Who We Are



The past few years, the area where I live, Crawford County, Ohio, has seen a wonderful explosion of younger families who are embracing the joys and challenges of living off the land. Because of them, amazing things are happening which have been embraced by our community. Farmer’s markets have been created and on-farm stores have opened. Families dedicated to growing organic produce and naturally raised meats are meeting the public’s needs for locally raised foods. And at the heart of this movement are the women.



Ohio Country Journal is my attempt to share the essence of farm life, focusing on, but not limited to, women. My goal is to bring you into our circle of friendship by inviting you to share your stories and experiences with us. You don’t have to be a full time country woman to benefit from joining us; you just have to be you.





The full-time country women featured in Ohio Country Journal are an inspiration to anyone who dares to follow her dreams, whether it is to live in the country or to bring the country life-style to their urban neighborhoods.





Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Memory Maker




Do you have childhood memories of a garden, or maybe multiple gardens? Parent's vegetable or flower gardens? Grandma's peony bed? A beautiful public garden, like Kingwood Center in Mansfield, Ohio?

More than providing food and decoration, gardens linger in our minds as fragrances and textures and tastes. 

I don't especially like to garden and I keep my own patches simple. I am lucky, though, that I come from a long line of gardeners and married into a gardening family. I do my part to help plant, but I really come to appreciate the garden at harvest time when I have gorgeous fresh food to cook.

 YUMMMMM.
 


During this colder than normal Spring the hardiest of gardeners have braved the elements and got their gardens in as usual.

We are not in that group.

But, Jim did get some of his early crops in and we plug away at the garden a little bit at a time.

Another thing not accomplished, getting flower seeds started indoors.

Never mind, eventually they come up and flourish when directly sowed. This is what Ava and her Papa were doing Memorial Day weekend. 

As you might guess, Ava's favorite color is pink. Her seeds of choice are pink blossoms, with a few other colors sprinkled in for a kick of color. 

It will be interesting to see what comes of this garden design this year :)

I think that most kids like to have a garden they call their own. Sure, they don't necessarily like to work in it everyday (and neither do I, so I totally understand). But to have a space that they design, they plant, they watch grow...that is what is important to them.


Even though she's only here about once a month, we always set aside this part of the garden for Ava to call her very own. And, to make it extra special, my friend Denise made the garden sign. Isn't it lovely?

Marcheta *growing memories
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