PossumBottomFarm

This has been a dream in the making for many years. When my husband and I first met, one of the things that convinced us that we were destined for each other was our shared dream of having a farm. Now at last we have a little bit of land with our very own cozy little cottage on it. And we are going to make our little corner of Elysium on earth right here! Why Possum Bottom? We’re a pair of Latin scholars living in rural Oklahoma, and it’s a nerdy pun. Possum means “I can” in Latin. It also refers to the unofficial spirit animal of rural America, our only marsupial, who looks terrifying and gets into your trash, but who also eats ticks which is a Very Important Job around here. And we live in a river bottom on the westernmost edge of the foothills of the Ozarks. It was a stroke of inspiration, the Muse whispering to both of us at the same time. To me, She gave the word “possum” with all its eyerollingly punny implications. To my husband, She gave the word “bottom.” Don’t ask me why or how, that’s just how it happened. It’s a good microcosm of our life: we’re corny, we’re nerdy, and we need each other to build this wonderful thing. Since naming our dream, the phrase “Possum Bottom” has come to mean everything we need to start a farm: self-empowerment, grit, and the conviction that we can, even if it seems totally illogical. We don’t believe in giving up when things get hard. We believe that you only get stronger by lifting heavier weights. And we believe that believing you can is at least half the battle. So what is our farm? What are we all about? We’re building this place to be a haven for paganism, earth-centered spirituality, and inclusivity. It is just a tiny little corner of the earth (about 2 acres, to be exact), but it’s plenty of room for a garden, some chickens, a goat, and four feral children, with ample space to spare for guests. As we live with the seasons and commune with the Mother, we will gain wisdom to share with others who want to do the same.