Beverley Forrester

An engaging woman-against-the-odds story about an entrepreneurial South Island sheep farmer.When Beverley Forrester's beloved husband Jim died unexpectedly, not only did she have to deal with her grief, but she suddenly had a farm to run too. Although she had grown up in a farming family, she herself had trained and worked as an occupational therapist for many years. So there was a lot to learn and new tasks to undertake - not least the need to win the trust of Jim's loyal farm workers and the community in the close-knit North Canterbury area. She set to work, and with the help of those around her, she learned to farm, and has also developed a successful brand of natural coloured, undyed, chemical-free yarns sold internationally, and her own fashion label, which debuted at New Zealand Fashion Week. Resilient, big-hearted, entrepreneurial and determined, Beverley Forrester is a treasure and this is her delightful and engaging story. It's also the story of North Canterbury's beautiful Hurunui district, and the pioneers who built it.