Where I Come From

I realized the other day that I probably should explain where the name for my “brand” comes from. That to some who know me personally, it may make sense with my little herds of animals I raise. After all, there are several small herds of different animals on our farm. Currently we are home to dogs, rabbits, horses, and cattle- of which my favorite is probably my cattle.

Which is exactly how I roll. Herding small herds, herding children… herding, well, everything I come in contact with. Except the idea for my branding after YEARS of trying to find something that truly felt “right” came from a play on my last name.

I’m heavily German, especially on my paternal side. My maternal side has strong German roots as well, though I don’t know enough about them to really speak on them. With a last name of Hertlein (pronounced Hurt Line), you really cannot get much more German. Except maybe my cousins with the last name Flessiner- but my uncle is from Germany.

My great-great grandparents Henry and Theresa settled with their families in Hays, Kansas in the late 1890s. My great Aunt Helen has told me the stories Theresa told about coming through Independence, Missouri in a covered wagon and that there were only a handful of building on the historic Independence Square. She even has the original ice box that our family owned in her house!

Our family were farmers by trade. My great grandfather, who passed away long before I was ever thought of, was even born on the family farm with aid of a midwife. I really enjoy hearing stories about how they worked the land, and not only survived, but thrived, during extremely hard times in the middle of Kansas. I draw so much inspiration from a family that I cannot seem to learn enough about them. 

I knew that farming carried up until my great-grandparents, and that even my grandfather had a farm at one time. What I didn’t know was that my great Aunt Carol had a farm and that my father grew up riding horses!

When we first began working on the farm, before we even moved in, I had mentioned to my father that I was learning to ride. That we were also teaching the kids how to ride. I was honestly taken by surprise when he didn’t have hackles rise at the thought of his grandchildren on horseback. He thought it was a good thing. Then when they competed in their first horseback riding competition hosted by our local 4-H and FFA, he began telling me stories of when he was young with the wild horses at my aunt’s farm.

I just learned that it’s even more in my blood than I previously thought.

Long before this day though, I was chatting with a friend from high school. He was half German and is fluent in both. Asking him if there was any meaning to my last name, he said it roughly translated to “herd” and “a little someone”. Which easily worked into what became The Little Herder. I like to say it fits perfectly. It feels authentic and true. It encompasses every single goal I have for this blog- farming, raising kids, crafting, fiber arts, plant medicine, hunting, gardening and so much more. It has helped me find my way back to my ancestral roots of heathenry. It drives me to be more than just a farmer, but a herder who manages their flocks and herds. It drives me to farm the way my ancestors did.

Finding out my heritage has driven me down this path to living a deeper, more authentic and in-touch with nature lifestyle that I love to share. Knowing I’m honoring the love of a thousand souls before me drives me each morning, even on the hard days. It fuels my fire and makes me want to live more in touch with the land every day. While making sure to hand it down to my children so that they may know the heritage that is lined up behind them. After all, we wouldn’t be here if it was for them.

Have a blog of your own focused on nature, farming, homesteading, sustainability, and heathenry or crafting? Please feel free to comment below or IG! And remember to grow wild, get out in nature and connect to your roots!