Allyn: My mom and stepdad bought the farm in the late 1980’s - an historic, 1850’s home on 36 acres. We were living in Atlanta at the time and, even then, a simpler life on a dirt road in the country held a lot of appeal. Of course, a farm is the last place a teenager wants to be, so when we moved here full time, I spent much of my high school years in Athens, about 45 minutes north.

As an adult, I’ve come to truly appreciate this place and their vision. It’s a full circle moment to come back and drive the same roads (I work in Athens now) and roam the pastures. It’s exciting to be able to add my own hand and vision.

 Q. The farm is an expansive glimpse of a kind of life that many women might idealize. How does it comport to your vision of where you are right now?  

Allyn: I never expected to come back home at this stage in life, but I’m grateful. The idea of “coming home” is so interesting to me — I think we are all trying to come home to our true nature, our true self, to find peace and fulfillment. Nature is such an integral part of that, and I think my writing reflects that. Perhaps that’s why it seems so idyllic here — because you are in direct contact with your senses, with what’s real, with the source of creativity. But nature can also be harsh, and there are winters. So, to me, healing is about learning to embrace all those season within you, too. 

Together my mom and I started Found Beauty Farm as a creative outlet. We’re also imagining the farm as a venue for wellness retreats, yoga, dinner among the dahlias…we want others to experience the tranquility and connection we feel here. 

I call this time here as my “apprenticeship.” I’m learning the ways of the land and animals from my mom who has been their steward for over 30 years. I’ve adopted her practice of escorting spiders out of the house in glass jars. She’s teaching me when to intervene and when to let mother nature do her thing. 

Q. Is there ever a sense of urban wanderlust? How do you interact with that? What elements inform your life right now?

Allyn: Sometimes! I love to travel, so I’m always looking forward to the next adventure. As a city dweller, I used to dip into nature for inspiration. That has flipped in recent years - now I dip into city energy for a recharge. I do miss the fashion and culture of urban life. I lived in London briefly in my early 20s and find myself daydreaming about it often. I love that I am equally confortable wearing heels in the city and muck boots on the farm — I feel most fulfilled when I have both in my life.

Q. Tell us about your jewelry line?

Allyn: On visits home from NYC in my early 30s, I started making jewelry out natural elements on the farm - like earrings made from rosebuds or looping wire around crepe myrtle seed pods to make textured necklaces. It took me back to tying clover into bracelets as a kid. I loved that they were ephemeral and not meant to last.

I was enthralled with the idea that I could make something new and beautiful out of something so of-the-ordinary. At the time I was deeply craving connection and closeness with the natural world as an antidote to city life. NYC was hard edges, and at the farm I could soften. Wearing these pieces was a way to literally immerse myself further. 

Now I focus mostly on feather earrings. My mom and I have collected feathers at the farm for years. Peacocks, pheasants, roosters, hens...working with them brings back memories of the generations of animals here. I love the layers of connection, and my customers feel that, too. People get a kick knowing they are from our birds, not a warehouse somewhere. As with all my creative work, I love to help people see the familiar in a new way. Who knew turkey feathers could be so beautiful!

Q: You’re an active writer. How does that intersect with your work at the Council on Aging in Athens, Georgia, your life and the changing seasons in Union Point and your cosmopolitan educational experience? Tell us about that?

Allyn: I’ve put pen to paper in some form my whole life. Writing can give you this sense of wholeness and connection, within yourself and with humanity at large. I tend to write from personal experience, but I always hope others might see themselves reflected in my words, and use that insight towards their own flourishing.

To me, the process of writing is similar to how birds make nests - little pieces of the outside world woven together into this beautiful object. Spirituality, personal growth, healing, and nature all find their way in.

I think a natural theme in my writing is the reminder that we are all connected. Aging is one of those universal subjects. I’m developing a collection of essays about my experience working with older adults, as an example. There are so many ideas in the works!

Q: Books, music, podcast?  Would love to know what’s cued up on Spotify or on your bedside table? 

Allyn: As I’ve gotten older my consumption has changed. I value silence more than ever; I’m more picky about where I put my energy. But I do love getting lost in a book (Lessons in Chemistry), an occasional podcast (Smartless lately), and I have a stack of travel magazines on my bedside table. For my 50th birthday, I’m making a soundtrack of my 50 favorite songs, which has been fun.

Q: How can people find you and follow you and the work you are doing? 

Right now Instagram is my favorite way to share my work (@livenourishedwithallyn and @foundbeautyfarm). My website (allynrippin.com) is also a good entry point.