The 358th recipient is Gertrude Melanie Carter of Sunflower Soule Farm @sunflowersoulefarm in Chicago, IL. Gertrude writes:
What self-care and well-being mean to me as a farmer: “Knowing when to stop. At one time I would just keep going until I had everything on my task list checked off, but I would be too exhausted to do anything when I got home or for the next few days. What this made me realize is that it can wait until tomorrow, or to stop giving myself unrealistic deadlines, INSTEAD, I give myself time to rest and reset, this doesn't mean that I've given up, just that getting rest is a priority over anything.”
How I might use this $100 self-care award: “I would probably treat myself to a mani-pedi. I don't know when the last time in the past few years or more that I've taken the time to do something like this for myself as I have always had the excuse, ‘It won't last because it's just going to get ruined outside.’ But, I now realize that this is self care too.”
Most important self-care needs that contribute to my well-being as a farmer: “Rest, relaxing, not overdoing it. And remembering that I am not a checklist.”