annanowo's review
2.0
Some parts of this were quite interesting--I liked learning about the mechanics of peach farming, particularly about hand-harvesting and all the peach packing equipment (defuzzers!) and pruning. This was written in 1995, before The Omnivore's Dilemma and before writing about small farms became trendy, so reading it now I definitely encountered a number of explanations for things that I already knew. Some parts I found boring and I wasn't a huge fan of the author's more philosophical passages--the writing wasn't that interesting to me.
disasterchick's review
4.0
A beautiful memoir on the challenges on farming. Mas Masumoto has a peach orchard and a vineyard along with a great writing style. Although I have not been exposed to either crop - much of what he talked about goes for any kind of farming. You do not have to have an agriculture background to appreciate - if you enjoy eating this will give you a deeper appreciation for what you put into your mouth.
kslhersam's review
Some people might enjoy this book. It was too slow and boring for me. Maybe once I start gardening more I will try it again.
skywardphoto's review
2.0
I started out liking the premise, saving the Sun Crest peaches on his family's farm that had emotional value but little to no financial value. But the whole growing season he wrote about throughout the year seemed to be leading up to him tearing up the trees and moving on- but he didn't. Which is fine, but tenacity for tenacity's sake is foolish. He had a whole section that discussed how risk is only possible for those who can afford it. Well clearly he can afford it- I feel like the further the book went the more arrogant the narrator seemed, despite his constant ramblings about how farmer's weren't in charge of nature, they were collaborators.
Also, I had more questions at the end than answers or closure. How did any of this affect his wife and kids? He mentions his emotional outbursts and time consuming work- so how does that affect his family, not the one who originally owned his farm that he refers to often but the one he lives with day in and day out?
A lot more interesting things could have been explained or expounded upon if he didn't repeat the same stories over and over, out of order, throughout the whole book. I started out excited about his plan to change growing methods and go au naturel, but it was overgrown by the weeds of stubbornness, repetitiveness, and priveledge.
Also, I had more questions at the end than answers or closure. How did any of this affect his wife and kids? He mentions his emotional outbursts and time consuming work- so how does that affect his family, not the one who originally owned his farm that he refers to often but the one he lives with day in and day out?
A lot more interesting things could have been explained or expounded upon if he didn't repeat the same stories over and over, out of order, throughout the whole book. I started out excited about his plan to change growing methods and go au naturel, but it was overgrown by the weeds of stubbornness, repetitiveness, and priveledge.
poeticmama's review
5.0
Beautifully written. If everyone who grew our food grew to love the land and the process of cultivating the food the way David does, what a joyous world this would be.
kerrin's review
3.0
Heard Mas at the Small Farmers Conference at OSU - looking forward to reading the book.