The 254th recipient is Valerie Niederer of Chance Farm @chancefarmmt in Bozeman, MT. Valerie writes:
What self-care and well-being mean to me as a farmer: “Self-care means taking a holistic approach to how I am living my life. This is my 16th season farming. I got sober 8 years ago from alcohol and that was a huge shift in how I now function as a manager. It has helped me to become more productive, aware and to have better boundaries, but it has also become challenging to not replace my alcoholism with workaholism. For me, self-care and well-being will be working towards finding that balance each season.”
How I might use this $100 self-care award: “I would use it towards body work for my lower back, legs and feet. I have been suffering from plantar fasciitis for 4 years now due to standing, lifting, harvesting and this is one of the things that helps ease the pain. Or, I would put it towards sessions with my therapist.”
Most important self-care needs that contribute to my well-being as a farmer: “1) Talk therapy for troubleshooting the best ways to manage the crew and learning to communicate better with the owner. 2) Body work for my lower back and feet as well as acupuncture and physical therapy combined to deal with the underlying problems that led to this injury. 3) Time alone to rest and reflect.”
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