"[A] detailed look at [the Wohllebens'] decades-long experiment in sustainable living... The conversational tone will be welcome to those seeking specifics as readers new to the sustainable lifestyle."
—Booklist
"A factual how-to handbook that’s filled with lessons ... and practical farming advice."
—Library Journal
"A great source of inspiration for anyone wishing to become more self-sufficient."
—Kirkus Reviews
"A wonderfully inspired story of soil, food, chickens, and goats, sharing the joys, insights, and challenges of a couple rising to a more sustainable living."
—David R. Montgomery, coauthor of The Hidden Half of Nature and What Your Food Ate
"A wonderful invitation into the journey of making a livelihood locally."
—Chris Smaje, author of A Small Farm Future and Saying NO to a Farm-Free Future
Our Little Farm: Adventures in Sustainable Living
Narrated by Michael Langan
Peter WohllebenUnabridged — 6 hours, 28 minutes
Our Little Farm: Adventures in Sustainable Living
Narrated by Michael Langan
Peter WohllebenUnabridged — 6 hours, 28 minutes
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Overview
Peter and Miriam moved from the city to a remote forest lodge in the early nineties. Amidst juggling careers and raising a young family, they learned how to plant and rotate crops, harvest and preserve nature's bounty, and tend to the unique needs of their animals and environment. Along the way, they made mistakes and abandoned some projects (sheep raising was not their thing) but maintained a sense of joy in their shared goal.
Brimming with insights, wisdom, and tips on everything from constructing farm buildings to choosing the perfect chicken, Our Little Farm shows that, with a little grit, humor, and self-compassion, it's possible to live according to our values and to care for the earth even as we care for ourselves, our homes, and our families.
Editorial Reviews
07/28/2023
The married Wohllebens (Peter is the author of The Hidden Life of Trees) invite readers into their hobby farm in northwestern Germany. This book is ostensibly a memoir of the couple's journey towards the goal of self-sufficiency. In reality, however, it is more of a factual how-to handbook that's filled with lessons they've learned and practical farming advice. For example, the book covers investing in quality tools and selecting appropriate clothing for working in the fields. The Wohllebens also provide details about growing only the crops that are climate-compatible, but here the book focuses only on Germany's weather conditions and terrain, diluting its usefulness for U.S. readers. This book is dense text—full of facts and information—without illustrations, interesting sidebars, or pointers to additional resources, though there are recipes. Each chapter could serve as a full-length book in its own right. That adds up to a somewhat challenging read, which may be off-putting to some novices interested in self-sufficiency. VERDICT Most likely of interest to only the readers who have already embarked on self-sufficient farming and want detailed information.—Marjorie Mann
Michael Langan's narration infuses curiosity and delight into this memoir and guidebook on sustainability. The authors moved into a 1930s lodge when Peter accepted work as a forester in northwestern Germany. Langan's gentle, uplifting tone captures their enthusiastic but not fanatical attitude during their quest for self-sustainability and small-scale farming. Through his encouraging and candid narration of the Wohllebens' journey--including the lessons learned and practical advice on factors to consider when establishing a farm--Langan evokes the profound pleasure and satisfaction they derived from nurturing and connecting with nature. The Wohlleben family's heartwarming story serves as an inspiring and insightful listen for all nature enthusiasts. M.F. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine
2023-06-08
One couple’s experiences with sustainable living in the mountains of northwest Germany.
In this latest, Peter Wohlleben, author of The Hidden Life of Trees and The Heartbeat of Trees, among other books about ecology, teams with his wife, Miriam, to share their journey in natural living. In the early 1990s, the Wohllebens moved to a small village in the Eifel range. Having accepted a position as a forester for a local community, Peter was given access to “a 1930s lodge built in the style typical for the area at that time; an outbuilding that originally housed a chicken coop and a pigsty; and the remains of a vegetable garden almost the size of a football field.” In addition to more vegetables, the couple added fruit trees, berry bushes, herbs, chickens, sheep, goats, and beehives. The authors describe themselves as “enthusiastic but not fanatical,” as they worked to maintain a manageable workload, and they lay out the planning that went into each project—e.g., choosing what to plant, creating a system for crop rotation, handling garden pests, preserving their bounty—as well as the challenges they faced along the way. Among them was a merciless fox that had them reconsidering chickens as their first animal choice for the farm. In addition to the daily care of their animals, they also had to care for orphaned and rejected baby animals. Although becoming completely self-sufficient was not realistic for the Wohllebens (“Time is the limiting factor in any plan for self-sufficiency”), as is the case for many, they wanted to source more of their food from their own garden and inspire others to do the same. The book includes numerous recipes inspired by the authors’ garden, including parsnip cream soup, plum butter, and fresh goat cheese.
A great source of inspiration for anyone wishing to become more self-sufficient.
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940160477404 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Tantor Audio |
| Publication date: | 03/12/2024 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
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