
Our Wild Farming Life: Adventures on a Scottish Highland Croft
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Narrated by:
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Lynn Cassells
About this listen
As seen on the BBC’s This Farming Life.
The inspirational story of Lynbreck Croft - a regenerative Scottish farm rooted in local food, community, and the dreams of two women.
Lynn and Sandra left their friends, family, and jobs in England to travel north to Scotland to find a bit of land that they could call their own. They had in mind keeping a few chickens, a kitchen garden, and renting out some camping space; instead, they fell in love with Lynbreck Croft - 150 acres of opportunity and beauty, shrouded by the Cairngorms and deep in the Highlands of Scotland.
But they had no money, no plan, and no experience in farming.
In Our Wild Farming Life, Lynn and Sandra recount their experiences as they rebuild their new home and work out what kind of farmers they want to be. They learn how to work with Highland cattle, become part of the crofting community, and begin to truly understand how they can farm in harmony with nature to produce wonderful food for themselves and the people around them. Through efforts like these, Lynn and Sandra have been able to combine regenerative farming practices with old crofting traditions to keep their own personal values intact.
Our Wild Farming Life is what happens when you follow your dreams of living on the land; a story of how two people became farmers - and how they learned to make a living from it, their way.
©2022 Lynn Cassells and Sandra Baer (P)2022 Chelsea Green Publishing CompanyCritic reviews
"A ripping good account of the guts, luck and perseverance it takes to create a productive and healthy farm or croft that jumps the rails of our conventional industrial agriculture." (Nick Offerman, New York Times best-selling author of Where the Deer and the Antelope Play)
"I raced through this beautiful story with mounting awe and excitement...Pragmatism, honesty and openness to new and old ideas shines through on every page. I hope it inspires legions of new farmers." (Isabella Tree, author of Wilding)
"[This] is a warm yet realistic chronicle of the world of the small-time farmer, sharing a vision of how we humans can feed ourselves sustainably and ethically while living in harmony with the natural world." (Booklist)
Enthralling story
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Our lives moved on but we remained the best of friends for 17 years up until his sudden passing in January 2024.
Audible suggested this book to me at a time where I am missing him so deeply and I would so love to have phoned him to discuss this incredible story.
I worked organic vegetable farming when I returned to work locally and we used boars to till the land.
I sadly got sick 15 years ago which left me unable to return to farming and my heart aches for the calling that lives in my soul.
This book is incredible. The story of love, commitment, ethics, compassion winning over adversity is truly inspiring.
The best part is I live near. I now know of its wonderful existence and I will most definitely be booking on a tour to experience its magic.
I understood and truly felt this book like no other book I have listened to.
Thank you for living out your dream so others may truly benefit from your kindness.
Incredible story!
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Rewilding explained?
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Inspiring and interesting
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I enjoyed this so much!
As someone who has been looking into smallholding for years this gave an even greater insight into the ups and downs and struggles. Even more so personally due to being in the beautiful, yet hard climate, of Scotland where I too took the plunge to make my home years ago.
In my mind every audible book should be read by its author, and this truly makes the case for that as not only is this beautifully read (even putting authorship aside - Lynn please narrate more on audible!), it comes across heartfelt and with the right place an intonation.
The insight and struggles from start to end sign off (for now, hopefully we'll see another 'continued stories' in another few years!) are worthwhile reading for anyone with an interest in food let alone the obvious interest in farming and smallholding/crofting.
This is a story that shows how much effort goes into making food and farming, the struggles of reconciling varying ethical thoughts and idealistic views on what we eat, how it should be produced and how we should care for the land for generations to come with the stark realities of what farming is now subjugated to and the disconnected view of easily accessible and affordable food.
I like how they don't hide how their views evolve when reality sets in through the story but that they bounce back and pivot, ever resourceful, yet clearly showing theirs is not an isolated story.
I even think where we hear of impacts of covid and of taking on too much at times and having to pull back and refocus shows the reality of things too.
This should be on everyone's audible list, and I would argue that this is a book made for audible as hearing it compounds that story.
This feels like a fireside chat with a friend by the end and I know I'll listen again just for my own interests.
Great work all round!
Please give us another update 2-5 years down the line!
Wonderful in every way! Doesn't disappoint!
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must read!
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Loved this
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Challenging but reality
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What a lovely wholesome story, hardworking and dedicated but the envy of most stuck in the rat race. Congratulations ladies
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Honest and interesting
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