As we approached the gate, a small figure scurried across and opened it for us…
I recognised Emma, previously of Emma Brown Tweed, and now owner of Land Girls Coffee and Vineyard and Canvas – a glamping site, and waved. She waved back.
A chance comment by Emma B on an instagram post while I was at Burghley Horse Trials with Hiho Silver had led me here.
I also run a glamping site called Dimpsey, and I buy Land Girls coffee from Emma for our guests to enjoy. In doing so, I support a fellow female entrepreneur and the African female farmers who grow the coffee.
Our instagram conversation had established that Emma lives 20 minutes from Burghley, and not far off our route home – so we decided to detour and pick up our next delivery.
Once in the kitchen within a few minutes, Emma had offered us supper (I was travelling with Mr Warren), introduced us to her husband and parents and made us both a cup of most welcome tea.
We declined supper as we had a 4 hour drive ahead of us, and as we drank our tea, Emma and I chatted and caught up while my hubby and Mr Brown chatted about roofs, fields and boilers, as you do!
Emma sat across the table from me, hair scraped back from her face, and with a quizzical grin, asked the question I’ve been asked so many times over the past few weeks – “so how’s the new business baby doing, Countrywoman’s Guide sounds so intriguing…”
I explained that our initial aim is to do “The Journey” during September, with Holly journeying around the UK and me joining her for some of the interviews – fund raising for Pompe and RABI as we go – and through doing that build up a bank of stories that will hopefully inspire others that they can get through adverse situations. We are talking to positive role models who can show that things aren’t always easy, but, in most situations you do get there in the end.
Our Pompe Support Network monies raised will go towards supporting research and care in to the condition that Holly’s father has.
By fund-raising for RABI, we want to give a donation at the end of The Journey that will provide vital support for someone from the farming community who needs urgent access to mental health support, or a child who needs a uniform grant to be able to go to school in the required uniform.
I also explained that we felt that us working together across our age differences (I’m 55 and Holly is 27) might encourage people to collaborate more, not compete. We do bring different views and experience to the table, but that’s a strength in a business.
It also mirrors the way the countryside has operated for centuries – the awareness that knowledge has to be passed down to the next generation to continue the stewardship of the land is a key part of country life. It’s always a marriage of experience and ideas to get the best results.
Emma leant back in her chair, and simply said, “I absolutely love it, this initiative is so needed at the moment and I am so pleased you two are doing it – how can I help?”
Her words were welcome and gave us another validation that we’re following the right path, slightly less travelled, but doing things in our own way and against values that we hold dear seems to be resonating with people whenever we chat to them
As hubby and I drove out, with our coffee tucked away in the boot, it just struck me how typically country our encounter had been…
Take me as you find me hospitality, from a busy entrepreneur, wife and Mum who is growing her business and her family, with a can do attitude and bags of enthusiasm – supported by a strong line of grit and fortitude that has, and continues to see her and her family through good times and bad.
Coming up – we have already interviewed a number of people on our fund-raising Journey round Mainland UK – so please do sign up to our mailing list to receive them straight into your email inbox as they are released.