Farm City

The Education of an Urban Farmer

By: Novella Carpenter

Narrated by: Karen White

Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

Novella Carpenter loves cities - the culture, the crowds, the energy. At the same time, she can't shake the fact that she is the daughter of two back-to-the-land hippies who taught her to love nature and eat vegetables.

Ambivalent about repeating her parents' disastrous mistakes, yet drawn to the idea of backyard self-sufficiency, Carpenter decided that it might be possible to have it both ways: a homegrown vegetable plot as well as museums, bars, concerts, and a 24-hour convenience mart mere minutes away - especially when she moved to a ramshackle house in inner-city Oakland and discovered a weed-choked, garbage-strewn abandoned lot next door. She closed her eyes and pictured heirloom tomatoes, a beehive, and a chicken coop. What started out as a few egg-laying chickens led to turkeys, geese, and ducks. Soon, some rabbits joined the fun, then two 300-pound pigs. And no, these charming and eccentric animals weren't pets; she was a farmer, not a zookeeper. Novella was raising these animals for dinner.

Novella Carpenter's corner of downtown Oakland is populated by unforgettable characters. Lana (anal spelled backward, she reminds us) runs a speakeasy across the street and refuses to hurt even a fly, let alone condone raising turkeys for Thanksgiving. Bobby, the homeless man who collects cars and car parts just outside the farm, is an invaluable neighborhood concierge. The turkeys, Harold and Maude, tend to escape on a daily basis to cavort with the prostitutes hanging around just off the highway nearby.

Every day on this strange and beautiful farm, urban meets rural in the most surprising ways. For anyone who has ever grown herbs on their windowsill or tomatoes on their fire escape, or who has obsessed over the offerings at the local farmers' market, Carpenter's story will capture your heart.

©2009 Novella Carpenter (P)2009 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Utterly enchanting.... The juxtaposition of the farming life with inner-city grit...elevates it to the realm of the magical." ( Publishers Weekly)

Hmmm.

I got this book because I love gardening, have bees, raise chickens for eggs and meat, and like the idea of being self sufficient. Listening to someone SQUAT on another's land, use their station wagon (tarped the inside, are you serious?) to haul manure, and use the F word wasn't in my plan.

While the book does offer some insight into a way of living I don't understand (daily shootings, sirens, punk kids with no adult supervision) and the gardening of a city dweller with country roots, I didn't like the book. If a person is living in the city and doesn't mind their station wagon having poop in the back then this book is for you.

If you want to read a book with better inspiration of living closer to YOUR land, raising your own food, and gardening for a purpose, then read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.

Because some people find humor in the F word, and wouldn't consider a truck as a vital vehicle, I gave this book a 3. If you were my closest friend, I would take the book out of your hand and put it back on the book store shelf.

awesome

What made the experience of listening to Farm City the most enjoyable?

The reality, the fact that she actually carried out her dream in all odds

Who was your favorite character and why?

Both her and her friend

Which scene was your favorite?

the pigs and dumpster diving

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I loved it very real and honestly sustainable

Any additional comments?

This is one of my favorite books, she is real I love the way she utilizes her resources and makes things work, how she reaches out to her readers and makes them feel comfortable about the farming experience. also she shares how you can be a farmer in less than optimal circumstances which is where I feel the strength of this book lies. hats off to you I would love to meet you!

Fantastic book

As a listener/reader the same age as the author's parents and part of the mindset to "return to the land," but not successful either as her parents weren't, I could relate to the author's background. However, I would have loved to see my offspring grow up to be her. I loved every minute and every word of this book. I will probably listen to it numerous times. She makes no mention of the impending food crisis in our nation as farmers who try to live by farming all die off with no replacements, except for a few stalwarts like the author of this book. And, with the impending loss of cheap transport fuels, urban farms will be the only option for a viable food production system in the future.

This book should encourage more and more urban farms, including the raising of a pig. Modern research has shown that humans evolved our big brains from meat protein and cooking.

And, once you taste, "natural" meats and vegies, you won't go back to the shipped stuff unless you are indeed starving!

My kinda people! I am a farmer... an urban farmer

Loved it! the people. the animals. the stories. the idea. very enjoyable. heartwarming. I recommend!

Not an instruction book but a fun read

First, for those upset because this woman is a "squatter," maybe should read/listen closer. She has permission to have a garden on that lot and says so at around the 45 minute spot. She just likes to call herself that because she was for about a week. Then met the owner and got permission.


This book does not give you directions so much as tell an entertaining story though you will hear tips on urban farming here and there. If hearing the four letter word for excretion rather than a more polite term for it upsets you, then move on. If the idea of putting well-rotted, composted horse manure in your car (at this point it's just a really rich soil - horse stuff is just plants ground up pretty much anyway) upsets your sensibilities then you'll hear things that will upset you. Being a former horse owner and long-time organic gardener, none of this upsets me in the least. I was jealous of her for being able to get so much of it.


For me, this was a very entertaining book and I enjoyed it a lot. Giving 4 rather than 5 stars though as I reserve 5 for only the greatest. Again, I enjoyed this book very much.

Really enjoyed the story

The fact that it's mostly true was neat. The narration was excellent. I'm just sorry there's not a sequel.

Funny, educational, relatable

What did you love best about Farm City?

I loved how real it was. The author seemed like a regular person, making her very relatable. I appreciated her honesty with her interests, struggles, triumphs, and learnings. She didn't filter unnecessarily- she described things as they were, with a healthy balance of humor, reality, and gratitude.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Farm City?

How the author related to us her realizations of a greater connectedness and cycle with living things, communities, and herself. You could tell she had a healthy respect for what she was doing and how it impacted the world around her.

Have you listened to any of Karen White’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not; this was an excellent first.

Superbly interesting story

Although not someone I would normally choose to listen to, the story of Novella in Oakland, what animals she went though had me at times in tears of laughter and I learnt a great deal from her story! Before this story, I had considered keeping a Pig but no-way now! Bees are still a possibility.

Karen's Oratory was superbly on target, it just had an air of authenticity that I've only ever heard from Bill Wallis, really made the trials and successes a joy to listen to!

One of the best of this genre of audio books I have heard.

I've already listened to it twice!

Would you consider the audio edition of Farm City to be better than the print version?

Yes.

What did you like best about this story?

The humor and joy mixed with the grit.

What does Karen White bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She gives a real feel of being in the story.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

There may be "no there, there" but They're There and living the dream (my dream, anyway)

Any additional comments?

Might there be a "further adventures" coming out?

have listened to entire book twice so far

Would you consider the audio edition of Farm City to be better than the print version?

can listen better than can read these days

What was one of the most memorable moments of Farm City?

the bee keeping parts

Which scene was your favorite?

the bee keeping parts

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Any additional comments?

enjoyable . educational