“This story begins as several others have: City girl meets country boy, falls in love, moves to country. Yet there is so much more to this tale. When Kristen travels to Pennsylvania to interview Mark for an article on organic farming, he is too busy to talk and puts her to work hoeing broccoli, followed by an evening slaughtering a pig. After two days of farm work in her expensive clothes, she finally gets her interview and discovers a healthy attraction to the dynamic farmer. Fast forward six months and the two move to Essex Farm, 500 acres near Lake Champlain, house in disrepair, fields and equipment much the same. The book covers the first year of their ambitious attempt to run a CSA, growing everything a community would need. Every Friday evening, their customers would arrive to pick up meat, eggs, milk, maple syr
up, grains, flours, dried beans, herbs and 40 different kinds of vegetables. Though they've expanded, added a few employees and refined their farming, they remain committed to their all-encompassing approach. After six years, Kimball sums it up: “Cook things, eat them with other people. If you can tire your own bones while growing the beans so much the better for you.” I was exhausted just reading this book! Kimball does not romanticize farming, but the sheer scope of their endeavor and the discovery that it works is awe-inspiring and satisfying.”—Barb, Paulina Springs Books, with locations in Sisters and Redmond, OR. Buy The Dirty Life from Paulina Springs Books.
