During my first few months here at Red Dog Farm, I’ve been reminded every day why I chose to become a farmer. First and foremost, providing food for our community is its own reward. It fills me with purpose to know that we are responsible for getting fresh, tasty produce to so many people in the area. With that said, there are so many other benefits to a job that gets your hands dirty.

Spending time outside with your skin in the soil can have tangible impacts on health and wellbeing. Sunlight helps regulate our natural cortisol levels all day, managing stress and improving sleep long after you’re outside. This process works even better when you can put bare hands or feet in the soil. The tactile sensation on your skin activates over 200,000 nerve endings in each sole and almost 100,000 in each hand, sending a signal to your brain that tells it to slow down and process all this new information. Just a few moments in that state helps calm a frantic or stressed mind and gives your brain a physical sensation to focus on.

Physical contact with soil also provides a unique opportunity for your immune system to sample the local microbiome. Because we are constantly coming into contact with new bacteria, our bodies don’t always have an appropriate response. In some cases, this can lead to increased inflammation and a high white blood cell count. Getting dirt on your skin provides your system with a healthy dose of local soil bacteria. Exposure helps the body better recognize bacteria causing specific problems while ignoring the harmless bacteria that we are constantly around. This can lower inflammation across your body and when combined with the hormonal benefits, you can measurably boost your mood after just 30 minutes. Lower inflammation can also reduce pain from muscle soreness and chronic conditions, and improve injury recovery up to three days after exposure. Often people will describe this sensation as grounding, and report a deeper kinship with the earth and our environment.

I could write pages and pages of the things I love about farming, but often in our analysis of any profession we forget to consider the kind of lifestyle it promotes. By spending my time outside in the soil, I can ensure my body feels happy and healthy, despite all the things life throws at me. If you’re feeling stressed, anxious, or just disconnected, I would recommend taking some time to put your bare feet in the dirt and reflect on how connected we are with the world around us. You’ll feel what a difference it can make!

~Davis