Evelyn’s Story

Growing up –

I grew up in a tiny town in Michigan, called Vermontville. My parents moved us out to the country because they longed for a more natural life. My dad at the time was a successful salesman and my mom was a stay at home mom. They bought ten acres and built a farmhouse for us all to grow up in. Thus my childhood began.

My dad spent his time split between making software deals and putting out salt licks and hay for our animals. He worked from home for about half the week before it was the norm. There was a clear juxtaposition between his career and what he loved, but he somehow made time for both. The memories I have of a childhood spent with my dad are ninety percent farm and outdoor related. I used to hold the flashlight for him out in the woods while he processed deer he’d just hunted, take rides in his old red truck, and herd our flock of shetland sheep to new pasture. When I look back on my childhood, my senses are filled with a warm late summer evening haze, accompanied by the smell of freshly cut hay drying in the field. Those memories are sweet and they’ve shaped me. 

My mom stayed at home with us kids and homeschooled us all the way through highschool. She was, and is incredibly creative and encouraged us to learn new skills and get our hands dirty everyday. We had a room full of just about every craft supply you could think of. On any given day I could needle felt, sew, woodburn, wood carve, wet felt, spin wool, paint, and make jewelry if I pleased. She fostered in me a curiosity to try new things with confidence. She was there if you needed her help, but let us independently play and learn skills by trial and error. 

As a child, I was constantly surrounded by fresh baked bread and fresh air. Oats were stored in a five gallon bucket and our wheat was milled fresh when needed. In our little town there was an Amish community that we consistently interacted with. They built our cabinets, let us ride in their buggies, and babysat us. My very favorite babysitter was named Marilyn. I have vivid memories of being at her parents home, watching her sew on an old fashioned treadle sewing machine while she sat on her long blonde hair. They had a pantry with the shelves filled with their canned goods from their garden. I still remember to smell. To me, all of this was normal, but now that I’m grown up, I see how special it was. Now I have a five gallon bucket of grain stored in my tiny apartment, a mill for when I need flour, and an armoire full of my own bulk foods and canned goods. I often feel that in “finding” myself as an adult, I simply found what I wanted and who I was aligned perfectly with how I was raised. 

Creating My Dream Reality 

When I was twelve, my parents sold the farm I was raised on and moved around here and there, until they bought their farm on the Leelanau peninsula. Their new farm is where I planted my first successful garden and married my husband James. It is already steeped in important memories, even in the short 7 years it’s been in the family. It is my favorite place on earth. Their land is soon to be filled with sheep, apples, blueberries, gardens, and more. I’m watching in real time as they build out their long term dream. 

Now that I’m a bit older, I understand exactly why my parents pursued a slower lifestyle. As I embark on a journey of raising my own family with my husband, I hope to embody what my mom and dad were to me to my future children, immediate community, and beyond. They were, and are conduits for creativity and boldness. 

Just as my parents dreamed of having a farm in northern Michigan, I dream of building my own farmhouse one day. But for now James and I live in a five hundred square foot apartment in Chicago. Living in a small space has taught me that not all homesteading looks the same. We still mill our wheat, bake fresh bread, can, sew clothes, and more. We at Little Furrow like to call it modern homesteading. A marriage between the old ways when land was more accessible and our current age. Plus we always have the farm to visit and get our fill of country life. 

We, like some of you, are not enamored with the fast pace of corporate life and our generation’s values. But unlike many homesteaders of today, we do not value self sufficiency.  We value community driven growth and sufficiency. We believe that to thrive, we must be in community and consistently engaging with those around us. In the past, the blacksmith wasn’t the butcher, and the butcher wasn’t the mason, but all of those jobs were needed. By creating this space online to share, learn, and help others learn homesteading practices, I hope to be able to make those dreams of mine a reality while building like minded community.

My dad lovingly likes to say that my core competency is floating down the river of life without a paddle. I’ve decided to take it as a compliment, because it’s true. There is nothing I like more than following my whims whenever they make themselves known. Just as I used to choose a new craft or project as a child, I choose the same today. One day it may be sourdough and another day broom making. That’s why I said yes when Hannah asked if I’d like to create this blog together. I felt like there would be no better opportunity to put all of my interests to use. So here I am, writing about what I love and sharing it with you! I couldn’t be more excited to start this journey.

We’d love to hear from you and if you resonate with our stories. We’re so glad you’re here.

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