Maine AgrAbility Blog

Kathy Adams, OT/L: 45 Years as a Dedicated Occupational Therapist

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities—December 3– is a day designated by the United Nations to remind the world of the important work ongoing in communities around the world to address discrimination, marginalization, and exclusion for people living with disabilities.  For this, we’d like to honor Kathy Adams OTL, who spent her career advancing […]

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Boots-2-Bushels 2021: Boot Camp for Market Gardeners and Farmers

Veterans are asking: “Is farming for me?” Boots-2-Bushels is a great starting point to help answer that question. In this 9-month program, assess where you are, where you want to go and take your first steps. Explore agricultural enterprises while growing a community of farmers: building confidence, building networks, building a path forward from a […]

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The Great Pumpkin Recipe Exchange

by Ellen S. Gibson. This title and blog inspired by Charlie Brown and the success with my 2020 pumpkin patch. (192 pumpkins to share with friends, neighbors, and goats!)  The Great Pumpkin Recipe Exchange A farmer once told me that pumpkins have little value after Halloween. That seems a shame. The orange flesh of pumpkins […]

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Does Arthritis Grow on Your Farm?

by Ellen S. Gibson Caitlin’s Story: A Maine AgrAbility Case Study This is one of the ways Maine AgrAbility assists our clients. And we continue to be there when their needs change over time. Do you have arthritis? It can be as pervasive as Quackgrass. Did you know arthritis is the leading form of disability […]

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A Maine AgrAbility Case study

by Ellen S. Gibson Shea’s Story: A Maine AgrAbility Case Study This is one of the ways Maine AgrAbility assists our clients. And we continue to be there when their needs change over time. October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The Office of Disability Employment Policy within the U.S. Department of Labor states, “Held […]

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How’s Your Farmer?

By Ellen S. Gibson These days, the farmer who grows the corn and tomatoes you bought at the local farm store is just as likely to be a woman as a man1. Wow! This statistic embodies a major shift in the historically male-dominated field of farming. Recently, Maine AgrAbility released a poster entitled Yoga Stretches […]

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Arthritis Pain: All Too Common Among Farmers

By Ellen S. Gibson Pain spans an entire spectrum from mild to “stop you in your tracks.” Like the weather, the course of your life is unpredictable and there are some things you just can’t control. But many aspects of your physical and mental health are within your control. Being mindful of how the work […]

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Farmers with limitations offer their advice: “Try stuff”

By Ellen S. Gibson Farming is hard work. Physical limitations- whether from an injury, disability, or an aging body – can be challenging. How do you take care of your animals if you can’t lift a 50-pound grain bag? Get water to the garden if your mobility is limited? Put hay in the barn if […]

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