Monthly Life Update: Church Fire, Farm Prep, and Finding Better Work Rhythms (Ep.6)

Samantha “Sam” Welch shares a February life update from her family’s 40-acre farm in north central Arkansas, describing the month as difficult and busy. The biggest event was their church building burning down, which also destroyed her friends’ wedding-venue business, prompting the church to meet in a member’s home and leaving Sam navigating support, PTSD from a past house fire, and a work transition away from photographing weddings at the venue toward farm sessions and growing her podcasts. On the farm, they began using a high tunnel, prepped beds, and planted cold-hardy crops (carrots, peas, radishes, kale, turnips, collards), did orchard pruning, sprayed with lime sulfur, lime-washed trunks, and planted new apple and plum trees. She reflects on using AI and daily notes to identify “good tired” day elements: early meaningful work, outdoor movement, unstructured family time, and adult community. She also notes listening to more music—Appalachian and Ozark folk—alongside homeschool orchestra studies. Follow me here https://www.tiktok.com/@woc_samanthawelch https://www.youtube.com/@woc_samanthawelch https://www.instagram.com/woc_samanthawelch/ 00:00 February Life Update 01:34 Church Fire Fallout 03:30 Work Transition Plans 04:27 High Tunnel Spring Prep 05:52 Orchard Pruning and Care 07:46 Building Better Work Rhythms 11:44 Music and Homeschool Co Op 13:11 Wrap Up and Support This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewomanofcourage.substack.com