THE DAYS ARE GETTING LONGER at Sanford’s Farm and that’s a good thing.  For organic farmer, Jeremy and his young family, a work day is not just 9 to 5.  If there’s enough light to work in, then there’s work to be done.

Sanford’s Farm, situated 20 miles from Mount Rainier as the crow flies, is 29 acres of rich Puyallup River Valley soil.  Jeremy loves his life growing and harvesting nutritious produce for others. He’s also got chickens, a new pig, two dogs and a turkey named Ruffy.  His big red barn with white trim sits in front of fields ready for planting. It’s a special place.

As special as this place is to Jeremy, there are many physical hazards to producing wholesome food for the rest of us. And before January 2014, Jeremy’s income was not enough to even consider purchasing health coverage for his family.

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, Jeremy signed up and qualified for Apple Health. He now has a doctor in nearby Orting. He recently visited the dentist for a tooth extraction. His daughter is nearing the end of her therapy for a soccer-related injury and looks forward to participating in sports again.  Jeremy can now focus on making a living without the cloud of worry about his family’s health needs.

The days may be getting longer for farmers, but they are getting shorter to sign up for health coverage. The deadline to get covered under the Affordable Care Act is March 31st!  And it’s still true that half of all Americans, like Jeremy, will qualify for free or low-cost coverage. Here’s a quick tour of Jeremy's farm and his message to you. 

If you live in Washington State, go to wahealthplanfinder.org to sign up for your health coverage.