Freestone: a mostly true history

by Krista Bjorn

A book that captures the incredible fortitude, courage, and foibles of the men, women, and children who built the village of Freestone, Queensland, Australia. Established in 1862 by English, German, Swiss, Scandinavian, and Irish immigrants, Freestone was built out of dense bush country and grew to become a prosperous village known for its musicians and larrikins, farmers and dancers. It weathered tragedy and disaster, two World Wars and such droughts, fires, plagues, and epidemics that would test the mettle of even the most stalwart settler. Through it all, Freestone residents survived, adjusting to each new change in economy, weather, and relationships, finding ways to thrive as a community. This is their story.

222 pages, Paperback

Published January 30, 2015

About the author

I’m so glad you’re here. Truly. I love good company.

My name is Krista, (aka Phryne, Poppit, George, FaFa, or Luna), and I am a Canadian born and bred lass who lived in America for 20 years before heading to Europe and finally ending up where I was meant to be: on a goat farm in rural Queensland, Australia with my Aussie hubby, Bear.

We live on 40 acres in rural Southern Queensland, and every day is a bit madcap as we juggle jobs and gardens and orchards and our bustling menagerie of 35 goats, 10 geese, 4 dogs, and innumerable chickens and ducks. We get up early and go to bed early and are always tired and covered in scratches and bruises and sometimes look at each other and think, “What are we doing??!!” But we wouldn’t trade it for anything. It’s our crazy dream and even when things go wonky, and they always do, we still love it.

There’s something wonderful about waking up before the sun and watching it set the fields aglow with light, getting teary with joy as fat raindrops fall after a long drought, watching spindly trees and withered up seeds turn into productive orchards and thriving gardens that provide food for us every day.

When I’m not chasing goats or collecting eggs, mending fences or hauling hay, I earn my paycheck as an author and freelance writer, artist, and photographer. I write books, articles for magazines and newspapers, and prepare documents for a law firm on the other side of the world. I work from home or anywhere I have internet access. That flexibility makes this wild life of ours possible, and I’m thankful for it.