Jenny, a 51-year-old entrepreneur from Grong in central Norway’s Trøndelag region, runs a diverse farm with her husband. Their business includes a small brewery, a bakery, the cultivation of ancient grains, and salmon fishing in the Namsen River. They also offer accommodation and meal services. Initially, they were dairy farmers, but ten years ago, health issues forced them to stop milking cows. “That’s when we started developing other parts of the farm”, she says. Since then, their business has grown around their commitment to sustainable and traditional practices.
One of the unique aspects of their farm is their work with ancient grains. “Not many people grow them anymore. The modern varieties dominate, but we cultivate them the ecological way”, Jenny explains. Their approach is unique because they handle every step: “We grow the grains, mill them, bake with them, and serve them”. They prefer selling their products directly in their bakery and through small local shops. “You can’t bake with these grains the same way as modern ones. If we sold them in supermarkets, people wouldn’t know how to use them”. This unique approach to farming and baking is what sets their products apart.
Jenny hasn’t felt significant differences as a female entrepreneur in Norway, but she does find the business system challenging. “There’s always pressure to grow bigger, but I don’t want it. I want to keep things in a cycle, using all our resources efficiently”. She sees her farm as a place of balance rather than endless expansion. One of her biggest challenges is structuring her work. “Being my own boss, it’s easy to postpone things that feel overwhelming”, she admits. Marketing is also tricky for her. “I love creating things but don’t dedicate enough time to marketing and I lack digital skills”.
She has found support through networks like GRASS CEILING and a local initiative called Walk Along Namsen, where small business owners collaborate. “We help each other with marketing and meet to discuss challenges.” Her advice to other women about starting a business is simple: “The hardest part is making the decision. But once you start, things begin to roll”.