I have been thinking a lot lately about how I have always lived in terms of being in a rural area and planting things and how growing food has always been a way of life for me.

I think about how planting and growing our own food has become an option and not as much of a necessity these days with farmers markets and organic grocers more and more available even in big cities.

I think about the emails I receive telling of how people live vicariously through my blog when I write about gardening, the farm animals and the hand crafts I love.

I think about all the people trying a little harder to be a little more self sufficient these days.

I think about how many of our grandparents fought to get off the family farm and now we are struggling to get back to that place where they came from. Of how we dream of living in those days of being one with the earth and caretakers of life – plant and animal.

I think about new ideas and plans for gardening next spring. Yes, already I have hopes for next year with new and better ways to try things.

My mind is often a whirlwind of thoughts, ideas, brainstorms, plans, wishes, dreams all about the things I can do and need to plan to do and want to do.

I know many of you out there have the same or similar kinds of thoughts. I know some of you dream of living in the country but make do with living in the city until you can get where you want to be. I know some of you live in the city and have no plans to leave but grow a tomato or herb garden in a sunny window or balcony. I know some of you visit festivals and fairs and you collect wool for spinning and yarn for knitting and crochet. I know some of you can jams and jellies and pickles. I know some of you keep a few chickens in a small yard in the suburbs and even a couple of you in the city. I know some of you sew and craft and make things with your hands. I know some of you do much more than I do.

So many things we do to give us that connection with the earth and life and sustaining ourselves to keep ourselves grounded and sane.

And that got me thinking even more. About women and agriculture and sustainable living (and adding shot of vodka to the lemonade life sometimes hands us – buts that’s another post).

We’ve gone country. Even in the tiniest ways we are searching and finding ways to get back to the roots of life, real roots, covered in dirt and fertilized with chicken poop.

If you have “Gone Country” I’d like to read about it. I am sure many others would like to read about you, too.

Do you sew your own clothes? Do you plant a garden? Do can your produce? Do you raise your own livestock? Do you have a flock of chickens? Do you enjoy traditional crafting – quilting, knitting, crochet, spinning, etc? What do you do that keeps you grounded? Do you have gardening tips and tricks? Do you have sewing ideas? Crafting ideas? Do you go to the farmer’s market? Do you buy local? Do buy organic? Are you into the slow foods movement? Do you make homemade soaps? Do you grow herbs on a city balcony? So many things we do!

So here’s an idea for us all to be able to read each others stories.

Take this button, upload it to your own photo storage,  put it on your blog  linking back to this post. In your sidebar is a great place to link the image.

Code format:

<a href="https://bigredcouch.com/journal/?p=1615" target="_blank"><img src="link_to_your_photo_storage_goes_here" border="0" alt="Gone Country"></a>

Write about how you have ‘gone country’ – big or small.

Come back here and post a link to your blog post.

Send your readers around the neighborhood to read about other women who have “gone country.” Each time a comment is left on this post saying a reader came from your blog I will put your name in my John Deere cookie jar. In 30 days I will draw a name and that name will receive a giveaway.

What am I giving away, you may ask?

A pink John Deere T-shirt, a pair of matching footie socks, a pair of pink John Deere gardening gloves, a quilted Barn Cat hot mat and a copy of Eat, Pray Love. I may even add a few more things as I get the time to make or collect them.

What if I don’t have a blog?

You can still play along with us and be part of the drawing.

Tell your story here in the comments. Tell others to come read also and have them leave a comment saying you sent them. Voila! There is your name entered in the giveaway.

I can’t wait to read your stories and learn new tips and tricks from you all.

** I am adding a bar of my homemade soap to the give away.