book: Made from scratch
Made from Scratch: Discovering the Pleasures of a Handmade Life
Jenna is a young woman going it alone on her rented plot of land where she is living it real. She works full time while homesteading – that is trying to live a natural homemade life. Making and growing her own food, making her own clothes, buying second hand and learning a whole lot along the way. A motivational read about the diy lifestyle.
Here is a quote from her blog cold antler farm.
I love this little farm, but this month has taught me a new kind of tired. I have never been this consistently sore and exhausted in my life. It’s the kind of work that leaves you aching, reeling, and hopeful at the end of every day. It’s is a lucky place to find yourself. To know you’re alive and healthy enough to take care of others, and make dinner rise out of the ground like Lazarus himself.
Whilst reading this book I was surprised by a lot of things – firstly how young Jenna is – when I was her age I was backpacking around India trying to find myself – Jenna is finding herself by getting back to nature. I like her way much better – it seems braver and very real. Also she is doing it alone (with the help and advice of friends and the company of her animals) but essentially she is not taking this big step with a partner – I am not sure I could be so brave. And the other big surprise was really how blindly she took this big leap – not really knowing anything about gardening or tending livestock, no idea about sewing clothes or the diy lifestyle. So for her it has been a huge learning curve and she takes us on that journey with her.
I was both in awe of her bravery and constantly surprised by her naivete. But in the end I did learn a few new things and for those city dwellers looking for some inspiration I totally recommend this book.
July 13th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Oh no! This could be real bad for me… in a good way =)
July 14th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
I have this book. It’s awesome!