A Much Needed Vacation – It’s easy right?
What is the full meaning of vacation?
A period spent away from home or business in travel or recreation. Had a restful vacation at the beach
Welcome to the very first Ramblings of a Farmer’s Wife. You will find general day to day life down on the homestead and many other ramblings.
This is where I will jot down all my thoughts and tales of everyday life here in the beautiful Waikato.
It’s currently November, spring of 2022. After weeks of rain, husband has finally been able to shut the gates on the silage and hay paddocks.
We are quite behind on shutting up the paddocks. Hopefully with a bit more rain and some warm weather the grass, should start to come away.
The wet however has turned the paddock, which we lovingly call “the polo paddock”, into a sea of yellow flowers from a weed called buttercup. A strange name for our paddock, as we neither play polo or own polo ponies! Poor husband is not so happy about his usually green paddock turning into a sea of yellow.
However, I digress, today’s ramblings is supposed to be about a much-needed vacation – it’s easy right? Or the lack of said vacation!
It is a common misconception that farmers are a hardy breed, with well stocked bank accounts, and all the time in the world to jet off and see the world. Spending our time lying under palm trees on an exotic beach, sipping pina coladas and beers.
I know its true, there are many who do live that kind of lifestyle, however there are probably far more sailing by the seat of their pants!
How is our mental health of kiwi farmers
A recent review taken by ACC – of New Zealand farmers mental health found
Farmer suicide – The review found evidence to suggest that:
* The high rate of farmer suicide (compared to the general population) is an
international problem spanning several countries
* Farmer suicide appears to be higher than other occupations in countries where
events such as disease and drought have occurred
* Influencing factors for suicide include uncontrollable events, mental illness and
seasons relating to peak work periods and mental illness
* Some farmers had ended their life even though they had accessed services and it
was noted that the services provided may not have been appropriate.
You can find the link on that article here if you wish to read on more.
Tough findings indeed! However, I myself am not surprised at all by these findings. Times are tough for everyone including our hard-working farmers.
What are some things affecting our farmers currently
Upon talking to my darling husband this morning, he said the main stress affecting him as a dry stock farmer is the current back log at the cold stores (slaughterhouses).
Most farmers are currently trying to get the lambs, and spare cows to the works at this time of the year. The processors are struggling to find the staff to fulfill the current demand, which has a trickledown effect. If the farmers have too many stock units going into the summer months, then there is more stress placed on the farm as a whole to feed them all.
Under the current financial conditions the world is facing, the farmers are not reaping the rewards. In fact, it could be said with inflation pushing up prices, one could ask just who is the one reaping!
My husband’s answer to this is, “well you never see a poor supermarket owner”. This is true, I guess they are pretty much exempt from our current times as we will always need them.
The flip side of the coin to which he reminded me, was the fact that the government is reaping the rewards big time. We all pay GST. It is currently set at 15%. If we are paying more for our food, we are then also paying more GST, hence more tax.
One would imagine, if said government wanted to help the people, lowering GST at the supermarkets would help greatly. I guess we have to pay back debt somehow though.
If you love what you do, you don’t need a vacation from it!
This was the response from husband this morning after asking him about his thoughts on taking a vacation. An answer for which I pondered for a moment. It’s true, he loves working the land. That’s obvious to me as he works 7 days a week from sunup, until sundown. When he is not working the land, he is a Farrier which is someone who makes and fits shoes on horses.
However, 99.9% of the time he comes home with a smile of his face and an empty tummy, for which I happily fill for him. One of his favorites is my quick multi cooker nachos. Follow this link if you would like the recipe or watch the video on my YouTube channel. We would love you to join our community. Here is the link if you wish to follow.
Here is the link to the recipe post right here in the blog.
Where does this leave us
Farming / homesteading is definitely a lifestyle, one that is constant and demanding. Something always seems to need fixing, ploughing, shearing, injecting or moving. However, it is a life we both love.
My husband and I have never taken a vacation with each other in the 7 years we have been together and that is just alright by me. If we want to get more one on one time together, we go for a hunt in the forest or go fishing, watch a movie at home by the fire. Or I will just ride with him in the buggy on the farm.
Taking this meat loving man out to a cafe is just not going to cut it. He doesn’t see the sense in throwing money away on a plate of food, that requires him to fill up more on the way home. He certainly is the epitome of the meat and 3 veg man!
My favorite thing to do is sit on the hill in the Ute and watch the sun set over the Raglan harbor. While chatting and keeping the other eye open for wild pigs encroaching in our paddocks.
As long as we nurture our marriage with those types of activities and love, we will be just fine leaving the money in the bank and staying at home.
Of course that is not everyone’s cup of tea, but these are my ramblings.
Love and light. See you on the next episode of ramblings of a farmer’s wife.
