“It’s not something that happens overnight, it’s a gradual transition. We started making our own bars of soap, I started making my own tallow, I started doing all these little things gradually that are creating a more holistic home, but it definitely takes time and you appreciate everything you have a whole lot more.”

In this episode, I had the pleasure of talking to Kerissa Payne of Covey Rise Farms. Kerissa shared about her journey building her farm operation with her husband in Ohio and then moving their operation to Kansas. As you can imagine, that process did not come without a few bumps in the road, but Kerissa and her family have settled into their new home and are working on expanding their business. Kerissa also delved into how she started making things from scratch and how going without some things, like their dryer, doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

“What you feel like in the moments when it is a hard season is real and even in your mind you know in a few years it’s going to be easier but that’s a few years away. I feel like I try to let myself feel those feelings and for me, writing is how I process a lot of that and remembering that it’s ok to feel hard but just know it’s not going to last forever.”

In this episode, I had the pleasure of talking to Stacy Bronec. While not having an ag background, Stacy has taken to farm life and raising a family on the farm. Stacy shared about what she loves about farm life and some of the struggles she has encountered, like loneliness as a mother and farm wife. Stacy uses writing as an outlet, a way to process aspects of life, and to find community. Be sure to check out some of her essays and listen to the end of the episode to hear about Stacy’s wild third birth story!

“The mindset of I do belong here. I belong here. Never underestimate your roots and where you came from and just try to find your place.”

In this episode, I had the pleasure of talking with Liz Fiedler of Sunny Mary Meadow Farms. Liz shared how her flower farm got started as a farm stand and the many different ag operations were run on her late husband’s family farm. Liz also opened up with us about losing her husband unexpectedly and her grief journey so far. Liz is more than just a flower farmer and business owner, Liz is also a nurse practitioner and she noted how the two have some commonalities. One other hat that Liz wears is a coach for other people wanting to start their own flower farms or operations. She has learned a lot in her journey to get where she is and wants to help others by sharing her knowledge and experiences.

“Recognizing the season and what actually is important in that season, I think, is the most important thing you can do.”

In this episode, I wanted to talk about a topic that many followers have asked me about, time management and how to manage all the irons in the fire as a wife, mother, farmer, and business owner. Sometimes it is hard to adjust your expectations to the season you are in, but once you do and set realistic, achievable goals, it will help you stay on track. I use tools like Google calendar to help me with time management. I have adopted the philosophy that there’s a home for everything in your home, business, and even digital material. That has really helped me stay organized and be more productive. An important tip I talk about is finding support systems to help guide you and achieve your goals, as well as support you on your journey!