Many hand issues actually originate in the tissues higher up in the arm. To keep our hands functioning well, we need to care for our shoulders and neck too.
Farm Life
Build strength to prevent hand pain
Fit to Farm: Pain in the hands is a common problem — but don’t write it off as normal
Tools and techniques, part 4: Handmade
Inanimate objects have a time and place — but the hands are a cook’s first tools
My hands knead and stretch and shape, fold and pleat. They evaluate texture and assess degree of doneness. In the kitchen, my hands are my first tools.
Jaw clenching and tooth grinding
Fit to Farm: Regular, intentional tongue movement can reduce tension in your jaw, neck and shoulders
Stress management, dental care and other health factors remain important in addressing jaw clenching and grinding, but intentional tongue exercises may help you deal with the painful symptoms in the meantime.
Gifts with a warm hand, not a cold one
Seeds of Encouragement: Quietly hoping things somehow all work out when you die is asking for trauma later
Many readers fear greed and entitlement arising in any succession and inheritance discussions now, so they quietly hope things will just work out somehow when they die. “Let the kids work it out on their own” is the thought — which is like lighting a match to gas.
Tools and techniques, part 3: Between a rock and a hard place
First We Eat: Pounding ingredients with a pestle encourages a calm approach to cooking
My mom tells me my counters are too cluttered. “Why don’t you put some of that stuff away?” she asks me repeatedly. Much of the counter space in my old farmhouse kitchen is occupied by electric tools designed to grind foods or to alter their shape: a food processor, blender and coffee mill stand shoulder […] Read more
Make moves against anxiety
Fit to Farm: The nervous energy our bodies generate needs to go somewhere
Anxiety is something all of us experience, to varying degrees, at some point or another. It can come with many different symptoms. Some of us tend to experience anxiety in our minds; some experience it more in their chests and cardiovascular systems; others experience it in the digestive system. Some lucky individuals experience all of […] Read more
On-farm communication improves when we start with connection
Seeds of Encouragement: Where you stand with your offspring comes from their relationships to you
Elaine writes: In so many of the families we coach, we see communication breakdowns leading to escalation of conflicts. In some cases, using strategies that provide family members with the tools they need to have better communication can help — but in many cases a relationship between family members has broken down to the point […] Read more
Work on stability for your whole-body wellness
Fit to Farm: Practicing to improve your physical balance can be done simply at home
No matter your age or fitness level, your ability to stabilize yourself in various positions has been shown to have a major impact on your overall wellbeing and long-term health outcomes. Your body’s ability to stabilize also directly links to your capacity for joint mobility and tension levels in your tissues. Balance and stability are […] Read more
Tools and techniques, part 2: Spurtles and spatulas
First We Eat: Preferring wooden hand tools means keeping a wide assortment
It was too hot in September 2024 in Grass Valley to be wearing my red crocheted holiday elf toque with the white pompom, but gift-giving was on my mind. Mom and I were in California to visit my best beloved auntie, and my cousin had told us about a terrific annual crafters’ sale. lt was […] Read more
Making marriage work on your farm
The dance between farm work and family time will never have a complete resolution
February is Heart Month and a good time to work on the state of your union: marriage, spousal relationships and couple care. John Gottman is a highly respected U.S. psychologist and author of The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. Here I’ve added a farm perspective to his tips based on those seven principles. Sharing […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
