{"id":40720,"date":"2018-08-06T11:57:07","date_gmt":"2018-08-06T15:57:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/?p=40720"},"modified":"2018-08-07T16:03:58","modified_gmt":"2018-08-07T20:03:58","slug":"depoys-passion-fuels-research-about-aging-maine-farmers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/2018\/08\/06\/depoys-passion-fuels-research-about-aging-maine-farmers\/","title":{"rendered":"DePoy\u2019s passion fuels research about aging Maine farmers"},"content":{"rendered":"

The unique aspects of Elizabeth (Liz) DePoy<\/a>\u2019s horse farm, Chapter Three Farm, in Newburgh, Maine are not immediately noticeable. Equipment is lined up neatly along the walls. Hay is stacked in convenient locations. There are the usual sounds of shovels cleaning stalls and horses chomping their mid-day meal. DePoy and her husband, Stephen Gilson, exchange witty banter as they perform the daily activities of keeping a horse farm running. As eyes adjust to the dark, cool interior of the barn, the slight adaptations in the barn and the equipment begin to emerge.<\/p>\n

Tools have been adapted to tasks different than those for which they are typically used to avoid injury and added stress. The dustpan has an extra-long handle, an electric winch is used to raise and lower the hay conveyor, and the John Deere tractor has easy-to-change attachments for various tools. Wheelbarrows (one with a motor for self-propelling) and other equipment have easy-to-maneuver wheels and specially-installed handles. Ramps are located throughout the barn.<\/p>\n

If not for their ingenuity and determination, the Chapter Three Farm \u2013 which is their home \u2013 would not exist. DePoy and Gilson conceptualized the multitude of adaptations to equipment in order to live their dream and independently operate the farm as they age.<\/p>\n

Adapting to \u201cAge in Place\u201d<\/h2>\n
\"DePoy
DePoy at work at her horse farm in Newburgh, Maine.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As a professor at the University of Maine, DePoy\u2019s passion for farming and interest in the farming community led to her current research project, \u201cAging Maine Farmers: Investigation of Their Aspirations, Needs and Ingenuity.<\/a>\u201d The study aims to discover the needs and problem solving strategies of independent farmers and how services could be made more relevant and utilized as farmers \u201cage in place\u201d, or remain in their home and work as long as they choose.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m interested in this because it\u2019s my life,\u201d said DePoy. \u201cI live it, I love it \u2013 and it has become a passion for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Farmers have always had to adapt tasks and chores to maintain their farms. However, with the population of aging farmers growing each year and fewer young farmers entering the field, home-grown adaptations may not be enough to keep farms operating on a large enough scale. If a farm cannot be maintained, it must be shut down \u2013 or even sold, which means losing not only the farm, but homes as well.<\/p>\n

DePoy seeks to inform the development of relevant services with the data obtained from her research, which could lead to farmers continuing to prosper as they age in place on their farms.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not a farmer by trade, I\u2019m a hobby farmer,\u201d explained DePoy. \u201cI have the luxury to afford what I need. But those who rely on their farm for their income don\u2019t have that luxury.\u201d<\/p>\n

Disability services sound nice, if you don\u2019t need them\u2026<\/h2>\n

According to DePoy, from her previous research with Richard Brzozowski of 91福利\u2019s Cooperative Extension<\/a>, there are many services for disabled farmers but these services are underutilized.<\/p>\n

\u201cFarmers don\u2019t talk about how they are \u2018disabled\u2019 \u2013 they talk about not being able to do things,\u201d explained DePoy. \u201cThey don\u2019t say, \u2018I have a spinal cord injury\u2019 or \u2018I have glaucoma\u2019 \u2013 they say, \u2018I can\u2019t get up to the hayloft\u2019 or \u2018I can\u2019t see like I used to\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

DePoy is a perfect example of aging farmers\u2019 resilience and ingenuity. At 68 years old, she has no plans to retire from academic life or from running her horse farm. She talks about others in the community who not only want to keep farming \u2013 but need to keep farming \u2013 and how they rely on one another for advice and support.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe talk more about these issues at the country store down the street than at an official meeting,\u201d said DePoy. \u201cIf Farmer Joe hurt his foot last week, he\u2019ll share what he did to be able to keep working and then everyone can make note: \u2018if that ever happens to me, I should try that.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Services need to relevant to be utilized<\/h2>\n

“This work by Dr. DePoy is an important example of the groundbreaking research on aging in rural communities taking place at the University of Maine, and the resulting programs and services created in support of those communities.”<\/p>\n

Dr. Kody Varahramyan, Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

An online network of resources, such as a forum and\/or collectives, is one potential way farmers could share stories and support one another. With their technological savvy, farmers themselves could develop and facilitate systems that others in the farming community would be likely to trust and utilize. Most available services have the best intentions, but if they are not used, they are wasted. She envisions a community of farmers using their knowledge collectively to support one another with ideas, online trade\/exchanges and virtual messaging to share blueprints and imagery of their sustainable practices; such as strategies used in many other countries, according to DePoy.<\/p>\n

Farmers, as demonstrated by DePoy and others, are committed to their work. Being able to stay safely in their homes into old age takes dedication to their livelihood because if they lose their workplace, they lose their home. DePoy wants farmers to have more relevant options to be able to age in place and continue to work and live doing what they love as long as they choose.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish people knew that aging farmers are smart,\u201d said DePoy. \u201cThey\u2019re ingenious and love their work.\u201d<\/p>\n

As she sits on her deck, overlooking the pasture, she gazes out on her farm and says, \u201cIt is nice here\u2026 Nothing like it.\u201d<\/p>\n

And with her ingenuity and passion, she plans to age in place as she chooses.<\/p>\n

DePoy\u2019s research project is funded by the Faculty Research Funds<\/a> program through the Office of the Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School at 91福利. She is a professor of Interdisciplinary Disability Studies for the Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies, Social Work and Cooperating Faculty, School of Policy and International Affairs and Mechanical Engineering.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Media Contact: Christel Peters<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Subscribe<\/a>
Don\u2019t forget to\u00a0subscribe<\/a>\u00a0to our monthly newsletter to learn more about interesting 91福利 Research that impacts you!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The unique aspects of Elizabeth (Liz) DePoy\u2019s horse farm, Chapter Three Farm, in Newburgh, Maine are not immediately noticeable. Equipment is lined up neatly along the walls. Hay is stacked in convenient locations. There are the usual sounds of shovels cleaning stalls and horses chomping their mid-day meal. DePoy and her husband, Stephen Gilson, exchange […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1286,"featured_media":40836,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"65","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"Liz Depoy's passion for farming led her to research \u201cAging Maine Farmers: Investigation of Their Aspirations, Needs and 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The unique aspects of Elizabeth (Liz) DePoy\u2019s horse farm, Chapter Three Farm, in Newburgh, Maine are not immediately noticeable. Equipment is lined up neatly along the walls. Hay is stacked in convenient locations. There are the usual sounds of shovels cleaning stalls and horses chomping their mid-day meal. DePoy and her husband, Stephen Gilson, exchange witty banter as they perform the daily activities of keeping a horse farm running. As eyes adjust to the dark, cool interior of the barn, the slight adaptations in the barn and the equipment begin to emerge. 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