I had worried when I picked up a copy of CHICKENS IN THE ROAD: An Adventure in Ordinary Splendor, by Suzanne McMinn (2013; Harper One) that I’d be convinced again of the
necessity for us to sell our semi-suburban home and buy a farm. The romantic
notion of a lady’s farm (as opposed to a gentleman’s) still whirls through my
head. I’d have chickens for fresh eggs, a horse or two, and goats. Several
goats. All would be pets, not product (except for the eggs), and we’d live in
an idyllic world of soft evenings on the porch, listening to the whispers of
wildlife….
Yeah, no, that’s not really what it’s like. I guess I knew
that, but reading McMinn’s account of her move to an extremely rustic farm in
West Virginia, reaffirms my belief in my own inherent laziness. The physical
effort that every little mundane situation encompasses made me tired just
reading about it. Of course, she started this as a still young woman, but with
three children, a recent divorce, and a new relationship that proved
unsustainable.
Her farm, on the other hand, grew to be quite sustainable
after some difficult choices. And the blog she kept that actually supported her
farm, became an inspiration to many to pursue a simpler way of living. But
simple does not mean easy. And the care of animals and slaughter of those who
were intended for meat or who were simply too aggressive for her to handle
shattered my idealistic version of farm life into smithereens. I realized I
could not make the hard choices the author makes on a daily basis. Maybe I’m
too old, or just too soft.
Not to say, however, that the book isn’t thoroughly
enjoyable, because it is. Perhaps it wouldn’t appeal to vegetarians, but to
anyone interested in sustainable living, in DIY lifestyles, and in learning
what not to do when growing a farm, Chickens in the Road will delight. And the
stories of country folk in West Virginia and their humor and fortitude are
treasures.
To learn more about this and other animal books, please visit us at www.booksforanimallovers.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment