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.
Your magazine is always a breath of fresh air and sunshine thru a window. Thanks!
My husband’s family has had a farm 150+ years. He is the first generation to not grow up on the farm (but he and his siblings now own it) and work in private industry. Now that we are retired, we have moved to the farm and are learning the ropes for what is now our hobby farm. Most of the land is leased out to a local true farming family, but we do have about 1/4 of it that we use. This magazine site and her books are a great resource for this engineer turned farmer! I would love to have that book!
I love Dr Laura’s articles, the spotlights you do on women, and the education I get in each issue. Once I learned about a farm/B&B where guests get to help cook dinner (if desired) on a wood-burning old fashioned cook stove. This delightful place is in Michigan only two hours from me – and I learned about it in YOUR magazine!
As for the Lifebook/Ideabook, it was balm to me at a very difficult time in life and oh was it food for my soul. I’ve read it cover-to-cover twice from our library. Just hearing about MJ’s life – field ranger, Barron Mill, farmer, entrepreneur, everything!! – is so very interesting to me.
I’m a big fan of your flours and baking mix, too. Thanks for creating such quality products. Each time I’ve had to call, Brian Ogle is incredibly kind and helpful. He is using his gifts in life well, to the betterment of the world at large. Thanks to all of you. Love it’s a family team!!
I would have to say that when we all lead such busy lives (I am 60 raising my grandkids), that everything about MaryJane is comforting. It takes me back to a time when my life seemed slower and I stopped to savor the joys of everyday. I love the clothes, baking and decorating. My favorite has got to be glamping even though I don’t camp anymore I used the ideas for decorating in my own home.
The magazine….returns this farm girl to her roots.
MJ has been a great person to know and I have never met her but I bought a Jersey after talking with her and buying her book and I have used most of her suggestions. My Jersey is thriving. Enter me MJ.
A cup of tea, a soft chair, a blanket and a copy of Mary Jane’s magazine….these are my favorite things.
What tugs at my heart the most are the feelings of support, sharing, and comarodery
I live on a farm and just love all the rural connections and hobbies that are emphasized in the magazine, especially cast iron cooking.
I can find great chemical-free and natural products in the magazine. Love that! I really like the recipes and repurposed material ideas. My absolute favorite is reading about a simpler life:)
I love the magazine.
I look forward to each issue of Mary Jane Farms magazine. It transports me back to nature and the farm life I wish I were living. It has inspired me to get back in the garden revisit my love for crafts and just live a simpler life. For that I thank you.
The blog, emails, thanks for the giveaway, I am checking this book out!
I get so excited when my copy of MJF comes in the mail. I love to escape to my bed a bit earlier in the evening and enjoy each beautiful page full of great people and ideas!
Love this magazine for many reasons but mostly for the gluten free recipes. They are the best I have ever tried. I will always subscribe. Infact, the only magazine I buy.
What most inspires me is Mary Janes way of resurrecting things to a “ new life”. We live in such a throw away time and it’s so sad because we don’t know what satisfaction is. Mary Jane makes all things an adventure and we start creating in our minds💖🦋🚲
Mary Jane is my hero and I really hope to visit her farm one day👒🎒🐤🐮
You gave me renewed value at a time in life where everyone thought I was ready for a heap of trash. When I was young I homesteaded and all my ideas had now become garbage. Then you started validating them and added your own. Now the young grandchildren are wanting to learn what we did when we were 20. Their talking about getting land and setting up cabins and gardens. My great grandchildren are watching parents make things from scratch etc. A whole new generation is learning what they thought was the old ways.
Magazine and books!!
Mary Jane has inspired me to use my own common sense, which includes using my old cast iron to cook in. I don’t need the new fangled non-stick frying pans or cookware. Hanging my clothes out on the clothesline is another of my favorites. No need to use the dryer if I don’t have to. I love all the tips and the organic recipes.It is inspiring to hear all about what other farm girls are doing in their neck of the woods. I love Mary Jane and wish she was my neighbor, I already feel like she is my friend.
I was browsing through the magazine article one summer morning in our local family-owned grocery store. I wanted a new read for the day and was hoping to find a great one. MaryJanesFarm magazines front cover intrigued me and I bought it. I got home that afternoon and opened the magazine. I totally fell in love with all it had to offer. I read every article from front to back and was inspired by the “sisterhood.” Recently, for my Mother’s birthday, I recycled the magazine and cut out rose prints. I made the prints into a necklace for my February birthday Mother.
I am totally inspired by Ms. Mary Jane Butters and her all encompassing style of “simple” life. I try each day to get a little closer to the life image I have in my heart that mirrors so much of what Mary Jane shares. Would love the original book!
I really enjoy reading about the ideal lifestyle in the country. The articles and photos are always so enjoyable. Keep up the good work.
Mary Jane’s Farm has inspired me to embrace my little bit of country heaven. I have been getting back into gardening and am on my second year of growing my own garlic! I have harvested and replanted last years and introduced two new varieties. I used my own garlic when I made the potato and white bean soup from one of the articles. It was so good and It is fun. I am watching birds and keeping a little journal of what I see, including other critters that come to my yard. And I have been knitting. I love wool, I love being out doors and learning more about what I can do on my own property. Thank you so much, Mary Jane!
I so love the magazines. They humble me down every month
I’ve really been enjoying all of the seasonal recipes that pop into my email inbox from time to time. They get me in the festive mood to celebrate when normally I wouldn’t attempt to make anything special for the occasion. Thank you for that!
Love my subscription to MJF. Would love the sun faded copy of life book.
Living on very little because illness (lupus) makes working challenging, MaryJanesFarm has helped me find the abundance in live, Sometimes food and utilities are scarce, yet MaryJaneFarms has helped me find the beauty that is all around. A cardinal and his mate on a cable wire singing their tweets-tweets, the softness of my dogs’ fur, how good it feels when Isabella, my small dog, lies along my back at night, all make the riches of life clear — the real riches. I am starting an “Itty-Bitty Kitchen Farm” filling my south-facing window with plants and cuttings. I am an urban farmer, after all.
I love your magazine,I read it front to back.I can’t wait to get the next one.
I have gotten your magazine since the early years of publication. I have enjoyed it from front to back! I especially enjoy the recipes, but I also like the information you have from various sources. I sit down & read it as soon as I get it!
I first saw your magazine at a Quilt Shop in Minnesota while visiting a sister…I enjoy reading about all kinds of quilts, and money saving tips!
someone mentioned they loved mj’s flour? flour, flour, where do we get mj’s flour????
I love making bread and would love to buy some…
Hi Loni,
They are probably referring to MaryJane’s Specialty Sourdough Flour (available here: http://shop.maryjanesfarm.org/Specialty-Sourdough-Flour)
You can also order over the phone by giving me a call (888-750-6004)
Thanks,
Brian from MJF
I am a full-time caregiver for my mother who has dementia. When I am done reading your magazine I always make sure my mother looks at it. It is cute because many of the pictures she looks at, turns into her pictures. Tells me about the time she was there or when she did this or that (whatever the picture is). It is nice for her to think of these as her memories! Thank you!
I love your magazine and your books. I go back to them time and again for ideas around my home.
I’m a glamper
I love this magazine especially, the various recipes from food to healing products and everything in between. I am a farm girl who is working towards being self sustaining and reliant. Your magazine is just one more support system to help me reach that goal.
I absolutely love the magazines and save every copy and read and re-read them and share them with friends and family!
Hello,
Tha magazine inspires me the most. I enjoy reading all the recipes and people stories.
The MaryJaneFarm magazine inspires me every time i get a new magazine. All the crafts, sewing projects, gardening and cooking ideas keep me busy till the next magazine shows up . Thank you for all the ideas; i love everyone of them. The cast iron cooking is great. i have several cast iron skillets, griddles and pots and i use them all, especially when cooking for the cowboys – no small ones. Other than reading your magazine, about the only other things i read are cookbooks. Of course the Holy Bible is my first book to read daily.
I have been inspired by reading MaryJaneFarm magazine and books. I love try the recipes and craft ideas. I am inspired by the photos and stories.
I love your magazine for all of its contents; but the repurposing ideas are what convinced me to subscribe. Always original, beautiful, and doable.
Thank you to the entire staff who put so much thought, time, and heart into each issue, their efforts shine.
Mary Janes is like a mini vacation where I can enjoy visiting various people to make friends and learn new things. It is like a breathe of fresh country air
I love the magazine with all of the crafts and gardening advice. I am going to get chickens this spring and know I will need the help this magazine offers.
I’ll treasure it !
I enjoy your magazine & look forward to going back to the basics, growing my own veggies & making many of the recipes you share….keep up the good work! (I know it is a labor of love ❤!)
My husband and I live in the Hills of Kentucky …… on a 60 acre farm. I LOVE your magazine !!!!!! I wear it out reading and re-reading it …… marking pages, trying recipes and different ideas !!!!!!
And then I wait …… for the next magazine to come in the mail !!!!!!!
Thank You SO much for a chance to win this Fabulous book !!!!!! I bought it for my friend ….. but have never treated myself to a copy !!!!!! It is Wonderful !!!!!!!
I love MaryJanes Farm magazine. It is beautiful and also inspiring. It is my favorite magazine.
Hi Mary Jane
What inspires me the most is everything I read in your magazine, or on the blogs from your girls. It is always exciting to get the email that says one of the bloggers has written another blog for me to read. I enjoy them so much. Then when it is time for your magazine to be delivered to my mailbox, I am so happy and expecting it any day just so I can go through it cover to cover and see what new and exciting thing is happening or maybe I will get to see something from the past issues I really liked. I even like the advertisements I see, there are so many things I want to purchase. I did purchase your sheet set and I want to get the trash burner soon as I hate to throw so much paper in our garbage and the compost bin won’t hold it all even shredded. Thank you for doing what makes you so happy and inspiring people everywhere to join in.
Your magazine Its inspiring. It gives me ideas. I have 2 alpacas on my parents place which will one day be mine.
In a special spot in my library is a section devoted to my magazines and books that you have written to remind me that life is simple and pure and good. When I feel overwhelmed by too many decisions and tasks and too much news, I grab one of your missives and dream of my past and plan my future with wholesome foods and activities. Thank you for what you do for me.
I have been inspired to paint and create from viewing your lovely posts