Blueberry Homesteading Book

The Blueberry Years by Jim Minick

I got this book in the mail from my sister. Since we've been sick I've had time to devour it. A "delicious" read it said in one review. Jim has a knack for describing people, human nature and blueberries! Everyone has a dream and Jim and Sarah's is to support themselves on a homestead of blueberries. How hard can that be they question that question? (Since his father grew some bushes it should be in his genes. No?) Blueberries that are not yet planted, nor the bull pines cleared, but they have the land and the dream. Easy enough they think. Jim takes you with him and his wife on this journey of labor and love and mother earth. Not any journey but an certified organic farmer's journey who invites strangers to his farm to "u pick" blueberries right along with them.

You soon realize he has a love affair with blueberries. I wonder how many blueberry bushes have been sold by nurseries because of Jim's apt description of their gorgeous existence.

When you toil over the land and plant the bushes you become protective of it. Jim also becomes an analyst of people, relationships, religion, money, dreams, neighbors, and the ever productive blueberry...all of the clever evaluations come from keeping the hands busy and the mind turns things over and over until every visible side is exposed. You laugh. You worry. And like a good friend he shares his feelings with you whether they are right or wrong at the time. Unlike myself he has learned when to pause and not answer. If you are not an organic food believer you will be.

After I read the last page I wanted to ring them up and invite them over for dinner. To think he used to teach high school English in Maryland. Jim is a gifted writer and poet. This book is not just for "do it yourself-ers" or homesteaders, it's a book about life and relationships that come from working toward a dream.

As a bonus he has added blueberry recipes at the end! I highly recommend it.

Farming A Life and Organic Produce

Author Kristin with husband, Mark Kimball

Read this book and you will think differently about hard work, dirt, and farming. You'll be willing to spend your savings on horses, cattle, pigs, and milk cows. You will have found the zest of life right under your fingertips, dirt. You work for it and it pays great rewards back to you! Hard work is a tonic! Who needs much sleep? Especially when you are reading about someone else's bone tired labors and the joys that go with it.

This book redefines what success and beauty mean. Kristin Kimball makes fun of herself and her ideas of a good life before she turned farmer. We really like her husband and smile knowingly when she describes their working relationship that gets stressed to the max sometimes when two work together every day of the week. It is always funny when it is someone else! She shares her mishaps like a best girlfriend. You feel like you know these two well and are cheering like mad for them! A very enjoyable read. I handed the book over to my dad who is enjoying it as I type this. The book is titled THE DIRTY LIFE, on Farming, Food and Love by Kristin Kimball.

Long live organic farmers.

Go to NPR (National Public Radio) for a great interview and pictures.

New review here in the Irish Times about "devouring" page after page of this book. Personally I think this book will made into a movie!