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**Welcome Wagon: New Bay Area Farmgirl!  |
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sjs
True Blue Farmgirl
   
247 Posts
Stephanie
Oakland
CA
USA
247 Posts |
Posted - Mar 06 2009 : 2:34:28 PM
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Hi everyone,
I'm new to the neighborhood and I thought I would introduce myself.
My name is Stephanie and I live in Oakland, about ten minutes from San Francisco. All of my life I've dreamed of escaping the concrete jungle to a homestead of my own, and after many years of dreaming, I'm finally acting!
I've left my icky computer job to become a freelance food and nutrition writer, and I specialize in writing about healthy, natural cooking. After battling a myriad of serious health problems, it finally occurred to me a few years ago that I was sort of failing at the health game, and completely rearranged my diet - no gluten, no white/refined anything, more raw, organic produce. I've still got so far to go, but I look at how far I've come and it empowers me. Trying not to let cookies get the better of me!
This dietary shift has created a major obsession with me: cooking. I'm happiest in my kitchen, and am setting my sights on learning how to make cheese and preserve fruit (ideally without any refined sugar). I eat meat but have been obsessed with vegan and raw recipes, so you could say that my culinary interests are spread about as far and wide and they come.
I still live in the city, but I'm working as hard as I can to get myself out of this mayhem and into some country calm within the next two years. Starting a career I can work from anywhere was step one, and now I'm on to step two: financing. My husband has been really supportive through all of this, even though he's not terribly stoked about living on a farm again. He grew up in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, and isn't really interested in returning to farmwork, so we're trying to find some land that's far enough away from the city for me, but close enough for him. I'm convinced this will work out great.
A few more factoids:
After fourteen years of trying, I just graduated from UC Berkeley with my degree in English and Creative Writing. This is huge for me! I'm now working on a book about growing heirloom produce for home gardeners, complete with recipes.
My most recent freelance article can be found here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101036444
I keep a food blog at http://www.wasabimon.com
And I'm really, really excited to be a part of this group.
Now that I've essentially written you all a novella, I'm signing off. Nice to meet you all, and you've got a great group here! 
-------------------- Learning to live is learning to let go.
Visit my food blog! http://www.wasabimon.com - natural cooking to live for.
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Edited by - sjs on Mar 06 2009 3:02:24 PM |
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lacisne88
True Blue Farmgirl
    
1181 Posts
Chelsey
Lake Stevens
Washington
USA
1181 Posts |
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Calicogirl
True Blue Farmgirl
    
5216 Posts
Sharon
Bruce Crossing
Michigan
USA
5216 Posts |
Posted - Mar 06 2009 : 5:06:47 PM
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Hi Stephanie and welcome :)
I think you will be able to find a happy medium for you and your honey. That will be great :)
I'll be checking out your blog :)
~Sharon
By His Grace, For His Glory |
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Farmgirlheart
True Blue Farmgirl
  
103 Posts
Valerie
Los Angeles
California
USA
103 Posts |
Posted - Mar 06 2009 : 9:16:41 PM
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| Welcome Stephanie! Congrats on the earning your degree! Welcome to Mary Jane's Farm! Too bad you aren't a bit more south, Laura Marie and I are setting up our own chapter down in Los Angeles! |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
    
4876 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4876 Posts |
Posted - Mar 07 2009 : 06:18:02 AM
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Welcome Stephanie! I'm so glad you found us too! I can't wait to read more of your articles. I do hope you have recipes to share too. You will see that the farmgirls have a strong interest in eating organic, healthy and homemade!
Keep the articles coming! Dawn in IL |
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KD Earthwork
True Blue Farmgirl
   
210 Posts
Katie
Gualala
Calif.
USA
210 Posts |
Posted - Mar 07 2009 : 4:49:53 PM
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HI Stephanie, I live in Gualala Calif. not too far away from SF about 3.5hrs. There are properties in forclosure here and a pretty good country experience.You should come visit! Katie |
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Maryjane Lee
True Blue Farmgirl
    
2195 Posts
Maryjane
CA
USA
2195 Posts |
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ranchetta
True Blue Farmgirl
   
318 Posts
carol
Marysville
Wahington
USA
318 Posts |
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glendagoldenbp
True Blue Farmgirl
  
196 Posts
glenda
cleburne
tx
USA
196 Posts |
Posted - Mar 09 2009 : 3:31:39 PM
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Stephanie, good for you on all your hard won acconplishments. Happy to have you and looking forward to sharing with you.
Sunrises are wonderous things, nobody should ever miss one. |
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peachy
True Blue Farmgirl
    
593 Posts
Melissa
Fennville
MI
USA
593 Posts |
Posted - Mar 09 2009 : 4:17:59 PM
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Welcome Stephanie! Hope you love it here as much as I do! Congrats on earning your degree and can't wait until your book comes out!!
Melissa Farmgirl Sister #360
Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain! |
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sjs
True Blue Farmgirl
   
247 Posts
Stephanie
Oakland
CA
USA
247 Posts |
Posted - Mar 09 2009 : 5:40:09 PM
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Thanks everyone! I feel so welcome, like I've gotten a big hug. 
Stephanie, Farmgirl Sister #513!
-------------------- Learning to live is learning to let go.
Visit my food blog! http://www.wasabimon.com - natural cooking to live for.
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Lainey
True Blue Farmgirl
    
2401 Posts
Elaine
Waco
Kentucky
USA
2401 Posts |
Posted - Mar 20 2009 : 12:44:38 PM
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Welcome Stephanie! I just took a look at your blog, those recipes sound wonderful. Congrats on earning your degree. I look forward to reading your book some day.
Farmgirl Sister #25
http://countrygirldreams.blogspot.com/
An Angel says, 'Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.' |
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**Welcome Wagon: New Bay Area Farmgirl!  |
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