The winner of “The Perfect Clothespin, The Experiment” giveaway is:
Jean Clarkson, who said:
“The memory of pinning a wet sheet on the clothesline with the sun warming my shoulders takes me to our old farmhouse, where I helped my mother and grandmother wash. The breeze lifted the wet clothes and dried them, leaving a sweet smell when we folded the sheets and shirts into the wicker laundry baskets. After the wash was pinned up, there was always time to flop in the old hammock and stretch out in the shade before the next batch came out of the wringer. Carefree days!”
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And the original post for the GIVEAWAY was (thank you to the 158 women who, like me, love to hang laundry on the line):
In the Aug/Sept issue of MaryJanesFarm, “The Experiment” (on newsstands July 14), we led you here to my daily journal for a chance to win a free sampling of “the perfect clothespin,” featured in our “Home Safe Home” section.
You probably know that we love clothespins here at MaryJanesFarm. You might have seen the article, “The Humble Clothespin,” in our “Celebrating 15 Years” Feb/Mar 2015 issue. And recently, we discovered another small company that makes old-fashioned wooden clothespins by hand. Albert Crooks and his 15-year-old son, Al, craft beautiful, sturdy clothespins from ash (the perfect hardwood for clothespins) and heavy-duty, stainless-steel springs manufactured in the U.S. “No more using four or five cheap clothespins to hang a wet towel to line dry. Our clothespins are tumble sanded and are finished with tung oil, which will not leach out and stain your laundry.” For beautiful clothespins that will last a lifetime, visit AllAmericanClothespins.com.
For a chance to win a sampling of “the perfect clothespin,” tell me how hanging laundry on the line makes you feel in the comments below. We’ll toss your name in a hat and draw one lucky winner in mid-September, when the Aug/Sept issue expires on newsstands. Stay tuned for more magazine-related giveaways!
If you’re not yet a subscriber to MaryJanesFarm, subscribe here for only $19.95/year.
The winner of my “Camp Like a Girl, The Experiment” giveaway is: Amelia Duluccio, who said: “Part of the joy of glamping is creating a creative and inspiring environment without spending a lot of money. I haunt garage sales, flea markets, and auctions for special vintage finds. If the color doesn’t match, I paint it or cover it in fabric. I keep a stock of matching spray paint and vintage fabrics on hand to beautify my finds.”
And the original post for the GIVEAWAY was (thank you to the 76 glamperific women who participated): In the Aug/Sept issue of MaryJanesFarm, “The Experiment” (on newsstands July 14), we led you here to my daily journal for a chance to win a free copy of Glamping with MaryJane, featured in our “Camp Like a Girl” article. 
In our article, we give you lots of ideas to glam up your camping experience. For a chance to win a copy of Glamping with MaryJane, tell me one of your glamping ideas or tips in the comments below. (If you haven’t picked up a copy of Glamping with MaryJane yet, order your autographed copy here.) We’ll toss your name in a hat and draw one lucky winner in mid-September, when the Aug/Sept issue expires on newsstands. Stay tuned for more magazine-related giveaways! If you’re not yet a subscriber to MaryJanesFarm, subscribe here for only $19.95/year.
And the winner of the “On a Farm Above the Sea, The Experiment” giveaway is: Mona Tucker, who said: “My farmgirl hero is my friend Shelley. She is a single mom of three teenagers, working an 8-5 day job, and gardening in her off-time. She loves to put together pretty little baskets of her fresh produce—tomatoes, peppers, squash, whatever is ripe at the time—and top if off with a flower and maybe a jar of jelly, and present it to friends on their birthdays. She has taught her children to respect the Earth and each other. She has supported and encouraged them as they raised chickens and goats for school projects, and they have willingly worked long hours in the hot Texas sun to help her in her garden. Shelley is the one who introduced me to MaryJanesFarm magazine.”
And the original post for the GIVEAWAY was (thank you!!!! to the 66 who left such inspirational comments about a woman farmer in their lives who inspires them): In the Aug/Sept issue of MaryJanesFarm, “The Experiment” (on newsstands July 14), we led you here to my daily journal for a chance to win a free sampling of Kuaiwi Farm’s products featured in our “Every Woman Has a Story” section. Kuaiwi Farm is a five-acre organic farm in Hawaii, where owner Una Greenaway grows Kona coffee, macadamia nuts, cacao, bananas, avocados, pineapple, oranges, lemons, limes, passion fruit, and more. I didn’t get a chance to meet Una in person, but for my 62nd b-day and Mother’s Day this past year, my daughter surprised me with tickets to Kona for just the two of us. Visiting Kona was life-changing for me, especially because now I’m hooked on Kona coffee and fresh macadamia nuts:) It’s time for me to share my newfound joy in life. 
For a chance to win a 16-oz bag of Kuaiwi Farm’s Kona Old Style Medium Roast Organic Coffee AND an 8-oz bag of her Raw Macadamia Nuts, tell me about a woman farmer you know (or know of) and why you admire her in the comments below. I’ll toss your name in a hat and draw one lucky winner in mid-September, when the Aug/Sept issue expires on newsstands. Stay tuned for more magazine-related giveaways! If you’re not yet a subscriber to my magazine, MaryJanesFarm, subscribe here for just only $19.95 a year:)
When I got the bright idea to do giveaways in my magazine, I wasn’t entirely sure they’d be successful. Two hundred and twenty-seven wonder-full comments later (on this giveaway alone), I’m confident it’s as much fun for you as it is for us. So, stay tuned for more giveaways in each issue of MaryJanesFarm. The Oct/Nov issue just went on sale on newsstands, so it’s time to announce the giveaways for the Aug/Sept issue, “The Experiment.” For the next seven days (except for Friday, which is always our recipe day), I’ll reveal the winners for each of our giveaways. Be sure to come back each day to see if you’re the “won.”
And the winner of the “Secret Garden, The Experiment” giveaway is:
Sheri Puls, who said:
“I absolutely love MaryJanesFarm! My mother brought an issue when she came to visit several years ago, and I subscribed soon after reading it. What do I love most about it? Lots of things! The recipes, crafts, gardening tips, stories about enterprising and creative women all across the country and even around the world—very inspiring! Thank you, MaryJanesFarm!”
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And the original post for the GIVEAWAY was (thank you to all who participated):
In the Aug/Sept issue of MaryJanesFarm, “The Experiment” (on newsstands July 14), we led you here to my daily journal for a chance to win a free copy of a wonderful book, Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Colouring Book by Johanna Basford, featured in our “Farmgirl Finds” section that has sold more than a million copies worldwide. Tumble down the rabbit hole into an inky black-and-white wonderland in Secret Garden. This interactive activity book takes you on a ramble through a secret garden created in beautifully detailed pen-and-ink illustrations, sheltering all kinds of tiny creatures just waiting to be found and brought to life through coloring.
For a chance to win a copy of Secret Garden, along with a box of 24 Prismacolor Colored Pencils and a Prismacolor Premier Pencil Sharpener, tell me one thing you enjoy about MaryJanesFarm in the comments below. We’ll toss your name into a hat and draw one lucky winner in mid-September, when the Aug/Sept issue expires on newsstands. Stay tuned for more magazine-related giveaways!
If you’re not yet a subscriber to MaryJanesFarm, subscribe here for only $19.95/year.
Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)
Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)
My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Debbie Klann!!!
Debbie Klann (#770) has received a certificate of achievement in Farm Kitchen for earning a Beginner, Intermediate & Expert Level Bread Making Merit Badge!
“I have been baking bread since I was a newlywed 32 years ago, but have learned MUCH in those 32 years! I’ve always known baking is more of an exact science … getting just the right amount of leavening agents so your product turns out the way you want it to.
While I’ve always used baking powder and baking soda when called for, I was never exactly sure what made each one similar and different. I recently read up on how each works and how they are not interchangeable!
I also learned that baking soda is about 4x the strength of baking powder and why you will sometimes need to use each one in the same recipe.
I’ve made several recipes using baking powder, baking soda, and cream of tartar. One of my favorite recipes was an Amish Sugar Cookie, which used cream of tartar and soda. I loved the silky texture. My favorite biscuit recipe calls for an addition of cream of tartar. They were higher and finer textured than some that I have tried. I also tried making a Cream Biscuit using a self-rising flour and cream. These seemed to raise well … and then deflated quickly! I always use unbleached flour and have recently found a whole-wheat pastry flour from soft wheat that makes the most delicate pie crust!
For my Intermediate level, I baked some bread. I love making my own bread. Store bought does not even compare. And the smell that fills your house is wonderful!
I’ve used several types of yeast in my breadmaking … regular active dry yeast, quick-rising yeast, and a special yeast for pizza dough. I prefer just the regular yeast over the quick-rising. I just prefer the texture and how it works better. I really do like the pizza-dough yeast. I think it gives it just the right amount of leavening.
Besides making our weekly bread, I also make some special dark dinner rolls that have cocoa powder, whole wheat flour, and orange juice. They were a big hit with the family!
I also tried an Irish Soda Bread. I remember reading when I was young in the Little House books how Laura’s mother would make it for the holidays. The recipe I tried included whiskey, caraway seeds, and raisins, but I substituted currants. I wasn’t too sure how this mix of ingredients would taste together … but it really wasn’t too bad! I still prefer the texture of a yeast bread to one made with baking soda.
Expert level required sourdough mothers. Over the years, I have tried several different sourdough starter recipes … some created so much gas they blew the lid right off the jar, and some never did much of anything. I finally found one that worked for me. I used the starter recipe in the King Arthur Flour baking book. This one uses a rye flour to start, eventually being replaced over the next 10 days or so with unbleached flour.
This starter was by far the best I’ve ever used. I tried a new sourdough biscuit recipe that was “ok.” I thought it was a little dry. But the sourdough pancakes were divine! The batter foamed up like meringue, and they were a little slice of heaven! Definitely worth keeping a starter JUST for those pancakes.
I did learn that even if you keep your starter in the fridge while you’re not actively using it, you still need to feed it once a week.”
Buy props used in MaryJane’s books and magazine!
5% of profits will benefit www.firstbook.org, a non-profit that provides new books to children from low-income families throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Here’s how:
MaryJane will post a photo and a description of a prop and its cost along with a few details as to its condition here: https://shop.maryjanesfarm.org/MaryJanesCurations. It’s a playful way to be the new owner of a little bit of farm herstory.
