Phaedra Call of Sky Bloom Farm

The 427th recipient is Phaedra Call of Sky Bloom Farm in Kilauea, HI. Phaedra writes:

What self-care and well-being mean to me as a farmer: “Self care is the only path to living sustainably as a farmer. The success of our farms depends not just on the health of our bodies, but also on the well-being of our minds. Taking time for self-care and rest, whenever possible, nourishes and supports both. As I enter year 7 of year-round growing in Hawaii and year 2 on my own farm, it has  become clear to me that farming is not just work—it’s a way of life, a calling that few are truly prepared for or suited to. And because it’s not a typical clock in and out job, it can be easy to trick yourself into thinking that you don’t get a day off. We need to stop telling ourselves that story in my opinion. Each of us has our own reasons for sourcing physical and mental endurance on the long days, the hot days, the rainy days, the pest ridden days, the teary eyed days, the every day. But to sustain these reasons, we must also give ourselves permission to rest. We need to care for and appreciate our bodies. Without balance we cannot walk our paths.”

How I might use this $100 self-care award: “The financial award would go towards immediate much needed care of the body. I would book a massage at the student clinic on island for a recently pulled muscle in my shoulder and an appointment with an acupuncturist for a pinched nerve in my tailbone that has made it hard to sit or sleep (rest) for going on two years now.”

Most important self-care needs that contribute to my well-being as a farmer: "The most basic self care need that seems to go unmet on a daily basis is nutritious food. It’s the irony of growing food - there is little time or energy to prepare it. Secondly, the care of the body whether it be finding the time to get some body work done or soak in a bath.”

#realfarmercare