A Calling to the Land with Songwriter Eliza Blue, the Accidental Rancher

In this episode, Mary and Emma have a wonderful conversation with Eliza Blue, a singer/songwriter who lives and works on a regeneratively-managed ranch raising grass-fed cattle and fiber sheep with her husband and two children. She talks about going from the life of a touring musician to a teaching job in South Dakota, and the pivotal moment when she walked into a friend’s lambing barn at lambing season and knew she had found her calling. Eliza's connection to the land is evident in her stories of life on the ranch and her daily involvement with the animals and the natural environment. She has written a book called "Accidental Rancher," which came out this past spring, and she writes and produces audio "postcards" about ranch life for the North Dakota and South Dakota NPR affiliates. In addition, she has just finished filming for a new series that celebrates rural life through stories and songs called Wish You Were Here.

1:23 - It’s been a year since The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living has been released!

Let’s get into the interview!

8:35 - Eliza introduces herself

13:20 - Eliza’s creative endeavor 

18:00 - Eliza’s shares a story from the ranch

30:00 - How the pandemic has affected Eliza’s life

33:00 - What inspires Eliza’s music and songwriting?

44:00 - Regenerative Agriculture in the grasslands

50:00 - What does The Good Dirt mean to Eliza?

Things Mentioned:

• The Lady Farmer Guide to Slow Living Book
• Accidental Rancher by Eliza Blue
• Postcards from the Prairie
• Wish You Were Here
• Dirt to Soil by Gabe Brown
• Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan
• The History and Folklore of Brigid: Saint, Legend and Lady Farmer with Kathy Spaar
• Eliza's Spotify