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Country Grit: A Farmoir of Finding Purpose and Love
Scottie Jones lived a typical suburban, professional life in Pheonix until her husband, Greg, got into a near-fatal car accident. While recovering, he became convinced that they needed a change and a simpler way of life, one more connected with nature and with each other. So, driven by a desire to cut ties with a material and convenient suburban life that had left them feeling empty, they bought a peaceful-looking farmhouse on sixty acres in Oregon and said good-bye to everything they knew. But though the grass may look greener, the road to pastural bliss is fraught with financial woes, relentless rural roadblocks, and colossal failures. When the burden becomes almost too much to bear, Scottie hits on the idea of turning a house they initially built for their daughter into a Farm Stay, where people could visit and learn about Leaping Lamb Farm. The Farm Stay becomes the niche that rescues them from foreclosure--having found both a sense of purpose and a sense of place, the couple now finds the means to sustain it. In a world increasingly filled with questions of where our food comes from and dissatisfactions about our modern lives, Country Grit is a story that will resonate with countless people itching to get back to the land. Told with humor and hard-earned wisdom, it is also an account of what small-scale farmers across the country experience everyday and a warning that the farming life is not for everyone.
248 pages, Hardcover
Published September 5, 2017
25 people are currently reading
410 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 7, 2017
It's been almost 15 years since I wrote my first desperate email, From Oregon...Dear Diary, back to friends in Arizona. I wrote almost every day to start. Then my emails became a blog. I continued to write for seven years about daily and then weekly and then monthly experiences on our farm. When the stories began to repeat and animal escapes, equipment breakdowns, and mother nature no longer brought tears and fright and frustration bubbling over the top, I stopped.
Writing this book was about telling a story that made sense, when it seemed we had none moving from the city to the country. And, yes, the sheep still get out from time to time (this morning, for example), but we have learned to walk more slowly in herding them back to the pasture. It's a bit of a metaphor for our lives.
I hope, if you are romancing the idea of moving to a farm, that you will laugh with us, you will cry with us, and you will have a better idea of what you are getting into before you ever chase your first sheep out of the flower beds!
Writing this book was about telling a story that made sense, when it seemed we had none moving from the city to the country. And, yes, the sheep still get out from time to time (this morning, for example), but we have learned to walk more slowly in herding them back to the pasture. It's a bit of a metaphor for our lives.
I hope, if you are romancing the idea of moving to a farm, that you will laugh with us, you will cry with us, and you will have a better idea of what you are getting into before you ever chase your first sheep out of the flower beds!
September 6, 2022
Love the term 'farmoir'. Most farmoirs, the ones where some city slicker moves to the country in search of their inner farmer, seem like one debacle after another, but this one is different. It was intelligent and not whiney at all. The last Farmoir I read the author couldn't kill any animal and so ended up with a huge menagerie of animals. This author moves to the farm realizing that in order to make a living animals have to die. And yet she had a lot of compassion for the animals. I know I couldn't do it. I would love to have a few chickens but they would have to be for eggs only as I could never kill them. Anyway, I don't know how to explain why this 'city girl moves to the country' memoir stands out from the rest, but it does.
August 9, 2017
This is for everyone who reads Modern Farmer and thinks- I can do that. Well, maybe not. Small scale farming seems to be the new bed-and-breakfast for people who want to escape the rat race. Jone did that and she's documented here how tough it can be. There are so many little things. Her farm stay initiative, which now is helping other small farmers, is terrific both both those small farms and for the people who try it. That said, it's also a lot of work. This is nicely written, with good insight not only into Jones' life but also into the lives of others in her community. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. Try this one if you are contemplating hanging it up to become a farmer but more importantly read it and then go find a farm stay program so that you can experience the life.
December 28, 2018
this is one of my favorite genres (farmoir), which is why I gave it a four, but I though the book could have used a bit more. Scottie Jones is a great writer, but I'm not sure the story itself is invigorating. There were a few places where the lack of momentum in the farming story is compensated for Jones's reflection on community and life, but on the whole I wished it would have delved deeper into the actual farm life. For now The Dirty Life remains the golds standard, but I would recommend this book and hope that Jones will give it another shot.
August 7, 2017
I received a copy of this book from Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review. I have no connection with the author or her farm but do provide links below for informational purposes.
3.5 Stars rounded up to 4 stars because FARMS and FARM STAY!
Country Grit is a farm memoir or farmoir by Scottie Jones, who started the 'Farm Stay' movement in the USA and who is the founder and executive director of Farm Stay USA. Her farm, Leaping Lamb Farm in Alsea, Oregon, was the inception of the Farm Stay concept in the US back in 2006. If you don't understand how important Farm Stay as a concept is, go check out this Washington Post article in which children don't understand a distressing amount about what they eat and drink. (No Sally and Bobby, chocolate milk doesn't come from brown cows.) The story of how Scottie and her husband Greg came to own a farm in Oregon after a hectic life in Phoenix was an interesting one to read, but the compelling stories of the animals and interesting humans around Leaping Lamb Farm are what really captures the reader.
Scottie chooses to respect the privacy of her community by melding stories of the people in it, and indeed the town itself which she calls Elsie, into composites. She has done a good job with keeping these composite characters real, and some of their stories are quite poignant. I am still on the fence about the episodic nature of the vignettes she presents, some of which I wasn't always getting the feeling where in chronological order, thus making the memoir aspect slightly confused. I felt that the book would have benefited from better editing, which might have toned down the episodic tone and made a smoother, and maybe even slightly longer memoir. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this book and am happy to provide their first review.
Scottie has also authored another book Paco the Dusty Donkey about her friend Jack's pet burro. I'm really feeling that her horse Tater deserves his own children's book, about horses with the magical power to open latches.
3.5 Stars rounded up to 4 stars because FARMS and FARM STAY!
Country Grit is a farm memoir or farmoir by Scottie Jones, who started the 'Farm Stay' movement in the USA and who is the founder and executive director of Farm Stay USA. Her farm, Leaping Lamb Farm in Alsea, Oregon, was the inception of the Farm Stay concept in the US back in 2006. If you don't understand how important Farm Stay as a concept is, go check out this Washington Post article in which children don't understand a distressing amount about what they eat and drink. (No Sally and Bobby, chocolate milk doesn't come from brown cows.) The story of how Scottie and her husband Greg came to own a farm in Oregon after a hectic life in Phoenix was an interesting one to read, but the compelling stories of the animals and interesting humans around Leaping Lamb Farm are what really captures the reader.
Scottie chooses to respect the privacy of her community by melding stories of the people in it, and indeed the town itself which she calls Elsie, into composites. She has done a good job with keeping these composite characters real, and some of their stories are quite poignant. I am still on the fence about the episodic nature of the vignettes she presents, some of which I wasn't always getting the feeling where in chronological order, thus making the memoir aspect slightly confused. I felt that the book would have benefited from better editing, which might have toned down the episodic tone and made a smoother, and maybe even slightly longer memoir. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this book and am happy to provide their first review.
Scottie has also authored another book Paco the Dusty Donkey about her friend Jack's pet burro. I'm really feeling that her horse Tater deserves his own children's book, about horses with the magical power to open latches.
May 16, 2018
Scottie Jones knows how to connect her farm story to the hearts of the reader, rural and urban alike. Jones recalls a lot of loss in her triumphal narrative, from the smallest chick to the closest of family. The threads pile on top of each other, making the conclusion very warm and satisfying.
I would not have bought this book if it weren’t for Jones’ ability to pinpoint the human experience of risk and lifestyle change; an early passage recalls her thoughts on giving up her comfortable but unsatisfying lifestyle in Arizona for an agrarian life on a dilapidated farm. She breaks down in her father’s presence during a walk in the woods, saying “I could be incomplete. I could never do enough, my husband could never do enough, we could never do enough. Instead, I would just do what I could, an Greg would do what he could, and let the rest be incomplete.” It stuck with me, and I connected it to my recent feelings about moving states after finishing college.
Apart from these simple philosophical moments, readers will gasp at how many tragedies Jones and her husband go through in order to make the farm work semi-decently. I found myself laughing at parts, as well as feeling every loss to nature in other parts. “Can’t these people catch a break?” you’ll ask. They do, but it takes the entire book until they find the solution that was sitting in front of them the whole time.
There was a fair amount of what I like to refer to as “adorable barnyard sexism.” Sometimes, I forget the odd way in which straight people look at straight relations. Most of the distracting parts involved animals, including one instance where a ram being introduced to a pasture of ewes was compared to prom courting. Slightly cringy, but not a reason to pass up this highly moving and inspiring book.
I would not have bought this book if it weren’t for Jones’ ability to pinpoint the human experience of risk and lifestyle change; an early passage recalls her thoughts on giving up her comfortable but unsatisfying lifestyle in Arizona for an agrarian life on a dilapidated farm. She breaks down in her father’s presence during a walk in the woods, saying “I could be incomplete. I could never do enough, my husband could never do enough, we could never do enough. Instead, I would just do what I could, an Greg would do what he could, and let the rest be incomplete.” It stuck with me, and I connected it to my recent feelings about moving states after finishing college.
Apart from these simple philosophical moments, readers will gasp at how many tragedies Jones and her husband go through in order to make the farm work semi-decently. I found myself laughing at parts, as well as feeling every loss to nature in other parts. “Can’t these people catch a break?” you’ll ask. They do, but it takes the entire book until they find the solution that was sitting in front of them the whole time.
There was a fair amount of what I like to refer to as “adorable barnyard sexism.” Sometimes, I forget the odd way in which straight people look at straight relations. Most of the distracting parts involved animals, including one instance where a ram being introduced to a pasture of ewes was compared to prom courting. Slightly cringy, but not a reason to pass up this highly moving and inspiring book.
November 10, 2022
A wonderful read about a couple who leave an urban life in Arizona to manage a sheep farm in Oregon. This book possesses those rare qualities of holding it all--humor, pathos, mystery, education, and the story is well told. At times I laughed out loud and twice tears immediately sprang to my eyes. I read it slowly, and I found myself amazed at how well Scottie Jones captures the wonders and trials of trying to make a go of a small farm in America. I learned about the challenges and also about Katahdins hair sheep - a type of sheep that sheds its coat instead of having to be sheared. This is very different from the sheep we have around the ranches where I live. I think she a great job of showing just how filled with ambiguity and unexpected joy, tragedy, trials, and opportunity running a small farm brings. It's a challenging life filled with ritual but also daily newness. It's an interesting life filled with vigor and problem solving -- and wow-- some unforgettable human and animal characters. Highly recommended. And while you are at it - you might consider visiting Leaping Lamb Farm as it is now part of Farm Stay USA --an organization of American small farms that host guests.
June 13, 2018
Scottie and Greg Jones lived a normal suburban life in Phoenix, Arizona. But, when Greg is in a near-fatal car accident he decides life is too short for long commutes and high-stress life. So, he and Scottie buy a sheep farm in rural Oregon and Country Grit is the story of the farm's first 5 years. Becoming farmers in middle age there is a steep learning curve, but thankfully the Joneses find a community of like-minded people in their new town who don't mind helping and sharing advice. After a particularly hard year on their farm they are ready to admit defeat and sell, but one last crazy idea is able to turn their farm around financially. Part memoir and part farm start-up guide, Country Grit show just how hard it is to survive financially on a small farm, but how it can definitely be well worth the risk.
January 22, 2019
My husband read this book in two days. I just started it a few days ago and finished it moments
ago. We both loved it. We had a hobby farm in NW Oregon for almost 10 years so it really resonated with us. We laughed, we cried, we became very nostalgic about our farm – but mostly, we felt what Scottie wrote so deeply. Her writing style is wonderful, her humor is wonderful and her sensitivity to the rhythm and magic of nature is truly rare. Life on the farm is rich. That’s the word we most used to describe our farm life. Yes, it’s hard and “a lot of work” and terrible at times - but so rich. This book is rich. I recommend it to past, present or future farmers – or to anyone who longs to get back to nature.
Lynn Wiles
Albany, Oregon
ago. We both loved it. We had a hobby farm in NW Oregon for almost 10 years so it really resonated with us. We laughed, we cried, we became very nostalgic about our farm – but mostly, we felt what Scottie wrote so deeply. Her writing style is wonderful, her humor is wonderful and her sensitivity to the rhythm and magic of nature is truly rare. Life on the farm is rich. That’s the word we most used to describe our farm life. Yes, it’s hard and “a lot of work” and terrible at times - but so rich. This book is rich. I recommend it to past, present or future farmers – or to anyone who longs to get back to nature.
Lynn Wiles
Albany, Oregon
October 31, 2021
You don’t really know you’re missing or needing something until you’ve spent 4 days with your young family at the Leaping Lambs Farm Stay in Oregon - and you come back feeling so completely nourished and rejuvenated. Reading Scottie’s stories of how she and her husband and friends created this magical living place was so meaningful to me. It was even more impactful reading it while at her farm. Through my own direct experience, I came to many similar takeaways. This fun and moving read helped to reinforce my own learnings. I miss the characters that I got to know so well. And I enjoyed getting to learn how each animal, human, tree played their role and it all became as it is today.
January 24, 2018
Scottie Jones shares a glimpse into her life with humour and grit. I went to the Leaping Lamb Farm with my family and stayed in their rental house, which we found incredibly charming and beautiful. I highly recommend it for a relaxing get-away for a reasonable price. Not knowing of the hardship and near demise of their commitment to stay at the farm, I am happy that Scottie found the resources to continue through the renting out of the cottage. For anyone who loves nature, farming, Oregon, the specialness of living in a small community, this is a lovely read.
March 25, 2021
I thought I was buying a book about a vegetable farm, maybe some chickens, pigs, etc. I am interested in irrigation, crop rotation, seed saving, raising foul, preserving, cooking by season, etc. Really, this is a book about animal farming. Had I realized, I never would have bought it. Since I'm over sensitive on all topics regarding animals, this was a really difficult read, with lots and lots of tears. I am sure it will haunt my nightmares for weeks to come. I am most certainly not made of country grit.
February 9, 2018
Scottie’s book is real. She tells the stories of unlearning a dream and learning a new life with unflinching honesty tossed with lots of grace and a significant helping of humor. I like her. Seeing small farm life through her eyes gives me a deeper respect for those who choose this life and make it work. I totally appreciate her “Addendum: A Primer On Farming” with data and facts about farming in America today. Read this book - you’ll have fun and learn something to boot!
July 24, 2020
I have to admit to having entertained the idea of chucking this urban life and replacing it with one on a bucolic farm like the author's. I've been to it with my family (twice!), and love it so much.
This book helped me understand the history, hardships and heartwarming moments behind that lovely getaway. In addition, Scottie helps us city folk understand how much is involved in making such a transition, and why it's so important to support our small farmers.
This book helped me understand the history, hardships and heartwarming moments behind that lovely getaway. In addition, Scottie helps us city folk understand how much is involved in making such a transition, and why it's so important to support our small farmers.
October 11, 2020
I am a city girl who loves reading Farmoirs:) This one was filled with Great stories of the journey that got them to buy a farm and the things they endured while there. Super sweet story with a few tears, yes I cried, I really recommend this one , and will be passing this copy to someone who also loves farm books
November 18, 2020
Anyone who's harbored secret fantasies of leaving it all behind for a tranquil life on the land should read this memoir. After Scottie's husband Greg is in a serious car accident in Phoenix, the two decide it's time for a change. They purchase a sheep farm in the Coast Range of western Oregon, an idyllic-seeming green space. But when they arrive with horses, dogs, and angry housecat in tow, they discover that things aren't quite what they expected. There are holes in the fences, sheep in the garden, and mice living large in their farmhouse.
But as they work--together--to make the farm liveable, they discover some home truths about their neighbors, the country, and themselves. This is not a starry-eyed vision of farming. Jones is cringingly honest about the difficulties they, and most small farmers, face every day. It will make you look at agriculture and food supply in a whole new way.
But as they work--together--to make the farm liveable, they discover some home truths about their neighbors, the country, and themselves. This is not a starry-eyed vision of farming. Jones is cringingly honest about the difficulties they, and most small farmers, face every day. It will make you look at agriculture and food supply in a whole new way.
November 3, 2022
The real, unromantic side of farming from someone who was thrown into the farming business, not raised. I thought the author did a good job showing how difficult farming is, but also the community that surrounds farmers, especially those in our local Willamette Valley area.
December 19, 2017
Loved this! Super inspired to start my own Farmstay.
November 15, 2018
As a former ag teacher and dreamer of my own small operation, I found this book heart-warming, informative, and real. We bought some land. Now for the hard part... “Grit” is the perfect word!
May 28, 2019
The most earnest account of becoming a farmer that I've found. Emotions range from elation to crushing sadness in this no details spared account of farm life.
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March 14, 2020Skim-read. Had purchased at Elm books. Was not the book for me although informative.
January 16, 2023
I loved that the chapters are very short. It's also the first farmoir I've read that I feel like really talks about the financial hardship of the lifestyle. It was really interesting.
March 3, 2025
This was a quick and enjoyable read. I feel like it could have used more depth, but as far as farming memoirs go, this was one of my favorites.
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August 13, 2020This "farmoir" is a total charmer. Two intelligent, successful, older adults living the high life in the low desert, decide to buy a farm in Oregon and...lead a simpler life? Only to discover there is nothing simple about farming. They didn't just buy it to retire and have someone else milk the goats. They bought it to work it. And work they have, for seventeen years. Birthing livestock, raising a rare (no pun intended) type of lamb, keeping sick animals warm in the farmhouse kitchen, learning when to call the vet or a plumber or just fix it themselves, and growing a small variety of vegetables. Now Leaping Lamb Farm is part of a collection of US Farm Stays. Huge in Europe, and very slowly catching on in the U.S., city dwellers can stay for a spell, get to know the animals, and leave the noise behind. Scottie Brown Jones wrote the book about her and husband Greg Jones' experience, and she's an intelligent and natural writer. The book is funny and smart, and every once in a while you just smack your forehead and start laughing. What were they thinking? Great read!
May 8, 2018
This book was so much more than I expected. I knew it would be good because I have gone to Scottie’s sheep farm for at least six years. Each weekend has been fun for my granddaughter. I have appreciated Scottie’s wonderful way with kids in finding activities they can handle at whatever age. But I didn’t know that she was such a great writer! She provides loads of information about small farms and their struggle to survive. Since she and her husband were urbanites and bought the farm without a clue, the reader knew there was going to be a rocky road ahead. But Scottie ties together the family stories including stress on relationships,the community stories, local tragedies, humorous anecdotes, farm animal and pet stories...in an intriguing, and beautiful way. It was a wonderful read! I barely put it down for the two days I read it. It became my best friend. Thank you, Scottie!
February 3, 2021
A good read about the struggles of maintaining a profitable family farm in the era of industrial feed lots and mega growers. Jones takes you through the first five years after buying their land, detailing the complexities and hard work required to stay afloat through bad weather, animal attacks, and broken equipment. She weaves a cast of interesting and relatable characters (not all of whom are human!) who quickly feel like family, just as they did for Jones. This book is a great addition to the "farmoir" genre.
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May 22, 2019Great- but not every farm fails.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews