The Farmer's Wife by Helen Rebanks
Follow along as a wife and mother recounts a single day and a life on a working farm in England.
Harper Horizon, 2023, www.harpercollinsfocus.com.
The Sustainability Book Club met on March 7 to discuss The Farmer's Wife: My Life in Days by Helen Rebanks. This memoir recounts a single day on the author’s family farm in the Lake District of England and explores significant events from her past along the way.
Helen Rebanks and her husband, author James Rebanks, are well-known for their eco-friendly farming practices, their on-farm events, and their friendship with comedian Nick Offerman. In this book, Helen introduces readers to the rest of their family, which includes four kids, six herding dogs, two ponies, 20 chickens, 500 sheep and 50 cattle.
She shares wisdom and stories of their lives together, focusing on the value of hard work and good food. There are also a number of simple recipes featured in the book plus helpful lists of staple foods to keep on hand, creative lunchbox ideas, "survival mode" meal ideas and more.
During the book club meeting, members talked about the renovated barn-turned-house where the family lives, the climate and geography of this region of England, the Rebanks’ various animals, and the importance of regenerative farming practices around the world.
Borrow or purchase a copy of The Farmer’s Wife to read this thoughtful memoir for yourself!
The Sustainability Book Club
Join a small group of avid readers who meet monthly to engage in lively discussions focused on books about sustainability. The club meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month on Zoom. Contact us to join!
April 4: The Well-Gardened Mind: The Restorative Power of Nature by Sue Stuart-Smith
