Thank you for dropping by my Raising Jane Journal to participate in my giveaways! We’ve chosen a winner for this giveaway already (click here for details), but don’t be afraid to leave a comment anyway. I love reading them. And stay tuned for more great MaryJanesFarm giveaways.
This copy of my first book, MaryJane’s Ideabook, Cookbook, Lifebook: For the Farmgirl in All of Us, was in our store window and ended up with a sun-faded cover.
But its insides are like new, and as every farmgirl knows, it’s never good to judge a book by its cover. Better to judge it from some of its online reviews, like this one from Amazon’s “Never Enough Books”:
“I’ve been a farmgirl, citygirl, tried the Mother Earth News route years ago, so it was with some skepticism that I checked out this book from my library. Don’t be put off by the reference to “Martha Stewart of the West” because the only similarity I can see is that both Martha Stewart and MaryJane Butters are hard-working women. I don’t think I have ever before read any non-fiction book as closely and with as much pleasure as MaryJane’s Ideabook, Cookbook, Lifebook. I couldn’t be satisfied with the library’s copy, but had to have my own, plus ordered one for my daughter-in-law. The pictures are beautiful, from antique implements to happy people. The verbal sketches of family, friends, and helpers is uplifting.
What struck me most about Butters was her positive attitude. She advocates organic farming and living, but rather than trying to force others to conform to her way of thinking and doing, she found ways to work with local farmers. In using local products, she has connected growers with consumers and built a business for herself, family, and friends.
I’d rate this right up there with Aldo Leopold and Sand County Almanac.”
To lay claim to this (sun-faded) copy, tell me what at MaryJanesFarm has inspired you … magazine, books, products, chatroom, or journal. We’ll put your names in a basket and pull out a lucky winner sometime soon. Check back to see if it’s headed your way.
MY FRIEND showed me one of her magazines. I fell in love with the Magazine. She has given me a subscription for my birthday ever since. I will be moving to a mini- farm in a few weeks. I am so excited to move and try some of the things that I learned from this magazine. I keep all of my magazines for reference.
My neighbor gave me A Copy Of Mary Jane Farms Magazine. I Totally Fell In Love With It. It Was Totally My Life Style. I Searched And Found The Sight And Subscribed To The Magazine And the Rest Is History. I Read It from Cover to cover. I Would Love Your Book.
January 2012 my husband died of lung cancer 54 years old, I was 42 and lost. My world changed dramatically. I am a physical therapist and lost my desire and joy to help others at that time, so I left my work. Sometime that early summer I picked up the June July issue, thumbed through the articles, looked at the pictures and wished for some healing on the Palouse. I can’t recall any specifics of the articles, but it helped me pull out of my funk, grab my camera, hop in my truck and head over to the Columbia River via the Lochsa. Back to basics, back to nature, back to life! Thanks! I find something delightful in every issue.
The recipes that come in my email! And the Farmgirls.
Everything about Mary Jane Farm’s inspires me and renews this ol’ gal. I was doing all of this when I was young. My mom and I sewed most of our clothes, later while married I canned 52 items for our pantry and took many blue ribbons at our county fair. I had an herb and dried flower business with my uncle. Later it was president of our little town’s garden club producing a newsletter complete with poems, book favorites, tips, and articles I wrote. Slowly life took over with mom, dad’s and an aunts illness along with my husbands brain tumor and everything else faded to the back. Mom and my aunt passed, dad’s ok and my husband is doing great. I’m now retired and going back to my roots. We moved to Michigan on a lake, we built raised gardens, got my garlic in, looking forward to planting fruit trees, berries and start canning again. We have a well and septic so I use her soap and fabric rinse with vinegar and essential oils. I look forward to every magazine and books. So pleased that my passion was passed on to my son’s and daughter-in-laws. Simpler is better!
The magazine has been most beneficial I refer to often when I find something I like and need help with.
Everything in your magazine is awesome. I’ve saved every copy and reread them. I grew up on a farm in WV and now live in downtown Pittsburgh PA. I miss the simplicity of country life but have kept some of those simplicity’s in my life with my husband and three children. Although my children are all adults with their own lives they still live with the simplicity of my life in theirs
I’ve been enjoying your magazine for some time now. Also joined up with the new book club and an thoroughly enjoying it. Thank you so much!
About six years ago I read an article about dehydrating cantaloupe. This began my journey into food preservation. The resulting cantaloupe was like eating candy. Except this was healthy. I began dehydrating other things and started making gluten free treats for my dog. Through other articles on canning I learned to water bath and pressure can. I just put up a batch of roasted ratatouille today. Reading MaryJanesFarm led me from dreaming about healthy food preservation to actually doing it. Because I am gluten free I must make things from scratch. I look forward to each issue for inspiration and recipes!
Love your mags!!! Never disappointed! Always Something awesome!!;)
Your lifestyle relaxes and inspires me….I dream of having a small place with pygmy goats, chickens, and a peacock with an herb and fairy garden. Your ideas make me believe it could be possible. So homefelt and cozy….
Just the genuineness and being a farm girl.
I have always loved cast iron pans but have always been afraid of using them. Always opted for the newer non-stick type. But then I bought you’re Cast Iron Cookbook. Now I am enjoying trying new things to cook and new ways to cook them.
Plus I got chickens, and my husband and I are really enjoying them and of course their eggs. ❤️ Thank you for inspiring me!!!!!
Years ago I saw this book in a borders book store. The borders no longer is there but I remember leafing through the book and thinking how beautiful. I have since gotten goats and chickens and a small farmette. Grow f my own vegetables and still daydream about the things I found in that beautiful book 🙂 I have also collected the magazines and daydreamed of glamping .
I used to subscribe to your magazine, and absolutely LOVED it. Since we retired and went on a “limited income” aka social security, that was one of my cut backs. No more magazine subscriptions at all. I still follow on line though. I love the life style, recipes, good clean living! Camping is BIG with us. Our sons were practically raised in the Ocala woods. Both primitive and regular tent camping. We canoe and just have a wonderful time in Nature. I am part Native American, and felt our sons should grow up close to Mother Earth. Now, our first grandchild will be learning the same values. Thanks you for all your input!
I was raised in NYC and suburban Florida. My whole life I had always tried to grow fruits and vegetables in the front yard, build greenhouses, and so on. I was always categorized as an eccentric, an oddball, a dreamer. When I read about all the farmgirls in Mary Jane’s magazine, I realized I had actually been doing something real and important! Thank you for that🙂
When I was a child I was given a “Make It Book”. It had all kinds of craft ideas. Mary Jane’s books are a grown up girl’s version of my Make it book.
I found a issue of Mary Jane’s Farm in my local supermart and was fascinated and hooked. From there I found the website and found so many like minded gals, I should say Sisters.
Oops that should read Kinder
Mary Jane’s is such an inspiration to keep plugging away … it reminds me of the time when I grew up (not just so very long ago!) but yet is becoming much more scarce each year. I want this for my children, so thanks for the reminder that the goodness is still around and to be found!
I enjoy reading the magazine and farmgirl blogs. The blogs are so interesting, and the pictures help tell the story. Good reading!!
Love the magazine! Share it with many friends
I used to be able to go online & join in the chat rooms all the time. Then I got married to a farmer with two boys (now teenagers) and now we are fostering a new baby boy. I loblve reading the magazine-I had subscribed but kind of lost track of it. I am using some of the ideas I saw in the magazine for my “pretty, new kitchen”. I can’t wait to see how it all looks in the end!!
Even though I dont live on a farm, your magazine lets me pretend I do! It makes my day brighter and a girl can always dream can’t she?
Photos are so inspiring. Chat rooms are fun.
She is an amazing woman! I started receiving her magazine so long ago and have strived to emulate her and the Farmgirl lifestyle!!
I Love, Love, Love the recipes….And the bonus cast iron recipes are a special treat as I reach the back of the magazine. These are gifts that keep on giving as my family loves to eat. Thank you!
Hi,
Oh where to begin! I love your publication so much and am a colossal fan of MJ’ Outpost! Keep up the great work. I am inspired by your projects and farm girl aesthetic. I love all that you do.
I helped my daughter bring our little man into the world on November 11th, 2016. I have about 5 acres and we intend to incorporate farm life in his life. With the help of my copies of Mary Jane’s Farm, we will!! I am very blessed to have them living with me! 😊 Thank you.
I was feeling lost in life about two years ago, came across your magazine when I was creating a care package for a dear friend, loved it so much, I bought myself one as well. There’s been no looking back. The inspiration I found in the very first magazine I laid my eyes upon was soul drenching and a gentle flight right back to my roots. I have been a farmgirl ever since. I especially love the organic recipes and any gardening tips provided. I’m inspired by every single page, and find joy in your forum on line. Being able to converse and interact with like minded and like hearted women is refreshing! Thank you, MJF!
Mary Jane gives me inspiration that soon I can leave my 8 to 5 job and live the life I am destined for. Each day, I’m moving closer and closer to that life.
Everything! I actually had an early copy of this book, signed by you, Mary Jane, and I gave it away to a budding farmgirl as her high school graduation gift. It fit her perfectly!
Mary Janes farm magazine sometimes reminds me how blessed I am to be farming. Sometimes we get so busy you forget to enjoy the little things and this magazine shows that to me. It also gives me a nice little break to read the latest issue and then I am usually inspired to try a new project or recipie from the magazine❣️
Have lived and done lot of the thing you have done.
Lived on a 40 acre farm we had apple trees we sold apples night and day we sold apple cider to all of the people in our small town after church on Sunday We had 3 gardens 10 rows of strawberries 100 foot long I canned 100 quarts of green beans neighbor gave me bushel of field corn to cut off and freeze
I was in my 40s enjoyed every bit of it and would do it again
Would love to have a cookbook
Enjoyed you magazine
Margaret W
I’ve loved reading your magazines in the past… they are beautifully designed and inspiring. Thank you 🙂
I love the inspiration of vintage style clothing and decor, as well as the way the magazine celebrates family and hospitality.
What I like the most about MaryJaneFarm magazine is the feeling of connection to women all over the country that share ideas about what being a farm girl is all about. I like the wholesome, courageous, creative, tender, frilly country feminine personality of the entire magazine. I feel like I belong to a group of like minded gals.
I look forward to receiving your magazine and read it cover to cover. The stories shared remind me of my childhood and I immediately relate. After the first read, I go back to re-read the recipes. Some I like and some I don’t care for but I read them all.
Thank you for your farmgirl inspiration.
Mary Jane’s creativity, passion and ability to help us connect to our own creativity, and each other inspires me to be a better steward of the land and the relationships that mean the most to me.
My heart yearns for the country. One day I’ll be there, on my own place, showing my grand babies how to live ‘well’. I want them to take their shoes off and plant their feet on the good earth and feel better immediately. I want them to get dirty and take a swim in a trough. I want them to smell their first horse and ‘know’ a true friend. The dog, a big, sweet, sloppy kisser, of a dog will tag along, everywhere. Country dreaming with Mary Jane.
I came upon Mary Jane’s Farm magazine and have read every issue from start to finish. It is my quiet time, my relaxing time, my dreaming time. I take care of my 4 year old granddaughter and my 84 year old mother. Life is busy to say the least. I love the down time. Mary Jane’s book would be wonderful reading!
The magazine has been a lightning rod of inspiration for so many things I never realized I could do for myself, helping me to expand my awareness that most everything we buy in stores today was made by homesteaders. It seems obvious, but it really isn’t if you haven’t had that type of exposure. That’s what Mary Jane’s Farm offered me, and truly, my life has never been the same. I now ferment, compost, make cleaning supplies, tea blends, and felted slippers. My cupboard looks as if were straight out of the magazine, filled with various sized canning jars, with chalkboard labels, and filled to the brim with dried goods. And now I even envision how I can repurpose “junk” and garbage instead of adding to our landfill. I will be forever grateful for the path I’ve found through Mary Jane’s Farm, where this “city girl” discovered her innner “country girl.”
What has inspired me? The attitude, the the essence, the warmth. The feel….
Mary Janes Farm intrigues and confirms my thoughts on gardening, preserving what we grow and helps me do think the bigger picture. We live in the city but are fortunate to have chickens. I craft and love it when I get my magazine. I’m in the sisterhood and wear my necklace proudly. She’s my inspiration.
I look forward to the magazine arriving in the mail. I am inspired by all of the creativity in the crafts and photography! It always reminds me of why I love this farm lifestyle. I get so busy here taking care of kiddos, animals, and gardens that I sometimes don’t think about beauty in it. But I am always reminded, when I receive the magazine, the stop long enough to enjoy it all!
I would love to win Mary Jane’s book!
I subscribe to the magazine. It is such a fabulous mini guide. My only problem with it is that it is not monthly!! 🙂 I have found many articles that I have saved to use as a reference, make or try. Thank you for sharing your wonderful ideas, concepts and every day real life living!!
I just love looking at the magazine and dreaming. And I love the farm girl blogs each month!
Mary Jane’s magazine is like a ‘breath of spring’ and I promptly sit down to read it when it arrives. I especially love the craft ideas and recipes and never fail to put one on my ‘to do’ lost. Come to thin of it, I love all things Mary Jane!
I enjoy your magazine and share it with many friends. We have all come away with great ideas and enjoy it immensely. I cook with cast iron all the time.Keep doing a great job.
The swaps have given me the opportunity to meet wonderful farmgirl friends from all over.I value all my farm girl friends. Marlene Burns
My mother, who by the way is named Mary Jane and lives on the family farm where my dad was born and raised, first introduced me to this wonderful magazine. When we find it in our mailboxes, my mom and me pick up the phone and go through the magazine together over the phone. Thanks for such a inspiring magazine. I know that if I should win this, it will be shared back and forth between me and my mom.
I love the way you inspire people to make things themselves! It could be cooking, gardening, sewing, building taking care of animals!! You never know what you can do till you try!!