http://www.amazon.com/Adopting-Abandoned-Farm-Kate-Sanborn/dp/1438512260
I stumbled across this book through a free book ap. I loathe reading off my phone but was desperate for a good farming read. This was written in the late 1800s.
Thoroughly enjoying it!
Love reading those old books, even online. Such a glimpse into the past.
ReplyDeleteThis one is amazing!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThanks for this recommendation! I downloaded it late last night and had to tear myself away at 1:30 a.m. to finally go to bed. Very witty and engaging writing.
ReplyDeleteMe too! Got through the auctions, poultry, pets, horses, ghosts before I made myself go to bed.
Deletesounds fascinating! Someone mentioned Ohio Farm Girl, who used to sort of defend Jenna. I checked out her blog. If hers is the one Adventures in the Good Land or something like that, in her latest post she mentions free old pamphlets available online and how riveting and timeless they are. She goes on to talk about homesteading and she has to say sounds very profound and sensible. I doubt JW is reading her, though.
ReplyDeleteI adore Ohio Farm Girl's blog. It's the 180 degree opposite of CAF.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan...of her comments or her blog. Any true farmer would have serious issue with Jennas "farming" narrative.
DeleteWell something that is very puzzling to me: On Aug 8 on the CAF blog Jenna posted "Protecting Yesterday. A Call for Stories" and asked readers to share how their homesteading dreams are going. I skimmed the replies (quite a few in number) and generally found them to be very practical in tone and practice--very unlike Jenna they were doing their research, preparing by doing apprenticeships and internships, taking courses in farming and starting small businesses. They were erring on the cautious side, often keeping their other job (or their spouse or partner keeping theirs). They were taking time to find the right piece of land. Taking measured steps, conscious of the financial picture, delaying gratification for years if necessary so they would be prepared when they were ready to make the move. They had plans and many were already successfully producing stuff and looking ahead to expanding. They did refer to the idea of Barnheart so perhaps they see Jenna as someone who gave a name to their desire and maybe motivated or inspired them to begin to make their dreams a reality. I just can't believe they find anything of use or value on the CAF blog anymore and most seem lightyears beyond Jenna in wisdom, knowledge, productivity, and financial savvy. I doubt they have much time to read her blog--maybe they find it weirdly entertaining or feel kindly toward Jenna. But certainly not as a source of homesteading info. I also can't believe they are funding her disaster- by- design way of doing things--they seem too smart and too respectful of their own economics to throw money at someone who purposefully neglects her animals and does nothing to improve her infrastructure or grow in homesteading maturity. Still, they took the time to post about their experiences; maybe to share their pride in what they've accomplished or to provide encouragement to other farmers/homesteaders. I think Jenna thinks she personally is responsible for any successes of her readers. But she really isn't talking the right talk, and her walk is so detached from the realities of living an independent life. While she is playing at her life of fiction, they seem like the real deal--lying a solid foundation for a real future with their chosen endeavors. I do wonder if they call her on her poor practices and if not, why not.
ReplyDelete