Heide Madden of Farmer's Gardener's Guild

The 441st recipient is Heide Madden of Farmer's Gardener's Guild in Bainbridge Island, WA. Heide writes:

What self-care and well-being mean to me as a farmer: “Taking care of one's mind, body and spirit so that I can continue farming. The farm I do requires physical labor but also has many hazardous possibilities.  Farming is a financial challenge and is risky, which can cause emotional and physical stress. Farming for many of us is a life style not just a profession so when one is so intimate with a practice it can become confusing and farming failures can seem overwhelming in their impact. Farming is seen by many as a simple job, grunt labor, mindless, something the uneducated can do, it's the bottom of professions...so if you fail, that's tough and where do you go from there.  Self-care is not identifying with what you do but with who you are, that's why spiritual practices are so important.”

How I might use this $100 self-care award: “Facia work for my arm that has been going numb. Insurance doesn't cover many health care needs that work for me.”

Most important self-care needs that contribute to my well-being as a farmer: "Personal spiritual practice. Access to healthcare, much of which insurance companies don't cover. Family, Friends and Community. Value oneself and what we produce.”

#realfarmercare