Blog

When the Storms Came (And Kept Coming): Our Farm Bankruptcy Story

Three years of financial losses. Storm damage. Unpaid bills. Equipment sales. Chapter 12 bankruptcy. We willingly inherited this farm, which made walking away feel like admitting we were wrong. Here’s what happened when we finally surrendered instead of fighting.

You’re Not Behind—You’re Just in a Different Season

I used to think I was patient—until I started comparing my Day 1 to everyone else’s Day 1,000. Here’s what feeding cattle taught me about giving yourself grace in the journey.

When the Bank Calls Your Notes: What I Wish Someone Had Told This Farm Wife

The text came while I was feeding chickens. “Meeting with the banker tonight. Pray.” We had cows to feed, no room on the line of credit, and no income on the horizon. Living in limbo—needing to invest but having no funds, needing to decide but having no good options. If your stomach just dropped because this sounds familiar, you’re exactly why I wrote this. Equipment went to auction. Cows went to auction. Neighbors started farming our ground. And somehow, we’re still standing. Here’s what I wish someone had told me when the foundation was crumbling.

How Azure Standard Saves This Farm Wife’s Sanity (And Budget)

There’s a specific kind of panic that hits when you’re out of gluten-free flour and the nearest store that carries it is 40 minutes away. I used to make that drive every other week, spending $300-500 each trip. Then I found a bulk buying solution that cut my specialty shopping trips from 12-24 times a year down to just 4—and saved money in the process.

Farm Debt and Financial Stress: How Simplifying Saved Our Sanity (And Can Save Yours)

Running numbers in your head at 11 PM while you try to fall asleep? You’re not alone. Here’s how simplifying our farm—and finally getting honest about our broken foundation—saved our sanity. And how it can save yours too.

When Farm Finances Feel Like an Uphill Marathon (And What I Wish I’d Known Sooner)

You know that feeling when you’re lying in bed at 2 AM, running numbers in your head for the third time this week? When you’re wondering if you should’ve walked away years ago? I recorded a voice memo about this in July 2022. I tried to publish it in March 2024, right before we filed bankruptcy. I couldn’t—it was too raw. But if you’re in the middle of your own financial storm right now, you need to hear this. Because the storm eventually ends, even when you can’t see how.

When the Weight of Farm Debt Makes You Want to Hide
When the Weight of Farm Debt Makes You Want to Hide

There’s a moment that happens when you’re deep in farm debt. Not the kind you can pay off next month—the kind that sits on your chest at 3 AM and makes every phone call feel like dread. It’s the moment you stop going to town. Because the people you see at the co-op, the feed store, at church—they’re the ones you owe money to. And even though they’ve been patient, it doesn’t make it easier to look them in the eye. If you’re carrying the weight of farm debt, financial strain, or watching your dream slip away—you’re not alone. I’ve been there. I am there. And there’s a way to keep breathing, even when the mountain is still standing.

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The Clutter That’s Stealing Your Peace (And Why You’re Not Failing)
The Clutter That’s Stealing Your Peace (And Why You’re Not Failing)

I stood at my kitchen sink the other morning, and all I could see was chaos. Dishes in the sink. School books on the table. Three pairs of muddy boots somehow in the house. And that tight feeling in my chest that whispered, “I can’t keep up with all of this.”
Here’s the hard truth nobody tells farm wives: the clutter in your home is directly affecting your mental health. And you’re not weak for feeling it.
If you’re overwhelmed by the mess and tired of feeling like you’re failing, I’m sharing what I learned the hard way—and the practical steps that helped me start reclaiming my peace without adding one more thing to my to-do list.

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How Busy Farm Wives Can Stay Healthy Without Adding to Their To-Do List
How Busy Farm Wives Can Stay Healthy Without Adding to Their To-Do List

You’re running between the barn, the house, and the kids—and you realize you haven’t eaten anything except cold coffee and whatever the toddler didn’t finish. Sound familiar? Your health keeps sliding to the bottom of the list, but it doesn’t have to be another overwhelming project. Here’s how to take care of yourself without adding more to your already-full plate.

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How to Actually Get Things Done When You’re Running a Farm and Raising a Family
How to Actually Get Things Done When You’re Running a Farm and Raising a Family

Several falls ago, I stood in my garden at 9 PM with a flashlight, frantically picking tomatoes before the forecasted freeze hit. My toddler was crying inside. Dinner dishes were still on the table. And I hadn’t even looked at the budget spreadsheet my husband asked me to review three days ago.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re drowning in tasks—choosing between feeding chickens or folding laundry, between bookkeeping or making dinner, between rest or one more thing that absolutely must get done—you’re not alone. And you’re not failing.
The truth? Traditional time management advice doesn’t work for farm life. But there is a system that does. One that works with the chaos instead of against it. One that helps you get the important things done without working yourself into the ground.

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As I’ve grown as an entrepreneur, mom, gardener, and livestock owner, I struggled to find a planner that met my needs and kept me organized. So, I MADE MY OWN. You can look at it on the link below and buy it on Amazon.
Don’t want the whole calendar part? I got you! I pulled the gardening and animal care pages out and put them in a book all their own. 
 
Wanting a community to lean into? Join the FREE Thriving Through Farm Life: Wife’s Support Network! In our community, we embrace the challenges of farm life and provide a supportive space for wives facing the complexities of managing a family farm. Whether you’re navigating financial pressures, day-to-day operations, or seeking ways to create a thriving home, we’re here for you. Explore garden and preservation tips for cultivating your oasis, share insights on animal care, and discover practical family budgeting strategies. Together, let’s grow through challenges, flourish authentically, and sow the seeds for a resilient and thriving farm life. Join us on this journey of resilience and abundance! 
                                                                                                                    
Starting a garden doesn’t have to be hard! I gathered all the tips I’ve learned over my gardening seasons and made them into a simple course to jump-start your gardening life. 

Grab the Gardening Basics Course

                
Everyone wants a healthier home with less illness. But how and where do you start? Jump into my free membership, where I share the tips I’ve learned since my journey started in 2016. Tips range from nutrition, herbs, detoxing, natural cleaning, and using essential oils with kids.  
                
I’ve had 3 very different pregnancies. After the first traumatic birth, I learned how to care for my body naturally preventing common pregnancy and birth problems before they arise. This quick course will give you the tools you need to have a natural healthy pregnancy, labor, and delivery. My first pregnancy I had a normal Western medicine pregnancy. My second? I flipped to completely natural, no medicine. Bonus: Preventing Preeclampsia Without Aspirin & Healing from Birth Trauma

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Shickley, NE

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