Josue Diaz Coss of Finca El Vapor

The 562nd recipient is Josue Diaz Coss of Finca El Vapor in San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico. Josue writes:

What self-care and well-being mean to me as a farmer: “As a young farmer who has been raised in agriculture and livestock farming my entire life, I understand that well-being must be collective, not just personal. Well-being means having the necessary conditions in the community and resources from the state to be able to generate healthy food and a healthy life for myself, my family, the community in which I live, and the surrounding towns. Having my needs met and being able to contribute to the healthy nutrition of the people who live in the Puerto Rican archipelago is part of what I see as the collective well-being to which I can contribute.”

How I might use this $250 self-care award: ”The work of small farmers and ranchers in Puerto Rico is a full-time job. The $250 will help pay for my health insurance. The last time I went to the doctor was about seven years ago, when I had health coverage through my salaried job as a union organizer. This could support my self-care needs so I could visit a general practitioner.” 

Most important self-care needs that contribute to my well-being as a farmer: "Mainly, I would like to contribute to my well-being with resources such as chiropractors and muscle therapists who could offer therapy to me and my family. Working as a farmer and rancher requires physical strength and often brings back pain and pain elsewhere in the body, because we don't work hard on our backs. Setting aside time to see doctors or finding doctors who can come to the farm would make a huge difference in my care and well-being. Unfortunately, we have a healthcare system that is viewed as a commodity and doesn't prioritize collective needs. Coverage is increasingly expensive, and federal healthcare is currently facing further cuts.”

#realfarmercare