Ian Somerhalder and Nikki Reed Put Their Careers on Hold and Left the Concrete Jungle to Live on a Farm
Many of us have, at least once, dreamed of living on a farm. Closing our eyes, we imagine living in a big, cozy house, raising animals, growing our own fruit and veg, and, most importantly, enjoying nature. But these are just dreams. In reality, it is difficult to give up everything, especially when you think about the advantages of city life. The protagonists of this article thought long and hard about moving to a farm. In the end, they decided to put their careers on hold and, despite all the difficulties, move closer to nature. They are now delighted with their decision.
Ian and Nikki have been caring for the environment
and animals for many years.
Ian Somerhalder and Nikki Reed are known not only for their roles in vampire sagas but also for their environmental activism. Nikki is an animal rights activist, volunteering at shelters in her spare time. In addition, in 2017, she and her friend Morgan Bogle created the eco-friendly jewelry brand BaYou With Love. The company makes jewelry from recycled materials.
Ian doesn’t fall behind either. Back in 2010, he established his own foundation, which educates people about the importance of protecting animals and the environment, as well as helping various environmental projects to raise funds.
In addition, Ian actively opposes industrial livestock farming and supports the free grazing of cows. In his opinion, this enriches the soil, improves biodiversity, and can help overcome climate change. Finally, he supports animal shelters and is personally involved in environmental activism. For example, he helped with the wildlife clean-up after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
They decided to put their acting careers on hold.
Twilight star Nikki Reed was born and raised and has lived most of her life in Los Angeles, a huge metropolis filled with traffic and people. By her own admission, she was happy with her childhood, but her exposure to nature was limited to taking care of pets.
Ian was born in the small town of Covington, Louisiana, but, like many actors, he moved to Hollywood at the very beginning of his career with the dream of one day conquering it. This didn’t take long; Ian is known for his impressive roles such as Boone Carlyle in Lost and Damon Salvatore in The Vampire Diaries.
It would seem that moving out of town at the height of one’s career is pure madness. But the birth of their daughter, Bodhi Soleil, in July 2017 changed the couple’s priorities. Now, spending time with family is at the forefront. When their daughter turned 4, the family packed up and moved to a farm near Los Angeles.
They took a brave step to give their child “the most possible normal life”.
Back in 2019, Nikki Reed admitted, “Part of what we really focus on as a household is the idea of being really connected with nature. My dream would be for her to be a farmer.” For the next three years, the idea stuck with her and Ian. Eventually, the couple decided to move to a farm. “It was a turning point for me. I made a conscious choice to give my child the most normal life possible,” commented Nikki.
In the couple’s new home, their daughter is spending time with animals and learning how to grow plants. “My greatest joy is watching my daughter run through the dirt with her shoes off,” says Nikki.
They breed animals and enjoy horseback riding.
Their life on the farm started with the discovery of rats and raccoons in the area. Not only was this of no concern to Ian and Nikki, but she even got excited. The couple quickly took in their own animals and now breed dogs, cows, and goats on the farm. The latter have even had their first newborn kids. Ian and Nikki also raise chickens. One of them laid its first eggs this summer.
Ian and Nikki share a love of horses, which often accompany the couple on their walks. The family can spend hours riding around the farm and taking picturesque photographs. Another joy of country life is feeding the cows. Nikki admits that they’re always trying to chew on her fingers, but she always forgives them and kisses them tenderly on the forehead.
They love working in the vegetable garden and having family barbecues.
When it comes to cultivating the vegetable garden, Ian and Nikki focus on their favorite veggies and herbs, as well as some flowers. To start with, they’ve planted lavender, fragrant rosemary, peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, and radishes.
It’s all in keeping with Ian and Nikki’s love of home-cooked food and natural, home-grown produce. On cozy evenings, they like to have a barbecue in the backyard and enjoy moments with each other by the fire.
They admit that living close to nature has had a profound effect on their mental state.
The happy family’s leisurely days are spent caring for their beloved animals, riding horses, and enjoying scenic views of nature. The actress confesses that this has had a huge impact on their emotional state.
Indeed, watching Ian and Nikki’s happy, serene life on the farm, we realize that nature is the best medicine for the soul. Being away from the city enables you to slow down, get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and take some time for the really important things. And maybe some days, even allow yourself to relax all day long, watching a bee flying around a bright sunflower with nothing else clouding your mind.
If you were to move to a farm, what kind of animals would you have and what would you grow in your garden?