I had the GREAT honor of reading an early copy of Forrest Pritchard's new book, "Gaining Ground" and I was completely caught off guard.... in the best way! As a mama of three I don't get tons of time for reading so I mostly steal away little bits here and there. I couldn't wait to get back to it. I laughed (out loud) so often and obnoxiously that hubs asked me (more than once) what in the world I was reading. Oh and I even cried once. This amazing story of a man who believes enough in his family's farm to go against the norm and fight through (hilarious, after the fact) circumstances would be enjoyed by anyone. I'm certain of it. Whether you are a farmer (or farmer at heart), a big city kid or a suburbanite, I promise you'll fall in love with this family through these stories.
On more than one occasion I had to remind myself that these people don't know me. I'm not part of their family and it would be wildly inappropriate for me to show up at their farm to give them all big ole hugs. That's how I felt when it was over. As though, I had experienced the struggles with them and could cheer in my loudest voice for their success!
Want to know what's super cool?! I have a copy to giveaway to one lucky reader! Here's how you enter to win....
Leave a comment below with your favorite farm memory or dream (even if you don't have your own, a movie moment will do). Get a second chance to win by "liking" the Smith Meadows page on facebook. Be sure to come back here and leave a comment that you did or I won't know to check.
I'll use a random number generator to pick a winner on Saturday morning. Good luck!
I've been lucky enough to visit Smith Meadows, it's an incredibly beautiful place, I can't imagine if this rock star farmer had given up (any of the numerous times that he could have) and such beauty had been lost. Find a farmer, I know you can, and give them a big ole hug!
Congratulations Corinne!! You won our giveaway!! You'll be getting your book soon! Thanks for all who participated.
I think my favorite memory is of my aunt taking the cheese that she made out of the fridge that she made. It was so good we just ate the entire block of it. YUM!
ReplyDeleteI liked Smith Meadows :) AND your post!
That's a great memeory! Mmmmm.... cheese. :) ok, you're entered twice.
DeleteHi! I went and liked Smith Meadows. My dream vision is to own an old farm house with more chickens (cause the 5 I have are the awesomest!), cows, and pigs. :) I would also have a much bigger garden!
ReplyDeleteYou're entered to win with 2 chances! Your chickens are bound to be awesome cause they came from ME!! hehe.... I love that dream, I'll totally come visit!
DeleteWell I don't have much farm experience yet but the best memory so far has been the day we brought our chickens home. I just thought "I've got this" cause our Chicken Lady makes it look so easy.....but our birds had other plans. They ran, flew, whatever they could do to get away from the crazy lady trying to get them in their new coop, and hubby got so frustrated that he wanted to make a 5 hour drive to take them back cause he was afraid to catch them. I can only imagine what we looked like to our neighbors! I still laugh every time I think about it :) I can't wait til the first time we collect fresh eggs and all the fun we will have with these hens.
ReplyDeleteWell your "chicken lady" is very proud of you for hanging in there! Great work mama! And yes, please next time, take video!!
DeleteOops....and I liked Smith Meadows page
ReplyDeleteCan I share more than one? Last summer on the farm, when we arrived, there had just been really heavy rains, and the area around the shop was flooded and muddy. I convinced Farmer Nick to let me take him for a ride on the Can-Am, and was just fishtailing and doing doughnuts in the mud. We were covered and it was so much fun!
ReplyDeleteIt was awesome to go out in the morning and see the little soybean plants (yes, I know, no lectures ;) )that had virtually grown up overnight.
And lastly, what can make you feel like a real farmer? Being out in the middle of a field at 11pm trying to fix the motor on an irrigation system so that crops can get watered the next day. It was heavy and dirty and AWESOME!!
Also, I'm feeling very farmery this year with my own little garden. My carrots and spinach have peeked through, which so far are the only things that I've planted from seed, and my broccoli is getting huge and awesome. And most especially, my Brussels sprouts look super great. If nothing else works except for them, I will pee myself with joy.
I love all of this!! I'm super jealous that you got to spend time on a mega farm of the midwest. I bet it's just amazing to see. And yes, I'd imagine untimely repairs are quite familiar to the farmer! :)
DeleteYour garden is going to be awesome, because you did it yourself. Everythign tastes better when you grow it!
and I just went and liked Smith Meadows farm. Do they give tours? Like a really awesome road trip, even if we have to take littles??
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure, you could totally ask. I bet they do. It's not that far, just on the other side of Charles Town. It took me about an hour. And they have a farm store where you can buy all their meaty goodness.
DeleteThey are having a huge open house and potluck on June 1st. I think there may still be tickets available.
DeleteI dont really have any farm memories since I'm not a farmer!!!! Just kidding...I think its pretty much a lost cause! Now that I have had to wrangle cows and actually touch a chicken and piglets on the way...and my new favorite part are my cute cowboy boots!
ReplyDeleteI liked the Smith Meadows Farm page!
You may have fought it, but my dear friend you were born to be a farmer! It suits you, just look how cute you are in those boots :) 2 entries to win for you!
DeleteHey it's me Becky :)
ReplyDeleteI don't think I have been "farming" long enough to have a favorite memory, but I do have many favorites. As I sit here typing at my kitchen table I have sprouts to my left that will be put in the ground soon, and shared with good friends. I have and incubator full of hatching eggs, that me and my boys will watch hatch and once again witness a miracle. I have a baby pig at my feet begging for a bowl of goats milk lol I love every bit of my day!
This is so perfect Beck!! There is something so much better about sharing the commmunity of backyard farming. You're watching seeds (and piggies) grow that will feed the people you love. How cool?!
DeleteSome of my favorite farm memories involve all of us riding at Sharon's farm. We had many great times growing up there together as a big group. We have started our garden and recently acquired 13 chickens at our house and are in the process of getting fence to bring the horses over as well. I can't wait to share all of these experiences with my two girls and help them make memories of their own.
ReplyDeleteI liked the Smith Meadow's page as well. Hoping to make it to the Clarke County farmer's market soon to check out some of the things they have.
And by the way, not sure if you remember, but one of my favorite memories (not farm related per say but a great memory of mine) is the two of us (and Karlee I believe) riding the horses down the road to a pond somewhere near your parents house to take them swimming. Am I remembering that correctly?
We really were so lucky to grow up in such a cool way. And yes, you do remember that correctly! I forgot you were with us. That was one of my favorite horse moments too!
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