Can I make this recipe without a mixer?

I have made this recipe a number of times and use my food processor instead on my mixer, because my Kitchenaid mixer (Artisan) supposedly has plastic gears that will wear out quickly under the strain of mixing this dough. I imagine you could certainly make by hand, but it will be a LOT of work to do so. We LOVE this bread and it IS worth making, but I don't know if I would attempt it without a heavy duty mixer or at least a good size food processor.