I encountered Lewellyn’s book at our local bookstore, The Book Shucker, in Edison, WA. Immediately, I appreciated her work as a farmer and mental health advocate. She describes her book Rooted: How I Stay Small-Town Strong When Life Gets Hard and How You Can Too as a “prescriptive memoir” and I enjoyed the balance of story and practical advice that she offers her readers (as well as a Spotify playlist!). Books centered on, or even adjacent to, “farming” or “agriculture” often get overlooked. In our conversation, we talk about the marginalization of rural life and things that can be done to not only champion the vocation of farming, but also how to de-stigmatize mental health issues in rural communities. Thanks for listening!
Lewellyn is a journalist by trade and a farmer by choice. She has a passion for growing everything from wheat and canola to a vegetable garden, chickens, and two farm kids. Lewellyn worked as a reporter and anchor at CKX television in Brandon, Manitoba before turning her focus to farming alongside her husband, but writing continues to be her passion. Her new book Rooted is a prescriptive memoir that tells the story of her own struggles with anxiety and depression and offers tips on how to stay small town strong when things get tough. Mental health is one of the biggest threats to rural communities, and Lewellyn has made it her life’s work to start more discussions around this topic, advocating for agriculture, women, and mental health.
Check out Lewellyn’s website: https://www.lewellynmelnyk.com/
Order a copy of ROOTED!
All episodes were recorded at Jack Straw Cultural Center in Seattle, WA and edited at my farm in the Skagit Valley called Harmony Fields. Thank you to sound engineer Ayesha Ubayatilaka.
We have seven fascinating conversation in season one that will be released in spring and fall 2023!
Please send any comments or questions to: jessicagigot@gmail.com
NOTE: All podcast episodes are available for free, no paid subscription required.
