Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The Hewitts moved to their hilly Vermont homestead-to-be in 1997 with some farming experience, but it was only by living through 17 years of "experimentation, triumphs, failures, simple curiosity, and. passion" that they discovered "how radically different true nourishment looks" from what Hewitt calls "the captive economy" of commercialism and consumerism. This book is both the story of their bucolic life and an introductory guide to homesteading skills they've gleaned along the way. A comparison to Scott and Helen Nearing's Living the Good Life is inevitable, and the books are strikingly similar in their combination of personal narrative, practical advice from house-building to soil-building, and sermon-y philosophizing on the ills of contemporary mainstream culture. Unlike the Nearings, the Hewitts benefit from 21st-century developments like permaculture, rotational grazing, and nutrient-dense farming, and they incorporate livestock as an essential and beloved element of their farmstead-almost a third of the book is devoted to animal husbandry. Best of all, adorable photos of the Hewitts' two young sons lounging on cows, curing hides, and harvesting garlic leaven the earnest prose. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
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Review by Library Journal Review
Ben and Penny Hewitt have resided on a 40-acre farm in Cabot, VT, for more than 15 years and are motivated by a desire to live their lives aligned with nature and provide most of their own food, creating from the ground up a sustainable and traditional homestead. The Hewitts chronicle the development of their sanctuary in this informative title, from the initial design of their hand-built house and revitalizing the soil for crops to foraging for wild edibles, processing their own meat, and preserving produce. The belief in nourishment in all aspects-Ben calls it "practiculture"-of their lives, including dealing with modern-day "stuff" and raising children (two sons), creates a running thread throughout the book. Photographs and recipes all support this personal reference to dwelling closer to the land. VERDICT While it is information-dense, a conversational tone and practical tips make this text a terrific resource for homesteaders at all levels.-Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., South Deerfield © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
