Farmbrarian

The New York Times called Michele Owens’ Grow The Good Life (2011) “breezy, cantankerous and funny.” That description alone should peak anyone’s interest, but here’s a bit more about the book.

Owens has been gardening for more than two decades and is a contributor to the popular blog Garden Rant. Her book is a memoir of sorts that discusses the many joys of vegetable gardening. Growing your own food can be good for the earth, good for you physical and mental health, and good for your pocketbook. Owens shows that the benefits are many. Her book might be just what you need to go from contemplating gardening to getting your hands dirty.

On Amazon or at your local library.

Find this book on Amazon or at your local library!

Many of you may already know Jenna Woginrich. She is the author of Made from Scratch, which we’ve reviewed, and Chick Days, a guide to raising chickens. She also has an immense following on her blog Cold Antler Farm, where she writes about her daily farming experiences. Now Jenna has a new book out. Barnheart is a memoir about Jenna’s experiences trying to make it as a small farmer in rural New York. She discusses trials, tribulations and the joys that come with owning livestock and trying to live a sustainable life. Jenna’s voice is always entertaining and insightful. I’m looking forward to getting my hands on her newest book.

On Amazon or at your local library.

Click here to find at a library near you!

It is hard to deny that a new generation is taking an interest in farming. Considering the graying of farmers today, we should be thankful for these young folks. Each of them has a story, and The Wisdom of the Radish and Other Lessons Learned on a Small Farm is that of Lynda Hopkins.

At it’s essence, the book is quite simple and not particularly unique – city girl struggles to become a self-respecting farmer. But throw in the romantic tale of her boyfriend (now husband) and you get an entertaining look at the mentality and life of an educated, young, passionate girl who seeks to make her home on the land instead of in a city loft.

Hopkins is a first-time author, but she is gifted nonetheless. Her writing skills stand out as among the best of farming memoirs I’ve read, and in many ways help to make up for the slightly redundant premise.

If it is a farming memoir you seek, look no further. If you’ve already read two such books this month, I suggest you keep looking.

You might also like: Growing a Farmer by Kurt Timmermeister.

Today, farming memoirs abound. We’ve featured many books on how a farmer was “grown,” such as The Dirty Life, Made From Scratch, Farm City and Goat Song. Growing a Farmer: How I Learned to Live Off the Land (2011) isn’t necessarily the most unique tale. But it is a great account of one modern farmer’s story, and above all else it is a good read.

Kurt Timmermeister is a restaurant owner turned full-time farmer on Seattle’s Vashon Island. The book is organized by aspects of the farm–vegetables, dairy, pigs, etc. Each chapter contains personal experiences as well as reflections, recipes, techniques and more. Today the farm stays afloat by selling artisan cheese and providing Sunday dinners at the farm.

Despite having no writing background, Timmermeister’s book is cohesive and interesting. Indeed there are random, seemingly out of place bits strewn around, but to me that only gave him and his farm a sense of accessibility. I could easily picture myself on his farm churning butter or pressing cider. In fact, the entire tale made me think that I too could become a farmer like him.

In the end, despite many other similar books, Growing a Farmer is a worthy read. Timmermeister portrays his deep respect for the land and desire to return to a simpler time (although he still uses an iPod on particularly monotonous farm tasks). A renewed interest in urban farming has yielded many similar stories, which is wonderful for the health of people and land. I suspect Timmermeister might even convince a few others to “grow” themselves into farmers.

Find it on Amazon, or at your local library.

Dubbed a “modern-day Walden,” Twelve by Twelve (2010) recounts William Powers’ time spent living in a twelve-foot by twelve-foot home with no electricity or running water in rural North Carolina. Powers does include stories of his daily activities, but Twelve by Twelve is predominately filled with reflections on philosophy, environmental degradation and globalization.

After years working on environmental initiatives in the Global South, Powers returns to the United States and experiences massive culture shock. He is especially taken aback by the tremendous amount of resources consumed by Americans. At one point he reflects on his conservation work and wonders, “Have I merely been rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic?” (10). Luckily, Powers finds solace in a 12 x 12 cabin where he is able to escape the cars, malls, subdivisions and fast-food restaurants that define modern American culture and contemplate the purpose and meaning of life.

Powers’ reflects on two main concepts during his time in the 12 x 12. The first is the idea of a flat world, or the rise of a global economy and all that comes with it. He then introduced the concept of wildcrafting. Wildcrafters, he explains, are “people shaping their inner and outer worlds to the flow of nature, rather than trying to mold the natural world into a shape that is usable in the industrial world”(93). Even if you aren’t familiar with the term wildcrafters, you’re likely one of them. Wildcrafters work to minimize their carbon footprint; they support local, artisan initiatives; they garden and grow their own food; and they recognize their role in a larger ecosystem.

Although the entirety of Twelve by Twelve doesn’t directly relate to food and farming, every thought connects to the overarching belief that a simpler life lived in tune with nature leads to greater happiness. “Grab tools and press seeds into this soft world,” Powers tells us (260).

On Amazon or at your library.

You might also like: Better Off: Flipping the Switch on Technology by Eric Brende

Click to find at a library near you!

“Point is, it feels good to get dirty, work hard, and slow down.”

And so begins Jenna Woginrich’s guide to living a simple life filled with homemade and homegrown pleasures. She shares stories and advice on how to become more self-sufficient, covering a range of topics like making your own clothes, providing your own entertainment, and of course growing your own food.

Nowadays, you can find lots of how-to books about raising backyard chickens (Woginrich herself has a new book out titled Chick Days) or about keeping bees. More and more people are rediscovering the satisfaction that comes with producing your own food. And many have begun doing so as an environmental effort. However, sourcing clean food is only one piece of the sustainable puzzle.

Most of us are burdened with unnecessary possessions; and consumerism constantly lures us in with false promises of fulfillment. Made from Scratch: Discovering the Pleasures of a Handmade Life (2008) illustrates that greater happiness can come from less. Woginrich fills each chapter first with personal stories and ends with a how-to summary. The stories communicate her passion for the homesteading lifestyle. And readers will see that so much joy can come from gathering eggs right from under the hen or from knitting creations from fur you sheared yourself.

Made from Scratch will introduce you to new hobbies and illustrate how approachable they really are. You don’t need to be an expert or own lots of land to learn any of the skills discussed in this great, little resource.

Read more about Jenna Woginrich’s adventures in homesteading on her fabulous blog Cold Antler Farm.

You might also like: Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer by Novella Carpenter

Click to find at a library near you!

Kristin Kimball, a New York based journalist, begins a whirlwind romance with a fervid farmer, and she quickly discovers that she’s also deeply in love with the agrarian lifestyle. The Dirty Life: On Farming, Food and Love is yet another story of a city girl turned farmer. Most of the memoir is set on a farm in upstate New York, where Kimball and her soon-to-be husband struggle to make their dream—to provide a year-round CSA with only the use of horsepower—a reality. Although the plot is similar to many others, the personal journey woven throughout sets this book apart.

In addition to discussing the challenges of farming, nose-to-tail cooking, and working with horses, Kimball incorporates her story of love, life and new beginnings. Throughout the book, Kimball constantly grapples with her fear of commitment. And readers are left wondering if she’ll stay on the farm or run.

The concept of providing a year-round CSA that extends beyond just vegetables to include meats, cheeses, maple sugar, and even grains is extremely ambitious. Rarely today does a small, organic farm provide so much—and with only the use of horsepower! The implementation and execution of such a comprehensive program will intrigue many. But Kimball doesn’t spend too much time discussing logistics. Instead, as the subtitle mentions, her conversation equally discusses food, farming and love. The combination is perfectly executed for those interested in a romantic read about the satisfactions of an agrarian lifestyle.

You might also like: The Egg and I by Betty MacDonald

Click to find at a library near you!

As a result of the surge in urban homesteading efforts, more and more people are raising chickens and keeping bees right in their backyards. For anyone interested in learning about the intricacies of beekeeping, this book by C. Marina Marchese is worth reading. Honeybee: Lessons from an Accidental Beekeeper (2009) is both a memoir and an instructional guide about bees.

Marchese was captivated by bees upon first being introduced to them by a neighbor. Before long, the post office was calling to notify Marchese of her delivery of live bees–more than 20,000 shipped in a wire box. Marchese’s enjoyment of bees and beekeeping increase exponentially as she becomes more experienced with the possibilities provided by the bees. She discusses every aspect of bees and beekeeping: their important role in pollination, establishing and caring for a hive, healing aspects of honey, how to taste the delicacy, and more.

Honeybee is a great book for those who love a story and who have yet to read about beekeeping. Unlike most educational texts, Marchese teaches readers about every aspect of bees through stories of her own experiences. Her storytelling is warm and inviting, and her fascination and respect for honeybees will surely captivate readers.

You might also like: Goat Song: A Seasonal Life, A Short History of Hearding, and the Art of Making Cheese by Brad Kessler

Click to find at a library near you!

New technologies are being developed daily and marketed as tools that will make our lives easier—but do they? Eric Brende begins an 18-month exploration into life without modern technologies in hopes of answering that question. His experiences living off the grid are recorded in his 2005 book Better Off: Flipping the Switch on Technology.

Although the relevance of such a story to food and farming might not be evident, the connection is strong. Brende and his wife join a small community of Mininites (similar to the more well known Anabaptist sect the Amish) and do little more than work the land to get by. They plant an expansive garden as well as fields of cash crops; they milk a cow and raise a pig; and much time is spent preserving foods to get through the winter. By minimizing expensive ‘conveniences’ and growing their own food, Brende and his wife are able to escape the rat race.

Brende demonstrates through keen storytelling and reflection that technology often does no more than further complicate our lives. This book will give you a glimpse into a simple lifestyle that maximizes face-to-face communication, community and family support, and physical exertion. Brende’s tale calls into question our modern lifestyle where we talk on cell phones while driving expensive cars from office jobs to suburban homes where we retreat in front of televisions.

Click to find at a library near you!

The notion of pastoral life is, for many, nonexistent. Modern conveniences have taught children that milk comes from a carton and bread comes in a bag. Farmland is quickly being gobbled up and regurgitated as suburban sprawl. Few take notice. But others feel a pull to return to a simpler lifestyle—one that has existed for millennia.

Brad Kessler recounts his return to the herding lifestyle of our ancestors in his poetic book Goat Song: A Seasonal Life, A Short History of Herding, and the Art of Making Cheese (2009). Just as the subtitle says, Kessler writes of his adventures raising goats with the ultimate goal of making fresh, raw cheeses. But the book’s scope extends way beyond livestock.

Humans domesticated animals thousands of years ago for a steady source of food. As a result, praise and reference to these animals is deeply integrated into our language. Kessler discusses the many idioms, modern words, and literary references rooted in pastoral life with goats. For those who have only known urban life, Kessler’s book is an important history lesson. No wonder so many feel a pull to connect with the land by raising livestock or growing their own food—intimately knowing what sustains them.