Different dimensions of diligence in the contemporary Polish rural areas

Abstract

For farmers, work is not merely making a living but also a valid component of their identity, therefore diligance is a highly-valued trait among farmers. There are, however, many ways to realize this trait. We tried to understand what it meant to be diligent to our interviewees and what it meant to be lazy, and how these interpretations are realized through different duties and varying farming practices. The issues are discussed based on interviews with conventional and organic farmers. We also discuss the issue of diligence of women in farming, as women are often perceived and assessed differently than men.