Maria Vecchiolli of Maria the Farmer

The 428th recipient is Maria Vecchiolli of Maria the Farmer in Lafayette Hill, PA. Maria writes:

What self-care and well-being mean to me as a farmer: “I consider self-care and well-being to be central to my farming and small business practices. I practice self-care through my time spent working on my farm as I spend time with the creatures there and the produce I grow. Self-care for me also means knowing when to step back if I need to - I take care to practice listening to myself and taking things slower if necessary.”

How I might use this $100 self-care award: “As a small business owner, the $100 award would contribute to my self care by helping to alleviate stress. Although I greatly enjoy working on the farm, I sometimes realize that the costs of managing such a small business can rise quickly- especially during the off season.  This award would help alleviate some of that monetary stress.”

Most important self-care needs that contribute to my well-being as a farmer: "I think the most important self-care need I have would be consistent access to local markets and funds to pay for those market fees. Sometimes as a small-business owner I find that the stress of inconsistency leads to poor self-care practices.”

#realfarmercare