He has a name

Farmer Shel.

Firstly I wasn't aware Shel was a name, but I was reminded of poet & cartoonist (interesting connection of interest here) Shel Silverstein:

.

Wikipedia image of Shel Silverstein

Oddly enough he even kind of looks like my farmer.

So Shel, as a name is a form of Sheldon, which means protected hill or valley with steep sides.
Emotionally these speak volumes as metaphors toward what this character stands for and toward the original name 'Shell' and what that stands for.


A shell can protect, can give shelter, and is the shield that keeps away harm.
My farmer has purpose in protecting and giving shelter for his children, his family.

A sheldon, or protected hill, refers to safety, a hill that is kept away from harm.
It also happens to be the actual landscape I've placed his farm on, a tiny plateau that is slightly elevated from the ground - his house rests in the center of it, the house that protects the hill.


A shell is also empty inside, is hollow, is only an outer layer.
My farmer's hopelessness describes an inner emptiness that doesn't achieve satisfaction.

A sheldon, or valley with steep sides, is a hollow area that is lined with a steep wall.
But it also illustrates a struggle in regards to where he resides, and the peculiar feature of steep sides describing the difficulty of that struggle.


This is why he is named Farmer Shel.