Beyond The Crops
Jena & MP bring a unique perspective to the world of agriculture, offering a blend of humor, heart, and wisdom honed from their combined years on the farm. With a deep passion for their families, their farms, and the communities they call home, these two farmwives delve into the daily triumphs and tribulations that come from rural living.
They discuss everything from the latest advancements in agriculture and the art of balancing family with farm duties to the time-honored traditions and recipes that make life on the farm so special. Their stories will make you laugh, tug at your heartstrings, and inspire you to see the beauty in the ordinary moments of life.
"Beyond The Crops" is not just a podcast for farmers; it's for anyone who appreciates the enduring values of hard work, resilience, and the simple joys of living close to the land. Whether you're an urban dweller curious about rural life or a fellow farm enthusiast, you'll find something to love in the genuine and heartfelt conversations of Jena & MP.
Subscribe today and be a part of their journey as they cultivate a deeper appreciation for the remarkable world of agriculture.
Beyond The Crops
153. 4-H, Half Marathons, Household Chaos and Trusting God Through the Unknown
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Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! In this episode, Jena and Mary Pat cover everything from 4-H projects and half marathon plans to summer hosting chaos—but the heart of this conversation is a major life update Jena shares about her family’s ongoing mold journey.
After receiving a 316-page inspection report, Jena and Levi are facing some incredibly difficult decisions about their home—whether to remediate, rebuild, or start over completely. What began as unexplained health struggles, behavioral symptoms, and chronic inflammation has uncovered a much bigger issue than they ever expected.
Jena opens up about the physical, emotional, and financial toll this process has taken on their family, the surprising symptoms they’ve connected to mold exposure, and how they’re navigating uncertainty while trying to make the best decisions for their family’s future.
📌 What We Cover in This Episode:
✅ How 4-H can be so much more than livestock and a valuable homeschool tool
✅ Half marathon training, summer hosting, and preparing for a full house
✅ What a full mold inspection actually looks like
✅ The reality of toxic mold remediation and the hidden costs involved
✅ How mold can impact physical health, mental health, and behavior
✅ “Mold rage,” chronic inflammation, fatigue, food sensitivities, and nervous system dysregulation
✅ The difficult decision between rebuilding, repairing, or walking away
✅ What it looks like to trust God and seek discernment in overwhelming seasons
💡 Key Takeaways:
✨ Mold can show up in ways you’d never expect—from migraines and skin rashes to emotional regulation and chronic fatigue.
✨ Sometimes the symptoms you normalize for years may actually have a deeper root cause.
✨ Big life decisions rarely come with clear answers, and discernment often takes time.
✨ Home is more than a structure—it holds memories, routines, and security, which makes hard decisions even heavier.
✨ Even in overwhelming seasons, faith and forward movement can coexist.
We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation beyond the podcast. If you’ve dealt with mold, chronic illness, or a season of uncertainty, we’d love to hear your story.
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Thank you to the sponsor of this episode, Fieldview. Both Jena and MP have used Fieldview on their farms for the past several years and it's been an integral data and decision making tool for their operations.