If you’re spending a significant amount of time on the farm or cultivating your own garden, you need to consider how the sun affects your health. Although the sun has many wonderful effects on your well-being and that of your crops, it can also bring unwanted risk factors for dehydration, heat stroke, sunburn, eye pain, headaches, and skin cancer. Studies have shown that, while gardeners and farmers have ample knowledge about the importance of sun safety, many underestimate their risk of developing skin cancer and other severe conditions that stem from improper sun safety practices. 

Addressing the perceived barrier to implementing sun safety is vital since it’s actually not that hard to protect yourself while you’re outdoors. With a few simple yet imperative steps, you can happily and safely garden away without much concern over the sun’s effects. 

Keep track of sunlight levels and exposure 

Being mindful of sunlight levels is a must anyway when managing an organic garden, so it’s good practice to do so for the sake of tracking exposure as well. One of the best ways to stay organic is to choose the right plant for the right place within the constraints of your sunlight conditions. Similarly, you should note how the sun falls on the area where you work most often. 

In general, you want to minimize your time in direct sunlight. When the sun is at its hottest from 10 in the morning to four in the afternoon, you’ll want to seek shade whenever possible. If you’re expecting to do a lot of busy work tending to your garden or farm, take a break every couple of hours. If you don’t want to think too hard about how long you’ve been in the sun, you should set timers to remind you to take breaks under the shade. 

Wear the right type of glasses that fit

Eyewear is essential to protecting the most sensitive parts of your face. Not only is the skin around the eyes more delicate, but the eyes themselves are also easily damaged by extreme or direct sunlight. Well-fitting, high-quality eyewear should not slip during use, provide ample coverage, and have a legitimate UV protective coating. You can find the best glasses for your face shape using online tools, so you not only look good while gardening but also be able to focus on the task at hand because your sunglasses don't fall off your face.

Costa’s platform has a frame advisor that scans your face to match your features with the right frames. This covers different styles, so you can pick one that fits your needs. It also comes with frame comparisons so you can see the differences in the details, from category and shape to materials used, bridge fit, and lens curve. You should pick a pair that covers enough of your face without overwhelming it. You may also want to prioritize brands with UV400 labels covering UVA and UVB rays that hit the top end of the spectrum. Since farmwork relies on meeting the sun constantly, you should have the right gear to protect against the most problematic wavelengths. 

Use UV-blocking sunscreen and materials regardless of the weather

When you garden, it’s best to wear long sleeves and a wide-brimmed hat to protect yourself from UV rays. Breathable materials like cotton and mesh are good options for wicking sweat and protecting you from the sun's harshness. Hats should have a brim of at least three inches to provide ample shade. For any exposed skin, you still need to put on sunscreen. 

Choosing the right sunscreen for your skin type is a matter of checking your skin first and seeing which ingredients can help combat these issues. The Skin Cancer Foundation has guidelines on this, stating dry skin to be flaky, tight, and have more noticeable fine lines. People with dry skin would appreciate sunscreen with hyaluronic acid and sealing moisturizing agents, like Cetaphil's Daily Facial Moisturizer Broad Spectrum product. They note that oily skin is seen through excess shine and clogged pores, which work well with oil-free or mattifying sunscreen that features ceramides, peptides, and niacinamide. You should avoid fragrances for sensitive skin and use mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.