Rural Women Rock Guest Post

What if there was a place where women, rural women, could go to support each other? To cheer each other on. To share ideas. And yes, probably to laugh.

There is. It's called Rural Women Rock, and I'm honored to be guest posting on their blog today.

I wasn't born a rural woman...I was born and raised an Air Force Brat. We moved, on average, every two and a half years. As a little girl I would dream about putting down roots. Don’t get me wrong, I had the best childhood, no complaints here…but I longed for a bit of earth to call my own.

When the time came to choose a college I surprised myself by accepting an appointment to the Air Force Academy. Even though I had talked my whole life about never wanting to move again there was also a part of me that felt the need to serve. It was at the Academy that I met the handsome man...you can read all about our story here >> and the farm we are building here >> But, the Academy is also where I learned about the strength of women.

Of course, I'm no stranger to strong women. I didn’t know my grandmother as she passed away at a very young age, but, from what I have been told I believe she was the epitome of a rural woman. A horsewoman who rode stallions, raised bunnies for meat, made teddy bears out of their pajamas and fed earthworms from their droppings. She was opinionated and stubborn, strong and proud. When I was a little girl, just before she died, we were living in Saudi Arabia. My grandmother decided to send her farm fresh eggs to us, a little taste of home. Unfortunately when they arrived my mother cracked them into the frying pan where we were greeted by half-formed chicks. Oops, probably shouldn’t have sent fertilized eggs. Of course my mother wasn’t fazed. She is tough as nails and a little cooky to boot. Because she fell in love with a military man she manifested her rural passions in establishing the most beautiful gardens, every single place we lived. She was always outside, digging in the dirt or digging in the snow. She taught me to be self-sufficient, to stay true to yourself and above all, to find happiness in the smallest of tasks. Here we are at my parent's house in Lakeside, Oregon, hammering wonderboard for her bathroom tile...my mom worked right alongside the men and literally built her home.

I believe in the strength of women, especially when they unite in a common goal. I also believe in staying true to yourself. Rural Women Rock supports this vision whole-heartedly. To steal Eleanor Roosevelt's quote from their wall, "Do what you feel in your heart to be right-for you'll be criticized anyway." I couldn't agree more.

Why else do Rural Women Rock? Well, because we have roosters, of course :)

ps: The Farmstead is on facebook! You can visit our page by clicking here >> Don't forget to like us! We have fun giveaways and you may get to name a farm animal!