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abbythompson's review
3.0
A thoroughly charming collection of essays about living in the country and being a "part-time farmer." I giggled and smiled from the first page to the last. A little dated now, (it was written in the 1970s), the talk of high gas prices is even more "charming" now as we face a second energy crisis and skyrocketing prices. Sometimes it's good to be reminded that 30 years ago, people though it was the end of everything, and they got through it. It gives hope for our own future.
jessferg's review
3.0
The subtitle of this book is "Essays of a Sometime Farmer" but it seems to me that Perrin has done enough work to call himself a full-time farmer.
Perrin's writing is somewhat inconsistent but the essays are overall enjoyable. Particularly the aspects of maple sugaring and his "recipe" for making maple candy worked like a charm.
Perrin talks a bit of prices and pricing in these essays and while they are obviously outdated, most of the thoughts are not - the final essay (basically city vs. country) is the best example of this - many of the pros and cons of city life and country life still exist (although it would be foolish to assume technology hasn't improved on at least a few of the country "cons.")
I didn't really think reading about fence posts or building fences would be interesting but the injection of humor - plus personal experience actually trying to complete these projects - made them quite enjoyable as well as somewhat educational.
Perrin has deterred me from wanting to live in Vermont (although it wasn't high on my list anyway) but my farm dreams remain alive and well.
Perrin's writing is somewhat inconsistent but the essays are overall enjoyable. Particularly the aspects of maple sugaring and his "recipe" for making maple candy worked like a charm.
Perrin talks a bit of prices and pricing in these essays and while they are obviously outdated, most of the thoughts are not - the final essay (basically city vs. country) is the best example of this - many of the pros and cons of city life and country life still exist (although it would be foolish to assume technology hasn't improved on at least a few of the country "cons.")
I didn't really think reading about fence posts or building fences would be interesting but the injection of humor - plus personal experience actually trying to complete these projects - made them quite enjoyable as well as somewhat educational.
Perrin has deterred me from wanting to live in Vermont (although it wasn't high on my list anyway) but my farm dreams remain alive and well.
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