Down on the farm - the pick of the crop of farming memoirs and stories

Under a Big Skyby Tim Saunders

Tim Saunders writes about his life and work on the farm that's been in his family for five generations. There's drought, farming during lockdown, illness, financial pressure and the drive to become more environmentally friendly. Woven throughout is Tim's love of, and respect for, the land, animals and the environment. He describes how farming is intertwined with the weather, how the weather has changed, how the changes affect farmers and what they are doing to counteract this. With the impact of climate change there is a need to change farming practices. Like other farmers Tim and his family are closely studying their farming system, deciding what needs to be done to survive, and how to work within the environment while feeding an ever-growing population.

Life on Fodder Farm by Rebecca Stewart

In 2020 the Stewart family left their tiny village home to move to a remote homestead deep in the middle of Central North Island. Life on Fodder Farm is their journey through a year living off and with the land. Each season brings changes to their lives, a fresh focus of what needs to be done on their small off-grid homestead. The remote rugged landscape connects them to nature and leads them down the natural farming pathway. But they also find the natural lifestyle means nourishing food, homecare and body care all become elements they can produce at home. Both a source of inspiration and a practical guide to simple living and reducing our impact on the land, you will find advice on growing and using your own vegetables, keeping chickens and other animals, upcycling and DIY projects.

Farm - the making of a Climate Activist by Nicola Harvey

For years we've been told that the food system is destroying the planet. That there are too many cows and tractors, too much fertiliser, too much waste, and that farmers and food manufacturers are polluting our atmosphere. But we've also been told that food can help save us from the worst of global warming. How can it be both destroyer and saviour?

A Farming Life by Liz Harfull

A Farming Life shares the uplifting stories of women from six rural families as their resilience is tested by personal loss, illness, fractured relationships, natural disasters and the challenges that come with working in a traditionally male-dominated world.
These women are all hands-on farmers - in fact, most are responsible for managing their own farms - and their defiance, tenacity and genuine humility shines through, as does their hope for the next generation of young women already lining up to follow in their footsteps.
Skilfully woven together by veteran storyteller Liz Harfull, these accounts are heartwarming and powerful examples of resilience in action, at a time when many of us are searching for inspiration.

The Farmer's Wife by Helen Rebanks

This beautifully-illustrated memoir, which takes place across one day at the farm, offers a chance to think about where our food comes from and who puts it on the table. Helen's recipes, lists and gentle wisdom helps us to get through our days, whatever they throw at us. For more about the farm work side of life on their fellside property, check out books by husband James Rebanks.

Two Shakes of a Lambs Tail by Danielle Hawkins

Two Shakes of a Lamb's Tail is the funny, illuminating diary of a year in the life of a New Zealand farm vet.

With a husband and two children, 1200 sheep and 400 cattle, farm dogs and pet lambs, pigs bent on excavation and a goat bent on escape, country life is never dull. From calving cows to constipated dogs, weddings to weaning lambs, daffodils to ducklings to droughts, each season brings new challenges and delights. Sometimes it's exhausting but it's almost always a lot of fun - anyway, it's all part and parcel of the life of a Kiwi mother, farmer's wife and vet

Tools for the Top Paddock by Kane Brisco

Farmers have to make tough decisions on a daily basis while shouldering a mountain of pressure alone. Good physical health and strength might lead to better all-round resilience, but often farmers are so concerned with doing the right things for their animals that they forget about looking after themselves. What Kane Brisco came to realise is how important 'farm fitness' is to coping with the daily challenges and unpredictability of life on the land.
In Tools for the Top Paddock, Kane shares the experiences that made him almost quit farming, along with the simple methods he developed for dealing with the mental and physical strains of life on the land. He offers advice for people doing it tough, as well as how to build the fitness required to thrive in good times and bad.

For the Love of Farming by Will Young

Farmer Will – otherwise known as Will Young – is the eccentric lamb-tending, dancing farmer who’s rocked TikTok since exploding onto the Internet in 2020. His first TikTok was a 60-second video of lambing set to a pounding techno track and since then his videos have captured various aspects of farm- and family life, living in the countryside and mental health, all accompanied by a funloving Will and his trademark tunes.
In For the Love of Farming, Will reveals the real inner workings of his farm in the beautiful countryside of Buckinghamshire in the UK, season by season.