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 feeling it. This time of year, it’s easy to think everyone else has it all together, but trust me, they don’t.

In this episode, I’m getting raw and real about how chaotic this season is for so many of us mums. From the Christmas tree still not being up, to forgetting to move the elf for days on end—none of us are thriving right now, and that’s okay. I’ll be sharing how I’ve been managing (or barely managing) through the stress, and offering up some tips that have helped me keep my head above water. Let’s stop pretending we’re coping and start admitting that it’s hard—because it is. Together, we can make it through this season without completely losing it.

Key Points Covered in this Episode:

• The pressure mums feel to “do it all” during the holidays: The truth is, we’re all feeling the weight of trying to make everything magical for our kids while juggling a million other things. Social media makes it seem like everyone else is baking cookies, wrapping presents, and planning the perfect holiday—but behind the scenes, most of us are barely getting by. I open up about the guilt I feel when things slip, and why it’s okay to not do it all.
• Why it’s okay to not have everything perfect at the end of the year: There’s this constant pressure to finish the year strong, tick every box, and hit all our goals. But the reality is, we’re exhausted. I talk about why it’s perfectly fine to let some things go—whether it’s not sending teacher gifts, skipping the Christmas cards, or just ordering takeaway more often than you’d like. It doesn’t make us bad mums, it makes us human.
• Real tips to bring a bit more structure and sanity to the season: While I’m not about to tell you to overhaul your life, there are a few simple things that have helped me regain a bit of control during the chaos. From keeping a flexible routine to giving the kids small responsibilities, I share how adding just a little structure can stop the days from blurring together and give you a chance to breathe.
• The importance of letting go of expectations and focusing on what really matters: It’s easy to get lost in all the “shoulds” this time of year, but I’ve found that the most important moments are the ones where I’m present with my kids, not the ones where everything looks picture-perfect. I remind myself—and you—that the kids don’t care if the decorations are Instagram-worthy. They care about the time we spend together, even if it’s messy.
• How to get your kids involved without adding to your stress: Getting the kids to help around the house is a win-win—they feel useful, and you get a little help. But let’s be real, it doesn’t always go smoothly. I talk about the learning curve I’ve experienced with my boys, and how giving them small, manageable tasks (like unloading the dishwasher or putting their clothes away) has made a difference in keeping the household running, even if it takes a bit of extra time at first.

Resources and Links

• Grounded Farm Wife Journal
• Values Bundle

Connect with JESSICA:

Follow me on Instagram Grounded Farm Wife

Join my newsletter community Join my...

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 accidents happen on the farm. As we head into the busy season with harvest and summer just around the corner, Katie’s insights are especially important for keeping your loved ones safe.

From tourniquets to whistles, Katie explains five life-saving items that every farm should have on hand. She draws on real-life stories from her career in the emergency room and experiences on her own dairy farm to highlight the importance of preparedness. We dive into the most common farm injuries and discuss how having a well-equipped first aid kit—and knowing how to use it—can make all the difference in critical situations. Katie also shares tips on keeping kids safe around farm equipment, making this episode a must-listen for every rural family.

Key Points Covered in this Episode:

• Five essential first aid items that every farm family should have: tourniquet, quick clot, vet wrap, whistle, and a CPR shield
• Real-life stories of farm accidents and how quick thinking and proper first aid tools can save lives
• Creative solutions for farm emergencies when typical first aid supplies aren't available
• Tips for keeping kids safe around tractors, equipment, and animals, especially during busy times like harvest season
• The importance of clear communication on the farm and having emergency plans in place

Resources & Links:

Grounded Farm Wife Journal

Grounded Farm Wife Journal

CONNECT WITH KATIE

• Follow her on @thedairywife
• Find farm first aid items on Amazon
• Purchase a Farm Emergency Kit

Connect with Jessica:

Follow me on InstagramGrounded Farm Wife

Check out my Website

Join my newsletter community

https://www.groundedfarmwife.com.au/podcast-1/25

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 challenges and exciting steps forward.

In this episode, I also talk about the realities of running a farm business and making strategic decisions for growth. It’s not all smooth sailing, and there’s a lot of work to be done, from learning to order water from the irrigation system to setting up miles of fencing. But it’s all part of the journey, and I’m sharing the ups and downs with you. I hope this summer update gives you a little insight into farm life and what’s been happening on our side of the world.

Key Points Covered in this Episode:

• The purchase of a new farm just across the river: We finally found the right property after almost a year of searching. It’s only a four-minute drive from our current farm, which makes it much easier to manage. The close proximity means we can share equipment and staff between the two farms without too much hassle.
• Managing a growing herd and young stock: With our herd growing to 650 cows for autumn, we needed more space for young stock. This new property will help us expand and better manage our replacements, but it also means a lot of work ahead to get the land ready for dairy use again.
• Transitioning from veggie farming to dairy use: The new farm used to be a vegetable farm, and while the soil is rich and perfect for our needs, there’s a lot of infrastructure work to do. We’ll need to put up fencing, install water lines, and prepare the land for grazing as it was flattened for vegetable production.
• Planning for the first maize crop and silage cutting: We recently cut 55 acres of silage on the new property, and now we’re preparing the soil for our first maize crop. This is new for us, so we’re relying on the advice of our agronomist to get it right, from planting to harvesting at just the right time.
• Challenges of setting up fencing and water lines on the new property: With 257 acres to cover, we’ve got about 15 kilometers of fencing and over a kilometer of water lines to install. It’s a big job, and while we plan to tackle the internal fencing ourselves, we’ll be bringing in contractors for the external boundaries to make sure they’re secure for young stock.
• Strategic decisions for the future of our farm business: Buying this new property was a necessary step for our long-term growth. It wasn’t a decision we made lightly, but after carefully planning our business strategy, we knew this was the right move to ensure we can continue expanding and managing our herd effectively in the years to come.

Resources & Links:

• Values Bundle
• Grounded Farm Wife Journal

Connect with Jessica:

• Follow me on Instagram @groundedfarmwife
• Check out my website www.groundedfarmwife.com.au
• Join my email list

Subscribe to the Cultivate Contentment podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, you won’t want to miss what’s...

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, and the endless to-do lists that seem to grow every day. She asks the tough question: What if we stopped trying to do it all and embraced the idea that what we already have is enough?

We explore how this mindset of "more is better" not only affects our own lives but also spills over into our children's schedules. Many of us push our kids into too many activities, fearing they'll miss out on opportunities or fall behind, but I challenge this notion. Is filling their days with constant busyness really benefiting them, or is it just adding stress to everyone involved? This episode encourages you to reflect on whether you’re doing more out of obligation or genuine desire and how embracing "enough" can lead to deeper contentment in family life and beyond.

Key Points Covered in this episode:

• The constant pull to add more to our schedules, thinking it will bring happiness, but how it often leads to burnout and stress.
• Why we say "yes" to more responsibilities and commitments, and the trade-offs that come with it—especially for rural women balancing farm work, family life, and community involvement.
• How overloading our kids with extracurriculars might be more about us feeling pressure than about what they truly need.
• Reflecting on whether doing "more" is genuinely bringing joy to your life or just adding more pressure to an already full schedule.
• The emotional and mental toll of packed schedules and the importance of allowing space for rest, play, and family time.
• Practical tips for embracing the idea that "enough" is truly enough—especially when it comes to balancing farm life, motherhood, and personal well-being.
• 
  

Reflection Questions for You:

• Do you feel like you're competing with other families to keep up with their busy schedules? What might happen if you gave your family more breathing room?
• Are you saying "yes" to things because you genuinely want to or because you feel obligated? What would it look like if you embraced "enough" instead?
• How can you simplify your children’s activities to focus more on quality time and less on constant busyness?
• 
  

Resources & Links:

Grounded Farm Wife Journal

Connect with Jessica:

Follow me on Instagram@groundedfarmwife

Join my email list

Check out my website www.groundedfarmwife.com.au

Find the complete show notes here: https://www.groundedfarmwife.com.au/podcast-1/22

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 English girl ended up as an outback station cook and butcher, married to an Aussie farmer, and how her passion for quality ingredients led to her business.

Sally and I dive into all things Christmas cooking, sharing simple, practical tips to help you plan and prepare a stress-free holiday meal. Whether you're hosting a large family gathering or keeping it small and cozy, Sally’s advice will make your Christmas cooking easier, allowing you to spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the day.

Sally shares her favorite go-to dishes for impressing guests, including a classic ham recipe and crispy roast potatoes, and talks about how to balance traditional Christmas meals with new, exciting ideas. We also discuss how early planning and delegating tasks can take the pressure off, leaving you more relaxed and organized when the big day arrives. Tune in for Sally’s down-to-earth tips on simplifying Christmas cooking and making the holiday season more enjoyable for everyone.

And a special bonus for Cultivate Contentment listeners use code GROUNDEDXMAS for a 10% discount onThe Christmas Pantry Box The Christmas Pantry Box from The Homestead Pantry. The Christmas Pantry Box is here to make things simple and delicious. It’s packed with handpicked products to help you create a beautiful stress free Christmas menu. Sally has done all the hard work for you. Finding the best Australian-made goodies and pairing them with recipes to spark a bit of inspiration. Think crowd pleasers that taste like effort but don’t feel like it. Ready to make your festive spread look like a pinterest board without the stress?

Key Points Covered in this Episode:

• Sally’s favorite go-to Christmas dishes, including her ham recipe and tips for the crispiest roast potatoes.
• How to balance traditional meals with new ideas, like swapping out classic sides for warm seasonal salads or seafood.
• The importance of starting your Christmas meal planning early and creating a solid plan to avoid last-minute stress.
• Practical tips for delegating tasks and getting family members involved in the meal preparation process.
• Make-ahead dishes and preparation steps to reduce stress on Christmas Day, such as freezing stuffing or parboiling vegetables in advance.
• How to accommodate dietary restrictions and preferences while planning for large family gatherings.
• Simple ways to make the most of seasonal ingredients in your Christmas meal.
• Sally’s advice on staying calm if something goes wrong and focusing on enjoying time with loved ones, rather than aiming for perfection.

RESOURCES AND LINKS:

• Grounded Farm Wife Journal
• The Christmas Pantry Box

CONNECT WITH JESS:

• Follow me on Instagram @groundedfarmwife
• Check out my website www.groundedfarmwife.com.au

CONNECT WITH SALLY:

• Follow her at @thehomesteadpantrybox
• Check out her

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 time, I’ve learned to let go of that impossible standard and focus more on the meaningful moments.

Christmas on a farm is far from the idyllic snowy scenes you see in movies—it's hot, cows still need milking, and the work doesn’t stop just because it’s a holiday. In this episode, I reflect on the changes I’ve made to celebrate the season without letting the pressure take away the joy. From gift-giving strategies to finding time to enjoy the day amidst the farm chores, I share my personal journey of simplifying Christmas and making it work for our family in a way that feels right.

Key Points Covered in this Episode:

• The Reality of Christmas on the Farm
• Letting Go of the ‘Perfect’ Christmas
• The Gift-Giving Strategy
• Making Time for Family Amidst the Farm Chaos
• The Pressure to Create Magic for the Kids
• 
  

Resources & Links:

Grounded Farm Wife Journal

Connect with Jessica:

Follow me on Instagram@groundedfarmwife

Check out my websitewww.groundedfarmwife.com.au

Find the complete show notes here: https://www.groundedfarmwife.com.au/podcast-1/21

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 her business partners, Jessica is a Director of Gen Health Hamilton and Pro Feet Footwear Hamilton, a combined allied health clinic and a specialist podiatry shoe store respectively.

Professionally, Jessica strives to achieve the best outcomes for each individual despite rural isolation, using the latest evidence, technology and networks. As an advocate for women's health literacy, Jessica thoroughly enjoys her presenting roles at events, forums, conferences and universities.

Personally, Jessica is committed to lifelong learning and development. She strives to challenge the status quo, to be challenged to be the best leader she can be. Jessica endeavour's to think global and act local. Outside of her working roles, Jess is a mum, a wife, a volunteer, a board chair, a hiker, a veggie gardener, an ocean swimmer and the occasional salsa dancer

Today we talk about a topic that’s often overlooked but incredibly important for our well-being: the nervous system and how it impacts our emotions and health. Jessica shares her expertise in a way that’s not only practical but incredibly relatable for us farm wives and mums navigating the busy, often chaotic, rhythms of rural life.

We dive deep into how our nervous system plays a key role in how we manage stress and emotional health, especially when life on the farm feels like it’s constantly pulling us in a million different directions. Jessica shares easy, actionable ways to help balance our nervous system and reduce stress through simple daily practices, which can make a huge difference in how we feel and respond to life’s challenges.

We also dive into pelvic health and talk about some staggering figures around the number of women who suffer from pelvic health issues each year. It’s a topic that can be uncomfortable to talk about and often hard to find the right help. Jessica offers some great tips around finding the right health professional and tips for communicating what you’re experiencing.

Key Points Covered in this Episode

• How the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems affect our stress levels
• Simple ways to balance your nervous system and shift out of "fight or flight"
• The impact of neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins on mood and energy
• Finding flow and how it can boost resilience and happiness
• Easy practices like breathwork, structuring your day, and mindfulness to help reduce stress
• The importance of pelvic health and why it’s important to seek help when needed

Resources & Links:

Grounded Farm Wife Journal

CONNECT WITH Jessica:

Follow me on Instagram @groundedfarmwife

Check out my website www.groundedfarmwife.com.au

CONNECT WITH Jessica:

• Follow her at @jessica.fishberg or @genhealthhamilton
• Check out her website

Find the complete show notes here:

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, farmwives, and mothers, we often find ourselves here, navigating new roles and letting go of old routines that have been ingrained in us for years. This space can feel disorienting and uncomfortable, but it’s also a time for growth and transformation.

Drawing from my own personal experiences and using agricultural metaphors that feel so familiar to life on the farm, I share how this liminal space can lead to powerful growth, even though it may feel uncertain. It’s a lot like planting a crop—you’ve done the work, you’ve planted the seeds, and now you need to nurture them and trust that growth will happen, even if you can’t see the results yet. In this episode, I’m offering practical advice on how to stay patient and trust the process, even when it’s tempting to slip back into old habits.

• Understanding the Liminal Space This in-between phase is a transitional period where you’re no longer in the old, but you’re not quite in the new either. I talk about how I’ve experienced this in my own life and how it often feels unsettling and uncomfortable. Recognizing that this is a natural part of any change can help us embrace it, rather than resist it. It’s like standing on a bridge between two places—you’re on your way, but you’re not quite there yet.

• The Importance of Gradual, Incremental Changes Change doesn’t happen overnight, and trying to force it can often leave us feeling overwhelmed. In this episode, I share how I’ve learned to make slow, incremental changes in my own life to help ease the discomfort of the liminal space. It’s about taking one step at a time, without trying to do too much at once. These small, manageable shifts can create lasting change without feeling like you’ve taken on too much.

• Trusting the Process, Much Like Tending to a Crop On the farm, we know that you don’t see the results of your work right away. After planting, it takes time for crops to grow, and you need to trust that all the nurturing and care will pay off. I apply that same mindset to navigating this liminal space. Even when you can’t see the progress, trust that growth is happening beneath the surface. It’s all part of the process, and having faith in that can help you keep moving forward.

• Resisting the Urge to Revert Back to Familiar Routines When things get uncomfortable, it’s natural to want to go back to what’s familiar, even if that old routine or role wasn’t serving you. I’ve been there myself, and in this episode, I discuss how to resist the urge to revert back to old habits. Instead, I encourage you to stay the course and trust that this discomfort is part of the growth process. It’s hard, but staying committed to the change you’ve started is so important.

• Embracing the Liminal Space as a Time for Reflection and Growth Though the liminal space is filled with uncertainty, it’s also a time for deep reflection and personal growth. I talk about how this period, though difficult, can be one of the most transformative if you allow yourself to sit in the discomfort and reflect on where you’re going. Much like how we tend to our crops, we need to tend to our inner growth and trust that, in time, the fruits of our labor will emerge.