Veronica White – PhD Student, Cycling 2,000 Miles Across England: Exploring the Future of Farming Through Women’s Perspectives
- Tough Girl
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
This week on the Tough Girl Podcast, I’m joined by Veronica White — a PhD student, photographer, and outdoor adventurer who is combining academic research with exploration in a truly unique way.
For her final year at the University of Exeter, Veronica set out on an extraordinary journey: cycling more than 2,000 miles across England to explore how women envision the future of farming. Her Farming Futures Tour— meeting and interviewing 50 women along the way who are shaping the future of food and agriculture.
Born in the US and raised in the Netherlands, Veronica’s path into farming wasn’t traditional. With a background in environmental science and food security, she’s found her passion in connecting people, place, and purpose — and using adventure as both a research method and a personal challenge.
In our conversation, we talk about how she planned and trained for the project, what it was like to balance the mental and physical demands of fieldwork on the move, and why she believes surrounding yourself with people who say “yes” can make all the difference.
🎧 Tune in to hear how Veronica turned her PhD into a pedal-powered exploration of England’s rural landscapes — and how adventure can open new ways of seeing, learning, and connecting.
🎙️ New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
💪 Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
🙏 Your support makes a difference. 💖 Thank you x
Listen to Veronica Now!
Click here if you can't see the link below.
Show notes
Who is Veronica?
Final year PhD student at the University of Exeter
Cycling over 2,000 miles across England for her PhD fieldwork
Being born in the US and raised in the Netherlands
Her interest in food and farming
Studying environmental science for her undergraduate degree at the University of East Anglia
Reading up more on food waste
Deciding to do a Masters in Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture
Not having a background in farming, but doing volunteer work on farms
Doing cycling as a social activity
Starting her blog during the pandemic in 2020
Spending time exploring the South West Coast Path
Naming her blog - Coves to Cliffs
Using the blog to get away from social media
Not getting sucked into the world of SEO and affiliate marketing
Wanting the blog to be a collection of memories and stories and not just another marketing tool
What The Farming Futures Tour is
Speaking to 50 women on the tour
The reasons for cycling
Being supported and encouraged by her supervisors
Spending a year planning and training for the project
Finding the women to speak with
What the fieldwork looked like
The futures triangle
Autoethnography method - reflecting on your own personal experiences - while cycling through the landscapes
Planning and logistics for such a long trip
Receiving funding from the Royal Geographical Society and a charity organisation, Act Big Live Small
Setting off on the journey
Balancing the mental and physical sides of the challenge
Dealing with fatigue
Finding new strategies to cope with the work load
Doing voice notes instead of writing field notes
The bike and gear set up
The highlights from the trip
Still having to write the PhD!
Food and farming
Finding lunch in rural areas
Cycling hunger
How to connect with Veronica
Planning the next adventure?
Final words of advice
Surround yourself with people who say yes
Social Media
Blog: www.covestocliffs.com
Instagram: @farmingfutures_cycle
YouTube: @veronicaa_white
Feeling inspired week after week?
You can do 3 easy things to help me continue to grow the podcast!
Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, so you won’t miss a single episode
If you’re loving the podcast, please leave a 5-star review on iTunes! I read every single comment!
Share the podcast with your friends, especially if you think it could help them, and spread the #ToughGirlPodcast love.
Your support helps me continue to grow the podcast and do inspiring things in this space! Already done all 3? You’re a rockstar! Thank you!
Want to do more?
Please become a Patron and donate US$5 a month to help fund the runnings costs. Thank you.
Comments