Arthritis is like Gene Langford’s garden: hard work, time and the right weather make it grow, reports Linda Geist

Gene Langford checks the temperature in his small greenhouse at Crooked Lane Farm

Gene Langford, aged 67 years, is one of the 52.2 million people in the US who have arthritis. Due to the physical and relentless nature of their work, farmers are particularly affected by osteoarthritis, with some 30% experiencing the joint degenerating disease.
Despite his painful and inflamed joints, however, Gene is a pioneer in farmers’ markets. He began selling excess garden produce 25 years ago, around when he developed arthritis. But his health didn’t stop him from expanding his operation and today he grows enough fresh garden produce, meat and eggs to sell regularly at the farmers’ market in Lake St Louis.

However, Gene is also in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, which was diagnosed in 2002, and fatigue, light headedness and weakness of limbs often make him call the day quits after noon.

“Your brain says you can do it,” he says. “Your body says no.”

Gene has found a couple of helpful organisations that assist him with costs of medical treatment and to find equipment to enable him to continue working as a famer, not least because he’s an army veteran. Some of the devices include a seat that rolls through garden rows, a four-wheel all-terrain vehicle to take feed to the cattle and pigs, and tools to help plant and cultivate the garden.

Gene enjoys visiting customers and provides them with recipe ideas for the produce. His clientele has become younger and more sophisticated about where their food comes from. Today’s customers want fresh-from-the-farm, locally grown produce and advice on how to prepare it from the person who grew it.

“They pay attention to what they are buying,” Gene explains.

Some customers come to his farm to pick their own sweetcorn and vine-ripened tomatoes. Nothing goes to waste, with Gene and his wife canning and freezing blemished or unsold produce.

Gene wants to continue farming as long as his health permits. Like the arthritis, it’s in his bones.

For more information contact the University of Missouri Extension.

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Image credit: University of Missouri Extension