Have you read, We Want to Live! By Aajonus Vonderplanitz. That is where I am and my goodness...I can't put it down. He was a healer, truther, nature lover. He healed all his clients through a primal raw diet. His story is amazing. I don't want to ruin it but he healed himself of cancer (along with 240 other cancer clients) and the story of him trying to save his son (in a coma with brain damage after a horrendous car accident) is breathtaking. It has recipes (most all recipes are based with unsalted raw butter, and unheated raw honey) and instructions in detail for any type of ailment you think of. He goes in to detail about raw meat having living enzymes that the conspiracy of why "they" made it unheard of to even touch raw meat, let alone eat it. I find it interesting that it is over 1000$ on amazon but there is a website that I bought the pdf from for 30$. I do wish I had the actual book. Anyway, I think you would enjoy it if you haven't already. Much Love, Casie (Indiana, U.S.)
Hi Casie, your enthusiasm is contagious! :). I read that book about twenty years ago now. It was a big hit in the fringe circles I was in (the raw milk, animal food heretics club). :) I have known two people that had cancer that used this diet, religiously, and both passed away. It doesn't mean that there isn't value in his information, it's just that with time, I've learned that everyone has a piece of the story, but there is no miracle held by one man or woman. Still, my perspective is if I learn one thing from a lecture, book, person, story, it was well worth it.
That is great advice. I have come to really appreciate any outspoken human, whether an author that just puts it on paper or a voice that questions this looney narrative, they are pushing so hard, for folks to believe.
Thank you so much for what you write, for your strength and clarity. I can't really explain how much your words have meant to me over the last several years... I farm, so that is how it started... your insta game is epic (glad its back) but to follow your journey here now too and to know what you have shared with all of us over the last year... I don't know. It just hits me squarely in my "human". You are so generous, so giving, so intelligent and articulate. I do with your works what you do with the new episodes of Dark Horse... I stop everything and read. I've compared you to Wendell Berry before, and I know you feel unworthy of that, but nowhere have I seen or felt the same kind of power and wisdom in words. I read "The Unsettling of America" in my early 20's and it set me on the path I am on today. You too are impacting my thoughts and actions, reminding me of what is important and what is worth fighting for. But most importantly, your writing reminds me to pay attention.. to be aware and receptive. It's always a gift.
Hi Joe. Your comment touches me so deeply. Thank you. It's always a bit of a stretch for me to just keep writing and sharing from my heart and not put any weight on a "theme". I feel so stifled by sticking to one message. I know that means that some people, just wanting me to talk about raising cows or cooking traditional foods find it distracting, or down right horrifying, when I start talking about death or family or marriage. I get that, but it's me. It's so affirming to hear from you that what I share hits you squarely in your "human". Wow, there it is, exactly why I try to be as honest and vulnerable as I can in my writing. That's what I want, to just be human, to communicate with humans, to be okay with being flawed. Thank you for telling me that I get that right sometimes.
I am so deeply moved and grateful that you shared your words with me. Thank you for your kindness. It arrived at a wonderful time. xo
So grateful to have found you. Starting a small farm here in Florida at 30 years old with my Husband and two girls. Looking forward to failing forward and learning as we go. Your input and lessons learned will help us for years to come. Right now we cannot hardly afford our mortgage but I would love to have access to the paid portion. I will be thrilled to pay once we are financially stable again. If you are still willing to donate I would be so blessed to have access any more of your well earned knowledge. youneybrittany1@gmail.com
Thank you for your essay on life and death. I am disabled with Grand Mal seizures that have almost taken my life twice. I was in between crossing over and heard God say “do not fear I will walk you out the other side” with beautiful white everywhere. Such a strong and calming voice. I have never feared death again since that day the first time and then once more when I woke in the ICU with only memory’s of that space in between with a nurse telling me they almost lost me. I now embrace it. You captured life and deaths Union in that essay so beautifully! Thank you!
What a beautiful experience, Brittany. Thank you for sharing that with me. To have peace around death has truly been one the most profound and meaningful work of my life. It requires presence and humility, both of which I think are lacking in our culture.
Gift subscription is done. You should have it. Also, you might want to modify your comment just to remove your email so some bot doesn't find it and harass you. My love to you and your family and congratulations on your farm.❤️❤️❤️
Thank You so very much for gifting me with your knowledge and insight! I am so excited to read even more of your beautiful writings. Your essays have also gave me the courage to start explaining the process of the meat we eat as well as how we would harvest our chickens when the time comes. She is four and already grasping it more than most adults, thank God. One way that really helped was pointing out and watching with her that very hen taking the life of a larger infect for a meal. That is protein building blocks for the bird that will eventually become protein building blocks for our family.
Thank you for your beautiful and inspiring writing Tara! I am a new substack subscriber and have enjoyed every post. I just saw your Instagram stories about the "resurgence" of HIV and wanted to recommend a book I'm reading right now: Why We Will Never Win the War on AIDS. It's fascinating and I wish everyone would read it, especially those who want to know more about just how deep the corruption and lies go in science today. It was published in 1994 but is still so relevant and explains very well what is happening now. My husband has been very interested in HIV and noticing little connections being made between it and C over the last two years, so it's interesting to see it becoming more prominent now. He wonders if good ol' science will come to "save us all!!!" and cure both of these things which may never have existed in the first place (at least not in the way we thought), reaffirming the general publics' belief in the experts and pharma. Anyway, it's all so interesting and there is much to learn. The book is very difficult to find in print for a decent price but you can get it online here: https://archive.org/details/whywewillneverwi0000elli/ and it looks like a print version for only $30 here, though I've never bought from this site so can't verify: https://www.cutcat.com/item/Why_We_Will_Never_Win_The_War_on_Aids/641
If you're ever looking for another thing to write about... I'd love to hear about how you find balance with the use of technology & social media. I really struggle with it despite having good self control in other areas of my life. In the past I've had to completely deactivate my accounts to break the cycle of checking and scrolling throughout the day. My husband and I farm full time so are home all the time, and when I am not using social media or the internet as much I feel happier and less distracted but also isolated and a little out of the loop. I'd be so interested to hear your thoughts on this and how you manage it.
Thank you for that recommendation, Amanda. I think I heard about this book a few years ago. I just ordered it from the cutcat site. I will keep my fingers crossed that it's legitimate.
I always feel so much happier when I don't use the computer, too. I can definitely write about some things that helped me, but the most profound has been the book "Deep Work". It has taught me a way to structure my days in a way that is so fulfilling. I resisted at first because it looked too regimented, but with time, it became so wonderful to be using my time as I had planned. We have been using bullet journals for years now, couldn't live without them. But adding in the Deep Work structure has been honestly life changing, curating my time to be productive when I need to be and to build in all of the things that are of value to me, and of course, pre-planning the duration and time of the addictive computer. If you try it, I would love to hear how it worked for you.
Thank you Tara! Ordering the book now and moving it to the top of my list. I used to be religious about using a bullet journal in college years ago but haven't found a way to fit it into my farm routine. I'm going to try again - I'll let you know how it goes. :-)
I forgot to include this documentary in my comments about HIV, really enjoyed it: https://vimeo.com/28934768
It features the main players in the discovery of HIV including Montagnier which is timely.
I am also a Dark Horse listener. I don’t always agree with Brett and Heather, but I love how they are bold in their questioning and carefully critical in their thinking.
For TV we too love "All Creatures Great and Small", such a fun show for our whole family. We started to get into "When Calls the Heart" series, it's actually filmed in Canada and is a frontier town story with all the sweet happenings of the small town and all the feel good kindness and endings, our children age 4-16 and my husband and I enjoy it. An easy, happy watch or simpler and more honest times.
Thank you for sharing this essay, so wonderful. I too am an avid non-fiction reader and it's hard to make myself read fiction. I did however love "The Guernsey and Literary Potato Peel Society" set during the German occupation of the island of Guernsey in WWII and it's a story told in the format of letters to one another on the island during that time. It has a funny mirroring of what's happening now with curfews etc. I also loved "Hannah Coulter" by Wendell Berry. It hit so deeply as a mother to read how she reflects back on her life, so many good nuggets in there. I'm currently digging into all things Ray Peat and Morley Robbins for the non-fiction and drooling over GeorgiesGarden meals on IG, and anything to do with healing SIBO, the gut is always fascinating.
I just wanted to thank you for your words. They are always a tonic to whatever fears or just tiredness are lingering about my periphery. (I’m a first time mama to my now 6 month old! It’s been a ride..)
My husband and I listened to your last “you asked” instalment in the car the other day coming back to my parents house in London, in the UK from the farm in the Cotswolds that we have been living and working on the past Spring and Summer. We work in the market garden, me doing the propagation, and my husband running the gardens with our friend who started the business. The garden is “no-dig” or “no-till” as it might be called where you are. There is a tending to as many mouths as possible, the mycorrhizal fungi, microbes, insects, etc. prior to the veg ending in our own gobs. The soil is so magical, every new thing I learn amazes me. It’s such a blessing to be able to live within moments of that wonder, to keep a fresh mind, for the overlooked to become crisp and golden. I’ve started a book recommended to me by a mentor “For the love of soil” by Nicole Masters. It’s been very interesting so far- I thought you may enjoy. Also re: books.. Have you read Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer? Such a poetic, and teaching book. She also reads it very wonderfully as an audiobook. Do you listen much to those? Last excited moment of sharing.. do you know much on Quorum Sensing? Thought this could interest you. Hope the amount of questions doesn’t discourage you from replying, ha.
Listening to your podcast made us feel so much less alone. We are young farmers and parents, 23 and 24, and though we have scattered friends both similar and further in age than us, it can often feel lonely. As though you are the crazy one for wanting to live a life stripped back, a life loved and lived, not suspended waiting for real life to begin. You have motivated us to be better. We are trying to be as self sufficient as possible, and reading your work has forced me to hold myself more accountable. In your words and what I perceive as your lifestyle I find elements of my own dreams and my own pondering either unsaid or before unknown. This year we are taking our health seriously, we knew this mattered before, but struggled to apply it fully to our lives, as many do.
If you have the space for us we would love to access the paid subscription. Money is tight as we work towards making our unfinished shepherds hut from a house to a home! No worries if not of course!
Anyway this is just a long winded message to say thanks for being you and that it feels as though we have a friend and mentor all those miles away. Digital hugs..
P.s do you ever feel constrained with this medium as messenger? Sometimes I wish to completely isolate myself from screens, but then get so much and learn so much from certain bits and bobs such as your blog, podcasts, audiobooks etc.. how do you cultivate mindful screen use?
Thank you for your lovely message and congratulations on the new life that has joined yours. What a wonderful time in your lives! I feel like I just read a letter from a friend.
I have the book, "Braiding Sweetgrass", but I have avoided reading it for now. I tried to stay away from books with similar thought sharing to mine as I work on my book. I so love reading and learning from other people, but while I write, I want what comes to me to be carried in on raven's wings and wind-song, not other people's words. I look forward to reading it in the future.
I do not know what Quorum Sensing is. No, I don't listen to audio books much, but now that my library lets me, I might just start. My crafty meditation is rug hooking. I'm working on a night sky right now, often after dinner by the fire. Sometimes I like silence. Sometimes I like classical music. Maybe I will try an audio book here and there.
Yes, the screen does constrain. I have been working on a book. I like paper. I like pencils. I usually write my essays on paper first and then put them on a screen. I get sucked into screens like everyone else, but I've gotten better at managing that time. I use the method in "Deep Work" to schedule my days. So, screen time is scheduled. It keeps me on task and much happier. Big hugs to you and your family.
Tara, your post bought me to tears several times. First it was your generosity to offer to those who don't have means, and in these current times, I don't know why but that gesture means so much. And then, i don't know what came next but it's your down to earth, beautiful spirit that I literally connect with when I read your posts. You are so genuine, so whole and so rare. Thank you for sharing all these things with us. It means so much.
Love to hear what you're up to these days and I always come away with a good stack of ideas for what to read/research/ponder next. I've been listening faithfully to Darkhorse since you recommended it back in 2020. I recently binge-listened to the Whose Body Is It podcast over the last few weeks - it delves into some dark territory but it has been a real eye-opener.
Also, I love hearing the little interactions with your animals. I grew up on a hobby farm with horses and goats and chickens and cats and spent the last several years with no pets. A little feral cat adopted us a few months ago (that is, showed up one day like "I live here now" and I said "I guess you do" and that was that) and her little presence in our home is a neverending source of entertainment. My husband thought he didn't like cats and he LOVES her 😂
Housekeeping, by Marilynne Robinson, is a perfect Winter read. And Gilead, by the same author, should follow in the Spring. Both books are about deep + complicated + graceful + mystifying human relationships. Her descriptions of landscapes - and landscapes expressing the passing of time - are so subtle, so specific it takes my breath away. Definitely books meant to be savored.
I loved What Are People For. I just finished The Unsettling of America, and read The World Ending Fire before that.
I have tried to force some fiction on myself for good measure, but I haven't really been able to read anything but non-fiction since the start of this whole "thing". Or watch TV, of any kind. I can't seem to sit still and get lost in that way right now. I don't know why. I used to read fiction books like Americans eat M&Ms. Honestly, just sitting down and writing this, I'm thinking maybe I need to practice allowing myself to get lost in fantasy even when things are uneasy. Okay, journal entry over.
Two favorite recent reads would be: Nourishment by Fred Provenza and Many Lives, Many Masters by Brian Weiss.
Thank you for sharing, Tara :) I've added some of those books to my list.
Oh I loved Nourishment. Brilliant read. I wonder if a call to the stories in fiction books might be a bit of a remedy for these times. Escapism, to be sure, but one that can expand us instead of distract and diminish as is the case with so many unhealthy habits. I don't know, I don't really feel like reading fiction, but I'm forcing myself. We'll see how it goes.
Just listening to Heather and Bret read your letter and talk about you and your husband’s interactions with the truckers. You - and these humble and brave truckers - are the living examples of what Solzhenitsyn wrote about in Live Not By Lies, which I find myself reading over and over.
“And therein we find, neglected by us, the simplest, the most accessible key to our liberation: a personal nonparticipation in lies! Even if all is covered by lies, even if all is under their rule, let us resist in the smallest way: Let their rule hold not through me!”
Thank you. I am blessed to have clear eyes and heart (and to be living in the southeastern US where Covid craziness has been easily ignored) but my sister in Calgary has willingly submitted to what will be the wrong side of history. I pray every day that she wakes up and that God keeps giving you and your fellow patriots the strength to keep going.
Thank you so much for your beautiful words of support. And thank you for writing out the brilliant words of Solzhenitsyn. His wisdom is in such dire need of being heard and shared and lived in this time.
I know many like your sister, many families that have been destroyed by the lies and division of our so-called leaders. All we can do is stand for what we believe in with love and courage. I won't do anything less.
Thank you, Angela and thanks for the great recommendations! I'm very intrigued by the Deliberate Dumbing Down of America. What are your thoughts on it so far?
I love the book. It’s essentially a paper trail that Charlotte Iserbyt has found through some serious research. It includes transcripts from meetings, pamphlets created etc. The author writes very little. It’s all just bits and pieces from different sources. It starts in the thirties and goes through the nineties. But it’s very illuminating. I have homeschooled since my daughter was in first grade (now 7th). And if she was in public school I would pull her out based on this book.
I know you get this a lot but your words are beautiful. I hope you continue to bless us all with your words and thoughts and contribute to share your wisdom.
Hi Tara. I love hearing your voice in the morning hours. Above the Arctic Circle, as you can imagine, the nature is always close but the sun is back and has starten to brighten up our days again. You have been my sun this winter, thank you.
I've got a teacher here. An older man with a great mind. I'm trying your approach: finding mentors from whom you can learn and observe. He's a former war surgeon in the Middle East, but spent a lot of his time on learning from and staying with the locals and the nomads. He challenges my mind, and creates a good space for developing my mind in many ways.
Currently, he has lent me the book "Representations of the Intellectual" by Edward W. Said, and I would solely pass on this recommendation to you. And if you do read in French, I would look in to Michel Onfray. My personal favorite is "Theorie du Voyage".
Thank you for what you do. You give me hope for the future.
Your comment made me a little misty. What a beautiful thing to read. Thank you for sharing the story of this man who is sharing things that are meaningful to him with you. That you are there to accept his knowledge is such a kindness.
Where do you live? I will look at that book. Thank you for the recommendation, Kine.
Thanks for sharing Tara! I just wanted to say, I grew up with horses and I too loved just being with them watching them eat, listening to them rip the grass and chewing. Glad I’m not the only one ❤️
Have you read, We Want to Live! By Aajonus Vonderplanitz. That is where I am and my goodness...I can't put it down. He was a healer, truther, nature lover. He healed all his clients through a primal raw diet. His story is amazing. I don't want to ruin it but he healed himself of cancer (along with 240 other cancer clients) and the story of him trying to save his son (in a coma with brain damage after a horrendous car accident) is breathtaking. It has recipes (most all recipes are based with unsalted raw butter, and unheated raw honey) and instructions in detail for any type of ailment you think of. He goes in to detail about raw meat having living enzymes that the conspiracy of why "they" made it unheard of to even touch raw meat, let alone eat it. I find it interesting that it is over 1000$ on amazon but there is a website that I bought the pdf from for 30$. I do wish I had the actual book. Anyway, I think you would enjoy it if you haven't already. Much Love, Casie (Indiana, U.S.)
Hi Casie, your enthusiasm is contagious! :). I read that book about twenty years ago now. It was a big hit in the fringe circles I was in (the raw milk, animal food heretics club). :) I have known two people that had cancer that used this diet, religiously, and both passed away. It doesn't mean that there isn't value in his information, it's just that with time, I've learned that everyone has a piece of the story, but there is no miracle held by one man or woman. Still, my perspective is if I learn one thing from a lecture, book, person, story, it was well worth it.
That is great advice. I have come to really appreciate any outspoken human, whether an author that just puts it on paper or a voice that questions this looney narrative, they are pushing so hard, for folks to believe.
Now I want to read this! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for what you write, for your strength and clarity. I can't really explain how much your words have meant to me over the last several years... I farm, so that is how it started... your insta game is epic (glad its back) but to follow your journey here now too and to know what you have shared with all of us over the last year... I don't know. It just hits me squarely in my "human". You are so generous, so giving, so intelligent and articulate. I do with your works what you do with the new episodes of Dark Horse... I stop everything and read. I've compared you to Wendell Berry before, and I know you feel unworthy of that, but nowhere have I seen or felt the same kind of power and wisdom in words. I read "The Unsettling of America" in my early 20's and it set me on the path I am on today. You too are impacting my thoughts and actions, reminding me of what is important and what is worth fighting for. But most importantly, your writing reminds me to pay attention.. to be aware and receptive. It's always a gift.
Hi Joe. Your comment touches me so deeply. Thank you. It's always a bit of a stretch for me to just keep writing and sharing from my heart and not put any weight on a "theme". I feel so stifled by sticking to one message. I know that means that some people, just wanting me to talk about raising cows or cooking traditional foods find it distracting, or down right horrifying, when I start talking about death or family or marriage. I get that, but it's me. It's so affirming to hear from you that what I share hits you squarely in your "human". Wow, there it is, exactly why I try to be as honest and vulnerable as I can in my writing. That's what I want, to just be human, to communicate with humans, to be okay with being flawed. Thank you for telling me that I get that right sometimes.
I am so deeply moved and grateful that you shared your words with me. Thank you for your kindness. It arrived at a wonderful time. xo
Beautiful comment, Joe!
So grateful to have found you. Starting a small farm here in Florida at 30 years old with my Husband and two girls. Looking forward to failing forward and learning as we go. Your input and lessons learned will help us for years to come. Right now we cannot hardly afford our mortgage but I would love to have access to the paid portion. I will be thrilled to pay once we are financially stable again. If you are still willing to donate I would be so blessed to have access any more of your well earned knowledge. youneybrittany1@gmail.com
Thank you for your essay on life and death. I am disabled with Grand Mal seizures that have almost taken my life twice. I was in between crossing over and heard God say “do not fear I will walk you out the other side” with beautiful white everywhere. Such a strong and calming voice. I have never feared death again since that day the first time and then once more when I woke in the ICU with only memory’s of that space in between with a nurse telling me they almost lost me. I now embrace it. You captured life and deaths Union in that essay so beautifully! Thank you!
What a beautiful experience, Brittany. Thank you for sharing that with me. To have peace around death has truly been one the most profound and meaningful work of my life. It requires presence and humility, both of which I think are lacking in our culture.
Gift subscription is done. You should have it. Also, you might want to modify your comment just to remove your email so some bot doesn't find it and harass you. My love to you and your family and congratulations on your farm.❤️❤️❤️
Thank You so very much for gifting me with your knowledge and insight! I am so excited to read even more of your beautiful writings. Your essays have also gave me the courage to start explaining the process of the meat we eat as well as how we would harvest our chickens when the time comes. She is four and already grasping it more than most adults, thank God. One way that really helped was pointing out and watching with her that very hen taking the life of a larger infect for a meal. That is protein building blocks for the bird that will eventually become protein building blocks for our family.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
May God Continue to Bless Your Family!!!
That's wonderful!
Thank you for your beautiful and inspiring writing Tara! I am a new substack subscriber and have enjoyed every post. I just saw your Instagram stories about the "resurgence" of HIV and wanted to recommend a book I'm reading right now: Why We Will Never Win the War on AIDS. It's fascinating and I wish everyone would read it, especially those who want to know more about just how deep the corruption and lies go in science today. It was published in 1994 but is still so relevant and explains very well what is happening now. My husband has been very interested in HIV and noticing little connections being made between it and C over the last two years, so it's interesting to see it becoming more prominent now. He wonders if good ol' science will come to "save us all!!!" and cure both of these things which may never have existed in the first place (at least not in the way we thought), reaffirming the general publics' belief in the experts and pharma. Anyway, it's all so interesting and there is much to learn. The book is very difficult to find in print for a decent price but you can get it online here: https://archive.org/details/whywewillneverwi0000elli/ and it looks like a print version for only $30 here, though I've never bought from this site so can't verify: https://www.cutcat.com/item/Why_We_Will_Never_Win_The_War_on_Aids/641
If you're ever looking for another thing to write about... I'd love to hear about how you find balance with the use of technology & social media. I really struggle with it despite having good self control in other areas of my life. In the past I've had to completely deactivate my accounts to break the cycle of checking and scrolling throughout the day. My husband and I farm full time so are home all the time, and when I am not using social media or the internet as much I feel happier and less distracted but also isolated and a little out of the loop. I'd be so interested to hear your thoughts on this and how you manage it.
Thank you for that recommendation, Amanda. I think I heard about this book a few years ago. I just ordered it from the cutcat site. I will keep my fingers crossed that it's legitimate.
I always feel so much happier when I don't use the computer, too. I can definitely write about some things that helped me, but the most profound has been the book "Deep Work". It has taught me a way to structure my days in a way that is so fulfilling. I resisted at first because it looked too regimented, but with time, it became so wonderful to be using my time as I had planned. We have been using bullet journals for years now, couldn't live without them. But adding in the Deep Work structure has been honestly life changing, curating my time to be productive when I need to be and to build in all of the things that are of value to me, and of course, pre-planning the duration and time of the addictive computer. If you try it, I would love to hear how it worked for you.
Thank you Tara! Ordering the book now and moving it to the top of my list. I used to be religious about using a bullet journal in college years ago but haven't found a way to fit it into my farm routine. I'm going to try again - I'll let you know how it goes. :-)
I forgot to include this documentary in my comments about HIV, really enjoyed it: https://vimeo.com/28934768
It features the main players in the discovery of HIV including Montagnier which is timely.
Thank you, Amanda.
I just ordered "Deep Work" based on what you shared here. Thank you!
I am also a Dark Horse listener. I don’t always agree with Brett and Heather, but I love how they are bold in their questioning and carefully critical in their thinking.
I never agree fully with anyone, not even myself ;) I like them too. I think they are brilliant and genuine. A good combo in my books.
Yes! And they ask honest questions!
For TV we too love "All Creatures Great and Small", such a fun show for our whole family. We started to get into "When Calls the Heart" series, it's actually filmed in Canada and is a frontier town story with all the sweet happenings of the small town and all the feel good kindness and endings, our children age 4-16 and my husband and I enjoy it. An easy, happy watch or simpler and more honest times.
Thanks for the recommendation, Emily :)
Thank you for sharing this essay, so wonderful. I too am an avid non-fiction reader and it's hard to make myself read fiction. I did however love "The Guernsey and Literary Potato Peel Society" set during the German occupation of the island of Guernsey in WWII and it's a story told in the format of letters to one another on the island during that time. It has a funny mirroring of what's happening now with curfews etc. I also loved "Hannah Coulter" by Wendell Berry. It hit so deeply as a mother to read how she reflects back on her life, so many good nuggets in there. I'm currently digging into all things Ray Peat and Morley Robbins for the non-fiction and drooling over GeorgiesGarden meals on IG, and anything to do with healing SIBO, the gut is always fascinating.
I loved Hannah Coulter, too. Thank you for the other recommendations, Emily. The Guernsey book sounds very intriguing.
Dearest Tara,
I just wanted to thank you for your words. They are always a tonic to whatever fears or just tiredness are lingering about my periphery. (I’m a first time mama to my now 6 month old! It’s been a ride..)
My husband and I listened to your last “you asked” instalment in the car the other day coming back to my parents house in London, in the UK from the farm in the Cotswolds that we have been living and working on the past Spring and Summer. We work in the market garden, me doing the propagation, and my husband running the gardens with our friend who started the business. The garden is “no-dig” or “no-till” as it might be called where you are. There is a tending to as many mouths as possible, the mycorrhizal fungi, microbes, insects, etc. prior to the veg ending in our own gobs. The soil is so magical, every new thing I learn amazes me. It’s such a blessing to be able to live within moments of that wonder, to keep a fresh mind, for the overlooked to become crisp and golden. I’ve started a book recommended to me by a mentor “For the love of soil” by Nicole Masters. It’s been very interesting so far- I thought you may enjoy. Also re: books.. Have you read Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer? Such a poetic, and teaching book. She also reads it very wonderfully as an audiobook. Do you listen much to those? Last excited moment of sharing.. do you know much on Quorum Sensing? Thought this could interest you. Hope the amount of questions doesn’t discourage you from replying, ha.
Listening to your podcast made us feel so much less alone. We are young farmers and parents, 23 and 24, and though we have scattered friends both similar and further in age than us, it can often feel lonely. As though you are the crazy one for wanting to live a life stripped back, a life loved and lived, not suspended waiting for real life to begin. You have motivated us to be better. We are trying to be as self sufficient as possible, and reading your work has forced me to hold myself more accountable. In your words and what I perceive as your lifestyle I find elements of my own dreams and my own pondering either unsaid or before unknown. This year we are taking our health seriously, we knew this mattered before, but struggled to apply it fully to our lives, as many do.
If you have the space for us we would love to access the paid subscription. Money is tight as we work towards making our unfinished shepherds hut from a house to a home! No worries if not of course!
Anyway this is just a long winded message to say thanks for being you and that it feels as though we have a friend and mentor all those miles away. Digital hugs..
P.s do you ever feel constrained with this medium as messenger? Sometimes I wish to completely isolate myself from screens, but then get so much and learn so much from certain bits and bobs such as your blog, podcasts, audiobooks etc.. how do you cultivate mindful screen use?
Dear Fery,
Thank you for your lovely message and congratulations on the new life that has joined yours. What a wonderful time in your lives! I feel like I just read a letter from a friend.
I have the book, "Braiding Sweetgrass", but I have avoided reading it for now. I tried to stay away from books with similar thought sharing to mine as I work on my book. I so love reading and learning from other people, but while I write, I want what comes to me to be carried in on raven's wings and wind-song, not other people's words. I look forward to reading it in the future.
I do not know what Quorum Sensing is. No, I don't listen to audio books much, but now that my library lets me, I might just start. My crafty meditation is rug hooking. I'm working on a night sky right now, often after dinner by the fire. Sometimes I like silence. Sometimes I like classical music. Maybe I will try an audio book here and there.
Yes, the screen does constrain. I have been working on a book. I like paper. I like pencils. I usually write my essays on paper first and then put them on a screen. I get sucked into screens like everyone else, but I've gotten better at managing that time. I use the method in "Deep Work" to schedule my days. So, screen time is scheduled. It keeps me on task and much happier. Big hugs to you and your family.
Tara, your post bought me to tears several times. First it was your generosity to offer to those who don't have means, and in these current times, I don't know why but that gesture means so much. And then, i don't know what came next but it's your down to earth, beautiful spirit that I literally connect with when I read your posts. You are so genuine, so whole and so rare. Thank you for sharing all these things with us. It means so much.
Well now you're making me misty. Thank you for seeing such beautiful things in me and so generously sharing that. I am touched by your kindness.
Love to hear what you're up to these days and I always come away with a good stack of ideas for what to read/research/ponder next. I've been listening faithfully to Darkhorse since you recommended it back in 2020. I recently binge-listened to the Whose Body Is It podcast over the last few weeks - it delves into some dark territory but it has been a real eye-opener.
Also, I love hearing the little interactions with your animals. I grew up on a hobby farm with horses and goats and chickens and cats and spent the last several years with no pets. A little feral cat adopted us a few months ago (that is, showed up one day like "I live here now" and I said "I guess you do" and that was that) and her little presence in our home is a neverending source of entertainment. My husband thought he didn't like cats and he LOVES her 😂
Oh, I just love that you listened to that little feral cat. What did you name her?
I keep meaning to listen to "Whose Body Is It". Thank you for the reminder, I'm off to download.
We named her Beatrice, after Dante's guide into paradise 😂 she has been a trip into hilarity, if not quite paradise...
Haha, love it! You do know that the best cow in the world is named Beatrice and happens to be living on my farm?
I did not know this but it delights me to find out!! I'm glad that her name is in good company!
Housekeeping, by Marilynne Robinson, is a perfect Winter read. And Gilead, by the same author, should follow in the Spring. Both books are about deep + complicated + graceful + mystifying human relationships. Her descriptions of landscapes - and landscapes expressing the passing of time - are so subtle, so specific it takes my breath away. Definitely books meant to be savored.
Gorgeous descriptions. Thank you, Genevieve.
I loved What Are People For. I just finished The Unsettling of America, and read The World Ending Fire before that.
I have tried to force some fiction on myself for good measure, but I haven't really been able to read anything but non-fiction since the start of this whole "thing". Or watch TV, of any kind. I can't seem to sit still and get lost in that way right now. I don't know why. I used to read fiction books like Americans eat M&Ms. Honestly, just sitting down and writing this, I'm thinking maybe I need to practice allowing myself to get lost in fantasy even when things are uneasy. Okay, journal entry over.
Two favorite recent reads would be: Nourishment by Fred Provenza and Many Lives, Many Masters by Brian Weiss.
Thank you for sharing, Tara :) I've added some of those books to my list.
Oh I loved Nourishment. Brilliant read. I wonder if a call to the stories in fiction books might be a bit of a remedy for these times. Escapism, to be sure, but one that can expand us instead of distract and diminish as is the case with so many unhealthy habits. I don't know, I don't really feel like reading fiction, but I'm forcing myself. We'll see how it goes.
I really like that perspective. Looking forward to more of your reviews.
Just listening to Heather and Bret read your letter and talk about you and your husband’s interactions with the truckers. You - and these humble and brave truckers - are the living examples of what Solzhenitsyn wrote about in Live Not By Lies, which I find myself reading over and over.
“And therein we find, neglected by us, the simplest, the most accessible key to our liberation: a personal nonparticipation in lies! Even if all is covered by lies, even if all is under their rule, let us resist in the smallest way: Let their rule hold not through me!”
Thank you. I am blessed to have clear eyes and heart (and to be living in the southeastern US where Covid craziness has been easily ignored) but my sister in Calgary has willingly submitted to what will be the wrong side of history. I pray every day that she wakes up and that God keeps giving you and your fellow patriots the strength to keep going.
Thank you so much for your beautiful words of support. And thank you for writing out the brilliant words of Solzhenitsyn. His wisdom is in such dire need of being heard and shared and lived in this time.
I know many like your sister, many families that have been destroyed by the lies and division of our so-called leaders. All we can do is stand for what we believe in with love and courage. I won't do anything less.
I love Peak Human. That where I found you!!
I also like the Highwire.
I’m reading the Deliberate Dumbing Down of America. It’s a beast of a book. After that a stack of vaccine books that were recommended.
I have really loved reading Fredrick Backman books. He is a fun read that I think connects with the internal quirky in all people.
Love your writings. I look forward to them and get joy when I see it in my inbox!!
Thank you, Angela and thanks for the great recommendations! I'm very intrigued by the Deliberate Dumbing Down of America. What are your thoughts on it so far?
I love the book. It’s essentially a paper trail that Charlotte Iserbyt has found through some serious research. It includes transcripts from meetings, pamphlets created etc. The author writes very little. It’s all just bits and pieces from different sources. It starts in the thirties and goes through the nineties. But it’s very illuminating. I have homeschooled since my daughter was in first grade (now 7th). And if she was in public school I would pull her out based on this book.
I know you get this a lot but your words are beautiful. I hope you continue to bless us all with your words and thoughts and contribute to share your wisdom.
Hi Tara. I love hearing your voice in the morning hours. Above the Arctic Circle, as you can imagine, the nature is always close but the sun is back and has starten to brighten up our days again. You have been my sun this winter, thank you.
I've got a teacher here. An older man with a great mind. I'm trying your approach: finding mentors from whom you can learn and observe. He's a former war surgeon in the Middle East, but spent a lot of his time on learning from and staying with the locals and the nomads. He challenges my mind, and creates a good space for developing my mind in many ways.
Currently, he has lent me the book "Representations of the Intellectual" by Edward W. Said, and I would solely pass on this recommendation to you. And if you do read in French, I would look in to Michel Onfray. My personal favorite is "Theorie du Voyage".
Thank you for what you do. You give me hope for the future.
Your comment made me a little misty. What a beautiful thing to read. Thank you for sharing the story of this man who is sharing things that are meaningful to him with you. That you are there to accept his knowledge is such a kindness.
Where do you live? I will look at that book. Thank you for the recommendation, Kine.
Thanks for sharing Tara! I just wanted to say, I grew up with horses and I too loved just being with them watching them eat, listening to them rip the grass and chewing. Glad I’m not the only one ❤️
Oh, such a lovely thing to be a part of. xo