Farm charm in Cd’A

Every now and then, an unfortunately long stretch of time passes where I don’t take a trip to Coeur d’Alene. It’s only 35 miles away from Spokane, but for one reason or another months can go by without me visiting.

Once I finally get there, I usually discover some new little shop that makes me want to visit again and again.

About a month ago, I stumbled upon the MaryJanesFarm shop inside the Plaza Shops mall in downtown Cd’A. For a moment, it felt like summer again. Crisp white (organic) sheets were draped romantically across beds. Cheerful handmade aprons hung from racks. And sweet little hand-knit baby clothes were displayed on miniature hangers.

If you read the MaryJanesFarm magazine or enjoy the books by the business’ founder, MaryJane Butters, you’ll love this store.

MaryJanesFarm is a multifaceted company based outside of Moscow, Idaho. Aside from the home décor and food products it sells at the Coeur d’Alene store and online, MaryJanesFarm is, well, a farm, where guests can stay the night or visit for the day to pick fruits, vegetables and flowers. (When. there’s. no. snow. on. the. ground. Can you tell I’m ready for warmer weather?)

MaryJanesFarm plans to hold its annual Farm Fair at its historic flour mill in Oakesdale on July 4 this year. They’re currently looking for vendors, so check out this listing if you’re interested in applying for a booth.

And MaryJanesFarm expects to open a second retail store—like the one in Coeur d’Alene, but this time in downtown Moscow—this spring, according to Lucas Rae, who does bookkeeping, product development and marketing for the company.

Rae says the look of many of the MaryJanesFarm products is inspired by the company’s rural surroundings. A wildflower field behind the farm, for example, shows up in a bedding design.

“The look and feel and designs are inspired by things at the farm, whether it’s the metal siding of a silo or a hexagonal pattern of the wire on a chicken coop,” Rae says.

MaryJanesFarm employs 18 to 20 people during its busiest months (summertime). Products such as the linens are made in partnership with a company called Homestead Fine Linenes & Design, based in Hendersonville, N.C. The sheets and towels are produced on a small family-owned farm and textile company in India, Rae says.

Other items sold in the Coeur d’Alene store are made by Inland Northwest sewers and artisans, including small figurines made from vintage silverware by Oakesdale farmer and artist Dick Warwick, of Spoon Foolery. You can watch a KSPS Northwest Profiles program on Warwick here . (Scroll down to “Spoon Foolery.”)

Rae, a Gonzaga University graduate and former Division II college basketball lead assistant coach, began working for MaryJanesFarm in 2004, just as Butters’ first book was coming out. He had an in—he was married to Butters’ daughter, Megan.

Rae says working for his in-laws has been “more of a joy than you can imagine.”

“When you work for your family, you get to spend more time with your immediate family,” says Rae, whose wife gave birth to their second daughter last week.

Another highlight of his job is watching the local families who frequent the farm in the summertime, spending half a day at a time picking berries and vegetables, playing in the orchards and in a sandbox they have on site.

“It’s neat to see people take advantage of the farm,” Rae says. “It’s neat to see young kids learning where their food comes from.”

People wanting more info about MaryJane can read her weekly syndicated column on this site at http://www.downtoearthnw.com/maryjane-butters/