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The Seasons on Henry's Farm
A Year of Food and Life on an Organic Farm
Hardcover - $25.00 $15.00 Save $10.00 (40%)
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Chicago magazine's Green Award; 2010

James Beard Award in Writing and Literature; 2010, nomination

 

 

"By far the most informative and earnest of the back-to-the-land memoirs; anyone thinking about farming as a way of life should read it."

--New York Times Sunday Book Review

 

Henry's Farm, run by Henry Brockman, is in central Illinois--some of the richest farming land in the world. There, he and his family--five generations of farmers, including sister Terra, the author--have bucked the traditional agribusiness conventional wisdom by farming in a way that's sensible, sustainable, and focused on producing healthy, nutritious food in ways that don't despoil the land. Terra Brockman tells the story of her family and their life on the farm in the form of a year-long memoir--with recipes--that takes readers through each season of life on the farm. Studded with vignettes, digressions, photographs, family stories, and illustrations of the farm's vivid plant life, the book is a one-of-a-kind treasure that will appeal to readers of Michael Pollan, E.B. White, Gretel Ehrlich, and Sandra Steingraber.

 

Through closely observed natural phenomena and engagingly told stories, The Seasons of Henry's Farm takes readers deep inside the world of a small-scale farmer, and in so doing, opens a window into what sustainable farming really entails and why it is vital and relevant to everyone--everyone who eats, that is. Though rooted in the rolling oak-hickory hills and fertile fields and flood plains of the Mackinaw River Valley, the book ranges widely, incorporating literary, scientific, and culinary reflections occasioned by the week-by-week events of farm life.

 

The Seasons on Henry's Farm shows readers the cyclical rhythms of nature and of sustainable agriculture, which mimics nature, and the life of an extended family that not only believes in the importance of stewarding the land but lives it every day. Brockman invites us to recognize our place in the cosmos, and to understand that growing good food does not mean destroying soil and water, and that we can eat well and live well, and still leave this earth a better place than we found it. She has created a mindful and mouthwatering invitation to eat great food grown by people near you who love the land. This is a book for everyone who cares about the food we eat, the land we live on, and the environment that sustains us.

Details

Edition First Edition
Publisher Surrey
Format Hardcover
ISBN-10 1-57284-103-6
ISBN-13 978-1-57284-103-1
Publication Date Oct 2009
Nb of pages 320
Dimensions 7.3 x 9.3 in.

Format Adobe PDF
ISBN-10 1572846569
ISBN-13 9781572846562
Publication Date Oct 2009

Additional Materials

(pdf 187 KB)

Reviews

Press Reviews

New York Times Book Review
Jun 6, 2010
This is by far the most informative and earnest of the back-to-the-land memoirs; anyone thinking about farming as a way of life should read it. "The Seasons on Henry's Farm" isn’t full of peril. It
...more

- Dominique Browning

Terrian.org
Mar 1, 2010
"When I say Brockman's vision is charming, I don't mean that it is idyllic or glossy. She neither bemoans nor camouflages the long hours and hard work of a farming life. What makes this book such a well-rounded read is how finely Brockman integrates all of these details together..."

Chicago Botanic Garden
Feb 1, 2010
"Terra Brockman gives the reader a view of the world of the farm, and a glimpse of a greater world of literature and art. With the log of daily activities throughout the year, and interesting
...more

- Joan Richards

The Chicago Sun-Times
Nov 11, 2009
"Locavores will appreciate Brockman's book as a testament to sustainable agriculture; those just looking for an engaging read won’t be left hungry, either."
- Janet Fuller

Radish Magazine
Oct 30, 2009
"Interlacing vibrant description, thoughtful reflection and mouth-watering recipes, Brockman's book explores and recounts the physical and personal realities of a daily relationship with the land."
- Elizabeth Janicek

Peoria Journal Star
Oct 19, 2009
"This literary, yearlong memoir documenting the weeks on a central Illinois sustainable farm is filled with poetry and beauty as well as advocacy and
...more

- Clare Howard

Ideal Bite
Aug 1, 2009
"If you see Chicago foodie Terra Brockman mapping out locally grown food, give her a high five. She's founder of
...more


The Omnivore's Solution
Aug 20, 2010
"Fortunately, my dear friend Terra Brockman, writer and founder of The Land Connection, just sent me a copy of
...more




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