For three decades beginning in the 1940's, Rachel Peden wrote about rural life, including the plants, animals and quirky neighbors she encountered in her everyday life on the farm. She was the editor of Farm Life Magazine early in her career and went on to publish three books based on her life and experiences. She also wrote regular columns in the Indianapolis Star and Muncie Evening News which gained her popularity beyond Indiana. With her husband, Richard, she hosted school children at the Peden Family Farm to teach them about farm life, a tradition that continues with her son, Joe Peden.