Getting creative with mental health

It’s no secret that mental health is something that many Americans struggle with. Homesteading can be a great environment to increase overall health, with the mental aspect included.

There is a pretty large homesteading community not only nationwide but also here in Valencia County. Forming connections with these people can be crucial to your success because you never know what tips and tricks others might be able to share with you or you can share with them.

Having a community of people trying to accomplish a goal similar to yours, living off the land, can be really helpful since lots of the time the work is accomplished by one person, and it can feel pretty lonely.

Everyone needs a community to connect with, especially those who are in more rural areas with less access to an abundance of people around them. Homesteading is also good for mental health because it requires some physical activity and working with your hands. It encourages you to develop a routine and get outside more. It also discourages overuse of social media because you have less time to endlessly scroll.

It can be useful for homemade gift giving so you can save money and share your creativity. Some of the fun activities include goat milk soap making, sourdough bread, infused oils and salts, cooking with fresh eggs, collecting honey, cheese making, raising your own meat, and many more. Hobbies like these can be invaluable to increasing overall mental health.

Sometimes it can be difficult to get started but there are lots of resources online, classes from our extension office, as well as people in your community with the knowledge and desire to help you get going. Following someone online who shows how they do the things that they do on their homestead can help you get inspiration and ideas for your own homestead. Homesteading and mental health takes a village to overcome and thrive, but it is so worth it.

Back to school season is upon us and preparing for the year can have a great impact on you and your family’s mental health. One of the biggest things you can do to prepare is set up a functional study space. This is key for both home-schooled and regular school students.

Some things to consider are a comfy place to sit, good lighting, all of the materials needed to study and complete assignments, an outlet and plenty of sunlight. There are countless studies that have been conducted to prove that having a good, distraction free study space increases mental health and can help improve grades as well as overall understanding of the material. Creating this space can be difficult but it is well worth the effort. Making it your own can increase the likelihood that the space will be used all year long.

Items like a covered can pencil holder with your favorite fabric or a decorated cork board can be fun and functional. These are also crafts that young children can do so they can start to learn good study habits early on. On this board, you can assign achievable tasks for your family. Whether its goals for your garden, age-appropriate tasks for your children, or fun things to do as a family, using your crafts to goal set can be a great example for your family members.

Understanding the material and having assignments completed alleviates stress from both the parent and the student. Not having to fight over homework also helps remove stress from the student and the parent. It makes school a more enjoyable place to be whether that is at home or in a traditional building.

Homesteading for many includes home-schooling, which makes having a good study space even more important because it is easy to feel cooped up when school and home are in the same space.

Program announcements

To register for an upcoming program, call the Valencia County Cooperative Extension Service at 505-565-3002. For more information, visit valenciaextension.nmsu.edu.

• Ready, Set, GROW! Free gardening classes are being offered virtually. Registration required, please visit the link for upcoming classes and more information, visit desertblooms.nmsu.edu/grow.html

• Extension Homesteading and YOU Series: Salsa Garden Preservation from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 29, at the Valencia County CES Office.Participants will learn about preserving a salsa garden and participate in a hands-on lab. Call Valencia County CES Office to get registered at 505-565-3002. The lab fee is $10 to participate and must be paid in advance by Aug. 15, limited space is available for this lab.

• The Valencia County Fair will be held Aug. 19-25 at the fairgrounds in Belen. Come out to see our 4-H member’s indoor exhibits and livestock projects. There is also entertainment and adult exhibits to enjoy. For more information, visit the county fair website at valenciafair.com

• Extension School Programs 2024. Are you a teacher looking for agricultural education programs in your class? Topics on fall harvest, crop production, dairy farming, poultry programs (limited spots available), composting and more are offered throughout the school year. Contact Sierra Cain for more information at sierragh@nmsu.edu or 505-565-3002.

If you are an individual with a disability who requires auxiliary aid or service to participate in a program, please contact the Valencia County Cooperative Extension Service Office at 505-565-3002 two weeks in advance of the event.