The Dirty Life

The Dirty Life: On Farming, Food, and Love by Kristin Kimball
Source: Purchased
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is an interesting memoir about a Harvard educated city girl who quits her job, gives up her lease in Manhattan and moves upstate with her farmer boyfriend.  He has big dreams of owning his own farm one day and operating a CSA that feeds people a whole diet - not just veggies, but eggs, chicken, pork, beef, grains, flour, beans, and maple syrup to name a few of his other products.  Kristin falls head over heels in love with this guy and truly admires his conviction and his vision.  She, however, is very much a fish out of water.  Over time, she becomes more accustomed to farm life and the demanding, physical work it entails.  She even comes to enjoy her daily chores and working alongside her now husband.

I found this book very informative and also a bit of a reality check for anyone who has ever daydreamed about the "peaceful" or "quiet" life out on a country farm.  Farming is hard work!  And if you ever balked at the cost of organic veggies, read this book and you will understand exactly why they cost so much.  I'm almost beginning to think they don't cost enough.

Kristin does not sugarcoat any part of farm life.  For her, trading in her stilettos for work boots has been both challenging and rewarding.  While she may have questioned herself along the way, when all is said and done, she doesn't seem to have any regrets, and that is saying something.