Learning about stress, happiness, and health at Farm Day

This past weekend we hosted our annual Farm Day event. It was a day full of excellent food, good old fashioned fun, and some unexpected epiphanies. 

In the farm’s packing room (where lunch was served), the farmer has signs posted. One sign says:

One minute of anger ~ weakens the immune system for 4-5 minutes!

One minute of laughing ~ boosts your immune system for 24 hours!

This really got me thinking about the correlation between stress, happiness, and health.

Last week, my 7-year-old son was stressed about reading in school. On Thursday, he had a 102F fever and was sent home by the nurse. 

Judge me if you want, but we went to Farm Day anyway. I figured the worst case scenario is that he rested at our rental home with my husband.

We arrived on the farm on Friday, and my kids loved seeing the chickens, playing in the sandbox, and just being kids. They were free in nature. Free to roam, free to play, and free of stress. My son was feeling much better.

On Saturday, he had a blast at Farm Day. His face filled with pure joy while the farmer’s son John gave him a ride on a buggy pulled by a pony. Again, the face of joy when hand milking cows and reviewing milks from different cows. Again, the face of joy when giving hay to the horses. And so on and so on.

On Sunday morning, my son was 100% healthy. 

Listen, it could be coincidence. But, my mama instincts tell me that it had something to do with the joy and laughter he experienced on the farm. His stress-free body was able to heal (and, I’m sure the amazing nutrient-dense food didn’t hurt, either).

A cow on the farm had a similar experience with stress at Farm Day, except it was the opposite.

I need to first note that cows do not like change. Anything out of the ordinary is stressful. So, Farm Day makes the herd a bit uneasy.

When the cows were in the barn to be milked, a customer (who’s a birth doula) noticed that a cow’s water may have broken. 

The farmer came over and said it’s possible that the cow might give birth soon, but it’s hard to tell. After Farm Day ended, the cows were moved back up to pasture. 

Low and behold, the cow gave birth around 10pm that night!

There’s no way to know 100%, but it seems to me that the cow was ready to give birth in the barn. However, due to the stress of strangers, she didn’t. Her body waited until she felt safe and calm at pasture. 

I believe my son and that cow had something big in common on Farm Day. They needed to de-stress for their bodies to function their best.

Our bodies and our minds are so beautiful and complex. And, they are so completely affected by stress.

The farmer’s vision is to promote wellness. And a big part of this is reducing stress. 

The farmer hopes that, by eating his nutrient-dense food, you are not stressed about the quality ingredients you feed your family. He hopes that you can be calm knowing exactly where and how your food is produced. He hopes that his pickup locations and mail shipping options are convenient and hassle free. And, he hopes that our excellent customer service reduces your stress, knowing you’ll always be taken care of. 

How do you reduce stress in your life? Is it by the foods or lifestyle you choose? Do you have any regular practices for de-stressing? I’d love to hear from you!