Customer Reviews

Green Mountain Farm

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This book tells the story of a writer who settles in Vermont in 1934 with his family. It is filled with personal stories of adventures that the family had and the people that they met. Early in the book, an immigrant ski maker convinces the family to move up to the Northeast Kingdom. Merrick describes the early days of the ski industry, when people still wore homemade equipment on the slopes. He also describes his part in the 1930s survey of farming practices, contrasting his own experiences working his farm to supplement his writing income.

Green Mountain Farm is one of my favorite books on county living. The book focuses not on "how-to" but rather on nature, eccentric characters, contented introspection, and concise philosophical musings. The book is a collection of essays describing a life that many of us dream about: leaving the city to create a happy and successful life in a beautiful countryside. Merrick writes in excellent prose, full of crystal-clear imagery, wit, and occasional humor, easily carrying the reader into his world.

Merrick converts the tedium, never-ending farm work, and other hardships of life on a remote farm into benefits. Even mistakes are fortunate. "We did everything wrong, but it turned out right." Perhaps this rosy view of such a life was mostly due to Merrick's outlook: "It's a matter of temperament, you see."

This is a beautiful and inspiring book, and written in such plain yet gorgeous prose that you will check the spine to see if you've picked up a book by E.B. White. Elliott Merrick is less anxious than Andy White, more intrepid in the wilderness, and just as lovely a writer. I was transported and immediately bought all of Merrick's other books. Terrific!

I finished this book a few weeks ago and still I find myself thinking of his stories every day. Elliot Merrick is a great storyteller and brings vividly to the mind's eye a life that has largely died off. He and his wife bought a run-down farm in rural Vermont in the '30s and lived in a way our family is trying to live today. His book is written as a collection of essays about their years on the farm. They have a large garden and make maple syrup, and have milk cows and grow pork. He talks of mending fences and digging out an old well, and of the changing seasons and small town culture. They weren't farmers when they bought the farm, and had to learn how to be successful by trial and error and with the help of eccentric neighbors. He writes with a combination of humor, reverence for nature and respect for the way things had been done for several hundred years. I really respect his and his wife's desire to live close to nature and to avoid city life.

A lot of his book is also based on his love of rivers, lakes and the sea. Their farm was located on the edge of Lake Champlain, so a lot of his essays talk of trips they took in their boat and of the history of the settlers and steamboats on the lake.

He also writes of his desire to make a living by writing, and of the need to take outside jobs to support his family while trying to make his dream come true.

I really loved the way he wrote about his wife and children - you immediately know that he was a good family man and a hard worker. After reading this book I've ordered the rest of his books - True North, Northern Nurse and Cruising at Last - I want to know more about his life and adventures. The introduction by Lawrence Millman gives an addition glimpse into the personality and life of Elliot Merrick.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the old ways of farming or a love of New England and life in the 30s and 40s.

I paraphrased the title because I couldn't find the sentence in the book for this review, but this was Elliott Merrick's philosophy of life. You do have to "live in the past" when you read this book, but I'm sure Mr. Merrick would forgive us.

This book is a wonderful collection of essays chronicling the history of his family's life in northern Vermont during the 30's. He and his wife bought the rundown farm and raised a family there. I felt I was there too because the essays are so beautifully written. The Merricks were rich in love for their home and family which was far more important to them than being rich in money.

If you like the Good Life by the Nearings who lived in Vermont at roughly the same time you should enjoy this too. The Merricks and Nearings had very different philosophies concerning the use of animals and the right way to live, but both families write a clear window to the past. The Merricks were a family with children who did use animals for food and work. The Merricks also didn't realize how useful it would be to encourage visitors to work for their supper. The Nearings were childless and determined to support themselves on their farm. Still, they all loved their pieces of Vermont.