Nature Prevails
I just finished reading the Overstory by Richard Powers, who won the Pulitzer Prize for this book. It is an incredible novel. The backstory is all about trees. How trees communicate, graze the world with vastly different breeds and have been here for longer than any of us have.
On top of the trees lies the story of a variety of individuals who we learn about from childhood and their connections to the trees. As the story unfolds, these individuals end up rebelling against the destruction of our climate. Yet, the trees always prevail. The writing is extremely layered yet the story moves along at a solid pace.
While reading this book I saw the movie Biggest Little Farm. It has won multiple awards at film festivals. It is the story of a couple living in Santa Monica who took in a pound dog that barked at all hours of the day and night. They decided to bag city living, buy a farm and change their lives. Good news is that they had the wherewithal to document this over less than ten years. It is an incredible story about land.
They bought a piece of land with zero farming being done north of Calabasas in Southern California. Over the course of eight years they bring this piece of land into a place where it has become the most gorgeous farm through circular agriculture using all side products in the production chain.
It takes eight years for a farm to return the earth into something fertile. At first they planted, then they realized they could sell their eggs, then coyotes came and kill the hens but overtime they figure out they all can live together in harmony because each animal is part of the equation to build a working functioning beautiful farm. It is quite incredible to watch the 8 year transformation over the course of an hour and a half.
Slowly we are making changes for the planet and we all wonder is it too late? As an optimist, I believe that we will figure it out. That is what humans do. The trees have survived thousands of years so life will certainly continue on earth but might not be what it is today. Then I see the farmers behind the Apricot Farm and think that the earth is much more layered and capable than we realize. A very worthy read and see.
Comments (Archived):
Yup, regenerative agriculture, biodynamic farming, biodiversity in crops are all things surfacing today, which is goodness. I’ve been participating in a small way through my natural wine community which is all about biodiverse farming for a decade now.
Read the book and see the movie. Still thinking about both
Thanks for the tip. Will do.My hero/mentor/friend who has spent her life educating around this is Isabelle Legeron.http://www.isabellelegeron….Fascinating women, successful entrepreneur, founder of the world-wide Raw Faires.
I’ve got the book in my backpack! We’re in the process of re-wilding our property in East Hampton. Even the small amount of time we’ve been doing it, all sorts of plants and critters and butterflies and bugs have resurfaced. It’s magic and the process makes me feel so close to place. It’s a journey into home that is magnificent!
See my Instagram. My grandfather was in the USFS and ran Superior National Forest at the end. I have a cabin on a wilderness lake. The forest is quiet and sneaks up on you. Sometimes huge trees just get tired and fall over. Amazingly pedestrian and stunningly beautiful. Peaceful too
Just noted it for the next round of book club selections. 512 pages is long…but seems worthy given your review, the Pulitzer and myriad enthusiasm by Amazoners.
Great convo to be had