The Nearing's "Good Life" I have just finished The Good Life and Continuing The Good Life by Scott and Helen Nearing. There were many practical things about this book that I found so helpful and insightful (year-round gardening, stone building, garden records). The main drawback for me, as with so many other books, was that is written from a New England perspective, where the climate and terrain are so different. But from a gardening standpoint, so much of what they have to say, and the experiences they share transcend growing zones. The way that the view the garden dovetails nicely into how Gene Logsdon views the garden, though I''m not sure the two parties have formally crossed paths.

The main difference with the Nearings and most "modern homesteaders" and agrarians is that, because of their beliefs, they did not keep animals of any sort on their homestead. Most of us would see that as a disadvantage to being self-sustaining, but in reality, the lack of animals probably freed them up to focus on their garden and on other profitable pursuits around the homestead.

The also never refer to their place as a farm, which makes sense - in reality it is only land with buildings and gardens. Instead the use the term "homesteading" quite frequently.

All in all, I think the Nearing's book is a must read for the suburban/urban dweller yearning for a place to call his/her own. I can't speak for someone who already has country experience, but the Nearing's seemed to always maintain the idea that they were still city dwellers working towards a better existence, and that may turn out to be what we will always be as well.

PS - I found this blog on a search for Nearing's and Gene Logsdon: http://fredandcharlie.com/theplan/ I don't know anything about them, but I liked their about section and they have nice pictures. 

¶ 7/28/2008 09:02:00 PM