The Farmer's Wife
My Life in Days
-
-
3.1 • 7 Ratings
-
-
- $14.99
-
- $14.99
Publisher Description
"An exquisite love-letter to the goodness of the natural world, and to shepherding family, marriage, and a farm to health and prosperity." —Nick Offerman, award-winning actor, comedian, and writer
A heartfelt, unvarnished reflection on the power of domestic life.
Helen Rebanks' beautifully written memoir takes place across a single day on her working farm in the Lake District of England. Weaving past and present, through a journey of self-discovery, the book takes us from the farmhouse table of her grandmother and into the home she now shares with her husband, James, their four kids, and an abundance of animals.
With honesty and grace, Helen shares her life in days—sometimes a wonder and a joy, others a grind to be survived—weaving in stories that read like a well-written pastoral novel. The Farmer's Wife is a book about the love of life, the nourishing simplicity of everyday work, and sharing stories around a family table full of good food.
Full of gentle wisdom, this book is an honest portrait of rural life and an authentic exploration of both the hard work and reward of keeping a home and raising a family—even though the job is often thankless and invisible.
Also included are simple recipes and dozens of guilt-free "Survival Mode" meal ideas.
About Helen and Her Farm:
Along with her husband, James Rebanks (author of The Shepherd’s Life), Helen and her family work as a tight-knit team. Their farm has become globally important through their nature-friendly farming practices and has been a retreat for many, including actor and comedian Nick Offerman. The Rebanks host events regularly at the farm to share their expertise and encourage others to farm sustainably.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this frank, good-natured debut memoir with recipes, Rebanks recounts the trials and triumphs her family faced after inheriting and restoring her husband James's family farm in England's Lake District (an experience also covered in James's 2020 memoir, English Pastoral). Though ingratiating, this is no rose-colored account; Rebanks shares her difficulties—the sometimes overwhelming tasks of caring for four children, fighting for building permits, and fixing up a "tatty old" farm—alongside recollections of evenings around the farmhouse table, afternoons teaching her kids how to "live mindfully" in nature, and days hosting school field trips that highlight the importance of organic food. "Living on a farm has helped me to see that we all have a responsibility, when we shop, to support good farming," Rebanks muses in one characteristic passage. "The industrial farming practices I hate that are damaging to the planet are driven by our insatiable desire for ever-cheaper food." Mouthwatering recipes are generously sprinkled throughout, including savory blinis with crème fraîche and smoked salmon, traditional English roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, and fall-apart scones. Black and white pen illustrations enhance the charm. Home cooks and aspiring farmers will be captivated by this lively and accessible look at life on the farm.
