The adorable, always humorous MBA Jane is my way of honoring our Sisterhood Merit Badge program, now with 5,929 dues-paying members who have earned an amazing number of merit badges so far—8,474 total! Take it away, MBA Jane!!! MJ 

For this week’s Make It Easy/Make It! Intermediate Level Merit Badge, I decided to quit pinning amazing ideas and DIY crafts on Pinterest, and actually accomplish one. Or several.

In order to earn my Intermediate Level Badge, my little chickadees, I needed to make a piece of outdoor furniture. Seeing as how my garden is coming along at a beautiful rate and there’s nothing better than relaxing on the porch at sunset, a frosty beverage in hand, I was all about some outdoor furniture. (A girl can get tired of sitting on the steps, especially when that girl’s derriere is not as young as it used to be).

I cheerfully hopped on the Upcycling Bandwagon. Didn’t know there was such a wagon? Oh my, yes. Upcycling—recycling something into something else even more fabulous—is all the rage, and never let it be said that I’m not up to date in the newest trends; I have leopard-print ballet flats to prove it.

A little treasure seeking in my own attic brought out the perfect materials to make the cutest bench you ever did see: an old twin headboard and side rails. Are you following me, farmgirls? Headboard for the backboard, so to speak. Rails to make the bench, and a fresh coat of homemade chalk paint. I even had plans for the extra rail (after all, I only needed one section to make the bench): either a table to match (on which to place my frosty beverage) or a homemade swing (but where will I put my frosty beverage in that case)? Table it is.

I sawed a bit, measured a lot, sanded some, and nailed the rest. Along the way, I got distracted by other ideas for upcycled DIY outdoor (or indoor) furniture. You wouldn’t believe the creativity of our fellow thrifty gals out there in cyber space! A few more ideas now taking up real estate in my noggin:

• another bench idea, but this one made from 2-3 kitchen chairs, connected
• window seats made from cabinets
• nightstands out of stacked dresser drawers
• fire pits made from wine barrels
• tables and chairs made from pallets
• a porch swing made out of an old crib
• suitcases into end tables
• small entertainment centers transformed into children’s play kitchens
• take an old dresser drawer, add legs and a hinged and upholstered top, and you have an instant ottoman/footstool (with storage)
• ladders into bookshelves, or shelves for hanging bathroom towels on
• shutters turned into a bookcase
• a dresser becomes a doggy or kitty (or pot-bellied piggy) bed
• an overturned table becomes a bed, perfect for porch napping (you can buy memory foam cut to fit for your mattress)
• an aviary from an old television cabinet
• old microwave carts or small bookshelves become an outdoor bar station

You name it; some creative gal out there has done it! It might just be me … or you.

Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Courtney Robbins!!!

Courtney Robbins (FolkHearts, #4840) has received a certificate of achievement in Stitching & Crafting for earning a Beginner Level Knitting Merit Badge!

“When I was little girl, I wanted an American Girl doll more than anything in the world, but my parents didn’t really have the extra money to spare on one. I came home from school one day, and my mother had sewed me a doll that was the same height and she had made me a whole bag full of knitted doll clothes! I loved my beautiful redheaded doll and all of the hand knitted sweaters!!!!

Two years ago, I asked my mother to show me how to knit so that I could someday make my children clothes and later pass the skill on to my grandchildren. My first project was a wavy rib pattern scarf. After that I started making knitted headbands with colorful knitted flowers with buttons. Recently, I have become a beginner with circular needles, which I had never tried before and found a little challenging to get used to.

My most recent scarf, I would consider beginner level. It was a drop-stitch cowl pattern. I used super-bulky yarn and large needles so that I could wrap it around a couple of times. I gave my sister the purple one that I made and I kept a maroon-colored one for myself. During the process, I learned a new cast on for knitting in the round, I learned how to yarn over, drop a stitch, and practice on my circular needles. I am super-proud of the cowls, and I am anxious to make some more for this winter to give away for Christmas presents!!”

Our sisters-in-crime, the JUNK GYPSIES, are back on TV, Thursday, June 12, at 9/8cst on Great American Country (GAC). Be sure to watch our Texas friends! They’ll be tweeting during the episode and you’ll have a chance to win prizes.

The adorable, always humorous MBA Jane is my way of honoring our Sisterhood Merit Badge program, now with 5,892 dues-paying members who have earned an amazing number of merit badges so far—8,416 total! Take it away, MBA Jane!!! MJ 

For this week’s Farm Kitchen/Self-Sufficiency Expert Level Merit Badge, I rummaged in the back of one of my least used kitchen cupboards. I was looking for something very specific … something underutilized … something I bought at a yard sale and then promptly forgot about …

It was right next to the yogurt maker, behind the wok, and next to the As Seen On TV! pasta machine. I saw it as soon as I set aside the vacuum sealer, the tortilla warmer, the Winnie the Pooh-shaped cake pan, and the Mr. Coffee maker with the missing pot. I resolved to stop appliance hoarding immediately. Then I reached for it:

My food dehydrator.

I blew off the dust *embarrassed blush* and repented of my past sins of never having dried anything in my life.

Other than my hair.

Or last year’s Thanksgiving turkey, but that was kinda an accident. Helpful hint from me to you: Celsius temperature is NOT the same and/or interchangeable with Fahrenheit. Learned that the hard way; can I get an Amen?

Anyway, to earn my Expert Level Merit Badge in Self-Sufficiency, I needed to learn to use this puppy. I cracked my knuckles, figuratively speaking, and put the pieces together (the dehydrator, not my knuckles). Luckily, it seemed rather easy to use, and I even had the original directions (thank you to the nice yard sale lady who was quite organized, and who also let me pay with the loose change from my glove compartment, if I recall correctly).

First up:

Beef jerky.

Photo by Severein via Wikimedia Commons

I hadn’t necessarily planned on starting with something so advanced sounding, but I had two freezer-burnt steaks staring at me with a reproving glare. I didn’t blame them. I hadn’t wrapped them properly, and now they were inedible. Normally, I am quite carnivorous, but I had my dinner menus all planned that day I bought them, and into the freezer they went for another time, and then I put several loaves of homemade bread over top of them and kind of forgot they were there, and … well, you get the point. It was a crime, but it is what it is, and I knew how to redeem myself.

Thanks to the existence of my food dehydrator, yes ma’am.

I patted my steaks in a reassuring fashion, and got to marinating. Here’s what I used:

Jerky Marinade (for two steaks):
several dashes of Worcestershire sauce
a couple shakes of tomato sauce or organic ketchup
2 t minced garlic
2 t brown sugar
2 t instant coffee granules
spices and herbs (whatever you have—I used salt and pepper, thyme, and tarragon)

I marinated my steaks for several hours in the refrigerator. Then I sliced them as thinly as could be, across the grain. Then I set my fan for 155 degrees and laid them all out on the trays. Your food dehydrator might be different, so follow the directions. In about 7 hours, I had the most delicious snack ever! I’m already soooo excited to try it again, this time with different seasonings. Honey maybe, or rosemary and garlic, how about a spicy one with chili flakes or a siracha marinade? Or a pork jerky that’s been taking a bath in apple cider? Yum. Don’t even get me started with turkey or salmon. Or actually, get me started! I’m all in with this stuff.

Next, since I was feeling so very confident and pleased with myself, I tackled some non-meat items. The best thing I think about drying fruits, veggies, and meats is how you can enjoy off-season foods all year round! I’ve even put dried fruit in my freezer so I can savor strawberries in the winter. My favorites so far? Well, I’m so glad you asked. Tune in next time, my little chickadees.

Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Amanda Mathis!!!

Amanda Mathis (Andi, #5199) has received a certificate of achievement in Cleaning Up for earning a Beginner Level My Fair Farmgirl Merit Badge!

“For this badge, I spent time researching different different health and beauty products. It was interesting to see that even products labeled organic or natural didn’t mean they were good for our planet. It was also interesting to learn more about testing health and beauty products on animals. I didn’t know there was special labeling on products for that. I chose to make deodorant out of baking soda and coconut oil. I do not mind the new deodorant at all. I use it everyday. I’m glad I made the switch.”

Meet Julia Hayes, farm goddess. We’ve featured our dear friend Julia in my magazine in the past on her new tractor (a surprise gift from her husband for her 40th b-day), but the Dorothea Lange-style photo she sent last week after driving her tractor all afternoon plowing up a HUGE plot of ground for a HUGE garden still has me smiling the biggest.

“Me all cleaned up, sun-screened and ready to plant The Sunflower Forest, which is what I call this garden. Lots of goodies go into this space in addition to rows and rows of glorious sunflowers!”

Jane Deere indeed!

And Julia at our Farm Fair several years ago. Farm goddess indeed-y double deedy!

Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Patti White!!!

Patti White (#4415) has received a certificate of achievement in Stitching & Crafting for earning a Beginner Level Dyeing for Color Merit Badge!

“While visiting Shaker Village of Pleasant in Kentucky a year ago, I was fascinated with the weaving and dyeing that was perfected by the Shaker women. They not only used dyes from plants and insects, they also harvested and spun wool from their livestock and kept a worm farm for the purpose of making silk. In their gift shop, I purchased a book called Natural Dyes and Home Dyeing by R. Adrosko to mark my enthusiasm for trying to dye fabrics when I returned home. An excellent historical account of dyeing fabric, the book also had simple-to-follow, tried-and-true recipes. I was committed to using only plants that were growing on our property and to get a variety of colors.

I set an electric hot plate on my planting table in the garage, found an old 2-gallon pot with a lid, and set out to plan my ‘color wheel’! My fabric was 100% cotton muslin, torn into varying sizes.

Here are the recipes I used and the results:

Fabric prep mordant for berry dyes:
Prepared fabric by boiling in 8 cups water and 1/2 cup salt for 1 hour.
Thoroughly rinsed, but kept fabric wet.

Mulberry Dye: 2 cups berries – 4 cups water
Boiled and mashed. Strained through cheesecloth. Put strained dye back in pot and added 2 cups water. Added fabric to dye and boiled for 1 hour. Rinsed off in tub with garden hose and hung to dry.

Fabric prep mordant for plant dyes:
Prepared fabrics by boiling in 8 cups water and 2 cups vinegar for 1 hour. Thoroughly rinsed, but kept fabric wet.

I followed the same recipe and proportions used in the Mulberry Dye, but used these plant materials: spinach, yellow yarrow, walnut sawdust, pink rose petals, and coffee grounds from my kitchen.

I wore gloves while working with dyes and put the strained mash from each batch in my compost pile. I love the muted shades of my dyed fabrics and hope to someday make a mini quilt using just these fabrics. I presented the idea to my 4H quilting girls as an idea for a project for next year’s county fair. We’ll see!!”