Lessons from the Hoghouse: A Woman's Guide to Following Her Country Dream in a World of Manure, Metal Men, and Groundhog Hunters

by Elizabeth Clark

Many of us fantasize about enjoying our own homestead in the country, a place where we can relax, enjoy the scenery, and breathe fresh air all day long. But as all of us know, you have to be selective about what you wish for because your wishes might just come true. Lessons from the Hoghouse leads us on a hilarious romp in the countryside as we follow Liz, a career-minded single woman, as she tackles the unfamiliar world of gentlewoman farming. She soon warms up to the idea that one can't do everything on their own, and welcomes the assistance of local metal men, manure people and groundhog hunters, among others, in her efforts to fulfill her dream. Along the way she learns valuable lessons about dealing with petulant brood mares, persistent bat infestations, an overly amorous turkey and an ass named Irene. With the additional company of a few resident ghosts, a collection of very willful animals, and some extraordinary women who support her endeavor, Liz eventually turns a broken-down farm into a little corner of paradise. Finally, while restoring the hoghouse, she learns the most important lesson of all.

200 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2013

Reviews

[Janet LM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the author's sense of humor. I can relate to a lot of her experiences as my husband and I fix up the family farm. Pretty sure we were given a Category 4. And being from Berks County, I can picture a lot of the places she writes about.

[Henry Youndt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun to read. I really enjoyed the humor.