I don't know how she does it?

Emma Sim

1 day ago

4 min read

I dont know how she does it?

A letter from the farm – June & July 2026

Hey there,

How are you? I’m well, I’ve been busy and feeling a little bit tired but I’m here, making sure I am writing to you.

We have well and truly felt the bite of winter this week, thick frosts outside and the sting of cold on the tip of my nose as I walk up to the school bus not long after 7am. (Coat + jacket + beanie + thick socks don’t seem to extend the warmth to my nose!)

How is it at home for you? Hopefully regardless of the outside temperature you are warm and cosy when you need to be.

I missed writing my June letter from the farm because I was busy with things that were more important. My beautiful Grandma passed away at 101. My amazing family and so many of our friends came together to say goodbye to her.

To me that was more important; helping with all that needed to be done, sharing my time on the phone with special people; welcoming family to stay in our home and the farmstay.

I was the one to tell Grandma’s story and say goodbye to her on behalf of our family. It was big, it took a lot of energy, and I am proud of what I am capable of.

Thankfully, I always have the farm to ground me. Morning walks with the frost crunching under my feet. Sunsets that are gold and burning red and somehow transfer the moment right into my heart. Long winter grasses that hold the morning dew on the tips of their long thin leaves. My version of selfcare.

I very happily take a dose of happy pill every time I drive out the driveway. We have a fodder crop sown just to feed our growing lambs and they are loving it! It is a multi-species crop with grasses, legumes to return nitrogen to the soil and turnips to reduce soil compaction.

It is the paddock beside the driveway and every time I leave home I love seeing the lambs with feed above their bellies. Our environment really can influence our wellbeing and I happily lean into it as much as I can.

Over the last couple of months we have sold the last of our market lambs. This year the prices have been amazing, a lot higher than what I budgeted for not including the bonus we receive from Gundagai Lamb for premium eating quality (high IMF – Intra Muscular Fat).

I know that these prices mean that not everyone enjoys lamb as a staple in their household like us, nor has the pleasure of reminding their kids how lucky they are to complain that they don’t like cutlets (insert eye roll emoji here!).

The oats, wheat and canola are growing well, some of our neighbours have their canola flowering already. Do you think you would have time for a quick visit over the next few weeks to see the canola flowering?

In between all that has been happening in the family, school holidays and on the farm we have been working hard to finish ‘The House’ at Avalon Farm stay. Our second accommodation option right next door to the original farm stay now called ‘The Homestead’.

I once read that ‘everything excellent is as difficult as it is rare’ and I believe that the work we have done is really and truly excellent. Thus, it has been a big job and yes there have been plenty of days where we have felt the difficulty. Not everyone can push through the difficult work and not everyone can create excellent. I can’t wait to see what you think when you come to visit.

Just in case there is a little part of you thinking…. ‘I don’t know how she does it?’ the answer is she doesn’t! I have amazing support; Avalon has had a team working to make it what it has become and they have put in many, many more hours than me. I have heaps of photos, content ideas and social media plans that don’t quite eventuate!

Everyday I make a conscious choice of what is important and what is not negotiable. Everyday I wake up thinking I can get it done and every night I carry a few jobs over to tomorrow. I am no different to you – we both believe in what we are capable of and we do our best.

We get to choose our hard. Last week Destination NSW offered me tickets to The National Australian Women in Agriculture conference in Orange. Three days plus a few hours of driving that I didn’t have time for but chose to prioritise.

Three amazing days being surrounded by like minded, inspirational women; telling my story and listening to theirs. I am choosing to sit here now and write my letter to you, to share what I believe is important. To share a story that is valued enough to be offered a seat at the table.

In my last letter I said I would have a link to The House at Avalon Farmstay. Here is a link to our website. Now you can have a look at the photos and see what we have created.

From my seat by the fire, I’m sending my love from the farm (because when I’m tired and doing hard things - being warm and comfy makes everything easier!).

Until next time,

Love Em.