A blog about the Working Body

Thank you for visiting! This is the blog of Lydia Irons. A Licensed Massage Therapist, Speaker and Consultant who specializes in addressing the physical challenges of farm work. Visit www.theflexiblefarmer.com for more information.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Hello out there! 
A flexible farmer at the 2012 NOFA summer conference 
As you may have noticed I have been MIA for most of the month of August.  I have been very busy in the other two realms of my business: presenting body care and injury prevention workshops and being a massage therapist at my office in Hadley Massachusetts.  The biggest engagement this month was the NOFA Summer Conference in Amherst. Hundreds of farmers come for 3 days of workshops, vendors and networking. I had a blast at the conference and as a result of my chair massage booth I have been seeing more and more clients at my office.

Though this has caused me to miss quite a few Saturdays of posts, it has also been a great month of connecting with farmers and other trades people who had great questions, suggestions and stories about the physicality of their work.  Head over to my FaceBook page, http://www.facebook.com/theflexiblefarmer
for some great photos of my booth and some of the flexible farmers I met!

 In meeting, teaching and massaging farmers from all over New England I got to hear about the different aspects of farming that cause them to have aches and pains. This has given me lots of new ideas for what I can share with you so, I am glad to return to my blog.

The next few posts will be on a few areas of the body that I haven't covered such as, tips for the wrist, chest and the back of the legs.  I also will be posting on body care habits and helpful hints for different tasks on the farm like, how to make your morning on the tractor more bearable or what to do if it's hard on your knees to get up and down.  In this way I hope to address some of the common problems and mistakes that folks where asking about in my workshops.

If you have any ideas or questions you would like me to address in the up coming posts feel free to e-mail me at info@ theflexiblefarmer.com.
Hope your August was as great as mine and I look forward to a fall of wonderful posts!



Wednesday, August 8, 2012

NOFA Summer Conference!

Hi All!
I am going to be MIA this weekend due to the amazing NOFA Summer Conference! I am super excited to be a part of this event for the third year running.  I will have a booth in the exhibitors area selling chair massage, stickers, posters and more. I will also be presenting a workshop on body care and injury prevention for farmers. Bellow are the details of the event. Its going to be a blast!!



August 10-12, 2012
University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Keynote Speakers
Chellie Pingree, Congresswoman from Maine
Jeffrey Smith, Institute for Responsible Technology

Over 200 Workshops on Organic Gardening, Farming, Food Politics, Permaculture, Homesteading, Landscaping, Alternative Energy, Livestock, Cooking, and more! Hundreds of Vendors and Exhibitors
Live Entertainment
Children’s and Teen Conference
Country Fair

Featuring a pre-conference seminar on GMOs with Jeffrey Smith, and a pre-conference seminar on Natural Fruit with Lee Reich. 

Call: 413-362-2143