The Best Farming Memoirs
There are few things as heartwarming as a true story of an American farm. As summer reading gets going, I wanted to share a few of my favorite memoirs with a decidedly agricultural theme. Here are three books you should consider picking up this summer.
1. The Dirty Life: A Memoir of Farming, Food, and Love by Kristin Kimball
This easy read is the story of an up-and-coming writer living in New York City whose interview with a farmer changed her life. The reader follows Kristin as she changes the entire direction of her life once she falls in love both with a farmer and farming itself. Kristin and her husband’s success in starting a self-sustaining farm is inspirational, and the vivid imagery and memories the book evokes makes you remember why you fell in love with farming in the first place.
2. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver
This memoir follows Barbara’s family as they embark on a year of rural life and natural eating. Their self-directed quest to completely divest themselves of industrial food is fascinating to read, and sprinkled with humor throughout. The book is well-researched and sure to teach something to any reader.
3. Hit by a Farm: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Barn by Catherine Friend
Another story of urbanite turned farmer, this book tells the story of a woman whose partner decides to fulfill her lifelong dream of owning a farm. Despite original reluctance, Catherine learns to love and appreciate the lessons she learns while living off the land, and uses the opportunity to discover who she is and what she really wants. This is a very uplifting read for those new to farming.
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