There is a growing discussion on line and in traditional media about rural affairs.  Sometimes even the pursuit of a “simpler” life still requires paying attention to more global issue.  Steph Larsen posts this on the Blog for Rural America

The sustainable local food system we are trying to build relies on an abundance of small, diverse, sustainable family farmers scattered all across the United States. For this kind of farm to exist, sustainable must mean more than environmental sustainability – it must also include economic viability. Farming is a dangerous and risky business, and it becomes a whole lot less attractive when a farmer knows that he or she is one fall from the hay loft away from losing their land.
While 9 in 10 farm and ranch operators have health insurance, nearly one-quarter (23%) report that insurance premiums and other out-of-pocket health care costs are causing financial difficulties for themselves and their families.
Respondents who reported financial problems spent on average 42 percent of their income on insurance premiums and out-of-pocket health care costs.
In addition, more than four in 10 farmers and ranchers (44%) report spending at least 10 percent of their annual income on health insurance premiums, prescriptions and other out-of-pocket medical costs.

Growing Healthy Food Requires Health Care | Center for Rural Affairs.