ABOUT
Hello!! Connie here. I'm a mother of two boys. My oldest is married to a wonderful woman and I am the SUPER proud grandma to an autistic warrior grandson, i.e. love of my life, Mr. X. I was in the corporate world for 12 years before taking a buy out and deciding to homeschool my children and teach preschool. After 20 years of that and graduating my youngest, I decided to expand my farming and gardening, reroute my craft business and teaching, and begin a new adventure.
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Leading up to this, we had bought a 100 year old farmhouse several years ago
that was listed as a tear down, and lovingly restored it as a city property to have
our horses close by rather than at the big ranch. I've been building and
remodeling for decades. My oldest son has told me how glad he is to have gained
those skills from me. My youngest once told his dad that the main reason he
wanted to be at his house over the weekends was to get out of helping me with
projects. He has never been as into being a minion, and learning the skills, as my
oldest.
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Jostling C came up as the name of that ranch because I was being pulled in so
many directions by my children, three businesses, significant other, two properties, gardens at two properties, caring for horses and other livestock and pets. I was being jostled in so many directions so when the bickering over naming the ranch started, I came up with Jostling C. JOS was the initials of the last names of those involved. I'm still jostling a lot of responsibilities and activities, but I actually like it that way. I can't stand to be bored or still for too long. So, I've kept the name for the new farms and farm business.
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My college education began with botany, moved into environmental engineering and ended with a bachelor's and master's degrees in Human Resources Management, Training and Development. Along the way I also gained a great deal of other college course work, trainings, certifications and learning opportunities. I believe we should learn something new every day. It is within me to teach others. I have been very successful as a preschool teacher with most of my graduates going into gifted programs, and taking with each of them a piece of my heart. Teaching and mentoring have always been a part of my life and the classes I offer are a natural extension of this business and me.
Farming and homesteading are built into my DNA. Like both sets of my grandparents and other family, my family built our barn, outbuildings and 2400 sq ft house when I was 13. Child labor was expected. I grew up on our small farm raising chickens, ducks, pigs and a large garden and orchard. There was nothing better than grabbing a perfectly ripe peach the size of softball off a tree on the way to catch the bus for school. All my family and extended family had large gardens and canned every year. I can still vividly remember my first taste of turnip after my Grandpa Jones pulled it and wiped it off on his jeans before paring me off a bite with his pocket knife. I am still growing plants given to me by my grandparents, plants they received from their parents, grandparents and family members. My peonies were planted by my grandma in her yard the spring before I was born, given to her by her aunt. When she was going into assisted living, I went to her house and dug them all up before the house was put up for sale. My granny taught me some herbalism and foraging. My aunt and grandparents had bees and dairy cows. One summer I spent some time with my aunt learning a bit of how to separate and pasteurize milk, make cheese and butter.
Spring is my absolute favorite time of year. I love creating life through my gardening and farming and being able to watch seeds sprout, plants grow and baby animals emerge into the world. The first time my mother had 50 baby chicks brooding in the bathtub was not the last. Each year while teaching I would incubate a dozen chicks. It was just magical to the children, and still is to me.
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Organic, nutritious food grown through sustainable, regenerative practices, is important for people and the ecosystem. Part of that, an important part, is integrating animals into the mix to create quality compost. Worm castings, chicken and rabbit manure, are able to help reinvigorate and replenish nutrition depleted through farming. My animals are loved and given the best of care and nutrition.
I started sewing at the age of 7 and was making most of my own clothes soon afterward. I made my first soap, dipped candles, and embroidery at the age of 8. I enjoy many different artistic endeavors and have years of experience with each. I love creating, making, doing. I enjoy seeing others enjoying my creations. I hope you will enjoy them as well.
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My team and I strive for high quality, good value, excellent customer service, and a friendly company that keeps our core values in line with everything we do. Please always feel free to contact me with questions, concerns, kudos for employees, and suggestions for anything you feel we could do better or should offer our customers.
Thank you!!
