Garden in the Hills

by Elizabeth West

Genres: Nature, Gardening

208 pages, Paperback

First published June 19, 1981

Reviews

[Teri-K]

Another wonderful book about gardens and growing things in general. I've not read the book that goes before this, so I don't know how it all came about, but this book tells of the years when a couple lived off the grid on a remote farm in Wales. They garden, can, build ponds and spend a lot of time watching the wildlife on their few acres. Unusually, they don't raise any livestock, not even chickens or a pig, in part because they don't want to kill things. Also, unlike most books like this, they have to leave off and on to take jobs in cities where they can earn money as they can't support themselves on their land.

I devoured this book in one day, loving the discussions of herbs and berries, trees and butterflies. There's also a nerve-wracking drought and a funny experience selling artificial trees in a department store. All in all this was a very enjoyable "back-to-the-land" story. I also thought it was more realistic than most, as they had to take those outside jobs to support themselves and you clearly saw how really hard they worked. Still reading it was pure pleasure.

[Paige]

3.5⭐ (rounded up to 4)

Very interesting read and read at a time when my sister was becoming more interested in our garden

[Hazel Manuel]

Garden in the Hills was a re-read for me. I first read it when I, like the author left the 'rat-race' to live in North Wales. I still love this book. It is the well told sequel to 'Hovel in the Hills' and continues the the story of the author's self-sufficient life. This time around, whilst still enthralled with the descriptions of a back-to-basics life, I must admit, I found the author a little smug. That said, this is a book I'd recommend.

[Rob Wiltsher]

An absolute inspiration...

[Jules]

Beautiful and beautifully written