| Author |
Merit Badge Awardees - Woo-hoo Sisters!:  Farmgirl Sisterhood Merit Badge Awardees |
|
MaryJane
Queen Bee
17008 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
17008 Posts |
 Posted - May 14 2026 : 4:26:03 PM
|
Debbie Klann (#770, debbieklann) has received a certificate of achievement in Make It Easy for earning an Expert Light the Way badge!
"This was a JOB!!! I did have a little help creating this stack of wood.
It took several days but we finally got it done. It was a good feeling to be finished and it was nice to have the wood for the fireplace when it got cold."
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
 |
 |
|
|
MaryJane
Queen Bee
17008 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
17008 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2026 : 4:29:53 PM
|
Debbie Klann (#770, debbieklann) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning an Intermediate Little Squirts badge!
"We had some moisture get into our house and the old bathroom door would no longer close!!!
I learned how to take the door off, trim down the inside edge and re chisel out the notches for the door hinges.
This is a photo taken before I repainted the door."
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
|
|
|
|
MaryJane
Queen Bee
17008 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
17008 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2026 : 4:32:33 PM
|
Debbie Klann (#770, debbieklann) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning an Expert Little Squirts badge!
"For this badge, I made sure that everyone's bike chains were well oiled and in good working order!
Now to get my bike tires filled with air and we are ready to enjoy a ride!"
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
|
|
|
|
MaryJane
Queen Bee
17008 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
17008 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2026 : 4:33:59 PM
|
Debbie Klann (#770, debbieklann) has received a certificate of achievement in Farm Kitchen for earning a Beginner Play With Your Food badge!
"I used strawberries, kiwi and blueberries to make a strawberry shaped salad for lunch.
It didn't look as realistic as I had imagined...but it tasted yummy!"
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
|
|
|
|
MaryJane
Queen Bee
17008 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
17008 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2026 : 4:34:57 PM
|
Debbie Klann (#770, debbieklann) has received a certificate of achievement in Farm Kitchen for earning an Intermediate Play With Your Food badge!
"I just bought a big bag of sweet potatoes on my last trip to Costco. I have been trying new recipes to use them up. I love them, but my husband does NOT. He wasn't even sure he wanted the bag in the cart...
I decided to try the sweet potato mac and cheese recipe in the the MaryJane's magazine.
This recipe is a WINNER!!! It is a perfect warm, cheesy, creamy comfort food! I will definitely make this again :) I'm thinking I might try making it for the youngest grandson who thinks the "blue box" mac and cheese is fine dining :)"
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
|
|
|
|
MaryJane
Queen Bee
17008 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
17008 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2026 : 4:37:01 PM
|
Debbie Klann (#770, debbieklann) has received a certificate of achievement in Farm Kitchen for earning an Expert Play With Your Food badge!
"Trying to stretch myself with this one! Cauliflower is on my list of foods that I don't particularly care for. I decided to make a cauliflower pizza crust and decorate the top and serve it for lunch.
I kind of followed a crust recipe as a guide but changed it up a bit. I was prepared to notice a BIG difference and was surprised at how GOOD it was! You'd never know it was cauliflower! It was really good and I would definitely make it again!!!"
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
|
|
|
|
MaryJane
Queen Bee
17008 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
17008 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2026 : 4:38:39 PM
|
Debbie Klann (#770, debbieklann) has received a certificate of achievement in Farm Kitchen for earning an Intermediate Farmgirl Shutterbugs badge!
"One of my favorite well known photographers is David Stoecklein. I love his work. He can take a photo of an everyday item and help you see the beauty in it. I love his horse photography!
We have a local photographer that I also enjoy named Kaley Broberg. She has a talent of capturing people's personalities like no other.
I took at least 50 photos...I don't know that my style is quite like theirs but I love photos that make you ask questions, wake up your senses and appreciate day to day special moments.
I also read The Beginner's Photography Guide by Chris Gatcum and posted my photos on the main forum."
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
|
|
|
|
MaryJane
Queen Bee
17008 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
17008 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2026 : 4:39:56 PM
|
Debbie Klann (#770, debbieklann) has received a certificate of achievement in Farm Kitchen for earning an Expert Farmgirl Shutterbugs badge!
"We took a road trip last November from Oregon clear to the southern border of Arizona. We got to see so much new country!! We were going down to see our family and it was a reunion as we hadn't seen them in awhile. They traveled with us and shared their love of their new home. I took a LOT of pictures, which is something new for me! At least 100.
I made a dozen of my favorite photos into cards. I also posted on the main forum and I read IPhone Photography for Everybody by Michael Fagans."
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
|
|
|
|
MaryJane
Queen Bee
17008 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
17008 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2026 : 4:41:11 PM
|
Debbie Klann (#770, debbieklann) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning a Beginner Swap It Up! badge!
"I have participated in a few swaps in the past...both on the main forum and in our henhouse and also between other farmgirl sisters.
I need to spend more time on the main forum...there are lots of fun swaps to join in on!
I'm thinking of some things that might be fun to do in a swap..probably with a holiday theme?
My daughter and I have been doing a swap for the past year or so...desserts!!! We find something that looks good and make it and share half with the others family. That way we can try out more recipes and we can vote whether they're winners or need to toss the recipe."
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
|
|
|
|
MaryJane
Queen Bee
17008 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
17008 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2026 : 4:45:43 PM
|
Debbie Klann (#770, debbieklann) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning an Intermediate Swap It Up! badge!
"I have participated in a few swaps in the past...one being the Dairy swap each June and a patriotic swap. I just recently participated in a recipe bookmark swap.
Swaps are definitely fun and a great way be creative and get to know other farmgirls."
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
|
|
|
|
MaryJane
Queen Bee
17008 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
17008 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2026 : 4:47:16 PM
|
Debbie Klann (#770, debbieklann) has received a certificate of achievement in Farm Kitchen for earning a Beginner Classy Casseroles badge!
"I spent several hours going through my cookbook collection looking for new, never made casserole recipes. I also checked out every casserole book that our local library had available.
I like to change things up and create new recipes to my family's liking. I have a favorite baked oatmeal recipe that needed some modifications. My husband was requesting BLUEBERRIES. So I created my own version of the baked oatmeal....adding lots of blueberries, maple syrup instead of sugar and a scoop of protein/collagen powder. It was a winner!"
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
|
|
|
|
MaryJane
Queen Bee
17008 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
17008 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2026 : 4:48:49 PM
|
Debbie Klann (#770, debbieklann) has received a certificate of achievement in Farm Kitchen for earning an Intermediate Classy Casseroles badge!
"Another casserole recipe that was discussed was a tuna noodle casserole. We needed more CRUNCH...less pasta...more vegetables!
I think I finally have the recipe the way we like! I added water chestnuts, celery, less pasta, more tuna and crushed potato chip crumbs on top. It was a winner!"
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
|
|
|
|
MaryJane
Queen Bee
17008 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
17008 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2026 : 4:50:47 PM
|
Debbie Klann (#770, debbieklann) has received a certificate of achievement in Farm Kitchen for earning an Expert Classy Casseroles badge!
"For this badge, I created these casserole recipes:
Ham and Egg Scramble for breakfast
Naked Beefy Burrito Bowl for lunch
Tuna Noodle Casserole for dinner (mentioned in the intermediate badge)
Sweet Potato Casserole for dessert
The Burrito Bowl is not pictured. I have shared my Sweet Potato Casserole on the main forum. It is one of my favorite things...you can eat it anytime, not just for dessert!"
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
|
|
|
|
MaryJane
Queen Bee
17008 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
17008 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2026 : 4:54:28 PM
|
Debbie Klann (#770, debbieklann) has received a certificate of achievement in Farm Kitchen for earning a Beginner Mrs. Potato Head badge!
"Once again, I scoured my cookbooks and the library in search of new potato recipes!!
I decided to make a sweet potato smoothie and potato doughnuts, just for fun! The smoothie was a winner! The mashed potatoes in the doughnut dough made it almost too soft to work with but a good flavor.
I have been reading about raising organic potatoes and have ordered some tubers from my favorite nursery. Also, talking to the local potato farmer and getting good tips!"
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
|
|
|
|
MaryJane
Queen Bee
17008 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
17008 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2026 : 4:55:34 PM
|
Debbie Klann (#770, debbieklann) has received a certificate of achievement in Farm Kitchen for earning an Intermediate Mrs. Potato Head badge!
"For our potato palooza, our family has been sampling some old and some new potato recipes....state officer potatoes, funeral potatoes, mashed potatoes, fries, tots, potato cheese soup, potato rolls and sweet potato brownies.
This is the potato soup and a potato roll. I think my personal favorite was the potato roll...my family loves state officer potatoes (a creamy concoction of potato chunks, cheese and sour cream all baked together).
I have grown potatoes in the past but have planted a small patch of organic potatoes this year. Anxiously awaiting for them to pop out of the ground!!!"
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
|
|
|
|
MaryJane
Queen Bee
17008 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
17008 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2026 : 4:56:45 PM
|
Debbie Klann (#770, debbieklann) has received a certificate of achievement in Farm Kitchen for earning an Expert Mrs. Potato Head badge!
"I remember my grandma making a frittata one time that everyone liked that had potatoes in it.
I decided to make my own version for dinner one night. I used what I had in the fridge...leftover baked potato chunks, bacon, onion, cheese and cherry tomatoes.
We really liked it and the leftovers made a good breakfast!"
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
|
|
|
|
MaryJane
Queen Bee
17008 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
17008 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2026 : 5:00:23 PM
|
Debbie Klann (#770, debbieklann) has received a certificate of achievement in Stitching & Crafting for earning an Expert Tatting badge!
"For this badge, I decided to tat some snowflakes to add to my collection. The pattern I used was fairly straightforward except that it didn't tell me where to join the rings!
It took several tries but I finally got 2 finished and the whole learning process took at least 10 hours. I think the next ones would go a little faster, now that I have the design figured out.
All of the women in my family have done/do handwork. For me, it's a relaxing way to end the day. We don't have anyone left in the family that still tats, so learning is somewhat of a challenge. There were many moments that I wish I could've sat with one of my grandmothers and had her coach me through this. I think it's important to not let these art forms die out."
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
|
|
|
|
MaryJane
Queen Bee
17008 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
17008 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2026 : 5:01:42 PM
|
Debbie Klann (#770, debbieklann) has received a certificate of achievement in Stitching & Crafting for earning a Beginner Origami badge!
"Folded paper was used for religious and ceremonial purposes in Japan in the first century. They incorporated it into their Shinto rituals and for wrapping gifts and offerings.
Later, noble families formalized styles for ceremonies, creating geometric shapes and symbols, like the butterfly. Butterflies in Shinto weddings represented the bride and groom.
Recreational origami became popular as paper became more accessible. It wasn't just for the nobility only anymore. Origami became used for decorative purposes, gift wrapping and just for fun.
The term "origami" became common around 1880. Today it has expanded beyond art and recreation into fields such as architecture, engineering, robotics and medical design, reflecting its principles of geometry, structure and creativity.
My first origami attempt...a boat that floats!!"
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
|
|
|
|
MaryJane
Queen Bee
17008 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
17008 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2026 : 5:03:51 PM
|
Debbie Klann (#770, debbieklann) has received a certificate of achievement in Cleaning Up for earning a Beginner Leave It Better Than You Found It badge!
"As human beings, we are only on this earth for a relatively short time. The earth is a gift to us and should be taken care of. I think a good goal would be to leave it better than we found it for the next generation...to think about what we want to leave our children and grandchildren.
We need to be responsible and live in a sustainable way, using resources that meet our present needs while keeping future generation's needs in mind.
Cleaning up trash is just a beginning but an easy thing to do!
A simple place to start is by keeping it clean! Pick up trash when you find it and don't litter in the first place. Littering=Laziness
Trash degrades natural landscapes. Non biodegradable materials contaminate soil and waterways, which can lead to long term contamination of drinking water.
It is harmful to wildlife. Wildlife can become entangled in plastic bags or other debris or become suffocated. How sad to think about!
It is harmful in many ways to humans; physical harm from broken glass and discarded needles, etc. It can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and rodents. Unhealthy.
Cleaning up trash can be an economic burden on local government. Burning litter can create toxic fumes, add to air pollution and cause respiratory problems."
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
|
|
|
|
MaryJane
Queen Bee
17008 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
17008 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2026 : 5:06:04 PM
|
Debbie Klann (#770, debbieklann) has received a certificate of achievement in Stitching & Crafting for earning an Intermediate Origami badge!
"For this badge, I created 9 different origami shapes.
This was a lot of fun! It's amazing what you can do with a little piece of paper! I think that the little lidded box would be fun to teach to my granddaughter."
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
|
|
|
|
MaryJane
Queen Bee
17008 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
17008 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2026 : 5:07:12 PM
|
Debbie Klann (#770, debbieklann) has received a certificate of achievement in Stitching & Crafting for earning an Expert Origami badge!
"This is/was supposed to be a starburst. It took 12 pieces of paper and a couple of hours.
It didn't turn out quite like I would have liked but it was a challenge! I didn't know 12 little pieces of paper could test your patience like they did! haha!"
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
|
|
|
|
MaryJane
Queen Bee
17008 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
17008 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2026 : 5:11:40 PM
|
Debbie Klann (#770, debbieklann) has received a certificate of achievement in Garden Gate for earning a Beginner Water Management badge!
"I have been reading about the benefits of planting native flowers and trees as opposed to trying to grow non native plants. Sadly, I will probably never have a magnolia tree in my garden. My beds and garden are fairly full but I have mostly native plants and those that do well in our climate....columbine, hollyhocks, strawberries, bunch grass, willow, rabbit brush and sage.
Our soil type is sandy loam. The best time to water is between 5 and 10 am. This minimizes evaporation and lets the water get to the roots before the day heats up. It drains quickly so it needs to have more frequent, lighter watering or deeper, less frequent.
Deep watering penetrates the soil 6-8" rather than just wetting the surface. It encourages the roots to grow downward which makes the plants more resilient to drought (one of our issues), temperature fluctuations and nutrient deficiencies.
Water can be applied by drip irrigation, a soaker hose or sprinkler, as long as it's applied slowly. Adding compost can also improve water retention in sandy soils and add drainage to clay soils.
We have our yard and beds under a sprinkler system, watering in the early morning. My garden area gets deep waterings."
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
|
|
|
|
MaryJane
Queen Bee
17008 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
17008 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2026 : 5:12:45 PM
|
Debbie Klann (#770, debbieklann) has received a certificate of achievement in Garden Gate for earning an Intermediate Water Management badge!
"Having sandy loam soil can be tricky...it doesn't retain water as well as other soil types.
There are a couple of ways to improve the soil quality:
Adding compost or well rotted manure. These are very effective. It increases the nutrient content, the water holding capacity and encourages growth of beneficial microorganisms.
Adding vermiculite can enhance the physical structure of the soil and helps retain moisture and nutrients.
Adding mulch around plants or into the garden helps regulate the soil temperature, retains moisture and suppresses weeds. For sandy loam, pine bark chips, organic compost or straw would work. You want to create a physical barrier that reduces evaporation and breaks down slowly.
Ground covers can improve the soil structure, add organic matter, reduce erosion, maintain soil fertility and support beneficial soil organisms. Two that would be good for our area would be buckwheat and clover. We have also planted mustard as a cover crop on the farm."
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
|
|
|
|
MaryJane
Queen Bee
17008 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
17008 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2026 : 5:13:54 PM
|
Debbie Klann (#770, debbieklann) has received a certificate of achievement in Garden Gate for earning an Expert Water Management badge!
"Drip lines are an efficient way to water, especially in beds and hanging baskets. The water gets directly to the plant's root zone; it helps minimize water waste, reduces evaporation and enhances the plant's growth.
As we only get less than 10" of annual rainfall, I don't think that a water collection method would work well for us. We do use a water redirection system on part of our farmground. We live at the end of the irrigation project and have a pond that allows us to collect excess water coming down the ditch and use it later. It can be pumped out onto the field and then it can work its way down the field, into a ditch and then back into the pond.
Besides this system, I could possibly use a soaker hose set up in the garden area and also start a compost bin and use that compost in the flower beds and garden area for mulch."
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
|
|
|
|
MaryJane
Queen Bee
17008 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
17008 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2026 : 5:38:46 PM
|
Shennandoah Connor (#8578, shennandoah) has received a certificate of achievement in Farm Kitchen for earning an Intermediate Food Allergy Awareness badge!
For this badge, I chose to take three of my most popular baked goods and make them gluten free. Many of my friends have been diagnosed with celiac. I love to bake for friends and family, so I wanted to make sure they wouldn't miss out. The three recipes I made fluent free are:
Banana Bread
Cranberry Scones
Pumpkin Loaf
For the banana bread, I tried just swapping the flower with a gluten free one, but the texture wasn't great. I ended up swapping the recipe entirely with one from the Whole Life Nutrition cookbook that uses coconut flour, tapioca starch, and ground flaxseed. It was delicious. Better than the regular bread!
For my cranberry scones, I've swapped the white flour with gluten free flour mix, and another batch with coconut flour. The coconut flour was the favorite hands down. Even my brother thought they were great (and he's very discerning).
My pumpkin loaf recipe I make every year in November using fresh roasted pumpkin puree I make myself. Everyone loves the pumpkin loaf and I end up making dozens of loaves and muffins. Simply swapping the flour with gluten-free mix worked well.
I feel like recipes with higher moisture content work better with simple substitutions, while others need to be reworked a little more so they aren't dense and chewy. My sister has an inn and spa where she offers allergy substitutions for their kitchen items. She's been teaching me some other substitutions and tricks to try. We've also been experimenting with duck eggs, since there are many people allergic to chicken eggs but not duck eggs.
Not everything works, and certainly not the first time I try to make a recipe gluten free. But, my efforts have paid off with grateful friends who love having more options (and something sweet) around the holidays. "
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
|
|
|
|
Merit Badge Awardees - Woo-hoo Sisters!: Farmgirl Sisterhood Merit Badge Awardees |
|
Farmgirl Sisterhood Merit Badge Awardees
Forum Locked
Topic Locked
