The Dirty Life
Kristin Kimball
October 2010
288 pages in book form, 191 on the nook
Published by Simon & Schuster
********************
When I saw this mentioned by Wallace, I knew it was just a matter of time before I succumbed. Because I’m a sucker for life on the farm books. I think it was those years I spent as a small pop in the boonies of Oregon. I am fascinated by people who shed their city lives for the hard, hard work of a farm. I always think wouldn’t that be cool? Then I read the book and think I’d never have time to read a book again! Then a few months go by and I think wouldn’t that be cool? And I read another book about farming and the cycle continues.
Kimball was living in New York and working as a freelance writer and sometimes writing instructor when she met a charismatic organic farmer. They fell in love and he convinced her to marry him and settle into life as a farmer. This book is the story of their first year together on their new farm, where they seek to go beyond the CSA model to the whole-diet model. They will grow almost everything on their farm that their subscribers need for a complete diet…meat, poultry, milk, cheese, eggs, veggies, even maple syrup. It emphasizes both eating locally, the importance of community, and how farming is a lot (emphasis on a lot) of hard work. In fact, Kimball sums it up like this: “Farmers toil. Nature laughs. Farmers weep. There’s your history of agriculture in a nutshell.” p. 143 (on a nook)
Coincidentally, this book supports many of the concepts proposed in another recent read, Michael Pollan’s in In Defense of Food…shake the hand that feeds you, you are what what you eat eats, a return to the diet of our ancestors, eating what’s in season. The two books really do compliment each other.
But it’s not for the faint of stomach. There is much eating of animals…and parts of the animals that you normally wouldn’t eat (or at least that I wouldn’t eat). The author discusses cooking and eating deer’s liver, bull’s testicles, and pig’s blood. She also talks about how those foods were ummm, harvested? Collected? Slaughtered? Although there are also many discussions on vegetables, so the book isn’t completely omnivorous (and I know, books aren’t omnivorous, but that sentence totally works in my head). There’s mention of nettle soup, and some other obscure wild greens that I do believe Pollan mentioned as well. So maybe they’re only obscure if you don’t hang out in the woods?
My reading has been a bit slow lately, so I was surprised that I read this book in one day. I haven’t done that in awhile, and it was fun to settle in with a book and be hooked by both the story and the language (at one point, the cow on farm reminds Kimball of Susan Sontag, due to a white streak). Despite the back-breaking work of farming, Kimball is obviously in love with their farm and the food it supplies. She’s also brutally honest, so this isn’t all rainbows and unicorns. It’s a well-told, thought-provoking, entertaining read about making a new life with someone you love (but don’t always like) and creating a small place in the world that you can be proud of.
Yeah I’m thinking this one’s not for me…
Amanda´s last [type] ..Things I’ve Been Silent About- by Azar Nafisi audio
I think you would also love the book Coop, by Michael Perry. It deals with a lot of the same issues, but has the benefit of being very comedic as well. You might be tired of reading books about food, but if you are not, I would totally recommend that one to you. I finished it in about a day as well, and found it to be incredibly engrossing. Great review on this one as well. I now want to read this book!
I am exactly the same way with books about farming. At first it sounds so romantic and then I finish the book and realize just how lazy I am.
hmm. I think I romanticize farms too. Regardless, I think I’d like this one. Adding it to my list!
Lisa´s last [type] ..Wordless Wednesday- might as well stick to theme
I’m a vegetarian, so I have a definite moat up around me when it comes to eating the…weirder parts of an animal…
Coffee and a Book Chick´s last [type] ..Ethan Frome- by Edith Wharton
I really do like those farm-y type memoirs and books like Michael Pollan’s. I’m not sure about the whole eating-random-animal-bits part, though. Other than that, this book sounds really interesting. I’m glad there are people wiling to do all the crazy farm work, because I know I wouldn’t enjoy it.
Erin´s last [type] ..Thoughts on “To the Lighthouse” by Virginia Woolf Audiobook
LOL! I’m married to a farmer, but luckily he’s a vegetable farmers. No animals at all. Thank heavens. I was a vegetarian for seven years – and then I remembered how good pepperoni was on pizza – but I still don’t think I could handle an animal farm kind of life.
Trisha´s last [type] ..Midway along the Trip
This is the first I’ve read about this one Jill. I like the sound of it. Thanks for blogging about it.
Bibliophile By the Sea´s last [type] ..Wordless Wednesday
I, for one, have NEVER wanted to work on a farm but I wouldn’t mind living near one and reaping the bounty for a small cash transaction.
Jenners´s last [type] ..Four Questions Asked- Four Questions Answered
If I was starving I would eat offal. But since I’m not, I won’t.
I’ll let you read all the life-on-the-farm books you want if I don’t have to.
Just got back from a visit to a western KS farm community and so much of their life appeals to me… except there is NO WAY. I couldn’t do what they do.
Care´s last [type] ..Honolulu
Oh, and yea. I’ve eaten Rocky Mt Oysters…
Care´s last [type] ..Honolulu
I like farm stories as well, just because they’re so different from my own life and something I’d love to experience. But diatribes about organic farming, sustainable agriculture, and comments on meat production annoy me to death. It’s why I can’t get through Pollan. I’d appreciate the facts and point the author is trying to make presented succinctly…not a 40-page diatribe about all that’s wrong with our food politics.
Kari´s last [type] ..Where was Betsy-Tacy during my childhood Part 3
Now if this was an Amish farm story I’d be hooked! I choose to be ignorant about food.. I’m getting better at trying to buy organic food and visiting the local green market, but I can’t bring myself to read books that go into great detail on meat (SKINNY BITCH, EATING ANIMALS, etc). I already can’t eat anything that has eyes at the dinner table (whole fish, roasted pig, lobster) and I don’t want to become a vegetarian so I just try to avoid these books. It’s admirable what they’re doing and I think the aspect you said of that “shed their city lives for the hard, hard work of a farm” to be fascinating as well, but not for me! Great review.
I love the cover! I needed to get that shallow comment out right away.
This sounds like a book made for me.
Beth F´s last [type] ..Review- After the Falls by Catherine Gildiner
I want to read this book! I can’t imagine eating nettles- what in the world does that taste like?
Well, luckily I’m not on a farm living reading spree. Which will allow me to pass on a book that talks about “harvesting” animal parts and all of the icky parts. I don’t care how good the book is.
Lisa´s last [type] ..Challenge Update
Wow, you did read that fast… you beat me. I’m still working on it. I do love books like this though. I have a list that I want to read (and have read many). I’m often infatuated with anything that is out of my norm. Farming/ sustainable living, etc. is one of those things — particularly right now since I live in the middle of a very large city. The one thing I keep thinking about (besides how easily she talks about sad animal things) is that her husband — though awesome I’m sure — does not sound as romantic as I thought at the very beginning. He is very extreme and I imagine that could be hard for someone who is used to more conventional ways…. like using the lights at night, an actual bathroom, or some sort of deodorant.
I am …. intrigued…. I enjoy reading about different life styles and growing up I was on a “sort of: farm…. we had a few pigs and chickens, horses and a massive garden. That was about it.
The coolest thing about the butchering of the chickens (ugh…. I still can conjure up a cringe when I say that) was that I was able to stay at a friends house during this nasty business.
Sheila (Bookjourney)´s last [type] ..It’s Monday! What Are You Reading