[Preliminary Thoughts: XIII]
The back-to-the-land hippies of the 60’s and 70’s, for all their eccentric efforts to create communes, alternative economies, and apothecary-based medical centers, were first-wave advocates of important scientific research (without knowing it).
In all those drum circles and community farms, they were developing a “vaccine” for anxiety. And it had nothing to do with a euphoric trance from dancing and drums or partaking in special herbs. It had everything to do with their feet. And the dirt.
Mycobacterium vaccae was likely not a conversation topic you had over coffee this morning. It’s a microorganism in soil that reduces stress and anxiety. It’s “administered” through skin contacting the soil. Gardening barefoot and leaving the gloves in the tool shed just might be better for your wellbeing than Prozac.
This is merely a reminder that there is a lot at stake when choosing your gardening shoes (or choosing to wear no shoes at all). I look forward to reflecting this year on simple yet profoundly meaningful “tools" of the farming trade: everything from gloves and shoes to eye protection, hats, sharpeners and files, kneeling pads, etc. If shoes and depression are correlated, just imagine what we might discover if we look closely at all the other “tools” and “garments” of the farming life.
