Cultivate Contentment

Episode Summary: As we reach the end of the year, everything just seems to hit all at once—school’s out, Christmas is looming, and farm work doesn’t slow down. If you’re like me, you’re feeling the weight of it all, and maybe even a bit guilty for not being able to enjoy the holiday season as much as you think you “should.” The end-of-year overwhelm is real, and I want you to know that we’re all f...

In this episode of Cultivate Contentment , I chat with Katie Hammock, an ER nurse, dairy farmers wife and boy Mom who is passionate about combining her love for emergency medicine with agriculture. Katie shares practical and often overlooked farm safety tips that help save lives. Katie shares essential first aid for farm families , providing practical tips that can genuinely save lives when accide...

In this summer update, I share some exciting news from the farm – we’ve just bought a new property! After months of searching, we found the perfect block right across the river from our home farm. It’s been a whirlwind, but this new farm will help us manage our growing herd and create new opportunities. From irrigation changes to planning our first maize crop, this season is packed with new challe...

In this episode of Cultivate Contentment, I dive into the constant pressure we face to add more to our lives—more activities, more responsibilities, more things—thinking it will bring us happiness or fulfillment. But as rural women, wives, and mothers, is more truly the answer, or does it just lead to more overwhelm and burnout? I share my personal experiences of juggling farm life, motherhood, an...

n this episode of Cultivate Contentment , I’m joined by Sally McManus, an English girl married to an Aussie boy. She is a passionate cook and mother of three wild and wonderful bush babes. She has lived and worked on farm, but always had a passion for a creative outlet of her own. Her most recent being the Homestead Pantry Box that is a country woman's answer to meal delivery. We chat about how an...

In this episode of Cultivate Contentment, I dive into what Christmas looks like on our farm and how it has evolved over the years. While Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year, it comes with its own unique set of challenges, especially when you're juggling farm life and family expectations. I used to put a lot of pressure on myself to create the perfect holiday for my boys, but over tim...

In this episode of Cultivate Contentment , I sit down with Jessica Fishburn, a pelvic health and pain physiotherapist, and a fellow rural woman.  Jessica is an experienced Pelvic Health & Pain Physiotherapist with a fierce passion in population education. Leading with compassion and humility, Jessica is committed to changing the experience of health and wellbeing for rural women. Together with...

In this episode of Cultivate Contentment, I continue exploring the experience of change and focus on what happens after you’ve taken that brave first step but haven’t yet arrived at where you want to be. This stage—the in-between, often called the liminal space—can be incredibly challenging. It’s that place where you’ve left behind the familiar, but the future isn’t fully clear yet. As rural women...

If you’ve been craving change but feel stuck, or if you’ve started making changes but are now feeling unsure or uncomfortable, this episode is for you. Change can be scary, exciting, and overwhelming all at once, especially in rural life, where tradition runs deep. It’s easy to feel conflicted—wanting something different but fearing what might come next. In this episode, I share my own experience...

Lately, I’ve been asking myself, "Can I keep carrying it all?" Between the end of calving season, dealing with silage, board meetings, and keeping up with the kids’ appointments and school schedules, it feels like everything is piling up. Add in the winter illnesses we’ve all been battling, and I started questioning if I’m really managing it all or just barely holding it together. In this episode,...

In today’s episode, I’m excited to sit down with Zoe, a holistic wellness expert, naturopath, and emotional release technique (ERT) practitioner. Zoe is passionate about holistic wellness and personal growth and is a dedicated holistic health guide. With a background in Naturopathy and Emotion Release Technique, she is committed to empowering women and mothers to thrive physically, mentally, and e...

Episode Summary: On today’s episode of Cultivate Contentment , I’m talking about a topic that’s close to my heart—the power of sleep. For many of us as rural mums and farm wives, sleep feels like a luxury. Between the early mornings on the farm, caring for kids, and managing everything else that comes our way, we often put our own needs on the backburner. I’ve been there—those nights where you tos...

Episode Summary:  In this episode of Cultivate Contentment, I’m diving into something that might feel very familiar to many of you – being in the trenches of life, feeling like you're barely keeping your head above water, and realizing you need a reset. Have you ever felt like you’re just going through the motions, trying to survive one day at a time, without a moment to breathe or reflect? Maybe...

`On today’s episode, I’m chatting with my lovely friend, Renee Capko. Renee is a fellow woman in dairy, living in central Minnesota. Although we’re on opposite sides of the world, we share so many of the same challenges in balancing farm life and motherhood.   Renee is married to a dairy farmer and they live in central, MN where they milk 400 dairy cows, have 100 head of beef and raise all of our...

On today’s episode of Cultivate Contentment, we're diving into the ever-challenging topic of balancing school holidays with farm life. As rural mums, we know that school holidays can be both a relief and a juggling act. With the kids out of school and farm work still in full swing, finding a rhythm that works for everyone can feel overwhelming. In this episode, I share my experiences and practical...

Episode Summary  Today I share a seasonal update on life at the farm as we transition into spring. From unpredictable weather to crop updates, calves, and exciting new projects, get an inside look at what this time of year means for farming life. Grab your favorite drink, get comfy, and tune in for an engaging chat that highlights both the challenges and the joys of spring on the farm.  Spring is...

Welcome to another episode of "Cultivate Contentment," where we explore the art of simplifying life and reducing mental load. In this episode, we chat with Bridget Johns, founder of Be Simply Free, who helps women declutter their homes and minds. Bridget Johns (no, not Bridget JONES!) is a Life Simplifier & Time Optimiser. She founded Be Simply Free, an online declutter coaching and life organ...

Episode Description:  Welcome back to another episode of Cultivate Contentment! It’s been quite the week here on the farm. I’ve tried recording this episode multiple times, but between sick kids, farm noise, and a thunderstorm, it’s been a challenge. Fourth time lucky, though—let’s get this done!  In this episode, I’m diving into the chaos that comes with the busy seasons on the farm. Whether it’s...

Navigating the Unpredictability of a Life in Agriculture  Episode Summary:  Farm life is filled with uncertainty, and it's something that we, as rural women, know all too well. From weather changes to market fluctuations, the unpredictability of agriculture can make it challenging to find a sense of stability. But even in the midst of this ever-changing landscape, there are ways to navigate these...

Emily Reuschel on Rural Life, Motherhood, and Personal Growth In the latest episode of "Cultivate Contentment," I had the pleasure of hosting an enriching conversation with Emily Reuschel. Emily Reuschel is a champion for the leaders, thinkers, doers, and dreamers of rural communities and beyond. Her thought leadership defies expectations, busts limiting beliefs, and asks better questions to under...

Hello and welcome to Cultivate Contentment. I'm your host, Jessica Knight. In today’s episode, "No Sick Days: When Winter Illness Hits," I share my recent experience of how winter illnesses impacted my family and our farm life. This winter has been especially harsh with influenza, COVID, and other nasty bugs making the rounds, and it seems like no one is spared. From my kids getting sick one after...

When Everything Seems to Go Wrong   Episode Summary:   On today’s episode of Cultivate Contentment, I dive into the chaos that sometimes engulfs our rural lives, especially for us mums. It’s been one of those weeks where it feels like everything is going wrong – from a cow mishap to septic system issues, and even a website crash on the podcast launch day. I share my own experiences and frustration...

In this episode of "Cultivate Contentment," I explore the dynamic roles that rural women play in the farming world. I share my personal experiences and reflections on the evolving identity of women on the farm, addressing the common question: are you a farm wife or a farmer? Through engaging anecdotes and thoughtful commentary, this episode delves into the challenges and triumphs of embracing both...

In today’s episode of Cultivate Contentment , I, Jessica Knight, also known as the Grounded Farm Wife, delve into a topic that hits very close to home for many of us: burnout. This episode is especially personal for me as I share my own journey with burnout, something that I know many rural women face but don’t often talk about. Burnout is more than just feeling tired or stressed; it’s a state of...

In today's episode of Cultivate Contentment, I'm diving into the reality of maintaining a tidy house and a tidy mind amidst the inevitable dust and chaos of farmhouse living. As someone living on a farm, I know firsthand the constant struggle with dirt, dust, and clutter that seem to infiltrate every nook and cranny of an old farmhouse. With three active boys and a farmer husband who often brings...