photocreditWhat is it with me and farming books? There is a movement going on involving simplicity, good food, and DIY anything. Mash this up together and the lovely memoir, Dirty Life, by Mrs. Kimball is what you get (NPR link). This is a story about a 30-something woman who meets the man she will eventually marry in a dusty old field. She's trying to get an interview on organic farming, he is continually dodging her because there are more important things to get done, like weeding said field. So, she grabs a hoe.
Kimball has a great sense of humor, and she's quite the spunky New Yorker whose world is turned upside down by crates of fresh, organic produce, milking a cow named Delia, and the never-ending pig fiasco. As one reviewer noted, "From City Girl to Hog Butcher" (see above link).
I really enjoyed this book, and read it in a few days. It provides a lot of information on the organic farm movement (20/30s moving to the rural areas to produce their own food), loads on different types of farm animals, and the formation (and explanation) of her and her husband's year-round CSA, all without tractors. This, in a sense, is how I envision "The American Dream"; where people apply themselves to a purposeful and satisfying job with their hands and minds, and really improve themselves and the community at large with providing a need--in this case--really good food.
I give this book 3 out of 5 stars for spunk and fun farm facts, this would be a great summer read after you've hit your local farmer's market stands.
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