How Did We "Choose" Our Farm Name?

How did we “choose” our farm name?

-By Gina

Well, we didn’t! It came to me in a dream. Which is something I knew was possible, but couldn’t fully believe until it happened to me.

We spent years thinking about what the farm name should be, asking friends and relatives and putting together words we liked. But, looking back, it's obvious why the name didn't come to us in those years. We moved FIVE times in five years and felt a lot of different kind of pressure put on us. Even though I spent some years traveling and living on my own in my 20s and 30s, by the time I met David, he and I went from living with our families, to living at my parents for Andes’ first year, to moving five times- three of them being on other people’s farms which had their own separate wonderful times but lots of difficult times as well. Why would the name of the farm come to us when we were so unsteady? We couldn’t even afford a home, and while we were manifesting and envisioning what we wanted, the energy surrounding us wasn't yet right. Luckily, the last place we lived, albeit not ideal in many ways, gave us the ability to finish saving for a downpayment and qualify for a mortgage. We are beyond grateful for EACH of the opportunities on our path as it taught us so much about what we did and did not want for our family AND brought us to exactly where we needed to be at the exact right time. 

So, when we finally found our home, that's when it happened. It’s worth it to mention, that the month we found out David’s job was (thankfully, but unexpectedly) ending, was when we found this house! 

Anyway, We were already in contract with the home and I went to bed after a small argument between David and I. It left me feeling confused and sad about our future.The argument, like most do, came at a time of high stress from our living situation at the time and possibly uncertainty about getting the mortgage. Normally, I have weird dreams that I barely remember or I don’t remember at all (nothing ever of importance). But, the next morning, I woke with a knowing that Root To Rise (a common phrase said in yoga) WAS our farm name, as well as all the reasons WHY it was our farm name. Along with that knowing, I knew that everything was not just going to be OK, but that we would be the best we could be because of this future farm. Then, shortly after, David had a similar confirming dream which solidified it!

The meaning.

Without knowing the phrase’s yoga meaning, one could gather its obvious connotation: “You need strong roots to rise tall”. This is the main reason I believe it came to me after that skiff. We will plant roots and we will grow strong as a family and it’s where all these other pitstops on our journey were guiding us to all along. A home to feel settled and not have other people’s stressors on us and to do things without needing to ask permission or get shot down for doing; huge factors that caused underlying tension for our family for many years. 

Since arriving at our home over a year ago, we’ve accomplished more than most people can say they do in a decade, although, at the expense of building our savings back up. We feel overwhelming pride in how well we work together to bring our joint vision of this space to life. Our relationship has strengthened as I knew it would after the dream and our small businesses are thriving. The family unit is truly living up to the farm name.

But the reason I even knew about this phrase was because of my yoga practice. Many of my teachers and now myself, use “Root To Rise” as a way of reminding students to ground down through the feet, before rising up into a standing pose, to prevent wobbling or falling over. Find stability and roots before growing upwards. “A stable home cannot exist without a strong foundation”, a saying which bleeds into all parts of life very easily. I probably say this in every class I teach, and also remind myself while off of the mat, because it’s some of the best advice I’ve ever received and a universal truth. Take it easy and be mindful. And it’s exactly what I needed to tell myself that night in the dream. 

The meanings do not stop there! The dream showed me the other obvious connection of the phrase to our family and that’s growing vegetables. They can’t rise towards the sun for their nutrients without first growing roots. It seems Root To Rise so nicely joins my dharmic work (yoga) with David’s (farming). 

Lastly, our farm is on a brackish river (one that mixes into the ocean so it is both fresh and salt waters), and ebbs and flows with the tide. So, our river RISES as well! AND our Farm-Stay/Airbnb is a place for people to root for the evening and rise in the morning- with their bedrooms facing the rising sun. 

It is a deeply meaningful name that we couldn't wait to write down and start manifesting how it would all come together. Divinely enough, we didn’t even have to plan much. Once we started living in the home (which is much too big for us), all the excess rooms naturally became useful for our businesses as ideas popped up. 

Our Airbnb booked up all last summer and is available so if you’re interested in a farm stay, here is a link to book! or  reach out to me :)

Thanks for following along and if you haven't yet seen, we created a FB page since the farm's beginnings. Blessings and gratitude, we love you! Root to Rise Farm