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alexsbradshaw's review
5.0
A really wonderful book that was both beautiful and poignant.
I think a well-timed book that looks at farming, its effects on nature, and how taking a step back from the mega-efficient-industrial farms now.
John Lewis-Stempel looks at his new field through the lense of someone who has worked with the land for many years and loves it deeply. It's a wonderful read to get to be able to experience that closeness, to find out the history behind some traditions, and also see that although the yield may be slightly less there are methods of farming that encourage wildlife instead of blotting it out with pesticides.
I think a well-timed book that looks at farming, its effects on nature, and how taking a step back from the mega-efficient-industrial farms now.
John Lewis-Stempel looks at his new field through the lense of someone who has worked with the land for many years and loves it deeply. It's a wonderful read to get to be able to experience that closeness, to find out the history behind some traditions, and also see that although the yield may be slightly less there are methods of farming that encourage wildlife instead of blotting it out with pesticides.
andreairashea's review
4.0
Took a while to get into and finish it, but I think I've found my English Barry Lopez. Wonderful, evocative writing. If I found it mildly depressing, it isn't his fault - it's simply a fact that our natural habitats are declining everywhere, not just in England. At least he's giving an honest estimation of what we still have, and how little it would take to bring back some of what we've lost.
kirsty_reads's review
4.0
If nature writing is your thing this is the most beautifully written book! The descriptiveness is outstanding at creating interest in the beauty of a hare running through a field. Not a sit down get engrossed book but fun to read in short bouts and appreciate the writing.
keepreadingbooks's review
4.0
There is something immensely comforting in picking up an author and knowing there won’t be any disappointments. That’s how I feel about John Lewis-Stempel’s books. They are just delightful, comforting, thought-provoking, funny and occasionally sad love-letters to the world around us, and every once in a while I find myself in need of a Lewis-Stempel fix. Not least because of his writing, which is just the kind I love the most: simple and straight-forward, yet poetic in the pictures it paints.
In The Running Hare, Lewis-Stempel rents a small-ish field and turns it into a chemical-free, traditional wheat field, as a sort of experiment to bring back all-but-disappeared wildflowers and entice birds and other creatures that used to thrive on arable land but have been brutally expelled from the countryside due to modern farming practices. This is the third novel-size book I’ve read by him, and it is just a joy each time. If you enjoy nature writing, and if you in particular enjoy learning how humans and nature can co-exist and benefit from each other, this one – and his other works, particularly Meadowland and The Wood – is for you.
/NK
In The Running Hare, Lewis-Stempel rents a small-ish field and turns it into a chemical-free, traditional wheat field, as a sort of experiment to bring back all-but-disappeared wildflowers and entice birds and other creatures that used to thrive on arable land but have been brutally expelled from the countryside due to modern farming practices. This is the third novel-size book I’ve read by him, and it is just a joy each time. If you enjoy nature writing, and if you in particular enjoy learning how humans and nature can co-exist and benefit from each other, this one – and his other works, particularly Meadowland and The Wood – is for you.
/NK
sharon4d046's review
4.0
Exquisite prose, a beautiful read about a disturbing topic; environmental degradation through factory farming and one man's rebellion against the conformity of modern farming. Loved this book so much I have ordered Meadowland. A great nature read.
lnatal's review
3.0
From BBC Radio 4 - Book of the Week:
A close up and intimate natural history by John Lewis-Stempel. By taking an abandoned field close to his farm, he observes in minute detail the behaviour of plants, birds and animals that are being displaced by agribusiness. In telling the story of one field, he tells the story of our countryside, our language, our religion and our food. But in transforming one field, he creates a haven for one particular animal close to his heart - the brown hare.
In the opening episode, a suitable field is chosen for a year-long experiment. And trouble begins.
Writer: John Lewis-Stempel
Abridger Barry Johnston
Reader: Bernard Hill
Producer: David Roper
A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b078xf14
A close up and intimate natural history by John Lewis-Stempel. By taking an abandoned field close to his farm, he observes in minute detail the behaviour of plants, birds and animals that are being displaced by agribusiness. In telling the story of one field, he tells the story of our countryside, our language, our religion and our food. But in transforming one field, he creates a haven for one particular animal close to his heart - the brown hare.
In the opening episode, a suitable field is chosen for a year-long experiment. And trouble begins.
Writer: John Lewis-Stempel
Abridger Barry Johnston
Reader: Bernard Hill
Producer: David Roper
A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b078xf14
halfmanhalfbook's review
5.0
Industrial farming has succeeded in turning turn fields into open roofed factories. Copious amounts of fertiliser and weed killers have decimated the natural environment. Plants, birds and animals that were once common sights in the countryside are now very rare or no longer exist. The fields are now only able to support the growing crop.
These fields are silent; empty of life.
It used to be very different. A field of wheat supported a whole eco-system, from the worms in the ground, all the way up to the raptors that drift across the crop. Wild flowers added colour to the fields, corn buntings and lapwings flitted across the top of the crop and hares fought on the fields. Lewis Stempel remembers this way of farming and wonders if he can bring some life back to the countryside again. First he needs to secure a field. Most people he approaches are horrified that he would go back to the old methods claiming that the weeds will bring disease and pests, but he finds one called Flinders and so begins his experiment.
Assessing the land, he realises that it is in pretty poor condition, but not as desolate of life as the field next door. This is farmed by twins who he calls ‘the chemical brothers’, but he pushes ahead with his indulgent experiment nonetheless. First edition to the field is a bird table, and he spends ages observing all the species that realise that there is a new source of food available. He unearths his old Fordson to begin the ploughing. It is not a powerful tractor, unlike the £250,000 modern machines, but it weighs considerably less and does not compress the ground. It reveals the richness of the earth in this Herefordshire field. Sowing is entertaining, as he opts to hand sow, before acquiring a hand operated machine to make life much easier. It still takes a while with 1 tonne of grain though. Then he adds his wild flower mixes, opting to bring colour to the green with cornflowers and poppies.
But will these fundamental changes in the way he cares for the land, bring the hares back?
Lewis Stempel has written a very poignant book. He raises hugely important questions about the sustainability and to be perfectly frank the point of the huge industrial farms and techniques. Why if these chemicals are so safe do the manufactures insist on a sealed cab for tractors spraying this on the land and why do we need to eliminate anything that flies. Not all of them are pests; we might just need the bees you know… More than that, this is a very fine book; the writing is top notch and he is incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about his subject. Woven into his superb prose are quotes and poetry about the farming year, all carefully chosen and relevant. However, what comes across most in this book though is his passion for this single field, farmed in the traditional way; a way that seems just right given modern farming methods. The possibility and potential for wildlife is huge if lot more farmers were prepared to give it a go.
These fields are silent; empty of life.
It used to be very different. A field of wheat supported a whole eco-system, from the worms in the ground, all the way up to the raptors that drift across the crop. Wild flowers added colour to the fields, corn buntings and lapwings flitted across the top of the crop and hares fought on the fields. Lewis Stempel remembers this way of farming and wonders if he can bring some life back to the countryside again. First he needs to secure a field. Most people he approaches are horrified that he would go back to the old methods claiming that the weeds will bring disease and pests, but he finds one called Flinders and so begins his experiment.
Assessing the land, he realises that it is in pretty poor condition, but not as desolate of life as the field next door. This is farmed by twins who he calls ‘the chemical brothers’, but he pushes ahead with his indulgent experiment nonetheless. First edition to the field is a bird table, and he spends ages observing all the species that realise that there is a new source of food available. He unearths his old Fordson to begin the ploughing. It is not a powerful tractor, unlike the £250,000 modern machines, but it weighs considerably less and does not compress the ground. It reveals the richness of the earth in this Herefordshire field. Sowing is entertaining, as he opts to hand sow, before acquiring a hand operated machine to make life much easier. It still takes a while with 1 tonne of grain though. Then he adds his wild flower mixes, opting to bring colour to the green with cornflowers and poppies.
But will these fundamental changes in the way he cares for the land, bring the hares back?
Lewis Stempel has written a very poignant book. He raises hugely important questions about the sustainability and to be perfectly frank the point of the huge industrial farms and techniques. Why if these chemicals are so safe do the manufactures insist on a sealed cab for tractors spraying this on the land and why do we need to eliminate anything that flies. Not all of them are pests; we might just need the bees you know… More than that, this is a very fine book; the writing is top notch and he is incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about his subject. Woven into his superb prose are quotes and poetry about the farming year, all carefully chosen and relevant. However, what comes across most in this book though is his passion for this single field, farmed in the traditional way; a way that seems just right given modern farming methods. The possibility and potential for wildlife is huge if lot more farmers were prepared to give it a go.
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