Agriculture and farming Books

Book SynopsisThe incredible Sunday Times No. 1 bestseller from the multi-million copy bestselling author of the phenomenon and 80-week Sunday Times bestselling The Salt Path''Beautiful, a thrill to read . . . you feel the world is a better place because Raynor and Moth are in it'' The Times''Winn''s writing transforms her surroundings and her spirits, her joy coming across clearly in her shimmering prose'' i''A beautiful, luminous and magical piece of writing'' Rachel Joyce, author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry_______''It was the land, the earth, the deep humming background to my very being''In 2016, days before they were unjustly evicted from their home, Raynor Winn was told her husband Moth was dying.Instead of giving up they embarked on a life-changing journey: walking the 630-mile South West Coast Path, living by their wits, determination and love of nature.But all journeys must end and when the couple return to civilisation they find that four walls feel like a prison, cutting them off from the sea and sky that sustained them - that had saved Moth''s life.So when the chance to rewild an old Cornish farm comes their way, they grasp it, hoping they''ll not only reconnect with the natural world but also find themselves once again on its healing path . . ._______''Confirms Raynor as a natural and extremely talented writer with an incredible way with words. This book gives us all what we wanted to know at the end of The Salt Path which is what happened next. So moving, it made me cry . . . repeatedly'' Sophie Raworth, BBC''Brilliant, powerful and touching . . . will connect with anyone who has triumphed over adversity'' Stephen Moss, author and naturalist''Unflinching . . . There is a luminous conviction to the prose'' Observer''Notions of home are poignantly explored . . . wonderful'' GuardianLONGLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE 2021**Nominated for the Holyer an Gof Memoir Award**Praise for The Salt Path''An astonishing narrative of two people dragging themselves from the depths of despair along some of the most dramatic landscapes in the country, looking for a solution to their problems and ultimately finding themselves'' Independent''This is what you need right now to muster hope and resilience . . . a beautiful story and a reminder that humans can endure adversity'' Stylist''The landscape is magical: shapeshifting seas and smugglers'' coves; myriads of sea birds and mauve skies. Raynor writes exquisitely . . . it''s a tale of triumph; of hope over despair, of love over everything'' The Sunday Times''The Salt Path is a life-affirming tale of enduring love that smells of the sea and tastes of a rich life. With beautiful, immersive writing, it is a story heart-achingly and beautifully told'' Jackie Morris, illustrator of The Lost Words by Robert MacfarlaneTrade ReviewHeartening and comforting . . . The nature writing is beautiful and it is a thrill to read. You feel the world is a better place because Raynor and Moth are in it * The Times *Raynor Winn has written a brilliant, powerful and touching account of her life before and after The Salt Path, which, like her astonishing debut, will connect with anyone who has triumphed over adversity * Stephen Moss, author and naturalist *A beautiful, luminous and magical piece of writing * Rachel Joyce, author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry *Written in wise, unflinching, exquisite prose, this is a different kind of journey - into the past, into grief and also into Winn's search for connection. A spiritual journey instead of a physical one, and, for me at least, an even richer one * Rachel Joyce, author of Miss Benson's Beetle *Deeply personal and spiritual in its exploration of the healing qualities of nature . . . Winn's writing transforms her surroundings and her spirits, her joy coming across clearly in her shimmering prose * i *In this unflinching sequel to The Salt Path, nature provides solace against forebodings of mortality . . . there is a luminous conviction to the prose * Observer *To follow Raynor Winn on her songline back to Cornwall is to know how it feels to walk yourself into the land you love and find peace at the end of the journey * Brian Jackman, travel journalist for The Sunday Times *An uplifting, illuminating read * Daily Mirror *Winn's soul-baring honesty and beautifully remembered, touching conversations will take your breath away * BBC Countryfile *Notions of home are poignantly explored . . . Her evocations of weather, landscape, the sea and her love for her partner, Moth, who has an incurable neurodegenerative condition, are wonderful * Guardian *Full of descriptions of dramatic landscapes that make the reader long for the great outdoors . . . an uplifting and illuminating book * Sunday Express *Heart-rending. A love letter to the natural world in all its wondrous glory . . . spellbinding * Herald *Explores the challenge of returning to mainstream life after homelessness * Daily Express, 2020 Hot Reads *The Wild Silence confirms Raynor as a natural and extremely talented writer with an incredible way with words. This book gives us all what we wanted to know at the end of The Salt Path which is what happened next. So moving, it made me cry . . . repeatedly -- Sophie RaworthThis book promises to take you away with the same amazing descriptive and emotive writing found in The Salt Path -- David Atherton, Great British Bake Off Winner 2019 * Waitrose Weekend *Profoundly moving and emotionally transcendent reading * The List *Unflinching . . . Another beautifully poignant read about triumph over adversity, and adjusting to life after immense change * The List *Intimate in feel and ambitious in scope . . . Throughout it all [Winn] retains her faith in the importance of having an almost visceral connection to the land * Observer *This sequel sees the pair trying unsatisfactorily to readjust to normal life before finding ways to reharness nature's healing power * Telegraph *Moving. A must-read for anyone inspired by The Salt Path . . . another thoughtful memoir * Good Housekeeping *The quality of Winn's writing draws us through the story with the same emotional honesty, lyricism and warmth that epitomises The Salt Path * Resurgence & Ecologist *A poignant and passionate, grounded yet uplifting journey of discovery in which we learn what can be found after all seems lost, The Wild Silence is a testament to the transformative power of nature and the fresh hope it nurtures within ourselves * Steven McKenzie, editor of The Big Issue *Picks up the story where Winn's astonishing The Salt Path left off * The New European *Wise, unflinching, exquisite prose -- Rachel JoyceLuminous and touching * Foyles *Raynor Winn's story has become the stuff of legend * Cornwall Life *Writing with such honesty is a trademark of [Winn's] style * The Marshwood Vale Magazine *'9 new books to read this September' * SheerLuxe *Powerful * Writers Forum *Beautiful * Herald *'Country Life Book of the Week' * Country Life *Down to earth yet astonishing . . . touching * This England *So beautifully told * i *

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Book SynopsisPull on your wellies, grab your flat cap and join Jeremy Clarkson in this hilarious and fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the infamous Diddly Squat FarmTHE NO. 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER''Brilliant . . . laugh-out-loud'' Daily Telegraph''Outrageously funny . . . will have you in stitches'' Time Out_________Welcome to Clarkson''s farm.It''s always had a nice ring to it. Jeremy just never thought that one day his actual job would be ''a farmer''.And, sadly, it doesn''t mean he''s any good at it.From buying the wrong tractor (Lamborghini, since you ask . . .) to formation combine harvesting, getting tied-up in knots of red tape to chasing viciously athletic cows, our hero soon learns that enthusiasm alone might not be enough.Jeremy may never succeed in becoming master of his land, but, as he''s discovering, the fun lies in the trying . . ._________''Trade ReviewBrilliant . . . laugh-out-loud * Daily Telegraph *Outrageously funny . . . will have you in stitches * Time Out *Very funny . . . I cracked up laughing on the tube * Evening Standard *

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Book SynopsisTHE NO. 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERHead back down to Clarkson Farm with the bestseller from our favourite welly-wearing wannabe farmer, Jeremy Clarkson___________Enthusiastic trainee farmer Jeremy Clarkson made just 144 in his first year at Diddly Squat Farm. This year he''s determined to do better. Not because he now knows what he''s doing. But because he''s fed up of getting stick from Kaleb.Yet farming continues to be a challenge.For instance . . . Loading a grain trailer was more demanding than flying an Apache gunship? Cows were more dangerous than motor-racing? It''s easier to get planning permission to build a nuclear plant than to turn a barn into a restaurant?Jeremy''s always got a plan. Loads of them. Often cunning.Not always greeted with wild enthusiasm by Kaleb and Cheerful Charlie, however . . .___________PRAISE FOR DIDDLY SQUAT<Trade ReviewIf you want a laugh, it's Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat: 'Til the Cows Come Home . . . The book will keep us going until the next TV series appears. * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING''An honest look at the farming life today. Raw, earthy and inspiring'' - Cal Flyn, author of Islands of Abandonment''A beautifully written, incredibly timely book'' - Clover Stroud, author of My Wild and Sleepless NightsWhen barrister and author Sarah Langford left her city life behind she found herself unexpectedly back in the world of farming. It was not how she remembered. Instead, she saw farmers dealing with very different problems to those faced by her grandfather, considered a hero for having fed a starving nation after war. Now farmers faced accusations of ecological mismanagement by a hostile urban media whilst battling extreme weather and political upheaval. Yet as Sarah learned how to farm and grew closer to the land, she discovered a new generation on a path of regenerative change.In Rooted, Sarah weaves her own story around those who tTrade ReviewEnthralling ... An unignorable call to understand the challenges facing not only farming but the Earth itself. * Spectator *Absorbing, compassionate [and] galvanising. * Guardian *Langford writes so movingly of the countryside and its effect on her heart and her family. * TLS *More than a memoir; Langford manages to contain and convey the whole scale of the coming agricultural revolution. * Daily Telegraph *A refreshing perspective on a overwhelmingly masculine world * Financial Times *Sarah Langford's book on farming is really a book about healing. All of life and death is here: family, politics, nature, climate, history, humanity. Rooted is a beautifully written, powerful reminder of where we've gone wrong, what is at stake, and how we can change. I loved it. * Christie Watson, bestselling author of The Language of Kindness *Rooted offers us an honest look at the farming life today. It is not an easy way to make a living, but through Langford's personal story - and those of who she meets - we appreciate how it offers a connection with the land, and a firmer sense of our place in the world. Raw, earthy and inspiring. * Cal Flyn, author of Islands of Abandonment *Moving, startling, uplifting, galvanising and unsettling, this plainly beautiful book is one of those rare few that changes how you see the world around you: the shape of fields seen from a train, the vegetables in a supermarket chiller cabinet, the earth beneath your feet and falling through your fingers. * Ella Risbridger, author of Midnight Chicken and The Year of Miracles *A beautifully written, incredibly timely book addressing not just where our food comes from and why this matters so much, but also fundamental questions relating to our relationship with the land, and the definition of home. * Clover Stroud, author of My Wild and Sleepless Nights *Heartbreaking and hopeful, this story of a farming revival has never been more important. It opened my eyes and touched my soul * Esther Freud *A magical book of wonderful stories about how farmers think and the challenges they face. It demonstrates that farmers across the country are passionate about producing food and caring for the land. A triumph * Jake Fiennes, author of Land Healer *Rooted is a brave thing: a book that prods into the ever-widening gulf between the binaries we increasingly use to examine the world. As conversations about what we eat and where it comes from reach fever-pitch, Sarah Langford's clear-eyed, inquisitive and passionate plea for farmers and farming offers a vital understanding when it has never been so needed. I hope everyone reads it. * Alice Vincent, author of Rootbound *An eloquent and personal insight into the terrible human as well as environmental cost of cheap food and an inspiring account of the people working to heal our relationship with our habitat and ourselves. Urgent, necessary and moving. * Ben Rawlence, author of The Treeline *A fine book: heartfelt, honest and hopeful. Sarah has the knowledge and skill to help people better understand where their food comes from and why we should all care. * Helen Rebanks *Moving, intimate, tender and searing, this is a gem of a book with deep roots and fresh green shoots. * Tamsin Calidas, author of I Am An Island *A timely and optimistic book, ostensibly about why we need farming to produce food, but more deeply about how farming is done, or could be done. Refreshingly authentic, Rooted gives us a hopeful sense of a regenerative future * Juliet Blaxland, author of The Easternmost House and The Easternmost Sky *Evocative and resonant. These are stories that need to be told. * Andy Cato, Groove Armada and Wildfarmed *Poetically written and filled with compelling data about modern-day farming * Vogue *Where Rooted ploughs its own shining furrow in its humanity ... but also the gathered, inspirational stories of farmers trying to do better and greener. * John Lewis-Stempel *

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Book SynopsisWITH A FOREWORD BY PATRICK BARKHAMAnd an essay by Welsh hill farmer, Dafydd Morris-Jones'One of the great no-holds-barred life-adventures in the wilds of the British landscape.' ADAM NICOLSONWritten on the eve of the Second World War, this memoir tells the remarkable story of how 21-year-old Thomas Firbank decided on impulse to purchase a 2,400-acre hill farm in the rugged, inhospitable mountains of Snowdonia, and how he and his wife struggled to build it back into prosperity. The book became an international bestseller, selling over half-a-million copies worldwide and pioneered the genre of 'good life' rural escape literature. This new edition is introduced with a foreword by the award-winning nature writer, Patrick Barkham, and includes an afterword by contemporary Welsh sheep farmer, Dafydd Morris-Jones.I Bought a Mountain is a thrilling human tale of tragedy and triumph, as well as a portrait of a lost era when farming was a communal endeavour, offering precious insights into conservation and sustainability relevant for today.Trade Review'"There's nothing so fine as courage," Thomas Firbank writes in I Bought a Mountain and that is the motto of the book: challenge after challenge faced, suffered and, in part anyway, relished for its stimulus. One of the great no-holds-barred life-adventures in the wilds of the British landscape. Every page is alive with the presence of the Welsh mountains and and their people, every chapter with the insistent, often beautiful, often savage realities of the natural world.' * Adam Nicolson *'One of the most compelling and successful 20th-century versions of the urge to escape to the country... deeply inspiring... highly pertinent.' * PATRICK BARKHAM *'Extraordinarily relevant... this book could have been written in 2022, with Firbank talking angrily of a country that needed to improve its self-sufficiency... Above all, however, he describes so movingly the privilege of farming this miraculous landscape.' -- Kate Green * Country LIfe *'A delightful book, full of vivid experiences.' * Telegraph *'Vitally convincing and exhilarating.' * OBSERVER *

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Book Synopsis''A lot of those old sayings, ''Red sky at night...'' and so on, are based on real knowledge. Not that red sky at night really does mean shepherd''s delight - the only thing that''s ever going to delight a shepherd is changing their job and not having to work with sheep any more.'' Kaleb Cooper - star of hit TV show Clarkson''s Farm and Sunday Times bestselling author - has been catapulted into the limelight and his new book, Life According to Kaleb, he shares the highs, lows and unexpected adventures of life at Diddly Squat from wrestling with temperamental tractors to dodging the wrath of cantankerous cows and after all that why he still believes he has the best job in the world. Kaleb reveals his true, loveable, funny and down-to-earth self, with deadpan gags and unique observations that will have you crying with laughter. Utterly hilarious, this is Kaleb as you know and love him, telling the story of how he has become one of the

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Book SynopsisOur choices can help alleviate the most pressing issues we face today: the climate crisis, infectious and chronic diseases, human exploitation and, of course, non-human exploitation. Undeniably, these issues can be uncomfortable to learn about but the benefits of doing so cannot be overstated. It is quite literally a matter of life and death. Through exploring the major ways that our current system of animal farming affects the world around us, as well as the cultural and psychological factors that drive our behaviours, This Is Vegan Propaganda answers the pressing question, is there a better way? Whether you are a vegan already or curious to learn more, this book will show you the other side of the story that has been hidden for far too long. Based on years of research and conversations with slaughterhouse workers and farmers, to animal rights philosophers, environmentalists and everyday consumers, vegan educator and public speaker Ed Winters will give you the knowledge to understand the true scale and enormity of the issues at stake. This Is Vegan Propaganda is the empowering and groundbreaking book on veganism that everyone, vegan and sceptic alike, needs to read.Trade ReviewWell-researched introduction to veganism * New Statesman *

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Book SynopsisA revelatory uncovering of a vanished agricultural way of life by bestselling nature writer Sally Coulthard. 'A gem of a book' Country Smallholding 'Engaging and filled with gentle humour and fascinating facts' Get History 'Shows us the beauty and rich history of everyday things' Country Walking Magazine Across the foldyard from Sally Coulthard's North Yorkshire farmhouse, stands an old stone barn. When she discovered a set of witches' marks on one of its internal walls, she began to wonder about the lives of the people who had once lived and worked there. Both the intimate story of a building and its hinterland, and a wider social history, The Barn explores a hidden corner of rural Britain that has witnessed remarkable changes. From the eighteenth-century Enclosures to the Second World War, the fortunes of the Barn have been blown, like a leaf in a gale, by the unstoppable forces of new agriculture and industry. Seismic shifts in almost every area of society were all played out here in miniature – against a backdrop of scattered limestone villages and the softly rolling Howardian Hills.Trade ReviewSally Coulthard's beautiful books have shown us the beauty and rich history of everyday things like sheep, bees, hedgehogs, flowers and snow – and now, the humble barn * Country Walking Magazine *A gem of a book... Not only richly informed about the troubles and tribulations of past lives lived in the shadow of the barn, but of the unstoppable forces of agriculture during a long-gone seismic period of British history -- Country Smallholding[Coulthard] works outwards from small observations and detailed research to create a web of stories, images and ideas about rural history, ancient and modern... This is a history of the 'ordinary' people, peppered with surprising facts and personalised tales * Richmondshire Today *Readable, fascinating... A very human history, focusing on the people whose lives changed over several centuries as times and technology changed around them * Shedworking *Engaging and filled with the gentle humour and fascinating facts that are an integral part of Coulthard's written style * Get History *A thoroughly interesting read * Gazette and Herald *The Dalesman's Recommended Read for February 2022 * The Dalesman *The bestselling author of The Bee Bible uncovers the fascinating history of a North Yorkshire barn from the Enclosures of the eighteenth century to the present day in a masterwork of research and non-fiction storytelling * Waterstones *An affectionate celebration of the enduring charm of rural North Yorkshire and a lost agricultural way of life * Country Living *Author and smallholder Sally Coulthard tracks the history of the ancient stone barn that stands across from her Yorkshire farmhouse and, in turn, the history of the farm, those that have tended it and the country at large across two and a half centuries * Neptune Home *

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Book SynopsisFrom farmer, lawyer and political activist John Klar comes a bold, solutions-based plan for Conservatives that gets beyond the fatuous pipe dreams and social-justice platitudes of the dominant, Liberal “Green” agenda – offering a healthy way forward for everyone. While many on the Left have taken up the mantle of creating a “green” future through climate alarmism, spurious new energy sources and technocratic control, many on the Right continue to deny imminent environmental threats while pushing for unbridled deregulation of our most destructive industrial forces. Neither approach promises a bright future. In a time of soil degradation, runaway pollution, food insecurity and declining human health, the stakes couldn’t be higher, and yet the dominant political voices too often overlook the last best hope for our planet – supporting small, regenerative farmers. In fact, politicians on all sides continue to sell out the interests of small farmers to the devastating power of Big Ag and failed ‘renewable energy’ incentives. It’s time for a new vision. It’s time for bold new agriculture policies that restore both ecosystems and rural communities. In Small Farm Republic, John Klar, an agrarian conservative in the mold of Wendell Berry and Joel Salatin, offers an alternative that puts small farmers, regenerative agriculture and personal liberty at the center of an environmental revival – a message that everyone on the political spectrum needs to hear.Trade Review“I have read at least 20 books a year for the past 25 years and Small Farm Republic is absolutely one of the very best that I have ever read. John Klar describes in great detail the fallacies of the current agricultural production model and the changes that need to be made for the sake of our natural resources and humanity. A must-read not only for those involved in all facets of agriculture but policy makers and consumers as well.”—Gabe Brown, regenerative rancher, author of Dirt to Soil“John Klar makes a strong case in Small Farm Republic that Republicans could use support of small farms as a way to shift the party’s identity toward improving the environment and reducing the dangers of climate change. In the process, he makes a refreshing case for conservative Republicans reclaiming their traditional role in the political mainstream.”—David E. Gumpert, author of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Food Rights“John Klar makes a compelling case for thoughtful Republicans to put aside their differences with Democrats on divisive political issues and to focus on solving the environmental, social, and economic problems caused by today’s corporately controlled, industrial agri-food system. The same case could be made for thoughtful Democrats to join forces with Republications to demand government programs and policies that incentivize and support small-scale, regenerative family farms and locally controlled, community-based food systems. Current US farm and food policies are the work of both Democrats and Republicans, and it will take a bipartisan consumer-taxpayer revolution to change them. Klar’s Small Farm Republic is a clarion call for the revolution to begin.”—John Ikerd, agricultural economist; professor emeritus, University of Missouri; author of Small Farms Are Real Farms

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Book SynopsisOn 'Lady Day', March 1943 a group of Christian pacifists took possession of a vacant farm in Frating, a hamlet on the Essex Tendring Peninsula. There they established a working community, inspired by their association with The Adelphi journal, where D.H.Lawrence, John Middleton Murry, Vera Brittain, Iris Murdoch, George Orwell and others shared ideas for the future with European religious radicals such as Nikolai Berdyaev, Martin Buber and Simone Weil. Frating Hall Farm provided a settlement and livelihood for individuals and families (as well as a temporary sanctuary for refugees and prisoners-of-war), and over time became a successful arable and livestock land-holding of more than 300 acres. Scorned initially by their neighbours for their anti-war views, the Frating community won respect not only through their farming achievements, but having established a touring theatre company and choir, for bringing new life to the villages and churches around them. The lost story of Frating Hall Farm is based on the reminiscences of those who grew up on the farm, together with photographs, letters and organisational records, never before seen or published. The book is a kaleidoscopic history of a farm during its eleven-year occupation, and an enquiry into the passionate religious and political ideals of the back-to-the-land movement in wartime and post-war rural England.

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Book SynopsisIn 1939 the writer Enid Barraud, disillusioned with her city life, left London and went to live in a village in Cambridgeshire, joining what became known as The Women's Land Army, one of thousands of women who worked the land, while war raged overhead and abroad. In her recently rediscovered memoir, Set My Hand Upon The Plough, first published in 1946, Enid writes with remarkable candour and honesty about her life on the farm on the Home Front. Barraud preferred to identify as male, was known to the other farm workers as John, and lived with her female partner. The book now joins the ranks of important LGBT memoirs and casts new light on the lives of men and women who fought or worked for the liberation of Europe. This new edition has an introduction by Luke Turner, author of Out of the Woods and Men at War.

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Book SynopsisAsk the Fellows Who Cut the Hay is a vivid portrait of the rural past of Blaxhall, a remote Suffolk village, in the time before mechanization changed the entire nature of farming, the landscape and rural life for good.

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Book SynopsisA delectable investigation into the foods we have loved to death

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Book Synopsis'Funny, insightful and hugely informative ... a charming book' DAILY MAIL'Tremendous ... We all need to take stock, and this is the ideal starting point. I learnt a lot from this book and laughed a lot too.' ROSAMUND YOUNG, author of The Secret Life of CowsSince highland cattle ransacked his grandmother's vegetable patch when he was six, Roger Morgan-Grenville has been fascinated by cows.So at the age of 61, with no farming experience, he signed on as a part- time labourer on a beef cattle farm to tell their side of the story. The result is this lyrical and evocative book.For 10,000 years, cow and human lives have been intertwined. Cattle have existed alongside us, fed and shod us, quenched our thirst, and provided a thousand other tiny services, and yet most of us know little about them. We are also blissfully unaware of the de-natured lives we often ask them to lead.Part history, part adventure and part unsentimental manifesto for how we should treat cows in the 21st century, Taking Stock asks us to think carefully about what we eat, and to let nature back into food production.Trade ReviewFunny, insightful and hugely informative ... a charming book * Daily Mail *Tremendous ... We all need to take stock, and this is the ideal starting point. I learnt a lot from this book and laughed a lot too. * Rosamund Young, author of The Secret Life of Cows *Stylishly locates the importance of the cow in absolutely everything from finance ... to future food. [A] first-prize rosette for this paean to the wonderful cow, Man's other best friend. * John Lewis-Stempel, Country Life *A lyrical and evocative book * Daily Express *No cow could ever hope for a better appreciation of its truly unique worth. * Betty Fussell, author of Raising Steaks: The Life and Times of American Beef *An epic story told with warmth, wit and humanity. Will make us feel differently about these long-suffering animals. * Graham Harvey, author of Grass-Fed Nation *While this book focuses on UK farming, there is plenty of information that can be appreciated regarding the cow, no matter where one is from. * Booklist *

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisHolistic management is a systems-thinking approach developed by biologist Allan Savory to restore the world's grassland soils and minimize the damaging effects of climate change and desertification on humans and the natural world. This third edition of Holistic Management Handbook: Regenerating Your Land and Growing Your Profits is the long-awaited companion volume to the classic text Holistic Management, Third Edition. Crafted under the direction of Savory's longtime collaborator Jody Butterfield, this handbook is the key to developing a comprehensive holistic land plan based on Savory's principles that will help you to restore health to your land and ensure a stable, sustainable livelihood from its bounty. This new edition, thoroughly revised, updated, and streamlined, explains the planning procedures described in Holistic Management, and offers step-by-step instructions for running a ranch or farm using a holistic management approach. Butterfield and her coauthors describe how to use the handbook in conjunction with the textbook to tailor a management plan for your unique combination of land, livestock, and finances. Their mantra is "plan, monitor, control, and replan." Using a four-part approach, the authors walk readers through basic concepts and techniques, help them put a plan onto paper, monitor the results, and adjust the details as needed. Appendixes provide updated worksheets, checklists, planning and monitoring forms, and detailed examples of typical scenarios a user might encounter. The handbook includes a comprehensive glossary of terms. Ranchers, farmers, pastoralists, social entrepreneurs, government agencies, and NGOs working to address global environmental degradation will find this comprehensive handbook an indispensable guide to putting the holistic management concept into action with tangible results they can take to the bank.Table of ContentsPreface PART 1. Holistic Financial Planning Generating Lasting Wealth Mastering the Basics Creating Your Plan Summary PART 2. Holistic Planned Grazing Getting Animals to the Right Place at the Right Time, with the Right Behavior Mastering the Basics Creating Your Plan Summary PART 3. Holistic Ecological Monitoring Keeping Management Proactive Mastering the Basics Monitoring Your Land Summary PART 4. Holistic Land Planning Designing the Ideal Layout of Facilities for a Grazing Operation Mastering the Basics Creating Your Plan Summary Appendix 1. The Context Checks in Summary Appendix 2. Holistic Financial Planning Forms Appendix 3. Grazing Two or More Herds in the Same Grazing Unit Appendix 4. A More Refined Method for Calculating Grazing Period Adjustment Based on Herd Size Changes Appendix 5. Grazing Planning Forms Appendix 6. Interpreting Your Monitoring: 5 Scenarios Appendix 7. Ecological Monitoring Forms Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisIn 1917 Harry Ferguson developed a method of attaching a wheel-less plough to a tractor to reduce the dangers of the machine overturning. By 1925 the plough was in production in the USA and Ferguson set about developing equipment that would effectively integrate the implement and the tractor.Ferguson teamed up with David Brown to produce the Ferguson-Brown Type A but sales did not meet Harry''s expectations. Following a demonstration of the Ferguson-Brown tractor to Henry Ford, agreement was reached with the Ford Motor Company in the USA to build an improved version of the tractor there. It was launched in 1939 as the Ford-Ferguson 9N. When Ford terminated this arrangement Ferguson entered an agreement with the Standard Motor Company to bring production of what was now described as the Ferguson TE-20, to Britain. The first were built in 1946 and over the next ten years more than 793,000 examples were produced in Britain, France and the USA. With its revolutionary three-point hydraulic linkage, Ferguson had always seen his tractor as part of a complete farming system and by the time the TE-20 was superseded by the FE-35 in 1956, there were more than 100 Ferguson implements designed specifically to couple to the tractor.This is an enlarged and expanded edition, with many new pictures, of the comprehensive history of the TE-20 and the Ferguson System which helped to mechanise and revolutionise farming across the world. Today, with classic tractors a thriving hobby, few machines are more sought after than the TE-20. The book is also a reliable reference guide to finding, restoring and operating the ''little grey Fergie'' some 75 years since the first example was produced.

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Book SynopsisEscape into nature with Matt Baker''s fascinating journey through the natural year and family life on the farm''A delight'' Countryfile Magazine_______Matt Baker finds his calm on the farm.Surrounded by nature with his family, dogs, array of sheep, Mediterranean miniature donkeys and a whole host of wildlife in the farm''s ancient woodland, Matt shows us how the power and beauty of the countryside can bring joy to us all.Following the ever-changing seasons of the year, we see woodland animals emerge after a long winter of hibernation and lambs begin to gambol in April. We hear the dawn chorus in the height of summer and see the preparations unfold for the harsh and wild winter months.Peppered with hand drawn sketches, unforgettable moments from Matt''s TV career and stories of a landscape you''ll fall in love with - from its sun-soaked pastures to 6ft snow drifts - Matt reveals how the outdoors has made him who he is today.Trade ReviewA delight -- Margaret Bartlett * Countryfile *Delightful * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisFor the 6th Edition of this highly regarded textbook devoted to lipids, the title has been modified from Lipid Biochemistry to Lipids to acknowledge the coming together of biological and medical sciences, the increasingly blurred boundaries between them and the growing importance of lipids in diverse aspects of science and technology.Table of ContentsPreface, xv Acknowledgements, xvii About the authors, xix About the companion website, xxi 1 Lipids: definitions, naming, methods and a guide to the contents of this book, 1 1.1 Introduction, 1 1.2 Definitions, 1 1.3 Structural chemistry and nomenclature, 1 1.4 Lipidomics, 4 1.5 A guide to the contents of this book, 8 Key points, 11 Further reading, 12 2 Important biological lipids and their structures, 13 2.1 Structure and properties of fatty acids, 13 2.2 Storage lipids – triacylglycerols and wax esters, 20 2.3 Membrane lipids, 26 Key points, 42 Further reading, 42 3 Fatty acid metabolism, 44 3.1 The biosynthesis of fatty acids, 44 3.2 Degradation of fatty acids, 85 3.3 Chemical peroxidation is an important reaction particularly of polyunsaturated fatty acids, 95 3.4 Peroxidation catalysed by lipoxygenase enzymes, 96 3.5 Essential fatty acids and the biosynthesis of eicosanoids, 100 Key points, 120 Further reading, 121 4 The metabolism of complex lipids, 124 4.1 The biosynthesis of triacylglycerols, 124 4.2 The catabolism of acylglycerols, 133 4.3 The integration and control of animal acylglycerol metabolism, 136 4.4 Wax esters, 143 4.5 Phosphoglyceride biosynthesis, 146 4.6 Degradation of phospholipids, 157 4.7 Metabolism of glycosylglycerides, 163 4.8 Metabolism of sphingolipids, 165 4.9 Cholesterol biosynthesis, 173 Key points, 182 Further reading, 183 5 Roles of lipids in cellular structures, 187 5.1 Lipid assemblies, 187 5.2 Role of lipids in cellular evolution, 193 5.3 Membrane structure, 201 5.4 Membrane function, 206 5.5 Intracellular lipid droplets, 215 5.6 Extracellular lipid assemblies, 222 Key points, 226 Further reading, 227 6 Dietary lipids and their biological roles, 229 6.1 Lipids in food, 229 6.2 Roles of dietary lipids, 233 Key points, 251 Further reading, 251 7 Lipid assimilation and transport, 253 7.1 Lipid digestion and absorption, 253 7.2 Transport of lipids in the blood: plasma lipoproteins, 261 7.3 The coordination of lipid metabolism in the body, 275 Key points, 284 Further reading, 285 8 Lipids in transmembrane signalling and cell regulation, 287 8.1 Phosphoinositides have diverse roles in cell signalling and cell compartmentation, 288 8.2 Endocannabinoid signalling, 299 8.3 Lysophosphatidate and sphingosine 1-phosphate in the circulation regulate cell motility and proliferation, 299 8.4 Signalling by phospholipase D, at least partly through phosphatidate, 300 8.5 Ceramide regulates apoptosis and other cell responses, 301 Key points, 302 Further reading, 303 9 The storage of triacylglycerols in animals and plants, 304 9.1 White adipose tissue depots and triacylglycerol storage in animals, 304 9.2 Brown adipose tissue and its role in thermogenesis, 310 9.3 Lipid storage in plants, 313 Key points, 314 Further reading, 315 10 Lipids in health and disease, 317 10.1 Inborn errors of lipid metabolism, 317 10.2 Lipids and cancer, 323 10.3 Lipids and immune function, 328 10.4 Effects of too much or too little adipose tissue: obesity and lipodystrophies, 338 10.5 Disorders of lipoprotein metabolism, 349 Key points, 364 Further reading, 365 11 Lipid technology and biotechnology, 367 11.1 Introduction, 367 11.2 Lipid technologies: from surfactants to biofuels, 367 11.3 Lipids in foods, 375 11.4 Modifiying lipids in foods, 379 11.5 Modifying lipids in nonedible products, 383 11.6 Lipids and genetically modified organisms, 385 Key points, 390 Further reading, 390 Index and list of abbreviations, 391

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Book SynopsisExplore a stunning collection of photographs revealing the life of hill farmers in the north of England.Trade Review'The book is a visual portrait of a remarkable way of life and part of Britain’s farming heritage.' -- Country Squire Magazine, November 2023'Hill Farming in the North of England – provides an insider’s perspective on rural life during a time of upheaval.' -- The Yorkshire Post, November 2023'A photographer whose stunning images of upland agriculture in northern England are at the heart of a new book says he "developed a deep respect and appreciation of the hill farming community" as he gathered his material.' -- Farm & Countryside, Winter 2023'The book features some spectacular landscapes and covers the seasonal activities on upland farms, such as lambing, haymaking and tupping.' -- Settle News, December 2023'It’s full of atmospheric images that show the realities of life on a hill farm and reveals the unique challenges farmers face every day in the stunning but often harsh landscape of the North of England.' -- NFU Countryside Magazine, February 2024'Settle based photographer John Bentley's book Hill Farming in the North of England will appeal to anyone who wants to know more about hill farming a swell as those who know and love the area.' -- Craven Herald & Pioneer, December 2023

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Book SynopsisWelcome to the wonderful world of Skeldale House: the veterinary surgery and bustling waiting room for the locals of Darrowby village and their animals. In this exclusive behind-the-scenes book, go through the doors of the famous 1930s practice and discover the real-life inspirations for the TV remake of All Creatures Great & Small. Offering exclusive insight into the making of the show, and paying homage to its impressive heritage, including Herriot’s bestselling memoirs and the long-running series, but also to the incredible backdrop of the Yorkshire Dales, this book is the ultimate celebration of a cast of characters – human and animal – who have been bringing us joy for over fifty years. Along with exclusive interviews with the actors Samuel West, Anna Madeley, Nicholas Ralph, Callum Woodhouse and Rachel Shenton, you will get to know everyone from the vet advisor, the animal trainers and the animals themselves, to the director Brian Percival, the make-up artists and the production team. Learn about their adventures on- and off-screen as they went about evoking the authentic experience of the house, the practice and its unforgettable setting. This is the world of James Herriot and the Yorkshire Dales as you’ve never seen it before.

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Book SynopsisThe book covers over 100 years of tractor development and features more than 100 different tractors. The first steam engines on wheels which used belts to drive farm machinery developed into traction engines, used on farms by pulling a plough on cables between two engines. In the 20th century, stationary internal combustion engines, such as the Clutterbuck, began to be put on wheels and moved around a farm to drive threshing machines by belt. Dozens of small companies grew up around the world following their own lines of development. Most lasted only a short time. Firms like Allis-Chalmers, Benz, Lloyd, Jelbart, Glasgow, Fordson, Bates and Hart-Parr are famous names which have faded away or been taken over. A few companies, such as Case and Massey, started in the middle of the 19th century and continue today on a global scale. John Deere started making ploughs in 1837 and is now the largest manufacturer in the world. Some developments have caused a giant leap forwar

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Book SynopsisHenry Jeffreys studied English and Classical Literature at Leeds University. He worked in the wine trade and publishing before becoming a freelance writer and broadcaster. He was wine critic for The Lady, and his work has appeared in Spectator magazine, the Guardian, the Oldie and BBC Good Food magazine. He has been on BBC Radio 4, Radio 5 and Monocle Radio, and featured on BBC 2's Inside the Factory (2020). He was a judge for the BBC Radio 4's Food & Farming Awards and for the Fortnum & Mason food and drink awards 2018. He is the author of Fortnum & Mason award-winning Empire of Booze: British History through the Bottom of a Glass (2017), The Home Bar (2018) and The Cocktail Dictionary (2020), and in 2022 was awarded Fortnum & Mason drink writer of the year. He is currently features editor for the Master of Malt drinks blog and drink writer for The Critic Magazine. He lives in Faversham, Kent with his wife an

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Book SynopsisThis extraordinary book contains in one unique volume, the most wide-ranging history of apples ever written and a detailed survey of over 2,000 of the world's apple varieties.Trade Reviewa fascinating history * Catherine Barnes, Sunday Express *with its painstakingly researched history and spot-on tasting notes, this book is invaluable to anyone who loves the crunch of a fine apple * Nigel Slater, The Observer *written with huge enthusiasm and knowledge, this is evidently an invaluable guide * Fresh Produce Journal *a brilliant apple bible * Financial Times *A fascinating history -- Catherine Barnes * Sunday Express *Table of ContentsThe fruit of paradise; for pleasure, meate and medicine; for God and country; apples for the few; apples for the many; the cider story. Directory of apple varieties. Appendices: cooking with apples; growing apples; further information.

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Book SynopsisA hymn to the rituals of farming life from a bestselling Irish author.

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Book SynopsisA clear and comprehensive guide to beekeeping. The number of people interested and active in keeping bees at an amateur level has continued to increase over the past few years in both rural and urban situations. This guide, aimed at beginning beekeepers, and the only one to be endorsed by the BBKA provides an authoritative text, along with clear photographs and illustrations. The book introduces the reader to beekeeping, including such areas as the workings of the colony, the structure of a hive, how to acquire bees and keep them healthy and what happens in each month in a beekeeping year. Each chapter is accompanied by anecdotes, answers to frequently asked questions and fascinating facts about bees and honey. The new edition includes new step-by-step sequences to illustrate procedures such as containing a swarm, identifying the queen, using a smoker and cleaning a hive as well as more information on different kinds of hives, disease management and many other key areas.Trade ReviewThe word that first comes to mind when reading this book is 'comprehensive. This book contains all the information that you would need to get started in beekeeping and the authors have managed to convey a vast amount of information, complete with many beekeeping tips and techniques, in a concise and helpful way … this is an outstanding book. * The British Bee Journal *This easy-to-follow guide explains everything a novice beekeeper needs to know … superb photographs enliven every page. * BBC Wildlfe *Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgements Foreword Bees and beekeeping The colony The hive The history of bees The beekeeping year Queens and drones Swarms Bee and colony health Plants and hive products Getting started Contacts, Glossary and Index

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Book SynopsisPrinciples and farm-tested practices for no-dig market gardening–for healthier, more productive soil! From the host of the popular The No-Till Market Garden Podcast – heard around the world with nearly one million downloads! Discovering how to meet the soil’s needs is the key task for every market gardener. In this comprehensive guide, Farmer Jesse Frost shares all he has learned through experience and experimentation with no-till practices on his home farm and from interviews and visits with highly successful market gardeners in his role as host of The No-Till Market Garden Podcast. The Living Soil Handbook is centred around the three basic principles of no-dig market gardening: Disturb the soil as little as possible Keep it covered as much as possible Keep it planted as much as possible. Farmer Jesse then guides readers in applying those principles to their own garden environment, with their own materials, to meet their own goals. Beginning with an exploration of the importance of photosynthesis to living soil, Jesse provides in-depth information on: Turning over beds Using compost and mulch Path management Incorporating biology, maintaining fertility Cover cropping Diversifying plantings through intercropping Production methods for seven major crops Throughout, the book emphasises practical information on all the best tools and practices for growers who want to build their livelihood around maximising soil health. Farmer Jesse does not believe that growers should anguish over what does and does not qualify as “no-dig.” If you are using a tool to promote soil life and biology, that’s the goal. The Living Soil Handbook blends the idea of meeting the soil’s needs with the realities of making a living as a professional grower, no matter where you live.Trade Review“Over my years practicing no-till market gardening, I’ve come to truly appreciate listening to The No-Till Market Garden Podcast and Farmer Jesse’s exploration of no-till systems. Now, this research is inked into Jesse’s very well-written and valuable guide, The Living Soil Handbook. This book is a gold mine filled with tips, tricks, and effective practices you can apply to your crop itineraries. I advise any grower to follow Jesse’s mantra: A no-till system is not a dogma, it’s a direction.”—Jean-Martin Fortier, author of The Market Gardener“The best way to produce healthier soils, fight climate change, and reduce work all at the same time is to disturb the soil less. The Living Soil Handbook shows growers how to do just that. I highly recommend this practical and beautifully designed book.”—Ben Hartman, author of The Lean Farm and The Lean Farm Guide to Growing Vegetables“In this wonderful new book, Jesse Frost offers a clear and friendly explanation of why and how you can grow successfully when your methods are fully in tune with nature’s processes. Beautifully illustrated by Jesse’s wife, Hannah Crabtree, The Living Soil Handbook provides a full range of experience-based advice to aspiring growers and gardeners on major topics such as soil fertility and mulches as well as small but important details like bed and path width. Jesse values practicality over dogma, and keeps it achievable: ‘Disturb the soil as little as possible.’”—Charles Dowding, creator of Charles Dowding’s No-Dig Gardening Course“The Living Soil Handbook is a must-read for growers who want to achieve the long-held organic objective of feeding crops by feeding the soil. It goes beyond the mechanics of no-till to explain why it’s important to keep the soil ‘as undisturbed, as well covered, and as fully planted as possible.’ With the understanding of why to do these things, growers can customize their soil care systems for any region. Whether or not your goal is to go completely no-till, Jesse Frost’s book is a great companion to help you figure out how to ‘disturb the soil as little as you possibly can in your context.’ With an emphasis on understanding soil ecosystems, this book allows growers to improvise their own solutions rooted in soil health.”—Andrew Mefferd, editor, Growing for Market magazine; author of The Greenhouse and Hoophouse Grower’s Handbook and The Organic No-Till Farming Revolution“Jesse Frost’s The Living Soil Handbook is a terrific, practical application of the no-till principles for which he and his No-Till Market Garden Podcast have become known and respected. Disturbing the soil as little as possible—even when managing garden paths, for example—is one theme of this book about letting the living soil live and how to do so. Beautifully illustrated, this is a great read full of useful advice that will perfect your growing game.”—Jeff Lowenfels, author of Teaming with Fungi“The Living Soil Handbook is a must-have resource for those who wish to reduce or eliminate tillage, build soil biology, intensify production, and create a more ecological, regenerative, and successful farm. Farmer Jesse integrates the experiences of a multitude of farmers and his years of research with pertinent soil science in this easy-to-read guide to help grow more resilient farms in the face of climate chaos. It all goes back to the soil and building life!”—Elizabeth and Paul Kaiser, founders and farmers, Singing Frogs Farm“As a lifelong farmer who is skeptical of absolute practices and catchphrases like ‘no-till,’ I’m happy to say that Jesse Frost has done an excellent job of compiling resources and information to explain the tenets of healthy living soil. With a skillful, personable writing style, Jesse offers effective farming techniques and provides a compelling case to disturb the soil as little as possible as well as to keep it planted and covered as much as possible. The Living Soil Handbook is a great read for beginning and seasoned farmers alike.”—Clara Coleman, owner and operator, Four Season Farm; creator of #RealFarmerCare“Jesse Frost has made an invaluable addition to the nascent library of no-till market garden manuals. If you want to grow vegetables without tillage, read this book closely and reference it often. Like crops growing from a vibrant soil food web, Jesse’s insights pull from interactions with innovative no-till growers across the United States and beyond—and bear fruit worth savoring. Jesse has synthesized this incredible diversity into a comprehensive manual that takes no-till to a deeper level. I learned something new on almost every page. A magnificent union of information gathering and first-person know-how, The Living Soil Handbook is a must-read for every soil caretaker.”—Daniel Mays, author of The No-Till Organic Vegetable Farm“While no-till growing has been popular for amateur gardeners for some time, it is only more recently that commercial growers have embraced its potential. The Living Soil Handbook is beautifully clear, making both the complexity of soil biology and the technical crop detail engaging and accessible. Jesse Frost demonstrates the benefits of using no till methods and he also takes us through, in some detail, the range of methods possible at different scales. He is no starry-eyed evangelist though. He explores his failures as well as what has worked well, and points out areas where more research and trials are needed, for instance in successful crop termination. Though this book is aimed at the ecological market gardener, anyone with an interest in growing vegetables with the minimal impact on their soil will thoroughly enjoy and learn from Jesse’s sound advice.”—Ben Raskin, head of horticulture and agroforestry, Soil Association; author of The Woodchip Handbook“The Living Soil Handbook speaks to Jesse Frost’s experimental and inquisitive nature whilst seeking out practical and reliable solutions. Garnering wisdom from growers in many regions, as well as from his own experience, Jesse delves deep into what I consider an optimal approach to annual vegetable production. This book explores the pioneering no-dig market gardening system with deep woodchip pathways that I have established at Ridgedale, along with many other complementary approaches for achieving the same outcomes: thriving soil biology, practical workflows, and abundant harvests. It proves once again that it is our pattern-thinking that is important, and that we have a multitude of solutions at our disposal. We are microbe farmers, after all, and this book is a great addition to the literature to help you achieve beautiful and bountiful results.”—Richard Perkins, author of Regenerative Agriculture and Ridgedale Farm BuildsPublishers Weekly— "[A] practical, informative debut. . . .Gardeners interested in sustainable agriculture will find this a great place to start."Booklist Starred Review— "Author Frost offers a comprehensive, science-based, sympathetic, wholly practical guide to soil building, that most critical factor in vegetable gardening for market growers and home gardeners alike. A gift to any vegetable plot that will keep on giving."

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Book SynopsisAs more and more people join the do-it-yourself revolution, they are breathing new life into many time-honored skills and crafts. Blacksmithing is among the trades that are enjoying a resurgence for both practical and artistic uses, yet there isn't an abundance of readily accessible information available to beginning blacksmiths to help them get started and understand the craft. Author Ryan Ridgway, a veterinarian and blacksmith with more than 15 years of metalworking experience, hopes to fill that void with this comprehensive volume geared toward answering the many questions that new blacksmiths often have. By explaining the physics of moving metal, the different styles of anvils and forges, and alternative fuel sources, Ridgway sets his book apart from less detailed volumes. Forty practical, easy-to-follow projects are presented, showing aspiring blacksmiths how to make tools, such as hammers and chisels; farm implements, such as gate latches and hoof picks; and items for home use

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Book SynopsisGet ready for season two of Clarkson's Farm with Kaleb Cooper's worldly wisdom on life's big issues, from the difference between straw and hay to the importance of having a hair perm. Chipping Norton's celebrity farmer Kaleb Cooper has strong views on lots of things: sheep ('suicidal morons'), Jeremy Clarkson ('there are two types of farming, unless you count whatever it is Jeremy thinks he's doing'), goats ('they're a proper good clear-up animal, they eat everything - no wonder they taste horrible'), New York ('if it's like London, where there are no tractors, that's no good') and more. In The World According to Kaleb, he shares his thoughts on topics such as philosophy, celebrities and why farming is the best job in the world. He even tells us why the chicken crossed the road. Dubbed 'the real star of Clarkson's Farm', Kaleb reveals his true, loveable, funny and down-to-earth self, with deadpan gags and unique observations that will have you crying with laughter. Utterly hilarious, this is Kaleb as you've got to know him and love him on the hugely successful television series.Trade ReviewA great gift for someone who loves to laugh * My Weekly *

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Book SynopsisLearn the difference between a farrow and a barrow, and what distinguishes a weanling from a yearling. Country and city mice alike will delight in Julia Rothman's charming illustrated guide to the curious parts and pieces of rural living. Dissecting everything from the shapes of squash varieties to how a barn is constructed and what makes up a beehive to crop rotation patterns, Rothman gives a richly entertaining tour of the quirky details of country life. Also available in this series: Nature Anatomy, Nature Anatomy Notebook, Ocean Anatomy, and Food Anatomy.

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Book SynopsisI''m not on my own because I''ve been sitting crying into a handkerchief or apron over a lack of interested men. I''ve been made every offer imaginable over the years. Men offer themselves, their sons . . . drunk fathers sometimes call me up and say things like: ''Do you need a farmhand?'' ''I can lift the hay bales'' ''I can repair your tractors''. . .Heida is a solitary farmer with a flock of 500 sheep in a remorseless area bordering Iceland''s highlands. It''s known as the End of the World. One of her nearest neighbors is Iceland''s most notorious volcano, Katla, which has periodically driven away the inhabitants of Ljótarstaoir ever since people first started farming there in the twelfth century. This portrait of Heida written with wit and humor by one of Iceland''s most acclaimed novelists, Steinunn Siguroardóttir, tells a heroic tale of a charismatic young woman, who walked away from a career as a model to take over the family farm at the age ofTrade ReviewHeida is a force of nature . . . she has about her an honesty that is never less than enchanting * Sunday Times *A fierce account of what it means to hold the countryside in trust . . . [Heida is an] utterly charming personality . . . this is an inspiring story of resistance to a corporate Goliath, and [Heida] - with her forthright tone and irrepressible humour - makes a delightful David * Mail on Sunday *I had the feeling while reading it that Heida was in MY kitchen, idly chatting to ME and that I was getting to know her really well, as a close friend . . . It was a privilege to be 'talked to' as a friend and allowed to share a fine farmer's life for a few hours * Rosamund Young, author of THE SECRET LIVES OF COWS *A rare portrait of a woman possessed of frontier courage and a sense of humour and humility . . . revelatory and inspiring * The Herald *Heida comes across as a highly impressive person . . . Iceland is lucky to have this formidable guardian angel protecting its traditions and landscape * Daily Mail *Sharp and funny . . . this is an engrossing quick dispatch from an unusual life * The Riverside Way (The Riverside Bookshop blog) *What a story . . . a real-life Bathsheba from Far From the Madding Crowd, but undistracted by the endless queue of male suitors . . . this frank, unusual book details a year in her life * Muddy Stilettos *An engaging memoir . . . a beautifully written ode * Countryman *A study in courage and determination * TLS *It is her deep connectedness to others - whether her family, her farmer neighbours, her dog, or the land itself - which drives the emotional heart of the book * Church Times *

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Book SynopsisAn entertaining whistle-stop tour of rural British traditions, from the bestselling author of The World According to Kaleb.Ever wondered what goes down at a Tar Barrel Festival? Don't know your wassailing from your wife carrying? Well buckle up, because Kaleb Cooper - star of hit TV show Clarkson's Farm and Sunday Times bestselling author - is here to take you on a guided tour of some of the UK's most eccentric rural traditions. In his smash-hit debut The World According to Kaleb, we learnt how Kaleb feels about everything from existentialism to comb-overs, and why he doesn't want to visit the Mediterranean. In this follow-up, Kaleb casts his focus closer to home to examine what people like to get up to in the great outdoors. You'll go gravy wrestling in Lancashire, nettle eating in Somerset, and venture to Hereford for the significant occasion that is Best Dressed Stick.Along the way Kaleb will muse upon enduring British traditions like Morris Dancing and country fairs with his trademark warmth and deadpan wit. For fans of Kaleb's unique perspective and amusing hot takes, this will be a must-read.

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Book SynopsisThe Complete Book of Classic Ford Tractors presents the evolution of the popular machines from 1917 to 1996. Model histories are accompanied by detailed specification charts and, of course, gorgeous photography of restored models.Trade Review"Photos of the amazing experimental tractors alone are a good reason to buy to book. If you enjoy Ford tractors this is one that should be on your shelf!" -- Cindy Ladage * Travelling Adventures of a Farm Girl *

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Book Synopsis''Charming, important . . . a journey of discovery'' TelegraphOver the course of a year, Robert Penn learns how to plant, harvest, thresh and mill his own wheat, in order to bake bread for his family. In returning to this pre-industrial practice, he tells the fascinating story of our relationship with bread: from the domestication of wheat in the Fertile Crescent at the dawn of civilization, to the rise of mass-produced loaves and the resurgence in homebaking today.Gathering knowledge and wisdom from experts around the world - farmers on the banks of the Nile, harvesters in the American Midwest and Parisian boulangers - Penn reconnects the joy of making and eating bread with a deep appreciation for the skill and patience required to cultivate its key ingredient. This book is a celebration of the millennia-old craft of breadmaking, and how it is woven into the story of humanity.''Compelling, vivid . . . Slow Rise will be welcomed by theTrade ReviewA modern day Thoreau . . . Rob Penn has been hand scything wheat in the Nile Delta and growing his own heritage grains * Great British Food Magazine *Compelling, vivid . . . the cyclist and former lawyer explores his enthusiasm for sourdough bread, and forgotten "landrace" wheats, as he supervises their planting, harvesting and the milling of the grain that would go into his loaf . . . Slow Rise will be welcomed by the new bread geeks -- Dan Lepard * Spectator *A wide-ranging, gloriously obsessive odyssey ... a wonderful insight into the history, culture and sheer hard work taken to make this most fundamental of human foods -- Jenny Linford * author of The Missing Ingredient *Rob Penn's enthusiasm for what he calls 'the most symbolically evocative foodstuff' is so infectious and persuasive ... a pleasingly evocative tale, told with the same rich descriptions and wistful asides that Penn bakes into all of his books * Geographical *Charming, important ... a journey of discovery -- Boudicca Fox-Leonard * Telegraph *Fascinating, compelling . . . Robert Penn's engaging account encompasses every aspect of bread, from how it fuelled entire empires to which grains he could grow on his own allotment -- David Ellis * Evening Standard *People keep rediscovering the joy of bread. In truth it never went away; it was just subverted by pappy cheaper bread ... Rob Penn celebrates what we can do to reverse this culinary serfdom -- Tim Lang * author of Feeding Britain *

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Book SynopsisConsidered a classic at the time of its publication in 1910, A Shepherd''s Life is a rare account of the lives of those who lived on and worked the land in nineteenth-century rural Britain. A masterful work of prose, W. H. Hudson focuses on the story of one man, a Wiltshire shepherd named Caleb Bawcombe, whose tales of sheep dogs, farmer''s wives, poachers and local fairs become a sublime account of a way of life that has largely disappeared from these shores.

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Book SynopsisEMMA GRAY''S NEW BOOK ''MY FARMING LIFE'' (''A HEARTWARMING TALE OF LIFE ON THE LAND'' Alan Titchmarsh) IS OUT NOWWhat happens when you swap ''I do'' for pastures new?When twenty-three-year-old shepherdess Emma Gray breaks off her engagement, the chance to take over an isolated Northumberland farm seems just the fresh start she needs. But while the beautiful scenery certainly offers plenty of scope for contemplation, a night out with an eligible bachelor soon seems more remote than the farm itself. And once you add fugitive sheep and freak blizzards into the mix, Emma''s dreams of a happy future at Fallowlees Farm quickly begin to fade.Throughout the long nights of lambing, the highs and lows of the local sheepdog trials and the day-to-day chores of maintaining a large, ramshackle farm, Emma''s collies are her most loyal companions. With Bill, Fly, Roy and Alfie by her side, she''ll never really be alone. EmmaTrade ReviewI speak to hundreds of fellow farmers every year and one of the most inspiring people I've met is Emma Gray... When I first heard Emma's story I had doubts about how anybody would cope on their own in such a remote spot, but after seeing her passion for farming, her determination to succeed and her complete capability, I [was] full of confidence and admiration. -- Adam Henson * Cheshire Life *

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Book SynopsisIn this lively and fascinating book, a guilt-ridden, bacon-loving journalist finds work at an industrial pig farm as he researches the long and torrid history of humans and swine.After convincing a skeptical pig farmer to take him on as a hired hand for six months, journalist Kristoffer Endresen follows a litter of piglets from birth to slaughter, all in the hopes of understanding what goes on inside an industrial pig farm and whether humans can ethically justify eating pork… which just so happens to be the most consumed animal protein in the world.During his days as a beginner pig wrangler, he mucks out pig pens and cuddles a cute piglet. He inseminates a female pig and narrowly escapes being trampled. Endresen interweaves his fast times at a piggery with surprising insights into the long and star-crossed bond between pigs and humans—drawing on history, literature, archeology, and myth—and shares new science into video-game-playing swine and pig heart transplants, and asks if pigs really are as smart as we think.Both an engaging saga of an overlooked animal and a provocative exploration of the ethics of industrial meat, The Pig and I asks us to consider not only where our food comes from, but also the tangled history that first brought it to our plates.Trade Review"[E]mpathetic and entertaining... [A]n enlightening meditation on a troubling moral issue."—Publishers Weekly"By turns thought-provoking, shudder-inducing, and funny as hell, Endresen’s heartfelt The Pig and I gave this guilt-ridden Spanish ham-lover a thorough schooling in the often astonishing ways of swine."—Taras Grescoe, author of Bottomfeeder and The Lost Supper"From the evolution of pigs and the dismal consequences of industrial pork production to the surprising mental capacities of swine, The Pig and I takes a beautifully written deep-dive into our morally complicated relationships with the most widely consumed mammal on earth. Endressen is a compelling storyteller, and his book is both entertaining and, ultimately, haunting."—Hal Herzog, author of Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why It’s So Hard to Think Straight About Animals"A lovely book about a much misunderstood animal. It manages to be simultaneously an entertaining trot through the history of the pig and a searing indictment of factory farming."—Roger Morgan-Grenville, author of Across a Waking Land"In this worthy addition to the porcine canon, Endresen describes the grueling conditions of a hog confinement farm while also detailing the history, science, and lore of this fascinating animal and its relationship to humans—truly the whole hog."—Barry Estabrook, author of Pig Tales

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Book SynopsisFood is our most intimate and vital commodity, yet too many of us have lost touch with the reality of where it comes from and how it is produced. Providing a seasonal tour of a traditional farming year, passionate beef farmer Joe Stanley seeks to bridge this knowledge gap and inform the reader about the journey their food takes before it gets to the plate, revealing the realities of modern agricultural life for a British lowland farmer. Drawing on a lifetime of experience, he strips observations of the countryside and agricultural practices down to the core of his day-to-day, illustrating how our food is produced and why our farmed landscape looks the way it does. Along the way, he offers insight into his daily routine, such as how crops are planted, why livestock is brought in for winter, and what happens at harvest, while addressing the bigger issues surrounding food standards, sustainability, the environment, rural heritage, trade and the future of agricultural policy outside the EU. Often undermined as an antiquated pastime, agriculture is actually the core of a £122bn food and farming sector (the UK’s largest manufacturing industry), and Farm to Fork: The Challenge of Sustainable Farming in 21st Century Britain stands as a testament to British farming and the heart that goes into the food our farmers produce, the environmental stewardship they deliver and the landscape they maintain, whether through the assurance of food quality, animal welfare or environmental sustainability. This is a wonderfully-detailed and candid account of the life of a British farmer — of the highs and lows and lessons learned from a lifetime on the land.Trade ReviewThis book offers a compelling insight into the challenges and rewards of farming. A must-read for any agriculture student, it will also appeal to those with an interest in their food, as well as the farmers who produce it.A wonderfully-detailed and candid account of the life of a British farmer. Farm to Fork offers something for everyone, no matter their background.For now, the battle to defend farming against cavalier politicians, unscrupulous capitalists and ignorant environmentalists continues to be waged in the media by its champions, notably NFU president Minette Batters, who has written the foreword. Mr Stanley has made a heartfelt contribution to that fight.The book gives an insight into the hundreds of decisions affecting what ends up on our plate, how farming life has changed, and how it might look in years to come.It is, at its core, a love letter from one farmer, to an entire industry

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Book SynopsisThe perfect book for anyone considering establishing and running their own smallholding. Packed with helpful hints and advice for each season.

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Book SynopsisFrom high heels to welly boots - one woman's misadventures in becoming a farmer, raising a family and making a living from the land.Sally Urwin was living in a tiny flat in the city with a high-pressure job. She was depressed, surviving off rescue remedies and wine, and longing for a different life when she met and married farmer Steve. Returned to the rolling hills of Northumberland, a place she'd adored as a child, Sally imagined herself wafting around High House Farm in floral dresses followed by a bevy of rosy-cheeked children. The reality is quite different...Sally is usually wearing a jumper covered in sheep poo and bellowing at Mavis the collie to stop chasing Gladys the grumpy pony and her kids are moaning about being dragged outside while she is caring for a ewe who has ingested a poisonous plant after wandering into the neighbour's field.But despite the chaos of juggling motherhood with running a farm, financial hardship and dealing with poorly animals, the exhilarating freedom of rural life has helped Sally to heal her own body and mind. Lambing season might be backbreaking, but the utter joy in cradling a new-born lamb is worth all the sweat and tears.With a mix of grit, humour and the love of family, Sally shows us that it's never too late to live the life you've always dreamed of.Fans of The Yorkshire Shepherdess will love this hilarious, heartfelt and honest account that will have you howling with laughter and sobbing into your tissues in equal measure.Read what everyone is saying about What the Flock!:'I don't know how to tell you how much I loved this book... You just CAN'T go wrong with having the author as narrator.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'I don't even know where to begin!... an amazing memoir that reads like fiction...you will find yourself being sucked into stories... you will laugh and cry... I couldn't put this book down until I devoured it from start to finish... 1000/10 would read again and again.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'This book was perfect. I loved the honest and wholesome look at life the author provides. It is at sometimes funny and sometimes sad... like talking to a friend.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'I don't know any animal lover that won't enjoy this book... I related to the female farmer talking about her struggles with the corporate world, and I dreamed along with her that I might be capable of farming and loving on animals all day... I cried over the losses that can come with farm life... will keep you entertained, and I'm going to keep rooting for this family to secure their farm's future.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'If Bo Peep met the Durrells, they'd happily live alongside Sally Urwin on her Northumbrian farm. An engaging and very, very funny account of a city girl who became a sheep farmer and traded in everything she thought she knew for a life where the four-legged family members rule.' Freya North'I loved this... a joy to read... Honest and funny.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'A beautiful memoir and the way she narrates it in this audio book makes it all the more special... I felt as if I was sat at her table having a cuppa as she told me about her life. Stunning book and I will be buying copies for friends.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'I really enjoyed this one... the author is a wonderful storyteller and I enjoyed her humor. I laughed out loud at the stories about Candy, the fat pony.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

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Book Synopsis"Dibben and Raskin offer an insightful, inspiring but also exceptionally practical guide to integrating trees into annual cropping systems. . . in this book we see how the phrase ''the sky?s the limit'' has never been more applicable."?Jesse Frost, author of The Living Soil HandbookAn invaluable handbook for farmers, growers, and gardeners, Silvohorticulture is the first book to offer a detailed, practical guide on how to effectively integrate trees with vegetable growing, offering information previously known only in the foresting world.Drawing on the decades-long experiences of Ben Raskin and Andy Dibben, both of whom have designed and managed agroforestry systems and have extensive experience in commercial horticultural crop production, this is the definitive book on the interaction between trees and crops, covering the benefits of trees for edible crops and the potential for additional crops from trees, plus crucial new information on how to fit trees into complex crop rotations as well as manipulating access to light. Ben and Andy also reveal the latest research on how tree roots behave and, importantly, how that impacts your crops.Agroforestry can bring immense benefits to farmers and growers?not just optimizing yield, but also improving soil, managing pests and water, increasing biodiversity, and reducing costs. System design must be customised to each grower?s requirements, and Silvohorticulture offers step-by-step detail that will allow you to manage your trees and crops successfully. "In this immensely practical guide, the authors provide the technical details towards integrating trees with vegetables and other crops, all while dispelling any preconceived notions that this idea reduces productivity or function. In fact, these systems might prove essential for farm resilience in a changing climate."?Steve Gabriel, author of Silvopasture

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Book Synopsis'Fuss-free dishes full of nature's freshest flavours.' - Psychologies'Packed with delicious nostalgia.' - Radio Times'Celebrates the joy of seasonal home cooking.' - BBC Good Food'Kate Humble dishes up home-cooked heaven.' - Daily Mail WeekendA celebration of simple, seasonal home cooking full of flavour, comfort and joy. With more than 100 recipes from Kate Humble's kitchen table, this is food to share from breakfast time to the evening meal - for lazy days, busy weeknights or gatherings, and everything in between.Recipes include:SPRING A Ham Sandwich on Beer Bread with PiccalilliSpring Chicken with Wild Garlic & New PotatoesRhubarb VodkaSUMMER Tomatoes with Steak & Wild Salsa VerdeElderflower JelliesSummer in a TeapotAUTUMN Beet BourguignonApple Crumble Ice Cream with Blackberry RippleButternut Tea LoafWINTER A Soda Bread for Winter with Oats & Black TreacleSausages in Red WineClementine Cake with an Orange & Pomegranate SaladTrade ReviewKate Humble dishes up home-cooked heaven. * Daily Mail Weekend *Fuss-free dishes full of nature's freshest flavours. * Psychologies *Packed with delicious nostalgia. * Radio Times *Celebrates the joy of seasonal home cooking. * BBC Good Food *

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Book Synopsis*WATERSTONES WELSH BOOK OF THE MONTH*My Family and Other Animals meets The Secret Life of Cows: this rediscovered gem tells the charming tale of how a baby llama transformed a Welsh farming family forever.Things llamas like:Snaffling cherry brandy, Easter eggs, and the Radio Times.Curling up in ''tea-cosy'' position by the fire.Orbiting, helicoptering, and oompahing. Locking victims in the lavatory. Things llamas dislike:Being adopted mother to an orphaned lamb.Invitations to star on Blue Peter. Snowdonia's rainfall. The dark. Ruth Ruck's family live on a Welsh mountain farm, no strangers to cow pats on the carpet and nesting hens in the larder. When dark days strike, they embark on a farming experiment to cheer them all up but raising a baby llama proves more of an adventure than expected Reissued with a new foreword by John Lewis-

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