145. "It's a Long Haul": Lessons from the '80s for Today's Tough Farm Economy

149. We Said We’d Never Homeschool… Now We Are!

Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! In this episode, Jena and Mary Pat sit down for a real conversation about homeschooling, motherhood, slowing down, and choosing a lifestyle that better aligns with their family values. From the chaos of rushed school mornings and planting season schedules to the freedom and challenges of creating a new normal, the two open up about why they chose homeschooling, what they hope it will bring to their families, and the lessons they’re learning along the way. Whether you homeschool, traditional school, or are simply craving more peace and intentionality in family life, this episode is a reminder that every family gets to define what works best for them. 📌 What We Cover in This Episode: ✅ Life Lately & Farm Season Check-In ✅ Why We Chose Homeschooling: A candid conversation about the decision to homeschool and the deeper “why” behind it. *  Feeling like they were getting the “leftovers” of their kids after long school days.  *  The emotional toll of rushed mornings, exhausted afternoons, homework battles, and overstimulation.  *  Choosing more quality time, flexibility, and family connection over packed schedules and constant busyness.  *  Navigating farm life, entrepreneurship, and school schedules that often don’t align with agricultural life.  ✅ The Hard Truth About Time & Family Priorities: *  How farming schedules and early August school start dates can make meaningful family time feel impossible.  *  The pressure of cramming summer fun into a shrinking calendar while balancing irrigation, spraying, and farm responsibilities.  *  Why both women realized they wanted more intentional, everyday moments with their children.  ✅ The Lifestyle Shift of Homeschooling: *  Why homeschooling feels like more than an education choice—it’s a lifestyle decision.  *  The importance of flexibility, faith, slower mornings, and creating rhythms that actually work for farm families.  *  Balancing motherhood, business ownership, content creation, and teaching children at home.  ✅ The Reality Check: Homeschooling Isn’t Always Easy *  Jena shares the “honeymoon phase” of homeschooling and the harder moments that followed.  *  Honest reflections on hard days, patience, frustration, and learning alongside your kids.  *  Why community, support systems, and leaning into faith matter during challenging seasons.  ✅ Curriculum Talk & Homeschool Resources: *  Favorite curriculum options they’re exploring and using.  *  Thoughts on reading, math, and open-and-go homeschool programs.  *  Learning through farm life, real-world experiences, and everyday moments—not just textbooks.  ✅ A Few Hot Takes on School Culture: *  Why achievement awards, homework, and busyness culture sparked bigger conversations around priorities.  *  Thoughts on sports schedules, packed calendars, and redefining success for their kids.  *  The reminder that every family gets to choose what works best for them—without judgment.  💡 Key Takeaways: ✨ There is no “one right way” to educate your kids. Every family has different needs, priorities, schedules, and values—and what works for one family may not work for another. ✨ Time matters. Sometimes the biggest parenting decisions come down to one simple question: How do we want to spend our time together? ✨ Homeschooling is more than academics—it can be a lifestyle choice rooted in flexibility, faith, family connection, and freedom. ✨ Hard days don’t mean you’re doing it wrong. Whether it’s homeschooling, traditional schooling, parenting, or farm life, growth often comes with challenges. ✨ Community matters. Finding support from people walking a similar road can make difficult seasons feel far less lonely. ✨ Success looks different for every child. Grades, awards, and achievements don’t define your child’s worth—or their future. 🙌 Join the Conversation! Are you homeschooling, considering homeschooling, or navigating the school-versus-family balance in a busy season of life? We’d love to hear your story! You can connect with us and share your thoughts by tagging Share your thoughts and tag us @beyondthecrops_. [https://www.instagram.com/beyondthecrops_/] And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line!  Leave us a Voice Message! We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation off the podcast. Click here to leave us a voice note! [https://www.speakpipe.com/beyondthecrops]

148. Betrayed By My Safe Space: The Results of Our 12-Hour Mold Inspection

Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! In this incredibly vulnerable and emotional episode, Jena and Mary Pat catch up on the realities of planting season before Jena shares the long-awaited, and heartbreaking, results of her home mold inspection. After a 12-hour inspection by a team of specialists from Florida, she walks through the devastating findings, the emotional toll of feeling betrayed by her "safe space," and the overwhelming decisions her family now faces. This is a raw, honest look at a family's journey through a complex health crisis and a powerful reminder to trust your gut when it comes to your well-being. 📌 What We Cover in This Episode: ✅ A Tale of Two Springs: A real-time planting update from both farms. Mary Pat's crew is fighting through rain delays and wet conditions, while Jena's family is over 75% done but dealing with extreme dryness, cold snaps, and pre-planting irrigation. ✅ Jena's Long-Awaited Mold Update: The main focus of the episode is the result of the extensive mold inspection. * The Devastating Diagnosis: The inspectors reveal that the original advice to salvage the 1970s foundation was flawed, leading to a decade of slow, widespread moisture intrusion. * The Inspection Findings: A breakdown of the issues found, including long-term water damage in the boys' basement bedroom and separate moisture problems behind the walls in the master shower and kitchen island. * The Emotional Toll: Jena gets incredibly vulnerable about feeling betrayed by her home, using the analogy "my home is my crop, and my crop failed and made us sick" to explain her grief and frustration. * What's Next?: The overwhelming options for remediation—from tearing the house down again to digging out and sealing the foundation—and the difficult, expensive decisions that lie ahead. * A powerful reminder of why this journey began and the importance of being your own health advocate. 💡 Key Takeaways: ✨ Planting season looks different for everyone. Don't compare your progress, weather, or stress levels to someone else's. Every farm is fighting its own unique battle. ✨ Your home should be your safe space. When your environment is contributing to illness, the emotional and mental impact can be just as profound as the physical symptoms. ✨ Be your own biggest health advocate. If you feel that something is wrong and aren't getting answers, keep digging. Trust your intuition and seek out specialists who will take your concerns seriously. ✨ Sometimes a delayed project is a blessing in disguise. The delay of their garage addition, while frustrating at the time, was a God-send that prevented them from building onto a compromised structure. ✨ Lean on your faith and your spouse when facing overwhelming news. In times of immense uncertainty, open communication and a shared faith are the anchors that will get you through. 🙌 Join the Conversation! This was a very vulnerable episode to share. If you feel led, please send your prayers and encouragement to Jena and her family as they navigate the difficult decisions ahead. You can connect with us and share your thoughts by tagging Share your thoughts and tag us @beyondthecrops_. [https://www.instagram.com/beyondthecrops_/] And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line!  Leave us a Voice Message! We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation off the podcast. Click here to leave us a voice note! [https://www.speakpipe.com/beyondthecrops]

147. Planting, Pivots & A Mold Inspector from Florida

Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! It's the thick of planting season, and in this episode, Jena and Mary Pat are catching up on everything from their very different weather situations to some major updates on the home front. Jena finally has the long-awaited mold inspector at her house, and she's sharing all the details of what it's like to navigate this complex and stressful process. Plus, the "OnlyGrans" retreat idea is gaining serious steam, and they're diving into listener feedback and brainstorming what this amazing event could look like. 📌 What We Cover in This Episode: ✅ Planting Progress & Weather Whiplash ✅ The New Planter Advantage ✅ The Mold Inspection Saga Continues ✅ The "OnlyGrans" Retreat is Happening (Maybe!): The hype is real! They dive into the amazing listener feedback they've received about their "OnlyGrans" retreat idea. * What You Want to Learn: Listener requests include canning, sewing, bread making, mending coveralls, homeopathy, and more "granny skills." * The Vibe: An overwhelming vote for a "cozy and slow" retreat over a structured and productive one. * Brainstorming Session: They start spitballing ideas for timing (January!), location (Broken Bow, Oklahoma?), and logistics for making this dream a reality. 💡 Key Takeaways: ✨ Every farm faces its own unique challenges. Whether it's too much rain or not enough, every region and every season brings a different kind of "hard." ✨ Efficiency is a game-changer for mental health. Investing in more efficient equipment doesn't just save time; it can significantly reduce stress and create more space for family during busy seasons. ✨ Be your own health advocate, and don't give up. Navigating a complex health issue like mold illness is a long, expensive, and frustrating journey. Keep searching for the right professionals who will take your concerns seriously. ✨ There's a real hunger for community and shared wisdom. The enthusiastic response to the "OnlyGrans" idea proves that women are eager to connect, slow down, and learn timeless, practical skills from one another. 🙌 Join the Conversation! We’d love to hear from you! What do you think of the "OnlyGrans" retreat idea? What "granny skill" would you want to learn or teach? Share your thoughts and tag us @beyondthecrops_. [https://www.instagram.com/beyondthecrops_/] And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line!  Leave us a Voice Message! We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation off the podcast. Click here to leave us a voice note! [https://www.speakpipe.com/beyondthecrops]

146. "Only Grans," Homeschool Plans & Homeopathy

Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! In this packed episode, Jena and Mary Pat are catching up on everything from spring break shenanigans and pre-planting progress to some seriously exciting life updates. Mary Pat drops a bombshell announcement that will change her family's life. Plus, Jena gives an incredible deep dive into the world of practical homeopathy, sharing what she's learning in her new class and how you can use it to empower your own family's health. 📌 What We Cover in This Episode: ✅ Spring Break Recaps & Pre-Planting Updates ✅ BIG NEWS: Mary Pat's Family is Homeschooling!  ✅ Homeopathy 101 ✅ Ticks & Lyme Disease Prevention ✅ Hilarious Tangent ✅ "Only Grans" Retreat Update 💡 Key Takeaways: ✨ Big life changes are scary, but incredibly rewarding. Mary Pat's decision to homeschool is a testament to listening to your heart and making the best choice for your family's unique needs, even if it's unconventional. ✨ Practical homeopathy can be an empowering tool for moms. Learning about basic remedies for common ailments can give you the confidence to care for your family's health in a more natural, proactive way. ✨ Be your own health advocate. Whether it's testing a tick for Lyme disease or exploring alternative medicine, you have the power to take control of your family's well-being. ✨ Flexibility is a superpower. As Jena's "unplanned" spring break shows, having the ability to pivot and adapt to life's curveballs (like sickness) is a huge blessing. ✨ Sometimes the best ideas come from just talking. The "Only Grans" retreat idea is a perfect example of how casual conversations can spark something truly special and needed in a community. 🙌 Join the Conversation! We’d love to hear from you! Are you homeschooling? What's your #1 piece of advice? Or do you have a go-to homeopathic remedy you love? Share your stories and tag us Share your thoughts and tag us @beyondthecrops_. [https://www.instagram.com/beyondthecrops_/] And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line!  Leave us a Voice Message! We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation off the podcast. Click here to leave us a voice note! [https://www.speakpipe.com/beyondthecrops]

145. "It's a Long Haul": Lessons from the '80s for Today's Tough Farm Economy

Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! In this very special episode, Jena and Mary Pat are joined by a beloved repeat guest who just so happened to be sleeping in the basement: Mary Pat's dad, Jack! As a farmer who started his career in the incredibly tough economy of the 1980s, Jack brings a lifetime of wisdom and a much-needed perspective to the challenges facing farmers today. From navigating 17% interest rates to the advice that kept him going when a lender told him to quit, this is a powerful conversation about resilience, faith, and the long-haul mindset it takes to build a generational farm. 📌 What We Cover in This Episode: ✅ Meet Jack (Again!): An introduction to Mary Pat's dad and his journey back to the family farm in 1981, leaving a stable management job to take over an operation that was in tough shape. ✅ Farming in the '80s: A sobering look at the economic realities of the '80s farm crisis, including navigating interest rates as high as 17-18% and watching his farm's value plummet by 40% in just four years. ✅ "I'll Let You Know When I'm Ready to Quit": Jack shares the powerful story of when his lender told him he was broke and should give up, and the sheer stubbornness and faith that kept him going. ✅ The Long-Haul Mindset: Jack's core philosophy for survival: your average cost of production must be lower than your average income over the long haul. It's not about one single year. ✅ Efficiency & Innovation: How his focus on efficiency allowed their family dairy to triple milk production per cow and triple crop production on the same acreage over his career. ✅ A Father's Perspective on Farmland: Jack shares his strong opinions on converting productive farmland for solar panels and data centers, and the long-term risks of undervaluing our agricultural land. ✅ The Biggest Advancement He's Seen: Jack points to advancements in seed genetics as the most significant change in his career, allowing for more targeted and reduced chemical use. ✅ Hilarious & Heartwarming Stories: From Mary Pat's childhood "job" as Calf Health Manager to her aggressive grain truck driving and the time she got her bus driver's license in college. 💡 Key Takeaways: ✨ Farming is a long-haul game. Don't get discouraged by one tough year. The key to long-term survival is managing your averages and focusing on efficiency. ✨ Faith and stubbornness are a powerful combination. When the numbers look bleak and the world tells you to quit, a deep-seated belief in what you're doing (and a refusal to give up) can see you through the darkest times. ✨ Your lender relationship is crucial. In good times and bad, maintaining open communication and a strong relationship with your lender is vital. ✨ Productive farmland is a finite, precious resource. We must be thoughtful and forward-thinking about how we use our best land, as decisions made today will have long-term consequences on our food supply. ✨ Hard work and a good attitude are timeless. The lessons learned from a generation that endured the '80s farm crisis—efficiency, perseverance, and faith—are just as relevant for farmers navigating the challenges of today. 🙌 Join the Conversation! Have you navigated tricky family business conversations? What's one piece of advice you'd give to another farm family in transition? Share your thoughts and tag us @beyondthecrops_. [https://www.instagram.com/beyondthecrops_/] And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line! The link is in our show notes. Leave us a Voice Message! We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation off the podcast. Click here to leave us a voice note! [https://www.speakpipe.com/beyondthecrops]