The Wisdom of the Radish: And Other Lessons Learned on a Small Farm

by Lynda Browning, Lynda Browning

Early in The Wisdom of the Radish , Lynda Hopkins admits that she's an aspiring farmer's suburban girlfriend. With this tentative start, she and her boyfriend, Emmett, become the country's newest sodbusters. Their goal is to earn a living wage by growing crops, raising chickens, and selling the fruits of their labor at the local farmers' market. The pair pronounces their two acres, in the Russian River Valley, Foggy River Farm. 

What at first sounds pastoral and idyllic quickly devolves into crop failures, worm-riddled corn, flood, and an episode involving a fox that's right out of Aesop's Fables. But with perseverance, Mother Nature's strong inclination for plants to grow, and sage counsel from Internet message boards, a working farm rises from humble soil. 

Hopkins is a winning storyteller, and her agricultural account of seedlings, harvests, chickens, and goats is engaging and gripping. She ruminates on the value of radishes, considering their economic and sentimental profit and loss. She makes the classic greenhorn error of becoming emotionally involved with her chickens, and comes to the shocking realization that her roosters are serial rapists! 

The transformation that the author undergoes is not so much related to the long hours and the total removal of the word "vacation" from her vocabulary. No, it really comes down to cultivating a sense of belonging to the farm--enough that the farm becomes home and not just a location with an endless set of chores. Sometimes all it takes is a little heart to become more than an aspiring farmer's girlfriend.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Gardening, Food, Biography, Reference, Book Club

256 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2011

Reviews

[jess]

The Premise: Fresh-faced, straight, white couple just out of grad school head for northern California to try to make it as "Greenhorns" (new farmers) on land borrowed from his father. They will grow organic vegetables and sell them at the farmers market. Yes, the premise of this book is kind of irritating. I admit it. Fortunately, the author seems totally aware of how irritatingly precious their story seems.

Considering the annoying premise, the sheer volume of "new farmer" memoirs I have read, & the cover of this book -- which my teenage son called The Buffy Farmer book the whole time I had it from the library because the author bears a striking resemblance to a certain vampire slayer -- my expectations were pretty low and I was pleasantly surprised by this book.

I laughed and shudder along with Lynda & Emmett through dead seedlings, wormy corn, first-time farmer mistakes, chicken growing, raising and slaughter, the self-consciousness of the farmers' market, and irrigation woes. I battle many of the same insect pests. I felt their pain. I learned some things. I feared for my chickens' lives and fortified my coop.

This author has an advanced degree in journalism, but that does not necessarily mean someone is a good writer. Lynda Hopkins, however, is a good writer. Her sentences are well-constructed. Her verbs and adjectives go to Poignant but stop short of overblown cheese. Also, Lynda Hopkins can research and cite things. My god, this book has like a hundred citations of primary and secondary sources. She peppers her narrative with Fast Facts about food production, food miles, chemicals, organic farming, farmers markets, and the plight of the modern US farmer in tandem with the plight of agriculture in the US. I appreciated this effort.

And finally, what I disliked about this book:
1 - I could have done without the Romance story line. I guess it was meant to humanize / provide another layer of interest, and yes, this is a memoir, but Yawn. A 25-year-old girl who wants to marry her apathetic boyfriend is not interesting. That's some romance novel shit right there.
2 - I also could have done without the justifications as their veganism becomes vegetarianism and then they become ex-vegans who are slaughtering their own chicken in the backyard and roasting it. COME ON. The slaughter/dinner description fell short of thoughtful. It's not that I wanted her to emotionally process it for 25 pages (I am not that deep lez, ok?) but it just felt irreverent and flippant.

If you have a hankering for a modern Greenhorn memoir, this is one of the better ones out there. If you have read several of them already, the redundant material might outweigh the quality of the writing. I do like the book, though, and plan to follow Lynda’s blog.

[J]

This was one book whose title caught my attention while I was passing a gardening/farming display they were doing for the month. Definitely wanting to know what wisdom a radish would hold I snapped up my find and begged my bf to check it out for me, which he did so and then I promptly started to read the book once I cleaned off my current reading list.

I love this book for so many reasons. Although we have other memoirs that reach out to readers while covering so much episodes in individual lives this is one that I found has reached me the most. The reader is given a door into the author's life as she struggles to find a career along with her boyfriend that is not only awarding but will help to change the world even if in little steps while at the same time struggling with her urban roots. And slowly she finds just what it takes to not only feed her community but also what it takes to become a farmer and to put her heart out on the line so they can expand even more into a little-known world.

The writing is fun, warm and inviting while so easy to read that you just don't want to put the book down. And each chapter is given a title that relates to the author in some way to the category of plants or animals that she is covering before getting into some of the experiences that they faced whether it was a problem that needed to be fixed, the need for nurturing let loose, sad moments and those of triumph plus a bunch more. Occasionally sprinkled throughout the text are black-and-white photos with captions that give the reader an even more intimate encounter with some of the characters found in the pages.

As much as I enjoyed the book, though, there were a few places that I found to be a bit vulgar and crass. Although this isn't my humor type I understand the need for some parts of it be included so we could get to meet Lynda truly as she is but it does help to have a bit of a good warning for those who may be sensitive readers.

In the end I truly suggest this book for the wisdom that can be found in the pages and the true coming of age moments. For the aspiring farmer and/or gardener who may need some encouragement, especially if they plan on starting their own business, or just a person who wants to get to know another down-to-roots this is one book that will be a pleasure to enjoy.

[Sara]

Those of you enamoured with green living, sustainability, and organic foods may have once harbored a wish to move out to the country and start a little farm of your own. In this book, Lynda Hopkins pulls no punches as she describes her and her boyfriend's attempt to do just that. Starting with two acres on a relative's vineyard, Hopkins narrates their struggles with seedlings, worms, beetles, chickens, squash, beans, and a plethora of produce and livestock. Their failures and successes are listed with a sense of good humor and biting sarcasm, depending on the situation; the despair of a flooded field or infestation of lettuce-eating bugs, the pride in having a full array of produce at their farmers' market booth.

This book gave me a greater appreciation and respect for the farmers that I see at the markets; I admit that I have sometimes prevaricated at the prices which are charged, but as Hopkins describes her dilemma when trying to price her wares at the market, it begins to make more sense. A great read.

[Pam]

I love almost any book about start-up farming (yes, even the really bad slf-published variety). When I came across the blog of the same title (where I discovered the book), I was hooked! I found this book to be a nice mix of the struggles and joys of being new to farming and interesting factual information. In fact, I think my favorite chapter was on the history of the tomato. Who knew the beloved fruit that adorns our salads had such a sordid past? I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in farming, idealism, giving back to the earth and community, or simply trying to craft a living doing something you feel great about!

[Kate]

I enjoyed this. Primarily for her descriptions of raising chickens, and interacting with farmers' market customers, and figuring out what to do about their bug infestation. So my advice to you, if you're put off by the cover and title, (as I almost was), is this: just flip to the section near the end where the author and her boyfriend, both vegans, get so annoyed with their rooster population that they decide to kill and eat them. That alone is totally worth it.

[Brianhartfield]

I truly enjoyed Lynda's book. Having grown up in a rural community but now living in the city I ofter find myself yearning to go back to the land; knowing that in someways I haven't really left it. She and Emmett are doing the work that I find myself longing to do again. Till then I'll keep supporting our local farmers market and getting out to the country every chance that I can.

[Kyla]

History of agriculture through the lens of their beginning farm - I liked the personal stuff and struggle and unsentimental farming info but I bet her publisher made her delve off into the broader issued that I'm not sure this book needed.

[Rebecca]

I loved many parts of this book and hated just as many. In some ways it was hard for me to take her seriously -- talking about being poor greenhorn farmers and how many people don't take that risk. Well, honey, many people don't have parents with an extra few acres if land for them to farm. To have that is a blessing. (Lest anyone think I am personally bitter: I also probably would have access to a similar blessing if I wanted it, but I don't have a goal of running a farm and my own little 5 foot bed is just about more than I am able to handle right now.)
However, the way she writes about the garden experience and their chickens was hilarious and sometimes sad, and she is very very honest about her shortcomings.
Truly could have done without the "I'm not even a farmers wife, I'm a farmers long term girlfriend." No. You work the land you're both farmers, stopppp it. (But again, her boyfriend's way of proposing was possibly one of the sweetest and also silliest things I've heard of. Spoiler: he puts a ring around a radish and a few weeks later has her harvest that section of the field.)

So I was thinking 2 stars, but I bumped it up to three because of how often I cracked up over her amusing retellings of their misfortunes.

[Tonya]

Again, I wish for less bad language. However, this book was delightfully written with stories that made me laugh, made me cry, and over all encourage me to keep doing what I’m doing with my chickens. This gets thumbs up from the chicken whisperer

[Talie]

Pedantic - skipped much of the book

[Andy Perdue]

I'm fortunate to live in an agricultural area with multiple farmers markets. I love going to the farmers market and finding produce I don't normally buy. Sure, some of it eventually gets composted, but buying directly from a farmer, then going home and cooking with that food is an experience not everybody gets the opportunity to enjoy.

My trips to the local farmers market will forever be changed after reading "The Wisdom of the Radish" by Lynda Hopkins. Lynda grew up in urban San Diego and moved to rural Sonoma County to be a farmer's girlfriend (the radish plays into that part of the story). With almost no farming experience, she and her boyfriend manage to start a small farm and begin to sell their produce at two local farmers markets. She shares her experiences with crop failures, with foxes in the hen house (quite literally), with animal husbandry and with the joy she finds suddenly being closer to the soil.

This is a fast read, and it is as delicious as the food she and her boyfriend grow and sell. She offers insights that I now see in the eyes of those on the other side of the table at my farmers market.

One of the most interesting little aspects of this book is how a couple of vegans actually start to eat "nontraditional vegan food" such as eggs and even meat they raise on their farm. It's an interesting twist I haven't quite gotten my mind wrapped around.

Lynda is a gifted young writer, a testament to her journalism studies. I'll be certain to add her blog (http://wisdomoftheradish.com/) to my Google Reader.

[Sarah]

I truly enjoyed this book. I didn't really expect to like it that much, despite the fact that the subject matter interests me; my inner grouch (which is always very, very loud) said, "Oh, for crying out loud, here's one of those naive, baby-faced, over-educated idealists who thinks she can change the world... ho freakin' hum."

But The Wisdom of the Radish is much deeper than that. It's a well written, honest, occasionally graphic, and frequently funny memoir of the first year in the life of a new farming enterprise. True, the protagonists do kind of start out thinking they will change the world -- but they put their heart and soul and sweat into their efforts, and I admire that. It's not just about the day-to-day tribulations of farming, either; Hopkins punctuates the minutiae of the farm with discussions of the science and philosophy of organic farming and the local-food movement. Highly recommended reading. Four and a half stars.

[Kerri]

I found this an interesting take from someone who has started a farm and sells at a farmers market. As some have mentioned, this may not be the typical route taken by new farmers as most cannot afford or obtain prime land in a place like Healdsburg, CA. However, I enjoyed reading about the author's experiences as someone who sells at a farmers market and the experiences related to her poultry and livestock. (Note: most of the foul language is in the chapters about the animals. I'm not sure I wouldn't have felt, if perhaps not expressed, the same way as the author. If this offends you, I recommend you don't read Julie & Julia which is peppered throughout! )

[Lexish]

Written by a young person who decided to start a farm with her boyfriend (on a corner of his parents' vineyard), this book has a very different voice from many of the other gardening stories out there. For example: If you're afraid of the use of a few four-letter words here and there -- in context -- then this one isn't for you! If you do not prefer to read details about the life, death, and intimate care of farm animals, then this is not the book for you either. That said,
I enjoyed reading the relatively unsentimental and often humorous tale of how their small farm patch floundered, scraped by, and eventually made it.

[Melissa]

A charming story - sometimes a little roughly too honest. But then that's similar to life on a farm.
I thought it was a nice recounting of the first year or so of a couple and their brave adventure. I've met the author, briefly, and was so impressed by her enthusiasm for her new life that her personality far outweighs any critical comment I'll make on the crafting of the book. I will share it eagerly with any and all I can.

[Fernleaf]

AWESOME farming memoir! Two 20-somethings risk everything while trying to start a small farm. They go from not knowing what they're doing (killing seedlings, getting a late start on the growing season, etc...) to having a small but prosperous farm and a successful stand at the farmer's market. Hilariously funny throughout, studded with insightful gems, and bursting with hope, this book is enough to encourage any young person to give their farming dreams the chance.

[Ami]

While the writing was a tad choppy and at times a little too coarse, I thought that "The Wisdom of the Radish" was a good debut book by Lynda Hopkins. I appreciated her stories of the trials and tribulations of starting a small farm, they made the book feel realistic. Her passion for localized food production was clearly evident. I do wish she had gone into more depth on some of the day to day happenings instead of only picking a very limited number of stories to tell.

[Karen Mahtin]

Wonderful memoir written by a beginning farmer who is also a journalist. I interview Lynda and Emmett for one of my classes (thanks again, guys!), and I thought they and their farming operation are just great. They have a community-supported CSA in the Healdsburg area and can be found at some local farmers' markets. They are also farming mentors in the local Beginning Farmer Program. My one regret is that I did not insist on meeting their goats (and, at the time, sheep).

[Laura]

A great book -- it's about a young couple (who I happen to know) started a small farm, selling organic vegetables. But it's really a look at life, full of humor amid frustration, learning and growing. Anyone who has ever thought about a "life on the farm" has to read it...but even if you are city bound the book offers a lot of insight and tells a very good story.

[Michele Block]

A couple of recent college graduates rent some farmland in the hopes of becoming organic farmers. Part memoir, part instructional how-to with great information about vegetables in general, this book is both educational and endearing. I really enjoyed the writing style of the author who works as a reporter for a newspaper as well as the tales of life on a farm.

[Anne]

Loved this book.. Maybe it feeds the part of me who wants to have a small farm, or just the part of me who likes the reward of gardening and can't imagine much better than having a home surrounded by animal personalities of all kinds. I really enjoyed Lynda's honest descriptions of successes and failures and the emotions and logic around each.

[Jennybeast]

I wanted more of the personal story, less of the basics of current farm politics -- it's not that that stuff isn't interesting, but others, many others, have done it better and in more depth. I felt like the book lacked confidence and identity. If I'd never read a book about starting a small farm, I would probably have found it more engaging. I have, so I didn't.

[Kristi]

Engaging and inspiring without being preachy. The author has enough common sense to know that not everyone can afford Whole Foods organic prices and she's cool enough to sell at lower prices to some of those in need. She's unapologetic however in determining her worth in time, labor, and following a sustainable path that benefits us all. Good for her.

[Aimee]

This was an easy read, but I didn't feel there was much depth to the story. Having just read Novella Carpenter's book, I think I was hoping for more. The author is likable, but I wish I had gotten to know her better.

[Kayleen]

I think I would have enjoyed this more if I had not grown up on a farm. Every time she started a story about a new farm venture I found myself thinking, well that isn't going to end well. And it didn't.

It's well written.

[Katie]

I quit at page 47. Her writing just drags with the technical. I wanted to hear her story not the technical names of things she's encountered. Maybe it gets better, I for one will not be trudging through to find out. It looks like it should have been lovely. I was disappointed and have moved on.

[Rachel]

This was just ok. She is somewhat funny and interesting but I much preferred Plenty by Alisa Smith which covered local eating. I finished this one but it took a while and never fully caught my interest.

[Jo Sullivan]

Loved the quote "It occurred to me there aren't just four seasons--there are thousands. And the season we were in lasted only one morning...The planet's first lace--spiderwebs hung with frozen drops--overlaid iridescent green gowns. There was no end here; just possibility..."

[Eva]

lynda brings up many of the same topics that ran through my mind while working at coveyou scenic farm last year. a quick and easy read from the perspective of small farmers just starting out.

[Janet]

Lynda Hopkins' story of a young couple's first year growing vegetables and selling at a local farmer's market. A little simplistic.