Merge Farm!
Games
App
Welcome to the world of Merge Farm! the newest farming and merge game from Gram Games. Merge Farm!...
A Biodynamic Manual: Practical Instructions for Farmers and Gardeners
Pierre Masson, Vincent Masson and Monique Blais
Book
For anyone already practicing, or turning to, biodynamic gardening and farming methods, numerous...
How to Become a First Generation Farmer
Book
This book is written for the first generation farmer but at the same time will appeal to a much...
Diddly Sqaut
Book
Welcome to Clarkson's farm. An idyllic spot offering picturesque views across the Cotswolds,...
Story of Seasons
7.5
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Video Game
A farming simulation game where you join a town with others farmers. You can compete to gain extra...
Janeeny (200 KP) rated English Pastoral in Books
Sep 7, 2021
Rebanks takes us through the journey of three generations on the farm in three parts. The first part talks about his childhood on the farm and his grandfather teaching him the ways of the land. The second part is Rebanks in his twenties, he’s experienced modern farming overseas and has ideas on how to move the farm forward, this includes using chemicals to protect the crops and enhance the livestock. Part three is Rebank’s time on the farm and their realisation that all they’ve been doing to keep up with modern farming has actually been having a counterproductive event.
It is a story of hope, a farming family brought to the brink of collapse that realise, in time, the real way forward can sometimes be backwards.
There is just too much goodness in this book to cover it all here. It’s beautifully written, it’s heartfelt and evocative. It pulls you into the pages, and I could have quite happily stayed living on that hardworking little farm on the fells.
There are some charming little anecdotes in this book, and the reverence with which Rebanks tells them is palpable. Rebanks is acutely aware of the contrast in farming techniques and frequently draws comparisons. From his grandfather gently moving a nest from one part of a field he’s cutting back (then moving in back again), to modern-day combines just hacking their way through a field regardless of the wildlife within.
This also re-affirms his grandfathers earlier statement that modern-day farmers sitting up in the cabs of their tractors have lost touch with the land.
This modern-way of farming doesn’t quite sit right with Rebanks and his father, they know that something is not quite right with the way they do things, but what else can they do to keep up with modern demands. The pivotal moment comes when Harry passes away. Harry is a local farmer of the same generation as Redbank’s grandfather, he’s stayed connected to the land and hasn’t gone in for all these modern ways. Another farmer who plans to buy the land gets the soil tested (in anticipation of what nutrients he may have to put into it) the soil inspector explains that the soil is healthy. In fact, it’s some of the best soil he’s ever seen.
This is when Rebanks begins to realise that the farmers themselves are the problem with the land. The ultimate irony that the very people who are supposed to be caring for the land are also the ones slowly destroying it.
Not only is this an exquisite little memoir, it is also a lesson on looking after the land. Rebanks lays it out as it is; in cold hard detail, this is what happened this is what he did about it. There is no preaching, but if we’re lucky we’ll learn something from it
Mo (66 KP) rated Agricola in Tabletop Games
Jul 31, 2018
Can have some funny exchanges on what to do especially when you have a player say they are buying themselves some kids.
Would love to see how the expansions change the game play.
Cows and Catastrophes: The Flights and Fancies of a Cornish Dairy Farmer
Brindley Hosken and Rory Walker
Book
Cows and Catastrophes includes tales of author Brindley Hosken's 40 years of farming on the...
China's Agrarian Transition: Peasants, Property, and Politics
Book
More than thirty years ago the political turn that brought the dismantling of agricultural...
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated The Hole Opportunity in Books
Nov 14, 2019
This book is a good and well thought out farce in the mould of Tom Sharpe. There are misunderstandings and assumptions galore with a cast of characters designed to cause maximum friction between their personalities. The central concept - farming holes - means that no part of this can be taken seriously and is a delightfully surreal basis for the rest of the story to hang off of.
The book is essentially in three sections; the first concerns the setting up of Griggs Hole Farming and the golf course contract. Following this there are various accusations of attempted murder introducing the characters of the local reporter and various members of the police force. The third section involves the arrival of aristocracy to return the local stately home to its former glory, which requires several holes to be provided for the ornamental ponds.
I found the first and last thirds of the book humourous and witty, plenty of laugh out loud jokes and cringeworthy moments as befits a farce. The middle third I didn't enjoy anywhere near as much. I suspect this was mostly because people being arrested for attempted murder is not a very funny concept, even if the charges are obvouisly completely ridiculous and follow a bizarre series of events and assumptions. But once this part is over the third part returns to the form of the first with some terrific class snobbery and social climbing, the staple of many classic British comedies.
Overall this is an enjoyable book with plenty to recommend it. The middle section dropped a few marks for me