Calling farm families — I’m writing a book!
Hello, friends!
September is here and the last month has brought some MAJOR news: I AM OFFICIALLY WRITING A BOOK! (with a publisher on board and everything!)
The book will continue and expand on my recent Growing For Market article themes about all the joys and challenges of combining farming and family life. It will provide both inspiration and offer nitty-gritty solutions and ideas for common problems. Farming and parenting is something I live first-hand, but my experience is limited to my own set of circumstances and the world is so much more complicated than one family’s life.
And that’s why I’m reaching out to farming and homesteading families asking them to share their stories too! My goal is to assemble a diverse team of families who I can check in with during the writing process to see what special anecdote or angle they might have to offer on different subjects as they arise.
I want to have SO MANY DIFFERENT voices represented: big rural farms! small urban homesteads! families with 10 kids! families with one parent and one kid! farms all around the world! dairies! vegetable market gardens! and everything in between! Ultimately, I hope that anyone who picks up the book will see a part of themselves reflected in the pages.
For that, I need your help! Are you a farm/homestead family who’d be willing to share your wisdom, stories, and a few photos with me over the next year? If yes, please check out the book information on my website and fill out my interest form linked at the bottom of the page.
And thank you to all the farmers who have already shared your experiences for my recent parenting/farming/pregnancy articles! Your contributions made those pieces richer and more impactful than I ever could have imagined. I hope that you’ll consider reaching out again to be a part of this bigger project. I can’t wait to hear from you!
Leslie Blanding Perrin works in her garden, from my August 2022 Taproot article, “The Real Magic of Figment Farm”
Other end-of-summer news
Since I last sent out a newsletter, it’s been SUMMER! Our family has truly savored every moment of this summer, during which we prioritized HAVING FUN. Our kids are old enough now to go on bigger travel and backpacking trips, and we definitely filled our adventure cup this year! Looking forward to more fun seasons in the future.
I’ve also had several new articles and projects come out recently:
“The Real Magic of Figment Farm” in Taproot magazine’s August “Savor” issue. This is an interview and photo essay featuring Yamhill County artist Leslie Blanding Perrin and the Leafy Lexicon, her line of plant-themed art cards and posters. Taproot is one of my all-time favorite magazines, and it was such a joy to be a part of it for the first time. This issue is available on the stands now and also for purchase on Taproot’s website.
“Farming and pregnancy: Balancing the physical and emotional demands” in August’s Growing For Market magazine. This one is available to read free on their website! READ NOW HERE!
“Birth and postpartum healing for the farmer: Slowing down before returning to work” in September’s Growing For Market magazine. This is the second part of the series about farmers and pregnancy/birth. Thank you to all of the amazing, diverse farmers who shared their real-life experiences with me for these important articles!
“The Three Sisters” an illustrated graphic essay about the companion planting method is coming out this month in Farmer-ish’s 2022-23 print annual, available for pre-orders now on their website here.
Coming up soon
I’m working on my 2023 Around the Green Wheel calendar now as well as several fun illustration-based gifts that people will be able to buy via my website for the holiday shopping season (hopefully I’ll have that all live in October!). I also have other fun projects up my sleeve that aren’t quite ready to announce yet. Let me just say, there’s been lots of new growth around here lately, and it’s not just the plants and the kids doing the growing!
For now, I wish you the best September! May you enjoy apple desserts, chilly mornings, an easy return to school rhythms, and satisfying work! And thank you in advance to any farm/homestead families open to connecting with me on the book project!
With gratitude,
Katie