The Rural Voice, 2003-12, Page 28and pose a dangerous potential to
compound your problems. Often
people overspend on Christmas and
the problem really comes in February
when the bills come in.
Del Bianco says stress is caused
by the gift that carries little personal
experience: it's just nice. You've
bought and paid for a very nice
present but when someone opens it
they say "Oh that's nice" but the gift
has little connection to you.
Add a personal element to your
gift. For your teenager, record
a tape that says how you
really feel toward him or her. The
son or daughter may not listen to it
right away but they will listen to it,
perhaps late some night when you're
not around, and the message of love
will be delivered.
Similarly a gift may include a
beautiful letter that's wrapped up as a
gift. The letter should be one that
took some time and thought to
compose and have a special meaning
for the recipient.
Such things help overcome the
disappointment that, when all is said
and done, Christmas has lacked real
meaning.
"People are disappointed that it
didn't live up to what they had
hoped," Del Bianco says. Like a big
wedding that's supposed to be so
special, it can seem anticlimactic.
You can draw out the Christmas
spirit without adding financial
burdens or stress by to creating your
own "12 days of Christmas", he says.
For 12 days before Christmas give
gifts like — a coupon for three hugs,
a gift certificate for a family board
game night, a "get two foot
massages" certificate, or "special
dessert night" or "a walk in the
moonlight". In other words, "wake
yourself up inside" and let your
imagination create more than your
wallet.
Del Bianco advises sitting down
before the Christmas rush starts and
blocking in some time for the
solitude you need — a personal self-
care plan. "Give yourself the gift of
slowing down and of solitude. Take
some time before the time gets
taken."
Klein-Swormink says if she had
one word of advice for people who
feel under severe stress as Christmas
approaches it would be to remember
24 THE RURAL VOICE
"you are not alone."
"Farmers are very proud people
and don't go out of their way to tell
people their problems," 'she says.
They particularly don't like to talk to
people who don't understand the
realities of farming. Counsellors at
The Farm Line, which was created
after the Eastern Ontario ice storm,
"have a very strong background in
the culture of farming," she says.
Farmers calling the help line know
they won't have to explain to people
what they are talking about. "Farmers
know if they talk to other farmers."
Leith too comes from a farm
background and can talk
knowledgeably about current
problems.
Both services are referral agencies
who offer an ear and then can point
callers in the direction of an agency
that may be able to offer specific
help. Klein-Swormink says the Farm
Line points people to OMAF's BSE
hotline, for instance, for specific
information about the disease and
compensation programs. Though
located in eastern Ontario. the
organization tries to find a counsellor
close to the home of the caller.
Leith too tries to find the agency
that can offer answers to the caller's
problems. He can be reached by
calling 1-519-369-6774.
The Farm Line has a toll-free
number at 1-888-451-2903 and
there's someone there to answer from
Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 8:00
p.m. or you can use their website at
www.thefarmline.ca
Where else to turn for help:
BSE information Update
The Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture and Food has
implemented a new toll free BSE
Help Line to better meet the
information needs of clients affected
by the BSE situation in Ontario.
The BSE Help Line gives callers
access to a team of OMAF
Specialists who will be able to offer
technical advice to help producers
make informed decisions. With the
addition of the BSE Help Line,
farmers now have three direct lines
they can call to get answers to their
BSE -related questions.
• BSE Help Line at 1-888-292-5856
for technical inquiries
• The Canada Ontario Recovery
Program at 1-877-838-5144 for
compensation package inquiries
• The Farm Line at 1-888-451-2903
for confidential stress counselling
BSE information is available on
the OMAF website – information on
the OMAF website is being updated
regularly. information can be found
by going to the OMAF home page
and then clicking on the button found
on the left-hand side of page.
Information includes government
programs and links to a number of
information and technical resources.
The website address is:
www.omaf.gov.on.ca
Publications
OMAF regularly produces new
fact sheets and posts them on the
website at www.gov.on.ca/omafra/
There are also many publications for
sale through the publications order
centre at 1-888-466-2372. Factsheets
and publications are also.available
locally through the Clinton or
Stratford OMAF offices or through
the Grey County Agricultural
Services Centre in Markdale at 519-
986-3756.
Agricultural Information Contact
Centre – 1-877-424-1300
An immediate source of technical
information for farm. agri-business
and rural business inquiries. Staffed
by knowledgeable agricultural
professionals with ready access to
technical, business, and management
resources.
Resources available for Farm
Families Managing Financial
Pressures
Farming, like any other business,
involves financial risk. Even the best
managed business can experience
financial difficulties when markets
and prices decline, costs
unexpectedly increase, or financing
arrangements are inadequate. This
information provides details and
links for resources available to assist
farm families manage financial
pressures. In times of financial
pressure, the first step is of course to
maintain open communications with
current lenders and financial
advisors.
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture
and Food Business Management
Factsheets are available on the
ministry website at
www.omaf.gov.on.ca or by calling 1-
877-424-1300.
• Programs and Services for Ontario