Top tips from three multitasking farming mums

It is no secret that agriculture has long been considered a male-dominated industry, but now, more than ever, farming women are forging a new path, juggling the demands of a busy farm, diversifications – and often having a family.

To celebrate International Women’s Day (Wednesday, 8 March), we spoke to some farming mums who are breaking the mould, sharing their tips and experiences of juggling farm and family life.

See also: Practical tips on planning applications when diversifying land

Milly Fyfe

Not originally from a farming background, Milly met her husband through Young Farmers Clubs.

Based in Northamptonshire, the couple farm a 200ha mixed arable and livestock enterprise, and are raising their two sons, Angus and Douggie, aged five and four, on the farm.

“They’re quite feral,” jokes Milly. “You can tell that they get so much benefit from being out in the countryside and having access to so much open space.

“It’s really rewarding because, from a young age, the children really get the concept of bringing new life into the world, growing things from seed and watching the growth cycle. They really understand where food comes from and what we produce.”

Hosting a podcast, launching an online cookbook, and running her own business, Milly jokes that she is the farm’s diversification. But with such a busy schedule, striking a work-life balance is something she is passionate about.

“I have made a conscious effort to think more about self-care, because if I can’t look after myself, I can’t look after my children, or my husband, or the farm, and I can’t run my business.”

“On social media you are always living your best life, but often you are actually just keeping your head above water. There’s always a lot that life throws at you.

“It’s important to look after yourself. I’m quite an ambitious person, but occasionally you have to bring the bar down. Sometimes it’s okay to just have beans on toast for tea.”

For Milly, a daily walk, getting off the farm for weekly pilates classes, and meal prepping are key to striking a better work-life balance.

She says: “For a lot of us, there are very blurry boundaries between home life and work life, because we live and work in the same location.

“So having that opportunity to take yourself away for an hour a day, and making time to do things as a family – I definitely think this really helps.”

Emma Hamilton © Emma Hamilton

Emma Hamilton

Emma Hamilton farms with her husband, James, near Dunbar, just outside of Edinburgh, and together the pair have two sons, aged six and two.

The boys love getting involved on the farm, shadowing their parents while they tend to the livestock. “There’s no other option, to be honest– they have to,” says Emma. “We’re out all day, every day pretty much.

“When the kids aren’t at school or nursery, it’s full-time farming for them as well.”

The farm is part of a family partnership with 800 cattle, along with a flock of pedigree Black-Faced sheep. New to farming when she met her husband, Emma says it has been a steep learning curve. 

“What is really hard for many farming women, and what a lot of people maybe don’t realise, is the amount of time you spend on your own with kids, trying to do everything.

“I don’t think I quite realised, until I met James and lambing started, how much time farming women spend on their own just trying to keep things on an even keel.”

To make the tough times a little easier, Emma says it is essential to have an outlet or a passion – and a bit of the farm she can call her own.

“For the first few years, I didn’t have anything on the farm that I felt was mine or my passion. My father-in-law actually bought me a highland pony – and that’s my thing. So, now I feel as if there is a bit of the farm that’s just for me.”

Despite the challenges and often long and lonely hours, the ability to work as a family and spend time together on the farm at the weekends make it all worthwhile. “You are able to share your life with them a lot more,” says Emma. 

“I love the idea of them knowing where their food is coming from and really understanding how much work and love goes in to making these animals have a great life.

“It’s a love and respect that I think is important for these kids to learn. We are really, really lucky to live here.”

Emma Lander © Emma Lander

Emma Lander

Based in Cheshire with a flock of 400 sheep, Emma is mum to three children, aged 12, 8 and 6.

Now that they are a little bit older, Emma says juggling the children and all of the jobs on the farm is a lot easier than when they were babies.

“We’ve sheared the sheep with them sat in a pram – but they can only sit still for so long, then they want to get out and help. But when they’re small, they’re not always helpful!”

Finding it all too easy to compare herself to other families on social media, cultivating a good community, both online and in person, is essential for Emma. 

“Never compare yourself to people who aren’t farming, especially on social media – it is a thief of joy.

“I’m guilty of it myself – my Instagram makes it look as if I’ve got the perfect ideal life – and it’s not true.

“My big advice is to lower your expectations as well – you can’t do everything. As long as your children are looked after and fed, and the animals are fed, if the house is a mess it doesn’t matter – we can’t all live in a show home on a farm.”

While “me-time” is in short supply on the farm, as a self-professed “townie” before meeting her husband, Emma is a stickler for a good manicure.

“People expect you to have your apron on and chicks clucking around your feet, but even with the apron and the chicks, you can have perfectly manicured nails too.”