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Merit Badge Awardees - Woo-hoo Sisters!:  Farmgirl Sisterhood Merit Badge Awardees |
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16763 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16763 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 12 2025 : 4:10:28 PM
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Debbie Klann (#770, debbieklann) has received a certificate of achievement in Make It Easy for earning an Expert Emergency Preparedness badge!
"I can easily convert my 72 hour emergency kit into an evacuation kit with the extra tote box that I also have put away. Along with the evacuation list, it wouldn't take any time to be able to leave, if need be, in case of an emergency.
Besides the food storage and what is in the freezers, we can easily shelter in place for 2 weeks. In case of a power outage, we have gas for a cooktop and outdoor grill. The only thing that might be a thought for later is investing in a generator. We do have the occasional power outage but have been lucky that they usually don't last more than 24 hours. Then the frozen stuff becomes a big concern. You never know when it could be longer, depending on the weather. It would be tragic to lose a freezer full of food."
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16763 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16763 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2025 : 4:14:11 PM
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Debbie Klann (#770, debbieklann) has received a certificate of achievement in Garden Gate for earning an Expert Herbs badge!
"This year I decided to try a pineapple sage, a purple basil, an Italian basil, peppermint and chamomile.
I dried a couple batches of each one.
The basil and sage can be used in cooking. The peppermint, sage and chamomile will be used for tea.
In addition to these, I also made a concoction of sage leaves layered in honey. You use a spoonful into a mug of hot water for sore throats and colds. I have everything packaged in little jars to share and included a copy of my great grandma's recipe for pasta to go along with the basil."
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16763 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16763 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2025 : 4:18:26 PM
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Debbie Klann (#770, debbieklann) has received a certificate of achievement in Cleaning Up for earning an Expert Living Zero Waste badge!
"Besides the fabric napkins and bowl covers and wax food wraps, 2 other reusable items that I have been using are my stainless water bottle and norwex cloths instead of paper towels.
A roll of paper towels costs about $2. It would last about a month. The initial investment of a norwex cloth is $8. It will last years.
A stainless water bottle with an aluminum straw is about $40. To-go cups with lid and straw are $1.50 each. In 3 months, the water bottle would have paid for itself and will last years.
A package of 200 paper napkins would last about 6 weeks and cost less than $5.00. A dozen cloth napkins can be made for less than $10 and will last a long time.
A roll of plastic wrap is around $14 and will last us almost a year. The bowl covers and wax wraps cost pennies to make as I used scraps of fabric that I had.
Sometimes it might not look like the monetary savings is much, but the idea is to stop putting paper and plastic waste into the trash."
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16763 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16763 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2025 : 4:39:28 PM
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Tina VanDaam (#8437, TinaTina) has received a certificate of achievement in Garden Gate for earning a Beginner The Good, Bad, and Ugly ... Bugs badge!
"I earned this badge by looking up good and bad bugs and organic pest control. We also had a Farmgirls meeting on this Merit Badge
This badge was fun as we talked about it as a group. Plus we all have experience with good and bad bugs. I also wrote it down as it helps me remember the information longer"
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16763 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16763 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2025 : 4:41:56 PM
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Tina VanDaam (#8437, TinaTina) has received a certificate of achievement in Make It Easy for earning an Intermediate Let's Get Physical badge!
"I earned this merit badge by keeping up my exercise goals for an additional month. I also have been watching my portion sizes. I also have been buying more organic foods along with garden fresh produce with no pesticides.
This merit badge was easy on the organic and portion controls but since I retired from work I don't go to the gym anymore so the cardio exercise has been challenging. Some days are easier than others"
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16763 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16763 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2025 : 4:53:12 PM
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Heather Neeper (#4701, nndairy) has received a certificate of achievement in Garden Gate for earning an Intermediate What's Your Beef? badge!
"I read the book BEEF: The untold Story of How Milk, Meat, and Muscle Shaped the World by Andrew Rimas and Evan D.G. Fraser. I also found a couple local farmers that sell beef, chicken, and pork. One is organic one is not.
The book was interesting but it took me awhile to get through it all. I was a bit disappointed in the end though. As a dairy farmer it's a personal thing, and it really irks me when people attack modern agriculture. At least the author did recognize that it's not possible for all dairy and beef farms/feedlots to just convert to all pasture no barn systems. Farmers are always looking for ways to save time, labor, and money so if there's a way to save fossil fuel, they're on it. And farmers depend on the soil and their livestock for their livelihoods, so poisoning land and cattle is not high on their priority list. I do agree that things in general can be done better but before we go blaming modern techniques, let's ask a couple more questions - do you want to go back to only eating what you grow yourself and no longer going to the grocery? Are you willing to give up your internet? I think you'd be surprised how much water companies like google and data analysis centers use compared to dairy cows. Why do farmers have to go back to using horses to save the environment if every other industry isn't going to do the same?"
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16763 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16763 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2025 : 4:55:55 PM
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Heather Neeper (#4701, nndairy) has received a certificate of achievement in Garden Gate for earning an Intermediate Horse Dreams badge!
"I read the book The Soul of a Horse, by Joe Camp. I researched the Belgian draft horse. I learned that as the name would suggest, they originated in Belgium. They are descendants of the now extinct Great Flemish horse, which were also known as the "Great Horse" of medieval times. They were developed for industrial, farm work, and hauling. The Belgians were first brought to the US in 1866. I was surprised to learn that in the United States, Belgians outnumber all other breeds of draft horses combined!
I loved the book and couldn't put it down! I'm planning to get a couple copies to give as Christmas gifts. It was fun to learn about Belgians. "
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16763 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16763 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2025 : 5:00:08 PM
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Heather Neeper (#4701, nndairy) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning an Intermediate Farmgirl Grammar badge!
"I made over 10 posts on the chatroom making sure to check my grammar and spelling for each of them. I continued to learn new words for an additional 2 weeks, and I read the book Woe Is I: The Grammarphobe’s Guide to Better English in Plain English, by Patricia T. O’Conner.
It's fun to learn new words. It was tough to keep reading the book, but it's a great reference to have on the shelf. I will get a lot of use out of it!"
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16763 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16763 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2025 : 5:02:51 PM
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Heather Neeper (#4701, nndairy) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning a Beginner Calligraphy badge!
"I read the book Modern Calligraphy: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started in Script Calligraphy by Molly Suber Thorpe. I also started a calligraphy journal. Rather than using markers, I'm using a pen that uses little ink tubes. The tips are changeable. This way I get used to holding the pen at the correct angle and using the correct pressure so I can then advance to nibs that are dipped into the ink.
This has been fun, but challenging! My journal is the wrong kind of paper. It really sucks the ink out of my pen, but it works for practicing proper angles. To get more practice I've been using the pen for things such as my to do list, grocery list, reminders, etc. I'm excited to get better and try some of the projects in the book. The water colors instead of ink sounds like a great thing to try for card making."
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16763 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16763 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2025 : 5:04:46 PM
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Heather Neeper (#4701, nndairy) has received a certificate of achievement in Garden Gate for earning an Intermediate Rootin' Tootin badge!
"This spring I grew beets and radishes in the garden. The radishes were great on salads and the beets were a hit in my "burger concoctions". I researched native root vegetables that grow in my area. There are 2. Cattails and wild onions. Cattails can be found in marshes, along lakes or ponds, etc. Wild onions grow in thickets, fields, meadows, and sometimes even yards - who knew!?!
The root crops from the garden were delicious! I'll be growing them again next year."
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16763 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16763 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2025 : 5:07:31 PM
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Heather Neeper (#4701, nndairy) has received a certificate of achievement in Garden Gate for earning an Expert Rootin' Tootin badge!
"I grew onions, potatoes, and carrots in the garden. I researched the best ways to store them. While a root cellar would be wonderful, I don't have one. For me I chopped and froze the onions. I canned the potatoes and carrots.
It was great to enjoy some of the veggies fresh from the garden this summer. It will be wonderful to have them this winter from the jars and freezer. Next year I will have to grow more. There was not enough to last all winter."
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16763 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16763 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2025 : 5:10:24 PM
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Heather Neeper (#4701, nndairy) has received a certificate of achievement in Garden Gate for earning a Beginner Horse Dreams badge!
"Any time we went for a drive I would look for horses. Honestly, I had a lot of trouble identifying the breeds because I know very little about them. I did notice that I like the palomino color (which I learned is a quarter horse) and the same color of the draft horses (which I learned is a Belgian). I also really like grey ones. At our local fair I had the opportunity to meet one up close and personal.
It was a lot of fun to meet Ivy. I was surprised how soft their noses are since I'm used to cow noses! Maybe one day soon I'll even get to ride her."
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16763 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16763 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2025 : 5:12:39 PM
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Heather Neeper (#4701, nndairy) has received a certificate of achievement in Garden Gate for earning an Expert What's Your Beef? badge!
"I raised and butchered a steer. Some of the meat was shared with my in-laws.
It turned out delicious! Home grown beef is the best. I know that my steer had a wonderful life and that the meat is as nutritious as it can be."
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16763 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16763 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2025 : 5:32:58 PM
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Shennandoah Connor (#8578, Shennandoah Connor) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning a Beginner Families Forever badge!
"Family night and game night have been a tradition since I was a kid. Growing up my family would all play Cranium, Trivial Pursuit, and various card games including one called "Shanghai Rummy." In fact, whenever the extended family gets together we still get at least one game of Shanghai rummy in (it takes many hours to play a game). We've also always crafted together and watched movies. So when I had my own family I carried the tradition forward.
When my kids were younger we would play games like Headbands, Scooby Doo Guess Who, Go fish, etc. Now that the two oldest kids are adults they prefer to play Cards Against Humanity and magic genie fames on their phone. From day one, we would dedicate every Wednesday night as family night, as well as plan "Super Saturday Adventures" where we go to the zoo, museums, pumpkin patches, etc.
Reading has also been a cornerstone with my family. My oldest and youngest are avid readers. The youngest has nonverbal autism, so he reads at an early elementary level but even though he is technically nonverbal he loves to read out loud and get help learning new words. Book store trips is one of his favorite rewards. My middle child is dyslexic, so she's not as keen at reading especially reading aloud. We've compromised with graphic novels of her choosing.
We also do lots of holiday craft, baking, and movie family events. Even though my eldest is an adult and out of the house, she still comes to our holiday family activities with her fiancé. In fact we are planning our halloween movie night and craft session now!
We are a blended family. Having a dedicated family night and playing games together really helped us mesh and build bonds. My bonus children had not those kind of experiences prior to our blending, and it really helped us forge many wonderful memories as a cohesive family. The kids always ask when we are going. to have our next family night, even though they are 15, 18, and 23!"
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16763 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16763 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2025 : 5:36:40 PM
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Shennandoah Connor (#8578, Shennandoah Connor) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning an Intermediate Community Service badge!
"I've continued working with Artable Curiousities/The Impact Project. I sat down with Jenny, the founder of the organization, to learn more about how the organization works and what needs the groups has. It is a non profit, but has a very loose board structure. They take volunteers of all kinds and like many charities attract quite a few retired folks. She wants to be able to have more formal structures around selecting, onboarding, and managing volunteers. Right now it's not a very consistent process. However, the organization is growing rapidly. We recently expanded the reuse center shop, took over another space for the studio, and moved the Impact project's teacher store to another suite in the same complex.
Things have been going great! We are now holding classes and meet ups in the new studio space. We've also attracted a new young person to each of our knit and stitch meetings. The organization has gotten some great press locally and we are steadily working to get the store situated. I am behind on my tech audit, but hope to get a report to her soon. "
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16763 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16763 Posts |
Posted - Oct 15 2025 : 07:20:45 AM
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Christine Kenney (#8680, bellepic) has received certificates of achievement in Each Other for earning the Beginner and Intermediate Farmgirl Shutterbugs badges!
"Blog post here: https://steamstead.blogspot.com/2025/09/farmgirl-shutterbugs.html
20 photo portfolio shared in the Wildflowers Henhouse here: https://www.maryjanesfarm.org/HenHouseSnitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9210&whichpage=4
I aspired to use a fancy digital camera to be able to experiment exposure settings but instead found myself playing around a lot more with composition and digital editing of pictures I took using my phone camera because I always have that with me when inspiration strikes.
MJF books and magazines have such beautiful photos-- maybe some day you all can share more "behind the scenes" about what equipment you use to capture the shot and how you edit and develop it?"
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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Merit Badge Awardees - Woo-hoo Sisters!: Farmgirl Sisterhood Merit Badge Awardees |
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Farmgirl Sisterhood Merit Badge Awardees
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