The 251st recipient is Hannah Helfner of Brookwood Community Farm @brookwood_farm in Canton, MA. Hannah writes:
What self-care and well-being mean to me as a farmer: “As a farm manager of a production-focused nonprofit farm, I am expected to work long days and weeks, pulled in many different directions, and deal with all the challenges that running a small farm and business comes with. Over the summer I get super stressed and burnt out unless I set proper boundaries and take care of myself. We work hard with our bodies and it's very important to take care of our physical selves in addition to our mental health. Self care to me means prioritizing these things even when it would be easier to just keep working, or when you feel too tired or stressed, and you put yourself and your needs first.”
How I might use this $100 self-care award: “Two seasons ago, a CSA member traded her professional massage services for a share. All the staff really enjoyed the trade and I had a few massages that summer which helped both my mental and physical health. I would use the award for a massage by this masseuse and this would directly benefit me. The massage is expensive and not a luxury I feel I can obtain on a regular basis at this point.”
Most important self-care needs that contribute to my well-being as a farmer: “The biggest needs I have at this point are work-life balance, taking care of my body, and also working on my mental health. I believe that if I worked a more balanced schedule, or had more support in my role, I would be able to take care of myself much better in the context of my job. I also think if I took better care of my body in terms of proper form, stretching, and massage I would feel better physically. Lastly, prioritizing my mental health with therapy would help contribute to my wellbeing.”
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