Last year’s growing season seemed longer than normal. Windy, dry days with rising prices of fertilizer, fuel, and other supplies became frustrating. Equipment seemed to constantly break. I began to fall out of love with my job. My mood was touchy, irritable, and defensive. I was exhausted but couldn’t sleep. The seasonal aches and pains seemed extra achy. Add this to dealing with the death of several friends and family members, and I felt that everything was going wrong.
Raising plants is not a job that one can simply vacation from when the mood strikes. Crops and animals need constant care. Setting up the homestead for a housesitter eats into precious production time and playing catch-up when returning home can be overwhelming. I finally reached out to some friends in the industry who told me that I had the classic symptoms of burnout. One friend jokingly said, “If you are a farmer, and don’t think about quitting at least 10 times a summer, are you even farming?” That statement really made me stop and think. How could I refresh and reset myself so that I was excited about growing plants again? I received some advice that I believe is worth sharing.
Eat better. All too often, we fall into the trap of stopping for a burger and beer. I know that my body is craving electrolytes and nutrients. Spending a little extra cash to buy pre-chopped vegetables, nuts, fruit, unsweetened tea and other healthy options made a huge difference in my aches and pains.
Learn to live with small imperfections. Plants are not perfect. In fact, imperfections are what we often find endearing about them. One tiny brown speck on a leaf does not always indicate a crop failure.
Ask for help. This is extremely challenging for me. Luckily, we have a good friend that started to take on small tasks when he saw that I was slipping. I am eternally grateful for his perseverance. The flowers thanked him by putting on a spectacular show in summer.
Take a vacation. A close friend in the industry suggested, as soon as the season is over, to physically leave the farm. Go somewhere else, shut electronics off and just indulge in whatever compels me. Tropical drinks on a beach, a cabin in the woods, shopping for a week. Anything but thinking about work.
A vacation, plus time away from all social media, a few good books, a new pillow and a bottle of wine seemed to help a bit. By day six or seven, I was itching to get back to plant research. I was organizing my thoughts, making lists, and starting to tackle small chores that I had put off for the last nine months. My desire to work with plants has been completely rejuvenated, and I am more excited than ever to play in the dirt.
The Plant Lady is a regional horticulturalist with the goal of making Bluff Country more beautiful – one garden at a time. Follow her on Facebook @PlantLadyMn for helpful tips and tricks, or via email at ThePlantLadyMN@gmail.com.
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