Starting Small, Dreaming Big: Life on the West Coast

West Coast, South Island

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When we moved to the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, it wasn’t just a change of location — it was a step toward something bigger. We purchased a small farm, driven by a desire to step into land ownership and put into practice the things we’d been learning as a young family of three — with one more on the way.

Our time on the Coast was full of growth, in every sense. We leaned into the knowledge we had, limited as it sometimes felt, and used it to nurture the land and build something of our own. I also took on work at a local hotel to help support us financially — cleaning accommodation, working in the restaurant, and helping in the kitchen. It was tough, especially with two little ones at home, but it stretched me in ways I hadn’t expected.

Between seasonal shifts and farm work, I found moments to return to my studies — revisiting school papers I’d passed but hadn’t quite conquered. It became a personal challenge, something I wanted to finish well. And in the quiet hours at home, with babies nearby and the farm just outside the door, I did just that.

That season taught me resilience, tenacity, and how to stretch my capacity beyond what I thought possible.

Resilience came in the quiet moments — juggling babies, study, and work, while still showing up for the farm and our family vision. Tenacity showed up in the long days and late nights, when I kept going even when things felt overwhelming. And increasing my capacity wasn’t just about doing more — it was about becoming more. I learned to adapt, to prioritize, and to find strength in small wins.

Those years laid a foundation I still draw from today. They reminded me that growth often happens in the grit — and that even when life feels messy, there’s beauty in persistence.

Check out my next blog to continue this journey with me — as we head further down the country, take on a new sharemilking contract, and dive deeper into study, growth, and the unfolding of what came next.