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Across the Fence:  Networks  |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
 Posted - May 19 2009 : 10:31:24 AM
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Networks- Networking- Gossip Chains- Phone Trees- Grapevines
Whatever you want to call it- I am glad to have an "in" to my hometown network.
I grew up in a small town- only abouyt 6,000 people. It's a bit more of an old fashioned town, in that neighbors are usually still neighborly and everyone seems to know whats going on with everyone else.
Growing up I used to go volunteer at the local vet office (it used to be my dream to be a vet). He is a very kind man and funny with a quirky sense of humor. Anyway he is one of the "hubs" of the local network. If something is going on in Worland, Steve probably knows about it.
So even though I live 2.5 hours away, I still drop in to say hi when I am in town and ask his advice on my plans (Small ranch, buying a horse etc).
On our way home from Farm Fair we are going to pick up my horse, but I have no horse trailer, so I called Steve and asked him if he knew of anyone who could let me borrow theirs for a week. You want to know his answer? "Call me back in a week and we'll see what we find!" It's so great to know people in the "network". I can just imagine he is going to pass on the word and I would be surprised if somewhere along the line he doesn't dig up a trailer that I can use!
Anyone else have a hometown network? I can imagine that is how communities really thrived before phones and computers were invented. The local "authorities" would have all the good gossip and pass on need requests. Maybe the hubs would have been people like the local grocer, the barber, the vet and the doctors... I like the image of an old time grocer leaning on the counter chatting with customers or casually mentioning that Mrs. So and So has a bumper crop of apples that she wouldn't mind people picking a few extra of or whatever.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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Diane B Carter
True Blue Farmgirl
1270 Posts
Diane
Blasdell
N.Y.
USA
1270 Posts |
Posted - May 19 2009 : 11:03:27 AM
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I'm thinking it's not the same but my home town of Attica has a web site. I found a lot of people who I lost touch with on it.
Hope all your days are Sunnydays.
dianebcarterhotmailcom.blogspot.com |
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Merry
True Blue Farmgirl
765 Posts
Merry
Ankeny
Iowa
USA
765 Posts |
Posted - May 19 2009 : 11:20:44 AM
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Yes! My husband is a firefighter and anytime we need to know the best plumber, roofer etc the guys always know if they cannot in fact do it themselves. Although we have lived and worked here for 9 years, that is like being a stranger in this town, whereas it almost makes you a native anywhere else.
http://afarminmyheart.blogspot.com/
"Nobody has ever measured, not even poets how much the heart can hold."
Zelda Fitzgerald |
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paradiseplantation
True Blue Farmgirl
1277 Posts
julie
social springs community
Louisiana
USA
1277 Posts |
Posted - May 19 2009 : 1:10:23 PM
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Alee, being from the city, we never had that -- actually, we were lucky if we even knew our neighbors! But, after living in the country, I learned all about the 'Social Springs Network', and its served us well in the last five years. I will have to say, there are two women in particular, that can surely get the word out quickly. It seems like before you can even hang up the phone from talking to them, there's another neighbor knocking on the door to ask you about it! I love it, and, although I do try to refrain from the gossip end of it, I will pass along viable information to do my part!
from the hearts of paradise... |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
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Miss2Missus
True Blue Farmgirl
407 Posts
Karen
Asheville
NC
USA
407 Posts |
Posted - May 19 2009 : 4:02:26 PM
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That has to be a wondeful. I grew up in a pretty large area myself, so we didnt have that. And since we moved we never really got back into the swing of things. I hope to find an area like that one day.
Karen ^_^
http://apple-and-eve.blogspot.com/ |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
Posted - May 19 2009 : 6:03:55 PM
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I hope you find it too, Karen! I find that I just have to be open to chatting with people. Two blocks in front of my house is a convience store that is also a farm/ranch supply store so I have a feeling they are one of the local "hubs" and the second hand store is another. I always chat with the ladies when I am there and I feel like we are slowly starting to settle into the community.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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arabianhorselover
True Blue Farmgirl
422 Posts
Jennifer
Bedias
TX
USA
422 Posts |
Posted - May 20 2009 : 1:17:45 PM
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I have been very fortunate to live where I live. It is a very small town of about 350. We love our neighbors. The local feed store is where town central is. Everyone hangs out there in the mornings to chat and drink coffee. That is where I met one of my bestfriends. She works behind the counter. I just love all of my neighbors. We all help each other out whenever needed. My neighbor at the corner has introduced me to grassfed beef and raw milk. Yum! We just went to the dairy farm yesterday to pick our milk, yougurt and cheese up.
Everyone out here has a garden and there is a group of us in the garden club. One of my friends just had a garden party where everyone brings some seeds or plants to exchange. I would change where we live for anything.
Breeder of Straight Egyptian Arabians and SportHorses
www.whisperwindsarabians.com
Farmgirl Sister #561
Never squat with your spurs on!!!
http://twitter.com/arabhorselover
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CountryBorn
True Blue Farmgirl
1545 Posts
Mary Jane
New York
USA
1545 Posts |
Posted - May 20 2009 : 2:07:23 PM
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We live in one small town and the school is right down the road in another small town.Believe me everyone knows everybody! Plus my daughters father in law is town supervisor(not to mention he and his wife have been our good friends for about 35 yrs,) and his family has been here for generations.There isn't any town news that gets by him. I love being in a small town and knowing everyone. Riding down the road and passing Lord knows how many people you know. Knowing all the kids in your kids and grandkids classes by name. I know cities are very exciting for some people and I totally get that,but for me the country small town life is it.Always has been.
MJ
There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do. Freya Stark |
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Across the Fence: Networks |
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Networks
