When Englishwoman Zoë Vaughan went to live in Methven with her farmer partner at the tender age of 21, she didn’t know anyone or anything about farming.
But she’s been in New Zealand for around 10 years and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
It was the amazing support from other rural women that made the difference in
Vaughan’s life and helped her become a part of the community and feel at home.
And that’s one of the main reasons she believes celebrating International Day of Rural Women is important.
It’s a chance to celebrate the ladies in our community putting in the mahi on
the farm.
As she explained, she didn’t have that long association with people here.
“I didn’t grow up here with people, I didn’t go to uni.
“It’s taken a long time to open up as a mum, but when you do find your knit of people, it’s a community.
“I feel like I have found my people,” Vaughan said.
Her partner’s mum, Sandra, is another rural woman who became an integral part of helping Vaughan realise her dreams.
She had wanted to start a small business for a while, but juggling that while being a stay-at-home parent and farmhand didn’t feel feasible.
Sandra stepped up to help and has been a backbone of support for her over
the years.
It enables her to take some time out for the projects she wants to do and Vaughan sings Sandra’s praises.
And one of the main ventures, on top of her farm work and being a mum, was
launching her own skincare line recently.
Earth Glow is made primarily of beef tallow, a leftover product from cows
culled for consumption.
Vaughan began the venture out of her own desire for moisturisers that were
natural and sustainable.
“I like to know where everything comes from,” she said.
After a bit of online sleuthing, she found that tallow could be used in beauty
products and came with natural benefits.
She was also quick to point out that it doesn’t have a beefy smell, because of
the extraction and rendering process.
From a small village near New Forest in England (where Robin Hood: Prince of
Thieves was filmed), Vaughan is well settled in Methven and she wouldn’t have it
any other way.
The farming lifestyle may be a far call from her roots, but she prefers it to the
“rat race” of England.
“We’ve just finished lambing and shedding off. My daughters love it.”
Vaughan has two girls, aged six and two, and her partner works on his family’s
sheep and beef farm in Staveley. As she says, when you find your people
and like-minded mums in a rural setting, it’s easy.
But Vaughan also knows that farm life can be full-on, tiring and isolating, so
she encourages rural women to get off the farm occasionally and take time for
themselves.
“Get out there and go to a café. Whether it’s a mother in a rural setting, or a
young girl.”

Women supporting women is an important theme today
as the world celebrates International Day of Rural
Women.
Do you know a rural superwoman who deserves some
recognition? Email [email protected]
By Anisha  Satya