Apr 25 2009 : 3:15:15 PM
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| I was raised on a small farm. One of my grandpa's was a dairy farmer, the other grandpa lived in town but he was the gardener. I say grandpas because the grandmas just went along with what grandpa was doing. My folks always had a garden. Joined 4-H when I was 8. Back then, Sears had a garden project that would give free seeds to 4-H kids then their gardens were judged on looks. The county fair judged the production and preservation. I won many blue ribbons with my garden and produce. I have for 62 years had a garden. I also learned to sew when I was 8 years old. Learned to can when I was 8 years old. Raised pigs, chickens, beef calves. Always said I was born 100 years to late. I would have given anything to have been a pioneer. |
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Sheep Mom 2
True Blue Farmgirl
1534 Posts
Sheri
Elk
WA
USA
1534 Posts |
Posted - Apr 25 2009 : 3:35:44 PM
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I grew up in Lake Tahoe in the mountains because my dad ran away from the farm at 16. My grandparents and all of their siblings all had farms in Northern CA. I too was fascinated with the Laura Ingalls Wilder books and always related to the pioneer way of life. When I was a hippy style teenager in the early '70's all I wanted was to do the homestead thing - a piece of ground, build my own house etc. Well, here I am 30 years later in a log house we built, with my big garden, sheep & chickens and still growing as much of the food that I eat as I can. I've raised hogs & cows off and on too. I wouldn't trade this life for anything. It's been a lot of hard physical labor and going to town for anything is at least a 30 if not 60 mile round trip which just feels normal after so many years. I can't imagine living in town with neighbors so close that they know all your business. It's hard enough with as many people that have moved in around me here. I am lucky, I got to live my dream.
Sheri |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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gspringman
True Blue Farmgirl
387 Posts
Gail
Bonanza
Oregon
USA
387 Posts |
Posted - Apr 25 2009 : 6:44:29 PM
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My family left New York when I was five so it had to be then. I remember a woman who had a small home with a bear rug in front of her fireplace and an oil painting she did of a lion hanging above it. Old wood stove she made candies on. There was a lake down the hill from her front yard, a creek going thru the side yard and a forest in the back where my dad would take me for walks. There were bridges made of fallen trees, houses up on stilts. She even had a chicken coop that I would crawl up into and pick up eggs. It was an old wagon like the gypsies used with lots of color. Even the smells of burning wood and mossy trees and the running creek. Going down to the neighbors and riding on the hay wagon with Clysdales pulling it and getting back to the house for a cold drink of well water in a tin cup. Yeah I've had country in my blood ever since. I loved that place.
Gail
Farmgirl #486
Zone 5
http://grammasladybug.blogspot.com/
Circumstances made us Friends.....Maryjanes made us Sisters |
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Lainey
True Blue Farmgirl
2401 Posts
Elaine
Waco
Kentucky
USA
2401 Posts |
Posted - Apr 25 2009 : 7:44:58 PM
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I can't really remember a time when I didn't want to be a farmgirl/country girl it was just in my blood. I was raised in the middle of a farming community (mostly tobacco and cattle). My grandparents lived within a few miles of us and had cattle, hogs, chickens, guinea fowl, and raised tobacco, hay, and corn. Although my father didn't farm himself, he worked full time at a factory, but he helped my granddaddy on the farm. He and my aunt were left that farm after my grandparents passed on and are working it now. They no longer raise tobacco as there's not much money in it but still have cattle.
I lived out there until I reached my late 20s and I moved to 'town'. Our town is a college town of about 30,000. I lived there until I married and moved to Sweden for a little while. After that I moved back to that town and lived in an apartment and waited for the day we could afford to buy a house. While we were looking for a home a house came up for sale that was 2 miles from where I grew up and on the same road. We bought it in a hurry and have been here nearly five years. I love it here and it just feels right being out here for now.
Here's a pic my husband took of my Dad and I on the farm one evening.
Farmgirl Sister #25
http://countrygirldreams.blogspot.com/
An Angel says, 'Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.' |
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harmonyfarm
True Blue Farmgirl
785 Posts
Debbie
Southeastern
Ohio
USA
785 Posts |
Posted - Apr 25 2009 : 9:13:48 PM
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It all started late spring, early summer of 1978, when I stuck a bean seed into the ground of my very first garden and had to hike 1/4 mile into the woods to my home...
Debbie
"If you can't find the time to do it right...how will you find the time to do it over" |
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Patsy
True Blue Farmgirl
592 Posts
Illinois
USA
592 Posts |
Posted - Apr 26 2009 : 05:57:37 AM
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I was born in the city but always went to visit my Uncle Jim and Aunt Dolly on their farm. I absolutely loved it. They had chickens, hogs, cattle, horses, fields of corn, wheat and soybeans, always new kittens, dogs. They didn't have indoor plumbing and this was in the late 50's so that was pretty unusual but I loved it. My job was to pump the morning water for the coffee and dishes. I didn't mind the outhouse at all even in the middle of the night when it was snowing. That house has been torn down and replaced, the land sold off, the barn is gone and the chicken house and woodhouse is all gone too. Everytime I drive by, I see what it used to be.
Patsy
I think that if a mortal ever heard the voice of God, it would be in a garden at the cool of the day. (F. Moore)
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Room To Grow
True Blue Farmgirl
974 Posts
Deborah
Kingston
Georgia
USA
974 Posts |
Posted - Apr 26 2009 : 06:20:28 AM
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I moved to Maine...Near the Canadian border near St Stephens when I was 26. We lived in a small house that use to be a fishing village. One time I had a bear come and sit on my steps...and my dog played with the female wolves...neveer hurt him...But ever since then I always looked for land so I could have a farm..I love the quiet and freedom you have with owning a farm. And now I have it. We live in Plainville Ga...just starting my dream at 52 yrs young...It took sometime to get here but I am sure I will be here until God decideds to take me.
Deborah
we have moved to our farm...and love it |
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K-Falls Farmgirl
Chapter Leader
2096 Posts
Cheryl
Klamath Falls
Oregon
USA
2096 Posts |
Posted - Apr 26 2009 : 9:25:41 PM
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I was born a city girl but my parents had a back yard garden.. when I got married at 18 & had children I convinced my husband when my children were young 4,6,8(I was 26yo) to sell our home in town & buy acreage in the country. That was 1975 and I raised my children on the farm. Their father was a firefighter so his schedule made it necessary for the kids & me to do the farm work, pigs, cows, chickens, turkeys, & a huge garden, while they hated it growing up they all have the farming spirit today and would love to have their own as they raise their own children. *I divorced the Fireman and moved to the city to regroup and sadly Left the farm.but (its true you can take the girl out of the farm but you cant take the farm out of the girl. I am back to it now remarried and Retired. Loving every day here on Blue Sky Farm
Cheryl
Farmgirl #309
Klamath Falls "Charming Chicks Chapter" Mother Hen
Almost daily posts at:
http://www.k-fallsfarmgirl.blogspot.com/
Come visit the barn at http://barndoorcreations.blogspot.com/
Grandmas are mom's with more icing. |
Edited by - K-Falls Farmgirl on Apr 26 2009 9:29:06 PM |
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Julia
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Julia
Shelton
WA
USA
1949 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2009 : 12:23:49 AM
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Growing up on a farm, I guess it just stuck with me. Even when I could only have a small garden and only one or 2 chickens, or a goat, I did what I could to keep the country in me. It's amazing how even just a clay pot with salad greens in it can feel like 40 acres.
For tomorrow and its needs I do not pray, but keep me, guide me, love me, Lord just for today.
St. Augustine
#440 |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2009 : 03:37:06 AM
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I was born from farm stock.
Grandpa was president of the Wool Growers association and had grown up on a farm. In fact, he lost his arm in a corn picker.
Had an uncle who was a hog farmer. Brother and I spent a week or two here as we were growing up. It's where some of our fondest memories are from.
Mom always had a huge garden. I remember snapping beans every summer and not wanting anything to do with the tomatoes.
I have always been an animal lover. Probably b/c of the farm.
And growing up, there were still vacant fields where we picked blackberies , and a creek that had huge flat rocks we could pick up and search for critters beneath.
I was one of those kids who was constantly bringing home some kind of living thing every summer. Mom was so tolerant.
So I guess it was only natural to have finally found and married a farmer here in NC where there still are vacant fileds and a creek to take my dog swimming. We plant a huge garden every year. And when I started canning and preserving, it totally blew my mom away. She never would have guessed I'd be so good at it or even want to do something like that in the first place!.
I could be ok living in the suburbs, but happiest living out in the country for sure.
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2009 : 06:23:46 AM
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I came from rural folks (grandparents) and I always found that I returned to those roots in times of happiness and trouble--so nearly all the time! Though, I wasn't born on a farm, we lived in a rural community called Richwood when I was born, on a horsefarm owned by man my daddy trained horses for. Wasn't anything to Richwood, but a few dilapidated country victorians, and lots of land. Even now, I see the little winding road in my daydreams and remember the smell of alfalfa and the sweet, hot breath of those horses Daddy cared for.
My father was always a horseman (he'd been a jockey, but retired when I was born) and I was ALWAYS around horses. Always. And I wanted to be just like him--to ride more than anything in this world. I spent days putting together the best "horsegirl" (as opposed to "cowgirl") outfit, and got a new pair of riding boots every other year. I envisioned myself with a lush, sweeping spanse of land near a town I found on an old map of Kentucky called "Ruddles Mill", somewhere in Bourbon County. I dressed in Gunne Sax dresses and hats and got a pair of REAL high button shoes for my birthday, so I wore the whole get up and explored creekbeds and woods alike.
But, when I was 11 or so, I took a ballet class that changed my life--I became a ballerina. And, it turns out, professional ballerinas aren't ALLOWED to ride horses (builds different muscles) and I spent most of my days in large cities. I dreamed of grass when I lived in Brooklyn, and took every chance I could get (even with people I only tolerated) to get out of the city for retreat. It wasn't until I lived in London that I met Sarah and Phil (and their 3 girls) who had a working dairy farm in Cornwall that I felt that switch turn on, that I've never been able to turn back off...I went home with them to visit after the theater season ended and didn't return to London until it began again 5 months later. It was there, at Sarah's, that I found again what it was like to take pride in the simple things--a hard job well done, rosy cheeks flushed by a cold wind, a well-trained border collie underfoot.
Even though I still don't live on a farm (that's the goal)for now, our little acre of land affords us plenty of "agrarian" life...we harvest wild brambles, we have organic raised beds and grow countless vegetables for sustainment, and we have our own "corral" of large, horse-like dogs--so we're nearly achieving the dream!!!!
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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mulegirl
True Blue Farmgirl
184 Posts
rosemary
cottonwood pass
co
USA
184 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2009 : 06:48:28 AM
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Nice pic Elaine,
Don't you just love bib jeans. That's all my grandfather evre wore, except for a few hours on Sunday morning when he wore a suit to church which he looked just about as uncomfortable as you could be in that suit.
r
smile, follow your heart and don't look back
http://web.mac.com/rosemaryart |
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goneriding
True Blue Farmgirl
1599 Posts
Winona
Central Oregon
USA
1599 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2009 : 08:23:38 AM
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I'm not a true 'farm'girl but more a 'ranch'girl. It seems to me from my first cognizant moment, I knew I was country and outdoorsy from the get-go. Much to my mom's consternation. When all the 'womenfolk' were inside canning and baking, I was outside with the ranchhands riding horses and working cattle. That domesticity thing has always been a bit of a millstone around my neck as I don't do it very well but point me towards the horse barn and I'm all over it.
Winona :-)
To read funny stories about my cooking 'skills', please visit http://lostadventuresincooking.blogspot.com/
For uber-opinionated, pleasurable horse related reading, please visit http://horseinfoperson.blogspot.com/
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jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2009 : 10:35:30 AM
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I have this old book called Frontier Women, and it is full of personal stories like the ones you all have written, only written about women who lived in the late 1800's. I really love reading them.
I hope a lot farmgirls post their present day stories, too. This is really fun! Love of the farm and land never grows old.
Lainey - what a wonderful photo!
Farmgirl Sister # 31
www.blueskyjeannie.blogspot.com
Psalm 51: 10-13 |
Edited by - jpbluesky on Apr 28 2009 2:19:36 PM |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2009 : 4:13:05 PM
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Is anyone famillar with the Firefox series?
I finally parued these last trip to te bookstore.
Great reading...too bad I'm currently in the middle of the Twilight series |
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goneriding
True Blue Farmgirl
1599 Posts
Winona
Central Oregon
USA
1599 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2009 : 5:57:33 PM
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Ballerina's aren't supposed to ride horses?? Wow...never heard that one before! Gotta tell my horsey friends to quit getting on pointe (is that how you say it??)...hehehe...
Winona ;-)
To read funny stories about my cooking 'skills', please visit http://lostadventuresincooking.blogspot.com/
For uber-opinionated, pleasurable horse related reading, please visit http://horseinfoperson.blogspot.com/
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2009 : 05:37:45 AM
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It's true, Winona! The muscles that dancers cultivate are looooong, lean and strong, while folks who ride often have shorter, tight and very strong muscles, especially in the upper body and thigh area. Ruins the line for a dancer. Yep, tell those horsey folk to knock off the pointe classes :)...
I also wasn't allowed to ski for the same reason, but since I live in Kentucky, skiing wasn't something I did regularly....um, if at all :).
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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electricdunce
True Blue Farmgirl
2544 Posts
Karin
Belmont
ME
USA
2544 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2009 : 08:38:48 AM
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I have early memories of planting in the garden with my mother, and when I started going to ranch boarding school in Arizona when i was six, I wanted to be a cowgirl...and I grew up reading the Little House books, all of L.M. Montgomery's Anne boooks, and the Emily of New Moon series. I have always loved to sew and paint and make messes of every kind.
Karin
Farmgirl Sister #153
"Give me shelter from the storm" - Bob Dylan
http://moodranch.blogspot.com
http://domesticnonsense.etsy.com |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2009 : 09:16:29 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by electricdunce
...all of L.M. Montgomery's Anne boooks, and the Emily of New Moon series. I have always loved to sew and paint and make messes of every kind.
Then you certainly channel Anne Shirley, Karin  ...we are truly, kindred spirits then!
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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Across the Fence: Your first memory of wanting to be a farmgirl |
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Your first memory of wanting to be a farmgirl
