Gully Farm

by Mary Hiemstra

A prairie classic, Gully Farm is a vivid account of settling the western frontier, as seen through the eyes of young Mary Pinder when she accompanied her family to the Canadian Prairies. At turns funny, tragic, and enlightening, this wonderful true story of homesteading tells of one family's struggle to survive and prosper in a physical climate so alien to what they had known at home. Like many of the Barr colonists, the Pinders came close to starving that first year. They battled mosquitoes, blizzards, and prairie fires. But perhaps even worse were struggles with loneliness and homesickness.
Mary's narrative is an honest portrayal of the stern realities her family faced when they made the decision to leave all that was familiar to them in England and set out for a new life in "the promised land."
If there is one story that best describes the homesteading experience this is it. Readers will enjoy the rich details and vivid memories of those early years, when the world came to the Prairies for a new start in the land of earth and sky.

Genres: Nonfiction, Autobiography

292 pages, Paperback

First published January 13, 1999

Reviews

[Elinor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a lot of pioneer memoirs, so I consider myself something of an expert. Not since The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder have I read a book that captures the joys and the sorrows of homesteading so realistically. The terrible homesickness, the fear and insecurity, the struggle for survival, and the pride of accomplishment are all seen through the eyes of six-year-old Mary Hiemstra, whose young and idealistic parents arrived from England with the Barr Colonists in 1903. I had to stay up late finishing this truly gripping memoir. It isn't the story so much as the way it is told that made this book hard to put down.

[Robert Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Canadian Classic. Wonderful Memoir of a family coming from England to homestead on the bald Prairie and their struggles to cope and survive their first year. I have the utmost respect for these Pioneers who built Western Canada into the wonderful place it is today.

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a kind of Canadian version of Little House on the Prairie, but although Hiemstra is describing childhood memories, she does so in more adult language than the 'Little House' books, making this book more suited to an adult readership.

When Mary is six, she emigrates to Canada with her parents and siblings, and this book is the story of their journey and their early years trying to create a homestead on the prairie near the Saskatchewan river. The life was incredibly tough, as the family battled bears, blizzards, midges, wildfires and poor crops before finally succeeding in establishing a successful farm. There are a number of tense moments, such as when Mary's little brother is severely scalded, miles from medical help, or when their neighbour goes missing in a blizzard, but overall, the book concentrates on the daily hardships and pleasures of their new life. Hiemstra writes well and describes her experiences in a way that makes the reader feel present in them.

Her father originally persuades her mother to leave Yorkshire for Canada by promising her that it will only be for a couple of years and then they will return home, but he privately confides to his daughter that he has no intention of returning to the UK. Throughout the book, Mary's mother makes comments like "this will be something to remember once we are back home". She obviously never stopped feeling homesick, and her longing for home and family came through really strongly. Finishing the book, I actually feel quite sad and depressed, knowing that she never saw her home again, and while Mary obviously thought the world of her father, I couldn't help thinking that he was really selfish to deceive his wife like that. Still 5 stars though, as it really is an excellent account of Canadian homesteading in the early 1900s.

[Andrea Wall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is basically the Canadian version of Little House on the Prairie. It describes one family’s pioneer experience in Saskatchewan. The writing was quite descriptive and pretty, especially when it focused on the untouched land. The experiences of the pioneer family are hard to imagine or comprehend and how anyone actually survived is a mystery to me. Their spirit truly was remarkable. All I know is I would have been a lousy pioneer and would have probably died within the first week.
Some parts did drag and it was a little repetitive in some areas. And then the end became quite rushed. I would have like more history on the family and what became of their farm.

[Mary Milroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! My name is Mary too and I moved to Canada from England when I was 7. But it was in 1989 on a plane. I was scared. I remember being so scared of the wolves in Canada, turns out I still haven’t seen a wolf over 30 years later. I think these pioneers were so brave and found this book incredibly emotional. Wonderfully written especially loved that it was from the child’s view! Brilliant

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an interesting perspective - through the eyes of a child.

[Alex Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and interesting read. I enjoyed how it was written from the perspective of a child that did not necessarily experience the immigration in the same way as her parents.

[Isabella Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favourite books, which I could read again and again! It is perfect for those, like me, who are Little House on the Prairie fans. ❤️

The story is simple — about a family leaving England in the 1900s to start a new life in Canada as new settlers — but you soon become attached to the characters as you read about their struggles, their happy memories, and their homesickness for their old home. I so enjoy reading about peoples lives back then and the pioneers who left their homeland to settle in the new and strange lands! I would highly recommend. 😊

Isabella Ann of The Painted Caravan ♡

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Gully farm, more then I thought :) it was very well descrribed and thoroughly enjoyable to me.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this old book!