If you’ve ever walked through the front doors of our NSFA office, you might’ve noticed the We Talk. We Grow. yard sign — a symbol of our commitment to supporting the mental health of Nova Scotia’s farmers.
Every day, I pass that sign.
I’ve seen it on bright, sunny mornings, on bitter, windy afternoons, and buried under a pile of snow. I’ve walked by after hurricane-like weekends, and still, it stood — planted firmly, unmoved.
I actually really admired how tough that little sign was. But I suppose it had a strong foundation. We drove it deep into the soil, so it could withstand whatever came its way.
Then, a few weeks back, the winds picked up. The ground, that had been frozen solid for months, began to thaw — the perfect setup for that sturdy sign to finally wiggle loose. Despite its strong foundation, it could only take so much.
And as silly as it sounds, I couldn’t help but see myself — see all of us — in that We Talk. We Grow. sign.
We admire resilience. We wear it like a badge of honour. Farmers, especially, are seen as unshakable — weathering storm after storm, year after year. But no matter how strong your foundation — no matter how deep you’re rooted — everyone has a limit.
Sometimes, it’s the big storms that bring us down. Other times, it’s just a small gust from the wrong direction at the wrong time.
It doesn’t mean you’re weak. It doesn’t mean you’ve failed.
It means you’re human.
A strong foundation matters — it keeps you standing through the tough days. That’s why taking care of yourself isn’t a luxury; it’s part of the work. It’s what holds you up.
But even the strongest need rest. Need support. Need time to reset.
So please — be kind to yourself. Because resilience isn’t about never falling down. It’s about giving yourself the grace to get back up.
Allison Hancock, Farmer Wellness Coordinator
