Fern Wood This is Me

Education

 Web References

1. 1. www.accion.org

   www.accion.org/meet_meet_our_b - [Cached]

   Published on: 3/17/2004   Last Visited: 1/19/2006

   Fern Wood
   ...
   Fern Wood Owner of Deeldaa Bighan
   ...
   Three years ago, Fern Wood decided it was time to take control of her life. Living in Naschitti, near a Navajo reservation, she had few prospects to make a living for herself and her children.
   
   "Where I live, you can't even get a decent job," Fern says. "A lot of people are on public assistance, and I can't handle that. In order to make ends meet, you have to do something for yourself."
   
   Fern did just that. Using her artistic talent and love of decorating, she began making candles in native herb scents and designing sterling silver candleholders and jewelry.
   
   After the costs of supplies, Fern didn't have much money left to market her products. Luckily, in October 2001 she received her first loan from ACCION New Mexico. She built a website, created marketing materials and started traveling to craft shows in surrounding states to build a name for herself.
   
   Business is still a battle, but one that Fern is winning. She sells at craft shows around the state, often with her eight-month daughter in tow. These days, her business is strong enough to support Fern and her five children, and to give the family new opportunities.
   
   "My daughter is about to be the first woman at her school to graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering," she says with a smile.