Hi! My name is Clifton Joullian. I am a registered nurse and a farmer. I am, The Nurse Farmer. I am originally from Mobile, Alabama. However, I lived in Vallejo, California for almost twenty years. I consider myself half Alabamian and half Californian. When people ask where I am from, I tell them I am from Cali-Bama!
I started my nursing career as a young man in 1988 when I became an LPN. It was during that time that I first developed an interest in growing plants. My gardening was mostly confined to potted plants on my front porch and a little flower bad where I grew flowers, such as petunias and gladiolas. I became an RN in 1995 which led to me becoming a home health nurse. I continued my gardening during this time, but my gardening remained confined to my front porch and flower bed. During those years, I really did not understand or perceive gardening as a nursing intervention or how it would later impact my practice as a nurse.
Me and the love of my life. See? I told you he was a bear. That’s why I call him “Bear”!
In the year 2000, I met the love of my life. I call him, ‘Bear’, because…well, he’s a Bear! Bear is an experienced farmer who grew up raising livestock and growing vegetables on his Alabama family farm. When we first met, he brought me little gifts, like fresh ground beef that he had raised and processed. He even gave me vegetables that he had grown himself. I was intrigued, but still never considered attempting growing any vegetables of my own. Bear and I had been together for almost two years, when we decided to travel to California. I proudly told people that we were going to make some money so we could return to Alabama and buy us some property and a trailer (People in California thought it was hilarious to hear me say that. Some were even surprised to hear me say ‘trailer’. Californians refer to trailers as ‘mobile homes’). I landed a traveling nurse job as a home health nurse while Bear worked in a wine warehouse, as he had previous warehouse experience. We did make some money, but we did not move back to Alabama. We did not buy a trailer either. Instead, we relocated to the San Francisco suburb of Vallejo. We became domestic partners (Later, we officially married) and adopted our two sons. We also bought a house and slowly transformed our back-yard into a small back-yard farm. I have to share that one thing I loved about our back-yard was not just the farm, but also the fact that it created an enclosed compound and oasis where our sons could play safely. I had minimal concern about anyone bothering them when they were in the back-yard.
My sons planting seeds in a raised bed for a church when we lived in California. Growing vegetables with children helps set the stage for healthy eating habits.
we grew flowers, fruits, herbs, and veggies. We also raised hens for eggs. We used their manure as an organic fertilizer. We involved our sons in pretty much all aspects of our back-yard farm. It was during these years that I began to learn more about gardening and began to see gardening as a holistic way of living a healthier life. More on that later!
After living in California for nearly twenty years, we decided we wanted to live a more rural life and have a bigger farm. So, in 2018, after our sons finished high school, we moved our entire family back to Mobile, Alabama and started our small family farm.
““I’m convinced the world would be a healthier place if everyone grew just one tomato plant per year!””
Transplanting my spring tomato seedlings that I started indoors at the end of winter.
I have often argued that I think gardening is the ultimate form of exercise because it is a holistic form of exercise, benefitting all three domains of body, mind, and spirit. You may wonder what I mean by ‘holistic’. Holistic means viewing or treating more than just one aspect of a person.
Let’s break down the three domains that make us ‘whole’. First, there is our body, which is the physical part of us. Second, is the mind, which is how we think and perceive the world around us. Third, is the spirit which could be defined as what gives us purpose and meaning in life. Nurses generally consider all three of these domains when helping other people. When I am gardening, I see gardening as beneficial to my body, mind, and spirit. As a nurse and farmer, I am here to help you use gardening to your advantage to benefit your body, mind, and spirit as well.
When we grow fruits and vegetables of our own, many studies show that we will increase our fruit and vegetable intake. Experts agree that when we eat more fruits and vegetables, we improve our physical health by reducing our risk for diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Working in the soil may expose us to helpful microbes that can stimulate the brain to produce the ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitter, Serotonin, which helps elevate our mood, thereby boosting our mental health. Gardening promotes our spiritual health by providing an opportunity to witness and participate in the life cycle from birth to death to rebirth all over again. Sprouting vegetables from seed, growing herbs in containers, playing in the soil, creating yard art, and cooking healthier foods are just a few examples of fun activities that promote our health the holistic way.
““I think of gardening as the ultimate form of exercise for the body, mind, and spirit.””
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Clifton Joullian R.N., B.S.N.
The Nurse Farmer
The information provided by The Nurse Farmer is educational and informational only. The Nurse Farmer can not and does not diagnose, prescribe, or treat. The information provided by The Nurse Farmer is not medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider before engaging in any new health promotion or disease prevention activities.