Stress, Depression Take Toll on Farmers

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Winnipeg Free Press - By: Laura Rance - Manitoba Co-Operator 6/02/2010


Workshops to focus on growing problem...





Canola swaths in October.
l.p. photo

Comments

Johanne Dion said…
Well, I'm not a farmer, but I know that those around here that farm according to their convictions, that is those that grow as organic as much as they possibly can, those that grow healthy fruit and vegetables, and those that raise animals in a humane way, have no mental problems: their conscience lets them sleep at night.

Those that are aggressive and bully people that dare question their way of life are those that grow GM corn and soy monocultures, those that got on the money bandwagon by buying all the small farms that they could put their hands on, those that are in deep debt because they have the latest biggest tractor and latest model shiny 4-wheel pick-up truck, those are the ones that complain about being stressed, depressed and being overworked.

Pardon me, but the organic farmers around here are the ones that spend the whole day walking around their land, tending to their flock, weeding and hand-picking, and strangely enough, they're not complaining. On the contrary, they are the most content, down to earth people I know.

The mechanized intensive industrialized producers (I don't call what they're doing farming) spend their whole day riding in closed-in, air conditioned tractors or other farm machinery. They seem to have lost the pleasure of being in touch with good soil, growing plants and warm bodies: no wonder they're depressed!
February 7, 2010 at 4:03 PM
Larry Powell said…
Johanne,
Amen to that, Brother!
February 8, 2010 at 6:50 PM
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