That’s a VERY useful link, and it filled most all of the gaps in my knowledge. I think I can take it from here. THANK YOU for the quick and thoughtful response. Of course, I hold no one responsible but myself should the unfortunate occur.

Thanks again.

Thank you for the compliments. It sounds like you have done quite a bit of research already, and I would tell you to trust your judgement.

I have found a few other tidbits of information here:
http://www.barefooters.org/best-of/hookworm-ran.txt

I wish I could say that you don’t have anything to worry about, but it sounds like the most pragmatic approach is to be shod around the farm, especially in any type of unsanitary conditions. Your fortune with running unshod in any types of woods, or non-animal grazing fields it probably much better.

I enjoy this site/blog. I’ve been working on going barefoot, but I have one nagging concern/issue that I haven’t found ANYONE, ANYWHERE address directly: parasites. Let me explain: I live on a farm. Great place for barefooting, right? Well, maybe. We have several cows, horses, dogs, etc., which we routinely have to give shots to “de-worm” them (and, yes, they DO contract worms, because I’ve seen them in these animals feces). I know that a few decades ago (when my parents were children), the part of the US where I live (the South, of course) was rampant with people contracting parasites (hookworms in particular, I believe). Not surprisingly, many people went around everywhere barefoot at this time. With the spread of shoes and modern medicine, this has largely been eliminated. My point is this. I’m a practical individual, but I really feel like going completely barefoot (without my VFFs) will put me at risk to contract parasites. I’ve investigated enough of their biology to know that they CAN penetrate a human foot REGARDLESS of whether a cut exists or not (in other words, they CAN penetrate unblemished skin). Do you know anything about this? Any input? I’m dying to go completely unshod, but I REALLY don’t relish the idea of having to be “de-wormed” myself. I appreciate your time and feedback here.

To comment on your actual post, who walks around their house in the dark with broken glass on the floor? If you’re talking about the city… most cities that are crass enough to have broken glass all over the ground are big enough to have street lights. When walking barefoot it is prudent to watch where you step — much as it is with shoes.

VFF won’t protect you from a nail or tack, neither will shoes. What will protect you is not stepping on it!