Carving Out a Living on the Land

Lessons in Resourcefulness and Craft from an Unusual Christmas Tree Farm

By: Emmet Van Driesche, Verlyn Klinkenborg (Foreword by)

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eText | 3 June 2019

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**"A thorough and generous guide to shaping your world not only to your own happiness, but the world's as well."—John Hodgman, host of Judge John Hodgman; author of Vacationland

Carving Out a Living on the Land tells the story of how author Emmet Van Driesche navigated changing life circumstances, took advantage of unexpected opportunities, and leveraged new and old skills to piece together an economically viable living on marginal farmland, while at the same time respecting the land's complex ecological relationships. Van Driesche's adventure began when he recognized that he could do much more with his land than simply tend rows of perfectly sheared Christmas trees.

From spoon carving to scything, coppicing to wreath-making, Carving Out a Living on the Land proves that you don't need acres of expensive bottomland to start your land-based venture, but rather the creativity and vision to see what might be done with that rocky section or ditch or patch of trees too small to log. You can lease instead of buy; build flexible, temporary structures rather than sink money into permanent ones; and take over an existing operation rather than start from scratch. What matters are your unique circumstances, talents, and interests, which when combined with what the land is capable of producing, can create a fulfilling and meaningful farming life.

Industry Reviews

"A couple of years ago I bought a Christmas tree from Emmet Van Driesche's little family in the woods. I immediately wanted to move in with them. They radiated the kind of peaceful contentment that comes with doing work that makes sense to you and that you are good at. But since moving in with them would be creepy, I am glad to have this book, a thorough and generous guide to shaping your world not only to your own happiness, but the world's as well."-John Hodgman, host of Judge John Hodgman; author of Vacationland