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Farm City: The Education Of An Urban Farmer (2009)

by Novella Carpenter(Favorite Author)

3.98 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

1594202214 (ISBN13: 9781594202216)

languge

English

genre

Memoir & Autobiography

publisher

Penguin Press HC, The

review 1: I enjoyed this book, I really did...it falls into the "woman does something unconventional out of doors" category, which I've always enjoyed. Ms. Carpenter is an engaging narrator, and while I didn't always agree with her, I did find myself rooting for her. The reason I didn't always agree with her, and the reason I didn't rate this book, which I've actually read a few times a five, can more or less be summed up with one quote, coming from a bit where she's talking about getting a call from the post office asking her to come and pick up a box of bees she ordered as soon as possible (On a side note, apparently you can get bees delivered through the mail now. This is why brick and mortar retail is losing out to online retail). " 'Now, I wouldn't mind some hone... morey next time you come by' the postmistress shouted from a safe distance. Yup, that's most people - scared of bees but drawn to honey."Now, in this day and age, where bees are dying in droves, keeping a hive probably puts you on the side of the angels. That being said, it isn't a moral failing to be afraid of bees. And, even if a person isn't afraid of bees normally, it's not unreasonable to be surprised to find a box full of live bees in the post office where you work. Shipping bees through the mail is the kind of behaviour that even the most bee tolerant non beekeepers might find disconcerting. So, for the occasional instances of that kind of attitude, the book does lose a bit with me. It's still a great read, though. I recommend it for anybody who enjoys that sort of thing
review 2: This is a memoir of an urban homesteader's experiences establishing a garden and farm in an empty lot in Oakland, California. Novella Carpenter and her boyfriend rent an apartment in a rough neighborhood largely because they are attracted to the large empty plot adjoining their backyard. Without permission or consent, they simply start building gardens and growing food. Soon, Novella decides it is time to raise animals to eat and the book is structured into three sections based on those animals: turkey, rabbit, pig. Accordingly, this book is not for the squeamish as she does eventually "harvest" her animals, in addition to losing many along the way to various predators. However, I loved reading about her garden, her passion for growing her own food, and although I don't think I could ever "harvest" my own meat, I appreciate that she wanted to feel close to her food and respectful of the animals. This also is simply a well written memoir with many memorable characters and stories that make for a good read. less

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