| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| katiem |
Posted - Aug 04 2007 : 06:53:16 AM
I'm new to the Farmgirl Connection and new to any kind of online chatting but "old" as a farmgirl (at least in the heart). I'm currently farming my tiny suburban homestead with 2 raised veggie beds and a couple of what should be flower beds by most suburban designs. I have summer squash, green beans, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, watermelons and herbs. There is just my husband and I and my 18 yr old daughter at home and those few plants give us all we need and some to give away.
Though I'm not in the country now I have had several opportunities to live the country life. As a girl in Michigan for 4 years - where I satiated my love for horses by owning and showing several in local equestian events. Loved ice skating and sledding in winters there and pheasant hunting with my dad.
Got married with the intent of homesteading in Alaska but alas a baby boy born during our first year of marriage waylaid those plans, but we did spend the second year of marriage living on a farm owned by my sister in NE Missouri. We had goats and chickens, well water and a garden. Even a woodstove in the parlor. Our community entertainment was "bring your guitar down to the corner gas station on Saturday night and join in a hoedown" It was a wonderful year. Job loss and need for income forced us to move to the city but several years later we were able to build a log cabin (from a kit - and with constuction help) and live on several acres in north Mississippi. My husband's parents also built a log home at the same time on adjoining acreage - so we had a little family commune.
We had a pony, rabbits, ducks along with a great garden and blackberry patch. I home schooled my 2 boys and we had a great time.
Job and finances again forced us back to the city in 1988 ( I cried my eyes out for weeks) and here we still are. But I decided to quite moaning over the fact that it may be a while before I get back to the rural life and instead just create my own little homestead right where I am. It can be done on a small scale.
The new home we've been in for the past three years has great indoor/outdoor fusion and right now I'm sitting in my sunroom looking out on my back yard paradise. I have a bird-feeding station right out the window all made of recycled fence wood and topped with a cool galvanized tin birdhouse. The post and trellis have morning glory vines climbing all over it and the birds are constant at the feeders. I have a bubbling spring-type water feature on the ground by the bird station and birds, chipmunks and squirrels drink there. It's surrounded by coral and white impatiens, japanese painted ferns and my squash plants. One side is shaded by a nice sized wax myrtle tree. Past the bird area and across the crushed stone path is my terraced perennial flower area that has a low stacked stone wall and is planted with white daisies, blue cat mint, indigo and peach salvia and white cat's whiskers. The butterflies, bees and hummingbirds are all over the flowers and the metal sign on the fence behind the flower bed says "grow".
The large raised planter (about 30 ft. x 12 ft) to the right of the perennial bed is 3 feet high and is bordered at the back with a fence of open work wood trellis in large 8 inch squares and you can see through to the field and woods behind (owned by someone else who did not want us to clear any undergrowth between our fence and his fence that would provide us with a better view of his lovely pasture) where we occasionaly see deer or an armadillo. My husband built two vegetable boxes for me and put them on the raised planter so my bush beans are at chest height and no bending over required.
At the right end of my raised planter are stone and timber steps to access the top of the planter and then a semi-circle 2 tiered stone wall with the fist tier having a deep flat area that serves as a seating wall. On the ground in front of the seating wall I put crushed stone in a large circular area and built a fire pit in the center. We also have to the right of that a coverd large charcole grill and a outdoor cooking station. We built the grill cover and cooking staion out of recycled fence wood and corrogated tin roofing and stone like tiles from the local home improvement store.
As I write this description it sounds tacky but is really a cool mix of an earthy/industrial look if you can imagine it.
My next project is in the planning stages. I'd like to take on a personal challenge to live outdoors for a month. I think a tent on the patio would be fine. We have a large 20 x 30 ft patio off of the sunroom covered with a wood arbor. You can't survive outdoor living in the summer here in Memphis with outdoor temps of 105+ degree (heat index figures) and the 90% humidity so I think I will have to wait until October. Right now I am thinking and making lists of what I need and how I will do it.
This endeavor will be kind of a birthday gift to myself. i will turn 53 in September and need to determine if my desire to "live off the grid" is a silly idealistic dream or something sustainable. Can I simply "pull it off and endure it" or would I embrace it and be able to "settle in" to the simple life.
I shared my crazy idea with my co-workers and got the raised eyebrows and wagging of heads and sideways smiles, but I expected that. I work at a stationery/initation/gift store as their fine artist/graphic artist/typesetter/printing department manager/IT expert, ect. My co workers - "the girls" are all women my age and most of them are truly suburbanites with maids and landscape maintenence men or pool boys to do the outdoor labor. They are'nt surprised by much of my eccentricites after 2 years with them. They think it is cute that I ride a tiny yellow scootor to work or walk or ride my bike to work and that I bring them veggies from my garden or zucchini cakes. They just chalk it up to the fact that I'm an artist-type.
Well - so sorry for the ramblings - I told you I was new at this.
I put my husband on a plane yesterday for a two week trip to the island of Fiji in the south pacific. He goes almost every year to teach at a small college there. I will have two weeks to think and plan for may back yard extended camping extravgaza, so send me any ideas. I need a good bug-proof, rain-proof tent for starters and I don't think I have the extra time to make one myself - since I work 40 hours a week so I guess I'm in the market for a good large camping tent, although a lovely canvas tent like Mary Jane's would be much more appealing esthetically - and baby it's all about lookin good, Right?
Ok signing off - I've killed enough time here at this machine - there's suburban chores to do.
that's all for now ya'll from Memphis
where the heat is unbearable, the crime rate is high, the public schools are a joke and the politicians are all corrupt.
Can any body find me a job in Idaho?
Katie M
Kate, the closet farmgirl |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| katiem |
Posted - Aug 16 2007 : 9:09:57 PM
Hey there Julie,
good to meet another mid-southerner
Howdya like the weather lately?
Lookin forward to fall.
kate
Kate, the closet farmgirl |
| willowtreecreek |
Posted - Aug 15 2007 : 07:05:27 AM
Hi Katie! I live about 100 miles from you in itty-bitty Russell, Arkansas! Glad to have you on the forum!
Felt and Fabric Crafts
www.willowartist.etsy.com
www.willowtreecreek.com
BLOG
www.willowtreecreek.wordpress.com |
| katiem |
Posted - Aug 14 2007 : 5:08:43 PM
Hey Laura down in Pontotoc. Thanks for the welcome.
Kinda hot ain't it!
106 here in Memphis today -how about there?
Just got an email from my hubby who is on the island of Fiji. He said Memphis made the BBC news on TV there in Fiji (I think that is the only news station they get there in Fiji) for the HEAT wave and the 30 year Elvis celebration. We're famous!
I don't know Pontotoc well but my husband does. He used to travel throgh all the time when he has a sales route for automotive batteries.
Do you have a farm?
Look forward to getting to know you.
Kate, the closet farmgirl |
| horse |
Posted - Aug 12 2007 : 6:26:54 PM
Sorry to be so late about welcoming you to the forum. I see that you are my neighbor(well you are only about 1 1/2 hrs away from me.) I can see already that you are fitting in. I know you are going to bring some wonderful advice to us.
Laura |
| ruralfarmgirl |
Posted - Aug 08 2007 : 09:38:55 AM
Kate, welcome...isnt it fun, how the country girl in us, always floats to the top.. no matter wehre we are living or the jobs we are doing:) I cannot wait to hear what you have chosen to do in your back yard extention project.....
Rene'~Farm Girl
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure......" |
| katiem |
Posted - Aug 08 2007 : 03:41:57 AM
Holly,
Thanks for the welcome.
I can relate to the reality of an out-of-control yard.
I guess mine is easier because it is so small. We had a large area to manage on one of our previous little farms and I couldn't keep up
Small -simple - and low maintenance is my motto.
100 degrees there too huh?
That's our Memphis forcast too. The heat index today is supposed to be between 103 and 107. It's like stepping out into an oven here in the city with all the concrete and asphalt.
But at least we've been able to enjoy the nice cool night time low temps of 80 degrees. Ha Ha.
Where is your family in Tennessee? I know there are beautiful areas in our state - my area is just not one of them.
Bye now
Kate, the closet farmgirl |
| MamaHumbird |
Posted - Aug 07 2007 : 8:20:27 PM
Welcome, Kate! I loved the description of your back yard. I live in the country, but it sounds alot better than mine right now. If I had to describe my yard in Missouri in August.....brown grass, tons of weeds in any flower beds or gardens that aren't mulched very thick, colorful thistles getting ready to spread their seed everywhere. Chickens eating what good things are left in my garden, dogs chasing the ducks and kittens..... Does it sound like the 100 degree heat & humidity is getting to me! I absolutely love TN, I have family there and if there was any place on earth I would be besides MO where my immediate family is, it is Tennessee.
Welcome!
Holly |
| paradiseplantation |
Posted - Aug 07 2007 : 08:44:00 AM
Hi, Kate! Welcome from one of the Louisiana girls! You're going to love it here! |
| Miss Bee Haven |
Posted - Aug 07 2007 : 06:05:22 AM
Welcome from Kentucky, Kate! Your upcoming tent adventure sounds wonderful.
"If you think you've got it nailed down, then what's all that around it?" - 'Brother Dave' Gardner |
| Buttercup |
Posted - Aug 07 2007 : 01:31:21 AM
well I really enjoyed your discriptions of your yard and gardens! And I think the outdoor camping adventure sounds really neat and fun... I hope you learn much and enjoy it even more! I am in Japan and have a yard the size of my bedroom, and the heat *sigh* then the humidity *bigger sigh* ... lol... needless to say I am not outside hardly at all June through September (well except for weekends to the beach and Dh's softball tournaments!) so I do understand the need to wait for cooler weather! I can't wait to hear more! I look forward to getting to know you better as I see you round our farm!
Hugz!
Talitha
"If we could maintain the wonder of childhood and at the same time grasp the wisdom of age, what wonder,what wisdom,what life would be ours" |
| mikesgirl |
Posted - Aug 06 2007 : 6:22:03 PM
Welcome! This place is the best! |
| ColdAntler |
Posted - Aug 06 2007 : 4:41:55 PM
welcome! i'm up in idaho by way of knoxville, it's colder here! |
| sherone_13 |
Posted - Aug 06 2007 : 4:12:01 PM
Howdy from Wyoming!
Sherone
www.taylorscountrystore.etsy.com
http://sheronesgarden.tripod.com/
|
| katiem |
Posted - Aug 06 2007 : 4:10:06 PM
Thanks for the response,
A french farm girl, ehh! Cool
My sisters are diligently tracing our geneolgy which has an extensive French component. They have been to France tracking down the ancestors. Supposedly our family inheirited a large French estate sometime after WWI or WWII and no one ever claimed it. They are checking into in. Think it was somewhere in the south of France. I'll get facts sometime.
Thanks again for the response.
Kate
quote:
Originally posted by Nance in France
Welcome, Kate! So glad you joined in the fun; this is a great place to learn and share what you know. Loved your yard and garden description, too, with all those winged critters! Nance
Kate, the closet farmgirl |
| katiem |
Posted - Aug 06 2007 : 4:06:14 PM
Thanks for the suggestion. Sounds like a good idea. Guess I'll need to finally get a digital camera.
Am I doing this email response correctly?
Do I click on the "reply with a quote" and then type response here?
Let me know if there is a better way to do it?
How do I set up a blog. I might as well start now with posts on how to prepare and plan for my backyard outpost. Maybe that's a good title "Backyard Outpost"
Gosh I guess because all you "gals" have read my intro and plans for this crazy venture - I'll have to go through with it! Ha ha.
Just kidding- I really am going to do it.
I told my hubby that I wanted a wall tent for my birthday.
Let me know input on how to set up the blog or if you have a better idea. I'm ready to start posting. I go price cameras this week. I've been wanting one for a long time.
Thanks
kate
quote:
Originally posted by JudyBlueEyes
Kate, Welcome! And your garden sounds wonderful. Please share some pictures! Maybe you could do a blog to keep us all updated on your campout experience. Or start a thread here at MJF under the "Outpost" topic...then we would know where to go to find you and hear about your adventures. And isn't it fun when you start sharing your "farmgirl tendencies" with "the uninitiated" - It really is such a natural thing to grow your own food and flowers, even - and people just think they couldn't possibly do it! I'm glad to meet you and look forward to your stories! Judy
We come from the earth, we go back to the earth, and in between, we garden!
Kate, the closet farmgirl |
| Nance in France |
Posted - Aug 06 2007 : 10:43:56 AM
Welcome, Kate! So glad you joined in the fun; this is a great place to learn and share what you know. Loved your yard and garden description, too, with all those winged critters! Nance |
| JudyBlueEyes |
Posted - Aug 06 2007 : 08:56:36 AM
Kate, Welcome! And your garden sounds wonderful. Please share some pictures! Maybe you could do a blog to keep us all updated on your campout experience. Or start a thread here at MJF under the "Outpost" topic...then we would know where to go to find you and hear about your adventures. And isn't it fun when you start sharing your "farmgirl tendencies" with "the uninitiated" - It really is such a natural thing to grow your own food and flowers, even - and people just think they couldn't possibly do it! I'm glad to meet you and look forward to your stories! Judy
We come from the earth, we go back to the earth, and in between, we garden! |
| katiem |
Posted - Aug 06 2007 : 05:45:35 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Alee
Hi Kate!
I would suggest buying a Wall-Tent. These are what MaryJane has on her farm and you can get them in almost any size. They are made specifically for camping for extended periods of time.
For a couple hundred dollars you can buy one that will last a long time and keep you dry. Here is a link: http://www.walltentshop.com/
It sounds like your yard is fantastic! I was thinking that you sure have done a lot! Good Job! Let us know how your oudoor living goes! What does your husband think of off the grid living?
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora!
http://home.test-afl.tulix.com/aleeandnora/
Kate, the closet farmgirl |
| Once upon a Farm |
Posted - Aug 05 2007 : 11:31:13 AM
Welcome Kate! It is nice to see another MidSouth girl jumping in.
Ivy |
| Annie S |
Posted - Aug 05 2007 : 09:24:54 AM
Welcome aboard. Your place sounds great! And being a "farm girl" is your attitude about life, etc. - and you've got what it takes. You'll love everybody here. Jump right into all the different forums and have a blast.
Peace and love.
Annie |
| Alee |
Posted - Aug 05 2007 : 07:17:52 AM
Hi Kate!
I would suggest buying a Wall-Tent. These are what MaryJane has on her farm and you can get them in almost any size. They are made specifically for camping for extended periods of time.
For a couple hundred dollars you can buy one that will last a long time and keep you dry. Here is a link: http://www.walltentshop.com/
It sounds like your yard is fantastic! I was thinking that you sure have done a lot! Good Job! Let us know how your oudoor living goes! What does your husband think of off the grid living?
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora!
http://home.test-afl.tulix.com/aleeandnora/ |
| Shirlaroo |
Posted - Aug 05 2007 : 12:29:48 AM
Hello kate. What an interesting life you lead. I am new to this posting thing too. Don't worry, you will learn to relax and enjoy posting.
Friends are the best collectables. |
| katiem |
Posted - Aug 04 2007 : 9:54:22 PM
Went to a nearby little town today to a local farm supply store and priced a nice big galvanized metal tub for my outdoor baths. I've been practicing having 1 or 2 gallon baths this past week in my inside bathtub and have done fine. I think I can live with that. I also went to a little hardware store on the square that sells all sorts of neat things and I got a nice white enamel dish pan and a scrub board for doing laundry. So I feel I have gotten a little start on preparing for my extended camp out. I also walked a couple of miles to the nearby bookstore and sat for an hour reading Mary Janes book in the sections on Outposts and tents. I don't have her book but it is on my birthday wish list. I can wait till Sept 1st.
After reading the chapter on tents - I may want to tackle making my own frame and buying a nice canvas cover. We'll see.
100+ degree days like today - there won't be any plants left to take pictures of.
Well- good night all
Kate
Kate, the closet farmgirl |
| queenofdreamsz4u |
Posted - Aug 04 2007 : 9:20:45 PM
Hey there and welcome to the group. I know you will find all kinds of ladies that are gardening!
Container gardening is the way to go when even if you have lots of land...it just doesn't take much space to produce alot of food Would love to see pictures of your garden. It sounds wonderful.
I'm moving back to the Nashville area soon...can't wait...good to meet another Tennesseean! For now I'm in northeast Alabama at Lookout Mountain.
Hope to know you better soon!!
...til next time - queenofdreamsz
www.dreamkingdomdesigns.com
www.dreamkingdomdesigns.blogspot.com
"hold close your inner child and always listen to the gentle whispers" ~queenofdreamsz
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| Linda K. Miller |
Posted - Aug 04 2007 : 8:16:41 PM
Hello & Welcome Kate!!
Girl your place sounds wonderful and anyone reading about it would not realize it is the suburbs. I would also like to see pictures. I think your camp out is exciting, just go for it. How much fun can a farm girl have, just stay around here with all these great farm girls and you will find out!!  So happy to have you here, Kate.
Justmama from Amish Kentucky |
