Jane Hayes-Hodge of Rise & Root Farm

The 584th recipient is Jane Hayes-Hodge of Rise & Root Farm in Chester, NY. Jane writes:

What self-care and well-being mean to me as a farmer: “Of all the diverse challenges farming brings, self care is the hardest and most important. It's a field where sometimes the amount of time and effort you put in can really make an impact on how much you get out of the farm. We spend so much time paying attention to weather, and trying to get things done before or after the next rainfall, that it's really easy to keep going until burnout. It's also the only thing that will keep us going over the long run. Our farm has tried to create a culture that supports self care, to lean on each other when we're down. I believe the farm is here to serve us and not the other way around. We get one life. And yet even with all of that support it's still hard to prioritize. ”

How I might use this $100 self-care award: ”I'd like to use my self care stipend by going on a date with my wife. We run the business together, we parent our kids together, and we sort through so many daily logistical challenges together. And we rarely have time to just enjoy being together.” 

Most important self-care needs that contribute to my well-being as a farmer: "Probably the most important self care need would be paid time off. We owners pay ourselves hourly, so when I take time off for sickness or rest, I don't get paid.”

#realfarmercare