Founded by farmer Clara Coleman in January 2020, Real Farmer Care’s founding mission is to support farmers' self-care needs, while centering the voices of BIPOC farmers (Black, Indigenous, People Of Color) & LGBTQ+ farmers, and allocating donated funds directly to farmers.

 

Self-care activities are inexpensive, but rarely prioritized. With a $100 self-care payment, farmer self-care looks like treating themselves to a delicious dinner at one of the restaurants where they supply local products, a deep tissue massage for their overworked muscles, a family fun day outing, a date night with their partner while their kids have a babysitter, or even a new pair of boot insoles for their tired feet.

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Fifty percent of Real Farmer Care recipients are BIPOC farmers. BIPOC farmers are disproportionately impacted in access to land, education and capital by systemic racism. On top of all of the common challenges that exist in farming, this means that BIPOC growers face substantial additional hurdles that impact their everyday wellness and livelihood. Therefore, making space to center and prioritize their needs in the Real Farmer Care project is paramount.

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As Real Farmer Care continues to grow, recipients will be able to access future Real Farmer Care programs including Therapy and Self-Care Stipends for farmers seeking on-going mental health and body care support; Farmer Care and Leadership Retreats for farmers to connect, learn, and rejuvenate; Farmer Knowledge Exchange Program to share skills and knowledge among farmers; Farm Business Micro-Grants to expand their farming goals; In-Kind Donations for farmers and 1% Sales to Farmer Self Care through strategic partnerships; and a Farmer Care Crisis & Disaster Relief Fund for aiding emergency farmer care as farmers continue to navigate the lack of good health care and unpredictable devastation and financial impacts of climate change.

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The more we care for our farmers, the more successful they can be at caring for themselves, our communities, and the land.

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To learn more and meet farmer recipients, visit RealFarmerCare.com and follow on Instagram. 

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Please support Real Farmer Care with a donation today. Real Farmer Care is fiscally sponsored through the National Young Farmers Coalition, a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent allowable by law.