Life on the Farm After Loss with Cindy Green

Cindy Green, a farmer from Saskatchewan, shares her experiences of farming and personal challenges. She discusses her family, which includes her husband, five children, and various animals on their farm. Cindy also opens up about the sale of her childhood farm and the emotional impact it had on her. She then shares the story of her daughter Avery, who was born with a congenital heart defect and passed away at nine days old. Cindy talks about the grief and the support she received during this difficult time. She also discusses her subsequent pregnancy and the challenges of farming while grieving. Cindy Green discusses her experience of grief and loss after the death of her daughter, Avery, and how farming and parenting helped her cope. She shares how her husband built a duck house and bought Muscovy ducks, which gave her purpose and helped her through her grief. Cindy also talks about the different ways men and women grieve and how it affected her relationship with her husband. She discusses parenting while grieving and how she keeps Avery's memory alive for her children. Cindy also talks about her decision to go back to school and pursue a career in agriculture communications. She shares her favorite things about raising kids on the farm and the challenges she faces as a parent. The conversation ends with a discussion about thistles and the annoyance of humidity.

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Takeaways

• Cindy Green is a farmer from Saskatchewan with a diverse range of animals on her farm.
• She shares the emotional experience of selling her childhood farm and the impact it had on her and her family.
• Cindy opens up about her daughter Avery, who was born with a congenital heart defect and passed away at nine days old.
• She discusses the challenges of grieving while continuing to farm and the importance of support during difficult times. Finding purpose and something to focus on can help in coping with grief and loss.
• Men and women grieve differently, and understanding and accepting these differences can strengthen relationships.
• Keeping the memory of a lost loved one alive through conversations, traditions, and honoring their presence can provide comfort and healing.
• Balancing parenting and grief is challenging, but open communication, age-appropriate explanations, and involving children in remembering the lost loved one can help.
• Going back to school and pursuing a new career can bring fulfillment and a sense of purpose.
• Raising kids on a farm can instill a strong work ethic, knowledge of life and death, and a connection to the food they consume.
• Dealing with device usage and helping children navigate friendships and relationships are common parenting struggles.
• Thistles can be a nuisance on the farm, and humidity can be uncomfortable and unpleasant.

Chapters

• 00:00 Life on the Farm
• 06:07 Selling the Childhood Farm
• 13:52 Remembering Daughter Avery
• 33:03 Finding Purpose and Healing Through Farming and Parenting
• 35:04 Understanding and Navigating Different Grieving Styles
• 36:51 Balancing Parenting and Grief: Challenges and Strategies
• 43:38 Pursuing Education and a New Career Path
• 47:56 Raising Kids on the Farm: Work Ethic and Connection to Food
• 49:48 Parenting Struggles: Device Usage and Navigating Relationships
• 54:02 Dealing with Thistles and the Annoyance of Humidity