Looking for spring garden preparation tips that will really make a difference this year?

Spring garden preparation tips that are technical and game changing are right here. As a home gardener, you want to have spring garden preparation tips that are easy to implement but that will help you to have a successful start to your garden.  So, in this special tips episode, I'm going to be covering 8 early spring garden preparation tips for you to implement. If you're already doing some of them as part of your own spring gardening checklist, that's wonderful! I can tell you from experience that the most successful gardens begin before planting.  And spring garden preparation begins with preparing that seed bed correctly. Preparing garden soil for planting vegetables and other crops is key to a successful garden yield.  But, what is my experience with gardening? Well, it began 31 years ago sitting in my parents garden. I'll jump into that story first. 

About My Garden Experience

With 31 years of experience, I grew up in the garden. 

• As a child, I helped my parents in the garden and learned so much. 
• I loved exhibiting those vegetables in 4-H and Open class at the county fair. 
• I took numerous soil courses in college.
• While in college, I planted seeds in planter pots to grow on the small porch of my double wide trailer.
• I became an Ag & Hort Extension Agent, where I taught people how to garden for 7 years. 
• And I've raised tomato, squash and sweet corn yield trials for several years. 
• Finally, all while raising my own garden on my homestead the past 10 years. 

So, enough about me! Now, I want to share my vegetable garden tips with you. Let's jump right into those tips for planning the garden. 

First of all, Write Some Goals for the Garden

Planning the Spring garden begins with the end in mind. What will you be using those vegetables for? Examples:

• Exhibiting the best veggies at the county fair. 
• Growing enough veggies to feed the family all year. 
• Farmers Markets
• Donating vegetables to those in need?

The list is endless! Go ahead and write down some goals. Then, decide where you will put everything by drawing out a map. 

Then, Make a Map of the Garden

This is basically vegetable garden layout ideas for where you will plant your different seeds or your vegetable garden plants. It doesn't have to be pretty. Mine are never ever pretty because I am NOT good at drawing. But, I want to make sure that I know where all the veggies will go.  Some factors to pay attention to:

• First of all, type of soil
• Soil Drainage
• Wildlife
• Insects
• Finally, shade or Full Sun

And now you know where you will plant. Let's see if that soil is ready for the vegetable assigned to it by discussing soil preparation for planting. 

Complete A Soil Test

What you need:

• Bucket
• Soil Probe or Shovel

Now, how to take the soil test:

• First of all, use your shovel or soil probe to collect 10 core samples at least 6 inches deep.
• Mix the samples in a bucket 
• Contact your county Extension office for soil bags
• Send your samples in with proper payment. 

Independent Soil Testing Lab:

• SDK Soil Testing

Have a good sample for each garden spot by taking the 10 core samples from each garden spot.  Then, you'll get your results. Results of a Soil Test tell you:

• Nitrogen
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• pH

Here's that fertilizer recommendations guide!  Complete a soil test every three years. It is worth the investment and can tell you so much. 

What Will You Plant?

What varieties will you choose? There are so many!   First of all, make a list of all the veggies you will plant.  Refer to:

• First of all, seed catalogs
• Your Map
• County Fair/State Fair dates
• And, your Goals

Also, look at:

• First of all, prices
• Then, description of the variety. 

Choose the best variety for you, your location and time. And then you can purchase your seed. 

When Do You Purchase Seed for Spring Garden Preparation?

Anytime! The beginning of the year is when those catalogs usually start trickling in. January is usually a nice time to plan out the spring garden and order those seeds.  But you'll need to know zone you're in. Here's a map of some zones of the United States. This is a fun activity to do with your family.  And typically, the seed companies you purchase from will send you seeds and plants according to when you're going to plant them, which can also vary. To determine planting dates, check your soil temperature! This is what we'll discuss next. 

Check that Soil Temperature before Planting 

This is a factor that I didn't learn until much later on. It's a factor that many home gardeners do not think about. You simply need a soil thermometer and you can purchase one here.  Why? Because different seeds require different temperatures for germination. You need to know what those temperatures are. 

So, Get My Printable for Soil Temperature Recommendations that Different Veggies Love 

And Read More About Soil Temperature HERE

Next, Be Sure To Have The Right Moisture 

So, there are different soil types that hold water differently:

• First of all, Clay soil holds water. 
• Next, Loam (Mix of Clay and Sand) drains better than clay.
• Finally, Sandy drains the best. 

Pay attention to the amount of moisture in your seed bed. If it's too wet and holding too much water, the seeds won't germinate. Hence, you don't want it to be muddy. Just slightly wet and fluffy. 

Finally, Get Ready for Potential Wildlife Damage

Ugh - those plant predators! You need to remember to watch out for them as part of your spring garden preparation. These can be:

• Rabbits
• Pack Rats
• Livestock

Therefore, you can try to protect those plants:

• First of all, put a fence up: Woven Wire or Chicken Wire
• Place something sturdy around the bottom. 
• Watch out for holes. Fill them with water.
• Trap them.
• Plant certain flowers (such as marigolds)
• Finally, urinate around the edge. (WHAT?)

Remember, it's the little things. Watch your baby veggies closely to make sure the wildlife won't destroy your hard work. 

In Conclusion

So, I hope these eight tips will help you to have a successful start to the gardening season. Here they are again:

1. First of all, write down goals for your garden.
2. Then, Map out your garden.
3. And test your soil.
4. Find the right variety to plant
5. Then, purchase those seeds from a good seed company you love.
6. Check the soil temperature.
7. Pay attention to Moisture.
8. Finally, Watch out for Plant Predators.

If you at least do one of these, you'll be making a change for the better.

Ways to Contact Me

First of all: Email at mindymatt@myoungfarms.com (I'd love for you to join my email list) Next, Facebook: Farm Fit Living Then, Snap Chat: @farmfitmama And, Twitter: @farmfitliving Finally, Instagram: @farmfitliving I hope you enjoyed this episode about planning the spring garden. Please let me know if you used any of these tips for planning the garden and how they worked for you.

RURALITES, HONE YOUR DREAMS, OWN YOUR LIFE AND I’LL SEE YOU DOWN THE ROAD.

~ Much Love ~

DISCLOSURE: THIS POST ABOUT CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS. THIS MEANS THAT, AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU, I MAY GET A COMMISSION IF YOU CLICK THE LINK AND MAKE A PURCHASE. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS WAY!

On the fence about living rural? Episode 9 gives plenty of rural living advantages for you.

Rural living advantages is abundant in small towns. Furthermore, rural is not less. Seems like more and more young people, like Jenny Russell, are discovering the advantages of rural areas over urban areas. And they are moving back.  Yes, young families are seeing the wonderful living in rural areas advantages there are. They may have tried to find the advantages of urban life only to discover more advantages in the types of rural community vs their urban community. .  Yet, rural living vs urban living may or may not be a huge adjustment. You can have the best of both worlds by creating both the live you want as well as the job online or in the rural area. Again, rural is not less. There are many reasons to live in a rural area. And Jenny gives plenty of great advice to make the most of living rural.  So, check out the show notes while you listen to episode 9 about rural living advantages. 

FIRST OF ALL, ABOUT JEN

• First of all, she's a busy mom, farm wife & business owner.
• Grew up on a farm near Glen Elder, Kansas.
• From Courtland, Kansas (MY HOMETOWN ALSO).
• Has a Marketing and Business degree.
• Owns JenRus Freelance.
• Took experiences from previous jobs to start her successful business in a town of 300 people. 

AND A PIECE OF ADVICE FROM JEN

"You should NEVER be bored in a rural area." So, get involved, volunteer and help your community grow.  And anyone can create something new with the passion and drive behind it.  Also, Jen stresses that "rural is not less." And after growing up in Courtland, I know that is true. Rural communities, like Courtland, KS have changed over time. Internet and road/infrastructure changes have made rural a more progressive and faster paced place to visit and live.  The opportunities in rural areas are endless now. Let's take a look back at Jen's journey to finding out those rural living advantages and rural living tips on her own. 

NEXT, LOW POINTS THROUGH THE JOURNEY

First of all, let's start with that low point. Jen's first job out of college. It wasn't a job she loved. But she went to work and did the job every day.   Then, the layoffs came and that was a traumatizing experience. Many of her coworkers were laid off very unexpectedly. And there were a couple of key things she learned through this experience. 

AS A RESULT, SOME LESSONS LEARNED 

• First of all, she will never treat her employees that way. 
• Most importantly, pray more before a decision is made. Maybe if she would have prayed more, God would have led her towards a different first job. 

THEN, JEN DESCRIBES THE “AHA MOMENT” ABOUT RURAL LIVING ADVANTAGES

• First of all, working for Brush Art opened her eyes to what the possibilities were for owning a business in the rural area. 
• Also, meeting Marci Penner from Kansas Sampler. Marci opened her eyes to new rural living advantages and the real rural area meaning. 
• As a result of meeting Marci, Jenny learned about "Rural by Choice." 

So, what's Rural by Choice? Well, it's the the future of  rural living definition! People 39 years old and under moved back to a rural area on purpose. Wait...That's me!!!

NEXT, WHAT IS ONE THING THAT JEN STRUGGLES WITH?

• First of all, time. 
• And body image (weight, what to eat, etc). 

So, she's getting up early in the morning to fit in some fitness and mindset so she makes the time. For more on this topic, check out Episode 6. 

CONSEQUENTLY, WHAT IS JEN MOST EXCITED ABOUT?

Most of all rural development work! Encouraging people to enjoy living the country life. In addition, Jen is inspired to share all the opportunities that are available with life in rural areas.  And she really enjoys improving rural, bringing people back and campaigning these rural living advantages to others. Jen has a passion for promoting the lifestyle of people in rural areas to others.  Also, kids, family, and community are also things that get Jen fired up. 

SO, WHAT IS HOLDING JEN BACK FROM REACHING HER GOALS?

Jen wants to grow her business. She wants her business to impact more people and hire more people in her community. But the main thing holding Jen back is time.  Not enough time in the day. She has a kiddo not in school yet, so juggling a small child with work can be a struggle while developing a business. Believe me, I know! But she wouldn't have it any other way. And neither would I. 

BEST ADVICE FOR MAKING THE JUMP TO RURAL LIVING

First of all, make the first move. Visit the community and talk to the people there. Probably talk to them and get to know them. Why? Because those initial conversations with the locals matter.  Then, put your resume into places you want to work.  Or, use your entrepreneurial spirit to create a job for yourself using those skills. 

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED

Most of all, "No Job is Beneath You." Hence, don't be afraid to do any job. And don't be afraid to get your hands dirty. 

FURTHERMORE, HER BEST PERSONAL HABIT

Most noteworthy, making up in the morning and exercising to make sure she gets it in. As a result, it makes her feel accomplished and ready for the day. 

OF COURSE, HER FAVORITE GO-TO MEAL

Probably chicken chunk casserole! This sounds delicious. 

• Chicken or learn how to harvest your own birds.
• Potatoes or learn how to plant your own. 
• Probably Cheese

Hence, Jen is going to have to give me this recipe! 

FAVORITE APP?

Probably Drop box. It's an online file storing system. 

AND, FAVORITE PHYSICAL TOOL

While she thinks she is very "unhandy", she keeps a hammer and screwdriver on hand just in case. 

THEN, BEST BOOK SHE WOULD RECOMMEND

Since she doesn't read much, she's reverting back to the good old days. She used to love Anne of Green Gables. And currently, she's reading Harry Potter with her son at night. 

AND, IF JEN WOKE UP TOMORROW, ACQUIRED 10 ACRES AND $1000, WHAT WOULD SHE DO?

Probably, Jen would give and she would help! She'd give the money to those who need it.  And she would give that extra 10 acres to her husband to grow the farming operation. 

IN CONCLUSION, SOME PARTING WORDS OF WISDOM

So, just be happy where you're at. And, use your skills and knowledge to create the best life you want. 

FINALLY, CONTACT JEN

First of all, her web site: JenRus Freelance. And Facebook Page: JenRus Freelance Finally, catch all the past episodes of Rural Women Inspired!

RURALITES, HONE YOUR DREAMS, OWN YOUR LIFE AND I’LL SEE YOU DOWN THE ROAD.

~ MUCH LOVE ~

DISCLOSURE: THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS. THIS MEANS THAT, AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU, I MAY GET A COMMISSION IF YOU CLICK THE LINK AND MAKE A PURCHASE. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS WAY!

Have you ever thought about moving away from your current life and starting a new homestead from scratch? 

Starting a new homestead from scratch can be terrifying.

The feeling of uncertainty might be overwhelming but exciting. My guest today has lived through this experience.  Meet Alexis Griffee. She has an amazing story to tell you today with many lessons learned from moving halfway across the country to start fresh. I'll let her tell her story, but she does have many tips for how to face fears about moving  as well as how to start a homestead when your brand new. I hope you enjoy episode 10!    

FIRST OF ALL, ABOUT ALEXIS

• Sleep Deprived Homesteader
• Mule Rider
• Freelance Writer & Blogger at Muckboots & Munchkins
• She's a member of the homesteading bloggers network I'm also a part of. Homestead Bloggers Network
• Wife and Mom
• Clovis, New Mexico
• She and her family moved from Florida to New Mexico in 2016 to start their dream farm. 
• It was an interesting adjustment. 

AND A PIECE OF ADVICE FROM ALEXIS

  Take your time and learn about the new area before you jump in. New Mexico is a lot different than Florida. Even though they lived rural in Florida, their community was a little more urban than where they live now in New Mexico. Here's some ways ways the family had to adjust:

• Starting a new homestead from scratch.
• How to start a homestead with nothing in a brand new place and knowing absolutely no one in the new area.
• Homesteading grants for funding.
• Homesteading self sufficiency in a brand new place
• Finally, they had to face fears about moving away and starting new. 

Here's what she did to overcome these adjustments:

• Stop and learn about her new homestead land.
• Branched out to the locals to learn from them. 
• Work with the local Extension agents. 

Having a huge passion for something can work against you if you don't stop and learn first. 

NEXT, LOW POINTS THROUGH THEIR JOURNEY

Alexis let herself get overwhelmed. She was involved in many things (it's easy to do when you live rural).  So, she had to let herself slow down. It was hard for her to admit to herself that she was doing too much.  And because of all of this, Alexis sold her beloved dairy cows.   

AS A RESULT, SOME LESSONS LEARNED

• Not set herself up for failure
• She learned to not place unrealistic expectations on herself. 

HOW ALEXIS HAS LEARNED TO PRIORITIZE

She usually just takes a few minutes here and there to do a the easy tasks. Just completing the little tasks makes her feel accomplished. 

THEN, ALEXIS DESCRIBES THE “AHA MOMENT”

Selling her dairy cows made her realize how much she thought about what people were thinking of her. That's when she realized that she needed to stop worrying about what others think about her.  She prayed about it. Then, she refocused and reprioritized to make decisions and choices. Those choices led to the big move west. 

NEXT, WHAT IS ONE THING THAT ALEXIS STRUGGLES WITH?

Definitely fear:

• What will family say about the big move?
• What if they couldn't find a property?
• Maybe the people in the new community wouldn't be nice?

She was too worried about these little things. There's nothing worse than living in fear and anxiety all the time. And the fear of living life. But sometimes you just have to know that you're being led and overcome those fears.  You need to learn how to face fear and anxiety before you can learn how to stop living in fear.  And facing fear is good for you. Face them and overcome them to grow as a person. You never know who might be waiting on you if you're too scared to make that leap. The next open door can be an exciting part of life.

CONSEQUENTLY, WHAT IS ALEXIS MOST EXCITED ABOUT?

She's really excited for the new farm and building a homestead house for their family. As they remodel the farm house to make it their own, she's finding that it has so much life and personality. It's old and a very loved piece of the community.  So, she feels like they are restoring a piece of history to make it special for them and the community.   

SO, WHAT IS HOLDING ALEXIS BACK FROM REACHING HER GOALS?

Again, fear! Especially with livestock. Fear about homestead startup costs, continuing to fund the homestead or something happening to the livestock is scary.  Luckily, she has moved to a great community with many agricultural leaders to help and work with.     

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED

 Based upon a story she tells in the episode, you have to allow beauty of God's grace to cover up the ugliness of the world. Even when we don't want to!

FURTHERMORE, HER BEST PERSONAL HABIT

She always takes time for herself. Even if it's 5 minutes, that little time for yourself is golden and so important.  In the morning, she likes to put on her head phones and listen to music. It helps her to escape for a little bit and get her day started right.  Another suggestion is to put a puzzle together or go for a run. Do something for yourself and recharge!

OF COURSE, HER FAVORITE GO-TO MEAL

Mexican Soup:

• Chicken Breast or raise your own.
• Salsa or make and can your own. 
• Beans (Pinto beans or Black beans)
• Corn - Here's how I freeze fresh sweet corn.
• Mexican Seasoning
• Rice or Quinoa

YUM! This is a recipe I need to use. Sounds delicious. 

FAVORITE APP?

Proceed with Caution: Pinterest! It can be so awesome  Tip: Set a timer for a specific amount of time and when that timer goes off - Get Off Pinterest! 

AND, FAVORITE PHYSICAL TOOL

Right now, it's her belt sander because she's doing a lot of renovations. She loves her belt sander because she can spend just a little bit of time and completely transform something. 

THEN, BEST BOOK SHE WOULD RECOMMEND

• The Bible
• Fahrenheit 451

AND, IF ALEXIS WOKE UP TOMORROW, ACQUIRED 10 ACRES AND $1000, WHAT WOULD SHE DO?

She would fence it in for some fiber sheep. Alexis has a passion for weaving and spinning, so she wants to start raising fiber sheep to have her own fiber.   

IN CONCLUSION, SOME PARTING WORDS OF WISDOM

Just go for it! There's a lot of people out there (maybe you!) who want to start living rural, start a homestead, etc. So, take the next step and just start!

FINALLY, CONTACT ALEXIS 

  First of all, Alexis has a contest coming up to support 4-H! If you love 4-H or have kids enrolled, you might want to check it out here.  Website: Muckboots & Munchkins Facebook: Muckboots & Munchkins Finally, catch all the past episodes of Rural Women Inspired! I hope you enjoyed episode 10 about starting a new homestead from scratch!

RURALITES, HONE YOUR DREAMS, OWN YOUR LIFE AND I’LL SEE YOU DOWN THE ROAD.

~ MUCH LOVE ~

DISCLOSURE: THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS. THIS MEANS THAT, AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU, I MAY GET A COMMISSION IF YOU CLICK THE LINK AND MAKE A PURCHASE. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS WAY!  

Do you struggle with trying to learn to appreciate the little things in life?

  Balancing life can be achieved just by doing what is the most important. And sometimes it's just changing one thing that helps you make that difference.  Want to hear more? Meet Amy Dingmann.  Amy is super awesome. But don't take my word for it. In episode 11, Amy is going to discuss:

• How to learn to appreciate the little things in life
• How to find balance in your life
• And how important it is to become an authentic person in your own life. 

I hope you enjoy episode 11! 

FIRST OF ALL, ABOUT AMY

• Clucky Dicken's Farm in Minnesota
• Describes herself as "Ma Ingalls with a glass of red wine".
• Lives on and manages the 5 acre Homestead
• Law Enforcement Husband and two teenage sons
• Gardens & Produce, chickens, quail, etc.
• Homeschools her two boys.
• Two web sites: A Farmish Kind of Life & The Hmmmschooling Mom
• Author and Speaker

AND A PIECE OF ADVICE FROM AMY

Great quote: "When you find center, center moves." We're always looking for balance.  Also, be honest about what you can handle in your seasons of life. Try not to overdo it. 

NEXT, LOW POINTS THROUGH HER JOURNEY

After she and her husband bought the farm, her parents got divorced. That changed the entire outlook of their farming goals. They had to rework everything. 

AS A RESULT, SOME LESSONS LEARNED

She learned that life is always changing. You can plan, but you can't predict the future. But you'll survive.  And that's why you should appreciate the little things. It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen. 

WHAT AMY WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY

There are some things with the original farm plans that she would have done differently. And those have change over time for what has worked well with their family and farm. 

THEN, AMY DESCRIBES THE “AHA MOMENT”

• The day she walked out and realized that "this is our farm." 
• She learned that there's a difference in running a homestead to provide for yourself and a farm to provide for others. 

Thus, the importance of goals. Set your goals and stick to them. They will light up your path along the journey. 

NEXT, WHAT IS ONE THING THAT AMY STRUGGLES WITH?

Definitely Balance! Balance is the key to life and she constantly wonders if she's spending too much time on one thing and not enough time in another area.  But she realizes that if you're consistently running out of time, you should check yourself to see how you're managing your time. 

CONSEQUENTLY, WHAT IS AMY MOST EXCITED ABOUT?

• She's getting Turkeys
• Experiment: Red Ranger Chickens vs. Cornish Cross Chickens for Meat
• Lots of business plans! 

SO, WHAT IS HOLDING AMY BACK FROM REACHING HER GOALS?

For business: She wants to have more ways to educate her readers and listeners. She struggles with taking action with her ideas at times.  Also, she suffers from the "imposter syndrome"...she's not giving herself enough credit with her knowledge and experiences.  Listen to Elizabeth Shipstead's episode for more on overcoming this barrier of "imposter syndrome." 

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED

Amy's best advice came from one of her wedding guests: Leave three things unsaid every day.  We all have things or say things that should be left unsaid. So, this would be a great habit to start each day. 

FURTHERMORE, HER BEST PERSONAL HABIT

Amy has learned not to rush the morning into starting work. She has found that it's really important to start the day with devotion and prayer.  Basically, taking time for herself in the morning. This has became a trend among all Rural Women Inspired podcast guests.     

FAVORITE APP?

Amy is very much a paper and pen type of person.  But her favorite app is Voxer. It combines texting with talking on the phone. You can:

• Talk/Text to group members
• Leave voice messages for yourself
• Helps keep you organized. 

THEN, BEST BOOK SHE WOULD RECOMMEND

• See You in a Hundred Years by Logan Ward. A true story about a family from the city who moved from the country to live like they would have lived 100 years ago. 

AND, IF AMY WOKE UP TOMORROW, ACQUIRED 10 ACRES AND $1000, WHAT WOULD SHE DO?

First of all, she would freak out! HAHA! She would sit down and make a plan with her husband for what the best way would be to use the $1000. 

IN CONCLUSION, SOME PARTING WORDS OF WISDOM

"Be Yourself. Everyone else is already taken." ~ Oscar Wilde Don't hide yourself from the world. Instead, be real and authentic. 

FINALLY, CONTACT AMY 

Website: A Farmish Kind Of Life Website: The Hmmmschooling Mom Facebook: A Farmish Kind of Life Facebook: The Hmmmschooling Mom YouTube: A Farmish Kind of Life YouTube: The Hmmmschooling Mom Finally, catch all the past episodes of Rural Women Inspired! 

RURALITES, HONE YOUR DREAMS, OWN YOUR LIFE AND I’LL SEE YOU DOWN THE ROAD.

~ MUCH LOVE ~

DISCLOSURE: THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS. THIS MEANS THAT, AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU, I MAY GET A COMMISSION IF YOU CLICK THE LINK AND MAKE A PURCHASE. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS WAY!  

Challenge: Make the goal to learn to appreciate the little things in life for one day. Then, one week. Finally one month. Please let me know how your mindset changes by shooting me an email or leaving a comment below. I'd love to hear from you. 

If you're inspired with building a legacy to pass down to younger generations, episode 12 is for you!

Building a legacy to pass down takes time. It takes patience, sacrifice and very hard work.  And Krista Stauffer is doing it. Nothing is holding her and her family back from building their dairy farm. After 8 years of living and working on the farm, they will finally be owners! She has a great story to tell, so here are a few high lights you'll hear in this episode:

• Building a legacy to pass down to generations. 
• Finding Balance in Every Day Life.
• Community + Patience is the key to success.

I hope you enjoy episode 12! 

FIRST OF ALL, ABOUT KRISTA

• She and her husband own Stauffer Dairy in Eastern Washington State
• 3 Kids + One on the way
• Blogger @ The Farmer's Wifee
• Photographer

AND A PIECE OF ADVICE FROM KRISTA

"We all struggle with trying to find balance." Living a balanced life can be difficult. Just focus on the priorities.  One great example of the difficulty is from Amy Dingmann's episode: When you find center (balance), center moves! So, balance isn't really something you find ever because it is always moving. 

HOW DOES KRISTA BALANCE FARM WORK AND KIDS?

She and her husband are a team. Also, her mother in law gave her great advice: "Never do anything on the farm that you don't want to do for the rest of your life."  So, her husband milks the cows and she and the kids help out everywhere else. 

Read about why team work makes or breaks farmlife.

Read how to balance farm work with kids.

NEXT, LOW POINTS THROUGH HER JOURNEY

Krista went through a divorce before she met her husband. It was a hard time. She had previously quit her job to stay home with her young child.  So, there she was...unemployed and divorced. And during a recession, no less! Obviously a very low point in her life. But then, she got a job at the feed store! And that's where she met her husband. 

AS A RESULT, SOME LESSONS LEARNED

That she's not defined by what others do to her. Through the experience, she always thought of her daughter first.  So, she's happy about how she handled the situation because everything she did was with her child in mind. 

THEN, KRISTA DESCRIBES THE “AHA MOMENT”

Having children changed her life. No longer are the days where she focuses completely on herself. The kids depend on her and her days around them.  But she wouldn't have it any other way. 

NEXT, WHAT IS ONE THING THAT KRISTA STRUGGLES WITH?

Time is the one thing she struggles with. Not having enough time.  And prioritizing. A good thing to practice is to do the most important thing each day.   

CONSEQUENTLY, WHAT IS KRISTA MOST EXCITED ABOUT?

Krista and her husband finally own their farm! It's scary, frustrating and exciting. Now, it's time to upgrade and change the farm that is now their's.  Farm succession planning to the next generation farm family has begun for them!

ADVICE FOR STARTING YOUR OWN FARM

Lots of lessons learn but the big one is patience. And be willing to make sacrifice.  You have to change your way of thinking sometimes to make things happen. Be flexible.  Finally, there's many things to learn from the older generations. Be open minded, find your mentor and be willing to let them help you. 

SO, WHAT IS HOLDING KRISTA BACK FROM REACHING HER GOALS?

Krista's ultimate goal is all about farm inheritance planning. Her goal is to continue to build a legacy to pass down to her kids. And there's nothing holding her back from that.   

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED

She was raised with the mindset that she can do anything she wants if she's willing to work hard for it.  Also, her mother always told her that "No One Defines You." You decide the person you want to become.   

FURTHERMORE, HER BEST PERSONAL HABIT

She hugs and loves on her family. That personal connection with them makes her day worth it.  And she has her husband and his family to thank for that. 

GO-TO MEAL

Mostly any simple beef recipe:

• Spaghetti
• Lasagna
• Enchiladas

Pretty much any beef and dairy recipe that is simple.  

FAVORITE APP?

Krista is not an app person. She must be able to write with a calendar and pen. 

THEN, BEST BOOK SHE WOULD RECOMMEND

Lysa Terkheurst (pronounced Leesa) - The Best Yes. A great book that digs into priorities.  Another great book from Lysa is called Uninvited. I've recently listened to the audio version during a road trip all the way through. My way of thinking about myself was whipped into shape. It's a good one to check out as well. 

AND, IF KRISTA WOKE UP TOMORROW, ACQUIRED 10 ACRES AND $1000, WHAT WOULD SHE DO?

She'd fence off the acreage to use for grazing heifers (young females that have not yet had a calf).  The money would be used to revamp the doors and windows on the milk house.  Note: The milk house does have regulations it does need to follow with the Department of Agriculture. Krista has certain rules she would have to follow before making those design decisions.   

IN CONCLUSION, SOME PARTING WORDS OF WISDOM

Get the book: The Best Yes! (See Above Links) Focus on your family and what you want in your life.   

FINALLY, CONTACT KRISTA

Instagram: The Farmer's Wifee Facebook: The Farmer's Wifee Blog: The Farmer's Wifee   Finally, catch all the past episodes of Rural Women Inspired! 

RURALITES, HONE YOUR DREAMS, OWN YOUR LIFE AND I’LL SEE YOU DOWN THE ROAD.

~ MUCH LOVE ~

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