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Laura Ingalls Wilder, Farm Journalist: Writings from the Ozarks
Before Laura Ingalls Wilder found fame with her Little House books, she made a name for herself with short nonfiction pieces in magazines and newspapers. Read today, these pieces offer insight into her development as a writer and depict farm life in the Ozarks—and also show us a different Laura Ingalls Wilder from the woman we have come to know.
This volume collects essays by Wilder that originally appeared in the Missouri Ruralist between 1911 and 1924. Building on the initial compilation of these articles under the title Little House in the Ozarks, this revised edition marks a more comprehensive collection by adding forty-two additional Ruralist articles and restoring passages previously omitted from other articles.
Writing as “Mrs. A. J. Wilder” about modern life in the early twentieth-century Ozarks, Laura lends her advice to women of her generation on such timeless issues as how to be an equal partner with their husbands, how to support the new freedoms they’d won with the right to vote, and how to maintain important family values in their changing world. Yet she also discusses such practical matters as how to raise chickens, save time on household tasks, and set aside time to relax now and then.
New articles in this edition include “Making the Best of Things,” “Economy in Egg Production,” and “Spic, Span, and Beauty.” “Magic in Plain Foods” reflects her cosmopolitanism and willingness to take advantage of new technologies, while “San Marino Is Small but Mighty” reveals her social-political philosophy and her interest in cooperation and community as well as in individualism and freedom. Mrs. Wilder was firmly committed to living in the present while finding much strength in the values of her past.
A substantial introduction by Stephen W. Hines places the essays in their biographical and historical context, showing how these pieces present Wilder’s unique perspective on life and politics during the World War I era while commenting on the challenges of surviving and thriving in the rustic Ozark hill country. The former little girl from the little house was entering a new world and wrestling with such issues as motor cars and new “labor-saving” devices, but she still knew how to build a model small farm and how to get the most out of a dollar.
Together, these essays lend more insight into Wilder than do even her novels and show that, while technology may have improved since she wrote them, the key to the good life hasn’t changed much in almost a century. Laura Ingalls Wilder, Farm Journalist distills the essence of her pioneer heritage and will delight fans of her later work as it sheds new light on a vanished era.
This volume collects essays by Wilder that originally appeared in the Missouri Ruralist between 1911 and 1924. Building on the initial compilation of these articles under the title Little House in the Ozarks, this revised edition marks a more comprehensive collection by adding forty-two additional Ruralist articles and restoring passages previously omitted from other articles.
Writing as “Mrs. A. J. Wilder” about modern life in the early twentieth-century Ozarks, Laura lends her advice to women of her generation on such timeless issues as how to be an equal partner with their husbands, how to support the new freedoms they’d won with the right to vote, and how to maintain important family values in their changing world. Yet she also discusses such practical matters as how to raise chickens, save time on household tasks, and set aside time to relax now and then.
New articles in this edition include “Making the Best of Things,” “Economy in Egg Production,” and “Spic, Span, and Beauty.” “Magic in Plain Foods” reflects her cosmopolitanism and willingness to take advantage of new technologies, while “San Marino Is Small but Mighty” reveals her social-political philosophy and her interest in cooperation and community as well as in individualism and freedom. Mrs. Wilder was firmly committed to living in the present while finding much strength in the values of her past.
A substantial introduction by Stephen W. Hines places the essays in their biographical and historical context, showing how these pieces present Wilder’s unique perspective on life and politics during the World War I era while commenting on the challenges of surviving and thriving in the rustic Ozark hill country. The former little girl from the little house was entering a new world and wrestling with such issues as motor cars and new “labor-saving” devices, but she still knew how to build a model small farm and how to get the most out of a dollar.
Together, these essays lend more insight into Wilder than do even her novels and show that, while technology may have improved since she wrote them, the key to the good life hasn’t changed much in almost a century. Laura Ingalls Wilder, Farm Journalist distills the essence of her pioneer heritage and will delight fans of her later work as it sheds new light on a vanished era.
344 pages, Hardcover
First published December 3, 2007
27 people are currently reading
870 people want to read
About the author
Laura Ingalls Wilder
454 books5,403 followersIngalls wrote a series of historical fiction books for children based on her childhood growing up in a pioneer family. She also wrote a regular newspaper column and kept a diary as an adult moving from South Dakota to Missouri, the latter of which has been published as a book.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 3, 2022
I have adored Laura Ingalls Wilder since my fourth-grade teacher first introduced our class to Little House in the Big Woods. The library at school, as well as the public library knew me well as I frequented both while relishing each book in the series. The pilot for the "Little House on the Prairie" television series debuted a couple of years later. Laura inspired me as a reader and stirred my young writer-aspirations. Throughout the many years since those bygone days, I've visited Almonzo and Laura's Rocky Ridge farm near Mansfield, Missouri twice and a couple of years ago, I visited the site of Little House in the Big Woods in Pepin, Wisconsin. It was in the little museum in town that I found this treasure of a book. I knew she had written essay-type articles for the Missouri Ruralist newspaper but had never read them. Here they were in one volume edited by Stephen W. Hines. If you love Laura, you'll love, respect, and appreciate her even more after reading this wonderful book. I'm still learning from her. Her intelligence, values, and optimism shine. They are quite contagious. You will learn much about our country and how it changed throughout her lifetime. She appreciated modern inventions making life easier, but stayed grounded in her values. Family, neighbors, and gratitude for what you have are integral to her character. Having a daughter (Rose Wilder Lane) who traveled the world kept her more informed on people and customs in other countries. She also loved the increased recognition women received for their achievements and innovations during the many years of modernation and advancements made in the world around her. Still, her wisdom, faith, and grounding in the importance of family and community brought me back to my roots. These are what make our country strong. You will laugh, cry, learn, reflect, and appreciate the smallest things in your life more for reading this book. I met Laura through her Little House books during my childhood; I met the wiser and older Laura through this book of her essays over fifty years later. Both the child I was then and the grandmother I am now are grateful. If you read this book, I think you will be too.
October 18, 2018
I have read some of these before, but I bought this copy at Rocky Ridge, Laura's last home that is preserved as a museum and memorial in Mansfield, MO. So this time, as I read it, I had a visual reference of the farm and house. (Rocky Ridge is a must-see destination for any Little House fan.)
The articles collected here were published by her local newspaper in the early 1900s. She talks about local, national, and global issues. Some articles are write-ups of local fair winners or other local events; others are about national politics and how the country should move forward after the war. She summarizes letters from her daughter, who wrote to Laura about customs in foreign countries she visited. Some are little stories illustrating some moral she wanted to discuss. There were a lot of varied topics; apparently, she was allowed pretty free rein in her column.
Wilder makes running a small farm sound doable. It's actually inspiring! And no utilities, no problem. No need to bring the water company out, we'll just find a spring and some piping and boom! Running water.
In one article, she mentions "Tin Can Tourists", a group of people who traveled in their vehicles. This group still exists today. They are now a club for vintage trailers, campers, and motorhomes. Laura stated she would not enjoy that life; "home" to her meant a house and land. She was concerned about society becoming so mobile and no one being stewards of the land. I found that interesting, as she spent a lot of her childhood moving around.
And I'm really tempted to look up some of the locals she mentions and see if their descendants are still in the area.
The articles collected here were published by her local newspaper in the early 1900s. She talks about local, national, and global issues. Some articles are write-ups of local fair winners or other local events; others are about national politics and how the country should move forward after the war. She summarizes letters from her daughter, who wrote to Laura about customs in foreign countries she visited. Some are little stories illustrating some moral she wanted to discuss. There were a lot of varied topics; apparently, she was allowed pretty free rein in her column.
Wilder makes running a small farm sound doable. It's actually inspiring! And no utilities, no problem. No need to bring the water company out, we'll just find a spring and some piping and boom! Running water.
In one article, she mentions "Tin Can Tourists", a group of people who traveled in their vehicles. This group still exists today. They are now a club for vintage trailers, campers, and motorhomes. Laura stated she would not enjoy that life; "home" to her meant a house and land. She was concerned about society becoming so mobile and no one being stewards of the land. I found that interesting, as she spent a lot of her childhood moving around.
And I'm really tempted to look up some of the locals she mentions and see if their descendants are still in the area.
August 12, 2022
I just loved this book. Stories of World War II echo our current times, opinions and wisdom and visions of what it was like when different types of progress were being made.
August 25, 2014
The writing is good. Somewhat old-fashioned and meandering, but it IS Laura Ingalls Wilder. I didn't agree with everything and there are racist bits.
The book format leaves something to be desired. Because this is a compilation of her articles, half of them are titled, "As a Farm Woman Thinks," so it's hard to distinguish between them unless you know the date, which you wouldn't unless you already had favorites among them. The bibliography of her works at the end may be more helpful if you're looking to skim through and see what appeals.
The book format leaves something to be desired. Because this is a compilation of her articles, half of them are titled, "As a Farm Woman Thinks," so it's hard to distinguish between them unless you know the date, which you wouldn't unless you already had favorites among them. The bibliography of her works at the end may be more helpful if you're looking to skim through and see what appeals.
December 13, 2020
It's great to have all of Laura Ingalls Wilder's Ruralist articles in one place. A must have for the Laura fan.
June 25, 2021
A collection of her magazine articles written from 1915-1923. Interesting how the more things change the more they stay the same.
November 17, 2024
Grew up on Laura
It just seemed natural to read this book for me, I've read all of her other books. We went to Rocky Ridge Farm a couple summers ago. It was neat to read a book about her older life and her writings for newspapers and magazines. I love her stories, she was an important part of my childhood through her books.
It just seemed natural to read this book for me, I've read all of her other books. We went to Rocky Ridge Farm a couple summers ago. It was neat to read a book about her older life and her writings for newspapers and magazines. I love her stories, she was an important part of my childhood through her books.
September 27, 2025
My childhood was filled with the enchanting stories of the Little House series, and I have always held a special place in my heart for them. My fondness for this book is more about the author, Laura Ingalls Wilder, than the content itself. If I had read this book without knowing its author, I might have rated it lower. It was an okay read for me.
May 29, 2018
This is some of what I was expecting... farming life in the Ozarks. But also interesting observations of WWI, some rather progressive ideas about being self-sufficient (or living off the grid as we might say today), and Laura’s philosophies.
June 19, 2025
Pretty much the same as the rediscovered writings.
November 4, 2025
Not as good as the Little House On The Prairie books. A collection of newspaper articles; mainly advice onlife & advice for life on the farm.
February 16, 2009
This is a collection of the farm columns of Laura Ingalls Wilder. While she is best known as the author of the much loved Little House books, Wilder also wrote a series of popular columns for farming papers over the years. The columns are uneven. Some of surprisingly insightful and relevant to today's world, talking about the importance of preserving the earth for the future generations, developing alternative fuels, and the importance of building a strong educational system. She is also torn between her belief in the importance of the traditional roles of men and women and her belief that women must and should play a role in the greater world, which she sees as a looming presence as she writes before and shortly after women received the right to vote. other columns deal with issues such as her trip to the World's Fair, letters from her daughter and who took the blue ribbon for best jam at the county fair and are less interesting, but still give an interesting slice of life image. This book is definitely not for everyone, but for fans of Wilder, or those who want a look at life in the early 1900s, it's a good read.
January 15, 2012
This woman and I are kindred spirits. What is here is a series of timeless essays about living a good and beautiful life. LIW was a well-read, introspective woman who used her position with the Missouri Ruralist (where these essays were originally published) to educate readers and rural residents about pertinent issues, but more importantly to stress and demonstrate what it is to live a full and vigorous. You'll forget you're reading about life between 1918-1921, because it pretty much sounds like the same issues and problems people have today. Laura has a knack for picking out people's quirks and personalities to give us an idea of everyday life in America. Some things are distinct to its time and place, of course, but this is a jane-of-all-trades of a book: politics, economics, home economics, agriculture, poetry, memoir, travel essays, etc.
March 24, 2015
Laura Ingalls Wilder, noted author of the Little House on the Prairie series, was also a columnist for the Missouri Ruralist and in this volume are the collected columns from 1911 to 1924.
These columns provide a wealth of insights into rural life in turn-of-the century America and of the most interest is how Wilder sees the impact of progress on rural life. Her columns concerning women's voting, the First World War and its aftermath are particularly interesting: namely that women should be informed of the political process since it is such an important duty to be able to vote.
The other columns about day-to-day life on the farm sometimes feel repetitive but the joys and sorrows of rural life are constantly conveyed.
These columns provide a wealth of insights into rural life in turn-of-the century America and of the most interest is how Wilder sees the impact of progress on rural life. Her columns concerning women's voting, the First World War and its aftermath are particularly interesting: namely that women should be informed of the political process since it is such an important duty to be able to vote.
The other columns about day-to-day life on the farm sometimes feel repetitive but the joys and sorrows of rural life are constantly conveyed.
February 18, 2015
A must-read for Laura fans--it's a solid collection of her writings from The Missouri Ruralist, which provide great insight into the daily life of the beloved author, as well as her opinions on a number of things, from the way a farm should be run to some of the mild politics of the day. I'd give it 5 stars, but I wish the editor would have spent a little more time annotating some of the essays. The introduction is solid, but I also think it could have stood to have a conclusion, maybe a reminder of what Laura went on to do next and why she stopped writing her column.
June 10, 2011
A wonderful book! I was completely surprised at how forward-thinking Ms. Wilder was, although not in the typical suffragist way of many women of her era. Her stories are thoughtful and interesting, and I simply could not put it down. I originally borrowed the book from my library, then purchased it because I know I'll want to read it again...it's that good!
August 17, 2012
Before Laura wrote her memoirs and created the Little House books, she was a published newspaper columnist. She wrote a column called As A Farm Woman Thinks. Her columns covered all kinds of subjects, from how to make chickens lay in the winter to some of the stories that wound up in her books. This book is a mixture of some of those columns and they were a delight to read.
July 11, 2014
I enjoyed this book. It was interesting to learn about Laura's interests, and I really liked when she described the fairs she attended. A must-read for all LIW fans who want to know more about the woman she became.
July 14, 2014
I love this collection of writings from Laura's adulthood. This book is a compilation of articles that Laura wrote for a farming newsletter in Missouri. She shares lots of practical wisdom, and you get to see a side of Laura's personal life that you don't get from the Little House Books!
September 2, 2014
What a remarkable and inspiring writer! Though written for another generation of readers, I absolutely love her "common sense" wisdom, humor and advice.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews