1. What’s your name? Where do you live? How old are you?

My name is Peggy and I am 30 years old. I live on half an acre in Tehachapi, California. Tehachapi is a small mountain community, population of approximately 40,000, 120 miles north of Los Angeles at the southern-most end of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range.

2. Where did you grow up and how would you describe your childhood?

I grew up in Lancaster, California, 45 miles south of where I live now. I think of my childhood as an average childhood. I come from a middle class family. My parents were both self-employed; my dad owned his own construction company and my mom is a hairstylist. I am the youngest of three children. I was an average student and stayed out of trouble. I was a cheerleader, on dance team, and performed in a children’s theatre company and numerous dance recitals. I come from a close-knit family. Many weekends and summers were spent camping with my parents and/or grandparents, uncle, and brothers.

3. How would you describe your current family and close support community?

I have been married to my husband Justin for 12 years. We have two boys, ages 7 and 5. We moved to Tehachapi in 2006 and have become friends with some amazing, like-minded people. We share a passion for clean eating, organic gardening, farming, and celebrating the earth. We keep in contact with a handful of friends from our childhood and are close with both of our families.

4. What are some of the things you do on an average day?

An average day consists of taking my 7-year-old to and from school, helping with homework when he gets home, spending time with both of my children, milking and feeding my two dairy goats, feeding and collecting eggs from my 12 laying hens, cleaning the goat and chicken yards, watering the garden, cleaning my house, cooking, and doing laundry. When I finally get the kids to bed at night, I like to relax and watch TV, read, and spend time with my husband.

5. What do you do to pay the bills?

My husband’s job as a heavy equipment operator pays our bills. During the busy season, spring to fall, he makes really good money. Work is usually slow or nonexistent most winters and during those months we live off of savings or unemployment and occasionally the kindness of family and friends.

6. Does your life look like what you imagined it would when you were young?

When I was a kid I had dreams of being a Marine Biologist working at Sea World with Shamu. When I was in high school, I realized I didn’t want to take all the biology classes it would take to be a biologist and I didn’t really want to swim with a giant whale that could swallow me whole. This may sound crazy, but the only other thing I wanted to do with my life was be a homemaker like my Grandma. I got married four months after graduating high school and worked a few different office jobs until our first son was born. I have been a homemaker and stay-at-home mom ever since and wouldn’t have it any other way.

7. What is the greatest challenge you’ve faced in your life?

Food allergies have been quite a challenge for my family over the last few years. I was diagnosed with allergies to cow’s milk, beef, and almonds in 2009. Then our youngest son was diagnosed with allergies to cow’s milk, beef, tomatoes, wheat, and gluten in 2010 at the age of 3. Our symptoms have all been in the forms of eczema, severe mood swings, depression, recurrent ear infections, intestinal problems, fatigue, and my son’s speech development. It was all completely overwhelming. After a few months we noticed a huge difference in our son’s health, behavior, and speech. My symptoms also started to improve. It took about a year of very high grocery bills and tons of research until I finally felt comfortable. At that point, I decided to go gluten-free with my son. It was a comradeship at first and then I found out quickly that I was also very sensitive to gluten. Sometimes it is difficult having so many restrictions, but we seem to manage fairly well. I am worried about my son and how it will affect him in the future to always be the kid who can’t eat this or that. I try my best to make it easy for him. We always take our own food anywhere we go and don’t expect anyone to cater to our allergies.

8. Have you made any decisions or choices that have surprised those around you?

After our first child was born, eating clean organic food became very important to us. My husband always enjoyed composting and gardening and a few years after moving to Tehachapi, he started an organic garden. He talked about wanting chickens, how they would aid in the making of compost while providing us with eggs and being fun pets. At first I thought he was a bit crazy. Though, the thought of raising our own pastured, happy, healthy and organic fed chickens was very appealing. We bought 12 chicks in the spring of 2010 and in the meantime I would hear comments from my husband about how great having goats would be too. I thought he’d lost it. He expected me to take care of goats and milk them too. Me? Really? We were already spending a fortune every month on goat milk and cheese from the store but I’d never really thought about taking care of the process myself. Then, last May, a friend of mine needed some help taking care of her goats while she was going to be out of town. I took on the challenge happily and instantly felt at home. Less than two months later, I had two dairy goats of my own. I think turning into farmer Peggy has surprised everyone.

9. Who have you looked to for inspiration while creating your life? What have they taught you?

I have been inspired by people who grow organic sustainable food like Vernon Peterson of Abundant Harvest Organics and the Dervaes Family of the Urban Homestead in Pasadena. I am also inspired by the women and men of my community who share a passion for gardening, farming and raising livestock to provide for their families. They have all taught me that living a simple, sustainable, self-sufficient life is possible if you only try. It may not be easy all the time but, I learn and grow everyday with a sense of peace knowing how our food is grown and that the animals we raise are living a happy healthy life while helping to supply my family with food.

10. What TV shows, movies, music, or books have been particularly formative or important in your life?

The movies Food Inc. and Food Matters changed my life. Organic food was already very important to me but, the message of both movies gave me an extra push toward my goal to living an organic, clean, sustainable lifestyle.

11. Are there any stories not told in media that you’d like to see represented?

I would like to see more truth represented in the media, if that makes sense. I tend to avoid mainstream media. It seems to be guided by its sponsors and political backers, only telling what they want you to hear. I prefer independent media that is sponsored by its listeners who want to hear the truth about real people and real issues.

12. How often do you think about gender roles and whether your life matches what others might expect from your gender?

I can’t say that I think about it much. I have been trying very hard over the years to not worry about what others think of me and my actions. I did enough of that in high school. There are some who think women should work a full time job to support their families, where others think women should not work and stay home to take care of their house and children. Then, there are those who think we should do all the above and then some. The only expectation I have for my gender is to do what is best for one’s own life and family. How I choose to live my life may seem a bit archaic to some or might fit right into their expectations of me. Either way, I’m not doing it for them. I am doing it for me. This is the woman I want to be.

13. What wisdom have you gained in life that you think other people would benefit from knowing?

I feel like I am reclaiming the knowledge of my Native American ancestors. I am learning how to be one with the earth, to use what the earth has to offer and to give back. I am learning to grow and raise food in a sustainable way that keeps the soil alive and thriving. By doing all these things, I feel a spiritual connection to the earth and to the changing of the seasons that I have never been able to get from a religion.

I think people would benefit the most from learning how to grow and/or raise their own food. If something happened, there was another Great Depression, or a natural disaster, or you lost your job and had no money, would you be able to provide for your family? Having the knowledge and the ability of knowing that we can survive is a blessing that I wish for everyone.