THE BACKBONE OF CENTENNIAL ROOTS
About KRISTIN
Reviving and sharing the old-fashioned ways of life on the homestead from pasture
and garden to farmhouse and kitchen. Join us here and in hands-on workshops!
Hi I’m Kristin!
About me? Do I have to? Not my favorite topic. I’m an introvert. I’m private and boring. But my daughter-in-law insisted. She volunteered for the daunting task of being the marketing and media specialist for this new adventure, and I’m quickly realizing that I’ll be expected to share more about myself than I first imagined.
As I sat down to write, I immediately remembered the flowers I had purchased a few days ago and still needed to get in the ground. So out I went to plant the flowers. That’s me in a nutshell. There is always something that needs done to take the focus off myself.
However, I planted the flowers, and I have no more excuses. So, about me.
growing up
I was raised in rural Missouri. My parents were farmers for most of my formative years. I was, what I considered to be, very sheltered. I went to Christian schools. I went to church on Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night. I rode in tractors and combines all throughout planting and harvest seasons. I picked a row of green beans from our garden every other day while my mom and sisters each picked their rows. Funny how mom always had four rows each year – one for each of us. We snapped beans and shucked corn. We went to the bread store once a month and got to pick out a $1 snack cake to split three ways.
My sisters and I spent many summers riding our bikes and playing private investigator. We had chores. Some weren’t so fun but some weren’t even “chores”. I remember my first horse – and my second and my third. Riding was a passion. If you are fortunate enough to have the gift of a horse on your land, you’ll never regret it. It’s a fire that once lit, will never go out. The smell, the freedom, the beauty of a horse’s heart. Growing up was good and clean and wholesome. I wouldn’t trade farm life for all the treasure in the world.
homestead of my own
It shouldn’t be a surprise, then, that my only real goal in life was to get married and raise my children on a farm. I did just that. Twenty nine years and two boys. My only regret is that it went too fast. I was busy working to make it all happen like the picture in my head. It did happen and it was good. Really good. However, in 2022, my boys were no longer living at home and moved on with their lives.
My life was going through several changes, but it was good. I had settled into my career. My youngest son headed off to pursue his dreams at college. My oldest son and his wife had just given me my first grandson. Then, my husband shocked me one evening by asking the question, “would you want to move to my grandparents farm?” I immediately and a little too emphatically said “no!”.
We had worked hard for several years to establish our forever dream farm. It was a beautiful painted canvas. Mature fruit trees of all kinds, a thriving garden, and all the berries a person could want. The fencing and barns were complete and the animals were happy.
He asked again, “would you at least consider moving to my grandparents farm?” Again, I said “no”. Don’t get me wrong, the farm held fond memories for me. It was his grandparents’ place. The place you go for Christmas. The place we would take our oldest son on Sunday nights when he was a toddler. We would visit, watch PBR and eat a bowl of ice cream while Caleb played with antique toy tractors kept in an old cardboard box in the front closet. But it was a home for “old people”. I had my dream home and did not plan on starting over. After some time to think, I reluctantly sat down and listened to my husband’s reasoning and explanation.
reviving the homestead
Fast-forward four months and my forever dream home sold, and I packed a 40-foot shipping container to move out west – to the Robertson Century Farm. While hesitant about leaving our home behind, I was thrilled with the prospect of bringing the farm back to life. The house, with its orange shag carpet and green linoleum, had sat empty for 12 years. Empty of people anyway. The house was still completely full as if the grandparents would walk back in any day. The farm was beginning to show signs of neglect – downed fences, rusted tools, and more wasp nests than you could count. The family had kept it in great condition considering they also had farms and families of their own. But we knew it would be a “roll up your sleeves” kind of endeavor.
What we discovered was well worth the task. So much history was stocked away in corners and closets and barns and basements. We have learned so much about the last 165 years since the family originally homesteaded this land, and we plan to share the past journeys, present activities and future plans with you as we make our way through this new but old life.
Welcome to Centennial Roots Homestead. Dive into our blog or hands-on workshops!
-Kristin