"Back" To Work
Donation protected
We are requesting assistance to fund 1/2 of the cost to purchasing equipment to allow Farmer Mike to continue farming while dealing with back and balance related issues.
Good Earth Farms had been around since 1995. We (Mike & Deb Hansen) have always committed ourselves to the highest standards of humane organic animal husbandry.
Our mission has been to produce the highest quality pasture-raised organic meats and make it available at a reasonable price to all who seek it.
It is in the spirit of our mission that we make this funding request. We do not want this event in our lives to affect the families that depend on us.
I (Farmer Mike) have had back troubles most of my life. However in 2007 my issues began to interfere with farming. Through assistance from the Easter Seals Agrability program, physical therapy, and the YMCA, I was back on my feet by 2011.
All was well until this last February. After helping my son move, I suddenly lost feeling in my left lower leg and lost control of my left foot and lost my balance.
On April 19th I was taken to surgery to remove a L4-5 disc herniation that had cut off nerve connectivity for portions of my left leg. The surgery went well but I will be dealing with loss of muscle use and balance for a couple of years, if not permanently.
We have been evaluating our farming methods and equipment while I've been recovering and we've come to some obvious conclusion.
1. We need to install rear facing cameras in our tractor to eliminate looking over your shoulder while making hay. The twisting combined with the jarring of the tractor is impossible with any back issues.
2. We use an ATV for most of our chicken, turkey and beefer chores. We use it for fencing, feeding, herding and pulling trailers. Mounting the ATV is difficult and for that reason I ride it side saddle. This again requires twisting and is not an option any longer. Our goal is to replace the ATV with a utility vehicle UTV that allows us to install a suspension seat and can be mounted and driven similar to a car.
3. We are constantly looking for ways to build lifting devices for use around the farm. Our farm creates some unique lifting challenges that can't be addressed with purchased equipment.
We have been selling some of our non-crucial equipment to raise funds here at the farm. We have $3,000 currently and hope to raise another $4,000 through the sale of a truck.
We thank you for reading our story. Mike & Deb.
Good Earth Farms had been around since 1995. We (Mike & Deb Hansen) have always committed ourselves to the highest standards of humane organic animal husbandry.
Our mission has been to produce the highest quality pasture-raised organic meats and make it available at a reasonable price to all who seek it.
It is in the spirit of our mission that we make this funding request. We do not want this event in our lives to affect the families that depend on us.
I (Farmer Mike) have had back troubles most of my life. However in 2007 my issues began to interfere with farming. Through assistance from the Easter Seals Agrability program, physical therapy, and the YMCA, I was back on my feet by 2011.
All was well until this last February. After helping my son move, I suddenly lost feeling in my left lower leg and lost control of my left foot and lost my balance.
On April 19th I was taken to surgery to remove a L4-5 disc herniation that had cut off nerve connectivity for portions of my left leg. The surgery went well but I will be dealing with loss of muscle use and balance for a couple of years, if not permanently.
We have been evaluating our farming methods and equipment while I've been recovering and we've come to some obvious conclusion.
1. We need to install rear facing cameras in our tractor to eliminate looking over your shoulder while making hay. The twisting combined with the jarring of the tractor is impossible with any back issues.
2. We use an ATV for most of our chicken, turkey and beefer chores. We use it for fencing, feeding, herding and pulling trailers. Mounting the ATV is difficult and for that reason I ride it side saddle. This again requires twisting and is not an option any longer. Our goal is to replace the ATV with a utility vehicle UTV that allows us to install a suspension seat and can be mounted and driven similar to a car.
3. We are constantly looking for ways to build lifting devices for use around the farm. Our farm creates some unique lifting challenges that can't be addressed with purchased equipment.
We have been selling some of our non-crucial equipment to raise funds here at the farm. We have $3,000 currently and hope to raise another $4,000 through the sale of a truck.
We thank you for reading our story. Mike & Deb.
Organizer
Mike Hansen
Organizer
Milladore, WI
