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aubrey_the_explorer's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed Novella's stories of farming in the city. It offered a unique perspective, yet was relatable to my own experiences as a rural farmer.
tophat8855's review against another edition
4.0
Carrie says I HAVE to read this NOW. So I am. I'm a pushover like that. Peer pressure just gets me sometimes.
Finished! I think the fact that I recognized the names and descriptions of places made it fun. Why, yes, I have driven down MLK many many times and have passed the individuals wandering the streets with shopping carts. She didn't mention the row of mattresses where homeless people sleep under highway at 29th, but that's a new practice, I think. I used to drive by them weekly running errands before we moved. Now I'm closer to Berkeley, so I do my shopping there instead of Oakland. Also, my landlady knows Novella personally- these urban farmer/homesteaders know each other! Actually, our landlords butchered 2 ducks this weekend and I thought about this book. We didn't stay to watch the butchering because I thought it might be a little much for our 3 year old, but if I can get away from her for the next time, I would like to be there.
This book was well-written and easy to follow, kind of conversational.
Finished! I think the fact that I recognized the names and descriptions of places made it fun. Why, yes, I have driven down MLK many many times and have passed the individuals wandering the streets with shopping carts. She didn't mention the row of mattresses where homeless people sleep under highway at 29th, but that's a new practice, I think. I used to drive by them weekly running errands before we moved. Now I'm closer to Berkeley, so I do my shopping there instead of Oakland. Also, my landlady knows Novella personally- these urban farmer/homesteaders know each other! Actually, our landlords butchered 2 ducks this weekend and I thought about this book. We didn't stay to watch the butchering because I thought it might be a little much for our 3 year old, but if I can get away from her for the next time, I would like to be there.
This book was well-written and easy to follow, kind of conversational.
mary00's review against another edition
3.0
(If there were half stars, this would be 3 1/2.)
This is a book that I never would have picked up and chosen to read on my own. But because a book club that I joined is reading it this month, I did read it. And I found myself thoroughly interested and intrigued in spite of myself. I am not an "animal person" and gardening isn't my thing either, but the writer had a captivating writing style that made her interests my interests while I was reading. I finished the book feeling guilty that I have such a big yard and am not cultivating it with a garden.
So although I do not relate with the author personally in any way, shape or form, her engaging voice made this an enjoyable read and she had some influence in changing the way I think about the earth and our right/responsibility to reap from it.
(If you pick this up do be warned that there is some profanity scattered throughout the book - just in case that is an issue for you.)
This is a book that I never would have picked up and chosen to read on my own. But because a book club that I joined is reading it this month, I did read it. And I found myself thoroughly interested and intrigued in spite of myself. I am not an "animal person" and gardening isn't my thing either, but the writer had a captivating writing style that made her interests my interests while I was reading. I finished the book feeling guilty that I have such a big yard and am not cultivating it with a garden.
So although I do not relate with the author personally in any way, shape or form, her engaging voice made this an enjoyable read and she had some influence in changing the way I think about the earth and our right/responsibility to reap from it.
(If you pick this up do be warned that there is some profanity scattered throughout the book - just in case that is an issue for you.)
beccaj11's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
sparklethenpop's review against another edition
4.0
I guess I'm giving it four stars because Novella ate the animals. Really though, it was funny, poignant, and honest. And, as I've said before if someone can look the animal in the eye before they eat it, I can never judge them.
sarabz's review against another edition
3.0
A quick read and well written, but be prepared for some graphic descriptions of animal slaughter.
Carpenter explores urban farming from a distinct perspective, and does a decent job of connecting her efforts to an earlier diy, back-to-the land movement (of which her parents were a part). She also touches on her privilege and her lineage as a white, college-educated person who has chosen to explore farming because of her interest in and enjoyment of food production and having a connection to her food. And that is the heart of the book - building a relationship with food production, especially the food produced by/with animals.
Towards the end of the book, when I was started to get annoyed about the omission, she touches on the prevalence of urban farming outside of the U.S. and on some additional urban farming histories/traditions in this country. Being me, I wanted more about those stories and about the social, cultural, and racial politics of food and food production. But the book is really a memoir about her own relationship to farming and food and she doesn't pretend that it is anything more, so I don't fault her for not exploring those topics in depth.
Carpenter explores urban farming from a distinct perspective, and does a decent job of connecting her efforts to an earlier diy, back-to-the land movement (of which her parents were a part). She also touches on her privilege and her lineage as a white, college-educated person who has chosen to explore farming because of her interest in and enjoyment of food production and having a connection to her food. And that is the heart of the book - building a relationship with food production, especially the food produced by/with animals.
Towards the end of the book, when I was started to get annoyed about the omission, she touches on the prevalence of urban farming outside of the U.S. and on some additional urban farming histories/traditions in this country. Being me, I wanted more about those stories and about the social, cultural, and racial politics of food and food production. But the book is really a memoir about her own relationship to farming and food and she doesn't pretend that it is anything more, so I don't fault her for not exploring those topics in depth.
lyrareadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
. The narrator is at times irritating but always entertaining in her tale of urban farming. Restart in December. The term "squat garden" is still annoying. Ultimately, I appreciate the tremendous respect Novella Carpenter shows to her food and the effort it takes to provide nourishment.