Farm city: the education of an urban farmer
(Book)

Book Cover
Average Rating
Published:
New York : Penguin Press, 2009.
Format:
Book
Physical Desc:
276 pages ; 24 cm.
Status:
Description
Novella Carpenter loves cities-the culture, the crowds, the energy. At the same time, she can't shake the fact that she is the daughter of two back-to-the-land hippies who taught her to love nature and eat vegetables. Ambivalent about repeating her parents' disastrous mistakes, yet drawn to the idea of backyard self-sufficiency, Carpenter decided that it might be possible to have it both ways: a homegrown vegetable plot as well as museums, bars, concerts, and a twenty-four-hour convenience mart mere minutes away. Especially when she moved to a ramshackle house in inner-city Oakland and discovered a weed-choked, garbage-strewn abandoned lot next door. She closed her eyes and pictured heirloom tomatoes, a beehive, and a chicken coop. What started out as a few egg-laying chickens led to turkeys, geese, and ducks. Soon, some rabbits joined the fun, then two 300-pound pigs. And no, these charming and eccentric animals weren't pets; she was a farmer, not a zookeeper. Novella was raising these animals for dinner. Novella Carpenter's corner of downtown Oakland is populated by unforgettable characters. Lana (anal spelled backward, she reminds us) runs a speakeasy across the street and refuses to hurt even a fly, let alone condone raising turkeys for Thanksgiving. Bobby, the homeless man who collects cars and car parts just outside the farm, is an invaluable neighborhood concierge. The turkeys, Harold and Maude, tend to escape on a daily basis to cavort with the prostitutes hanging around just off the highway nearby. Every day on this strange and beautiful farm, urban meets rural in the most surprising ways. For anyone who has ever grown herbs on their windowsill or tomatoes on their fire escape, or who has obsessed over the offerings at the local farmers' market, Carpenter's story will capture your heart. And if you've ever considered leaving it all behind to become a farmer outside the city limits or looked at the abandoned lot next door with a gleam in your eye, consider this both a cautionary tale and a full-throated call to action. Farm City is an unforgettably charming memoir, full of hilarious moments, fascinating farmers' tips, and a great deal of heart. It is also a moving meditation on urban life versus the natural world and what we have given up to live the way we do.
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Location
Call Number
Status
Ivoryton Adult Nonfiction
630.91 CAR
In Transit
New London Adult Non Fiction
630.9173
On Shelf
Wallingford Adult Nonfiction
630.9173 CARPENTER
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More Details
Street Date:
0906
Language:
English
ISBN:
9781594202216, 1594202214

Notes

General Note
Includes index.
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Citations
APA Citation (style guide)

Carpenter, N. (2009). Farm city: the education of an urban farmer. New York, Penguin Press.

Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation (style guide)

Carpenter, Novella, 1972-. 2009. Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer. New York, Penguin Press.

Chicago / Turabian - Humanities Citation (style guide)

Carpenter, Novella, 1972-, Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer. New York, Penguin Press, 2009.

MLA Citation (style guide)

Carpenter, Novella. Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer. New York, Penguin Press, 2009.

Note! Citation formats are based on standards as of July 2022. Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy.
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Grouped Work ID:
0baf1c5b-510a-3c44-773c-aea70c5614aa
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Record Information

Last Sierra Extract TimeMar 20, 2024 07:54:23 PM
Last File Modification TimeMar 20, 2024 07:55:00 PM
Last Grouped Work Modification TimeMar 27, 2024 10:22:24 PM

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