Farm Girl Chic

You would think by now that I would not be surprised by the way my life goes. You know, one day you are living in the city and you have your life planned out and then you turn around and are on a state park with an extraordinary husband, two kids and dirty fingernails from farming.

However, I am finding that the two lives do mesh (in some strange, twisted maybe Park Wife world). It is possible to be a wife, mom, farmer, have a farmers market and still have a little pizazz.

Branding our "farm", the farmer's market and even myself as a "foodie" has utilized my marketing and PR skills more than I could have ever imagined. The fun thing about this aspect is that I love breaking down stereotypes. No, I do not wear denim skirts and wear my hair in a bun but I am a homeschool mom and I don't wear overalls, walk around with a toothpick in my mouth, but I am a farmer. I can't tell you how many times I have been interviewed or been at a meeting and people think I am kidding when I say I am a farmer. So, I think I am going to coin a new term, I am FARM FLASHY. Watch out Project Runway, a niche market here? And, I might actually wear it, unlike some of the things we see models wear these days.

One of my friends is working on my logo to put on my produce and signage for the farmers market, I am very excited. Of course as soon as it is done, I will be sharing it with you. Just think Southern Belle Farm Chick and let your imagination go with that. Hey, send me your ideas as well, that would be fun.

One last thing, the Farm Flash Fairy was watching over me the other day. There is a new consignment shop in town so I stopped by to ask about bringing some of the boys clothes in, mostly the ones they never wore because if you have boys, you know how they tear up clothes. So, I walked in and saw these sitting by the counter.

Yes, these are the very same ones that Ree owns, and no, I did not spend what she did on them. Oh mercy, they are fantastic. I am going to wear them next week to speak to the Lions Club. Of course I will wear a cute skirt (not denim) and something pink.

No more pearls, but definitely not rhinestones,
The Park Wife

The Thief That Came and Caused A Fright

After returning from a quick trip out of town for two days, I went to the chicken coop to pick up eggs. I opened the door and looked around because I am a chicken, oh wait they are the chickens, but I like to know what I am walking into.

I looked in the nest boxes and yep, saw something black and curled up. I immediately turned around and walked back toward the barn. This has happened a few times, so THIS time I did not run and scream like a girl. Big Buckaroo asked what I was doing and I told him I was going to get a pillowcase. Meaning, my husband was not going to kill the snake, oh wait the TWO snakes that were in one of the nest boxes together, so I had to get something for him to get them and transport them in. I just roll with it these days.


Of course this had to turn into a learning experience, oh the homeschool mentality. Yes, that is my angel boy petting the snake. PETTING THE SNAKE!!!!!!

If you look closely you can see the eggs in its body that he STOLE from my coop.

"Oh honey, it is not poisonous, it is a good snake." Um, no snake but a dead snake is good in my book. But, my animal loving husband relocated them to the other side of the park, sorry neighbors on that side. Don't worry, they are full.

Oh the life of a farmer,

The Park Wife

The Sustainable Dream

I am all for immediate gratification, that is why I have Dr. Pepper in my fridge. But, I married a planner. When Big Buckaroo and I got married, he talked about having a sustainable farm one day. I had a 3 year plan, he had a 40 year plan. My downtown Memphis living self just rolled with it, it was the Wranglers and boots, I could not help myself. But, then reality set in. He actually meant that I would need to learn to farm.

Pastured poultry, not so bad raising, the slaughter, another thing entirely. Then, there were the pigs. Thankfully they went to the butcher and I did not have to witness Wilbur's death. I must say, the bacon, YUMMY. We have laying hens that provide the extra yumminess needed for an outstanding omelet. And, now my black thumb is getting a little green while my feet are turning a nice brown color, not from the sun but from the dirt in my garden. Then, last year, a few friends and I started a farmers' market in our town and KAPOW! the Southern Belle Farm Chic was born.



We are acquiring the necessary skills to be able to be full time farmers. Big Buckaroo will always be the Big Buckaroo Park Ranger guy until he retires in oh, 20 or so years, but I have two little farm hands to assist in our venture until his retirement. Yes, child labor my friends. Now, don't go calling the authorities, these boys are working hard, playing hard and learning hands on. The little buckaroo's have a great life.

I have, or maybe let's say HAD, the romanticized notion in the beginning when it comes to a family farm. It conjured up all sorts of Norman Rockwell images of a simple life where man and woman come together pitch fork in hand, building a life on a picturesque rural plot of America. Nostalgic images like those in Country Living (I love that magazine, surprise, surprise) of old barns and farmhouses with picket fences. Lush kitchen gardens and cute little boys in overalls collecting eggs from the chicken coop.

And, it is some of that, however, I don't have someone that stages my house and garden for beautiful photo layouts. Nor do I have someone that washes the dirty little boy clothes that they wore while burying themselves in the newly tilled garden, nor someone to wash the arugula for the third time, nor someone to clean and package the newly slaughtered chicken before putting it in the deep freeze.... we don't even have a great farm dog (our Boxer is no Lassie).

But, I do have a plot of land I have worked for almost 5 years now, amending the soil to make it rich and wonderful for growing vegetables that I will feed my family and other families that buy at our market. I have acquired a tremendous amount of knowledge in gardening, farmers' market start up and promotion, and how to keep our family the center of our family farm.

I am passionate about growing and promoting high quality, locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables. I want people to meet their farmer and know where their food came from. And, I want the cute farmhouse with the picket fence. And, the old barn where I can hold Harvest Dinners. Yes, I want and am striving for that picturesque life at a place we call Rockwell Farm.

Eat local, Eat Fresh,

The Park Wife,
aka The Southern Belle Farm Chic of Rockwell Farm

*all photos are from this morning. I will keep you updated with pictures so you can see how my garden grows.