Shepherd's Sight: A Farming Life

by Barbara McLean

A restorative and resonant memoir of a year in the life of an aging shepherd For 50 years, Barbara McLean has tended a flock of Border Leicester sheep on her small Ontario farm, Lambsquarters. In Shepherd’s Sight she shares the crises, pleasures, and challenges of farm life over the course of a year. Now in her 70s, McLean faces a new how much longer she can continue with the physically taxing work that is her central source of meaning and satisfaction. Through her unsentimental gaze, we witness the highs and heartbreaks of delivering and rearing lambs, the shearing and spinning of wool, the wildlife in the woods (and occasionally in the house), and the garden produce moving from seed to harvest to table. Even after half a century on this land, McLean is still making fresh observations, and she shares them in evocative, elegant prose. As she moves through the calendar year, she also reflects on years past, offering a long view on climate, stewardship, and agriculture. With its vivid description and absorbing storytelling, Shepherd’s Sight offers an unforgettable glimpse of a life lived on the land.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Animals, Biography, Memoir, Canada

240 pages, Paperback

Published March 19, 2024

Reviews

[Isabella Kroker Kimber · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about sheep! What a cozy, contemplative, Canadian read

[Adrienne Blaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many of us dream of bucolic life on a farm, but only a select few resolve to actually live it month after month, year after year in all its beauty and brutality. Writing about shepherding with a chapter dedicated to each month in a year, Barbara McLean reveals the yearly ups and downs of running a sheep farm in rural Ontario, Canada. McLean opted into this life as a young woman and writes from the perspective of a woman who has lived it out for half a century. She shares wisdom from her collected experiences while humbly accepting that she doesn’t know everything. In fact, she embraces opportunities to learn more even as she mourns the loss of old ways of farming. I expected this to be a cozy read, and in some ways it was, but it was often heartbreaking and awe-inspiring to learn what it really takes to shepherd a flock through all the seasons of the year.

I received a digital advance reader copy from ECW Press in exchange for an honest review.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

did i learn something? sure. did the author annoy tf outta me? yes!

[Lydia Schoch · Rating 5 out of 5]

The complexity of farm life makes it endlessly interesting.

This is something I’d recommend equally to people from every walk of life. Whether you grew up on a farm, had a suburban or urban childhood but dream about switching to a rural life, have ever wondered what it’s really like to live off the land, or are a happy city slicker who would like to view the world through a rural perspective for a little while, I believe there will be something here for you to enjoy. There was no sugarcoating to be found in these passages. Yes, farms can be beautiful and peaceful places, but they also require a lot of hard work to maintain and keep financially viable. I loved how nuanced Ms. McLean’s descriptions were of both the benefits and drawbacks of living in such a place. She didn’t hold anything back, and that only made me enjoy her writing style even more.

Some of the most interesting scenes to me were the ones that described how much uncertainty is baked into the cycle of raising crops and managing livestock. Not every crisis can be predicted ahead of time, much less averted. Anything can disrupt it, from an outbreak of disease to drought to violent storms and more. Those of us who buy all of our groceries at the store may not always realize the multitude of things that must go right if we’re going to have plenty of tomatoes, raspberries, mutton, or other types of food to buy next week, month, or year. It’s definitely not as easy as it may sound.

Dividing this book up into one chapter for every month was a fabulous idea. The amount of work - urgent or otherwise - that needs to be done on a farm varies dramatically not only from one season to the next but also sometimes in much smaller quantities of time than that. A few weeks might be frantically busy as the ewes all give birth at about the same time or as the produce from the garden must be picked and preserved every day, but there are also quieter periods of the year when one can work on a longterm project or do necessary repairs for the upcoming spring at a slower pace. This is something that those of us who grew up in rural places might understand a little better, but the author did an excellent job of explaining it for readers who don’t have personal experience with patterns that are so closely linked to how each year passes by.

I didn’t want Shepherd’s Sight: A Farming Life to end. It was perfect.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really appreciated how this book was organized into chapters based on the months of the year. While many of us measure the passing of time by the months, this is especially true for life on a farm and it felt well-aligned.

There were times where the author would share a story or memory that may or may not have fallen within that month or year. It was unclear at times what time of the author’s life we were in.

I resonated with many of the stories of farm life: challenges and triumphs. I spent much of my childhood and young adulthood on farms and this book brought me viscerally back into that life.

Though the author and I are of different generations, and thus I am not yet able to understand all the challenges of ageing, I felt this was written in such a way that I could empathize and understand well enough to appreciate how one’s changing body and mind could impact their life.

At times I felt the writing was incongruous with the content. The author is both farmer and scholar- a background similar to my own- and the writing style was scholarly and prosey. This isn’t a problem, and there is no requirement for delineation between what areas of life someone is part of, but it did make some of the book feel less authentic. There was some language used that was unfamiliar, not in an agricultural sense, but very scholarly levels of language. Though this doesn’t deter me, it did change the reading experience. When I read a memoir I love to feel like I’m sitting with the author hearing their stories. This is very much a book- not a conversation.

I received an ARC from ECW Press for this review.

[Ashley Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barbara McLean’s Shepherd’s Sight is an engrossing look into the year in the life of a sheep farmer. This memoir is an intimate examination of the shepherd’s joys and hardships through the seasons on her Canadian farm. I learned so much about sheep and farming in general. Also a good bit about maple syruping and stone wall building. This is truly a lovely book full of fascinating memories and observations.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never thought I would find myself interested in shepherding, but I really enjoyed this. It is beautifully written and divulges something special about farm life that I may never experience. I learned a bit about farm equipment, barn building, and sheep breeding—admittedly a little out of my depth—interwoven with broader themes of aging, grief, and change. Would recommend if you're in the mood for a calm, sentimental read.

[Esther · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written by a shepherd with decades of experience on her farm, Lambsquarters, Shepherd's Sight is an insight into a year in McLean's life with reflections on the past and what the future may bring. An interesting life, I read this in the winter and it certainly made me thankful for a comfortable home.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for a fair review.

[A L · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating insight into the life of a sheep farmer in Ontario over the course of a year.. The farm, Lambsquarters, has been run by Barbara and her husband Thomas for the last fifty years where they have kept a small flock of Border Leicester sheep.
The author gives a monthly account of the goings on at the farm. There are many hardships, particularly throughout the winter months and Barbara's descriptions of Ontario's winter weather had me shivering at the thought. However when Spring arrives and lambs are successfully delivered there is much joy and these passages are so uplifting.
The author's musings on growing old ( she is now in her 70's) and whether she'll be be able to continue farming, and who will want to take over the farm at a later time obviously weigh heavily, as she looks back to how things used to be.
Barbara's love of her animals is evident throughout the book.
This is a charming tale. Highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this well-written and insightful memoir of a year in the life of a sheep farmer in Canada. For 50 years Barbara Mclean has tended her flock of Border Leicester sheep on her small Ontario farm Lambsquarters. She writes eloquently, but never sentimentally, about the pain and pleasure of a farming life. Now in her 70s, new problems increasingly arise. She questions how much longer she will be able to continue with the physically demanding work. Farming can be a dangerous profession. Farm accidents account for five times the death rate of workers in other industries, and are the greatest risk of injuries causing disability. Ageing and farming is particularly bad for safety. The number of farmers over 80 in Canada has increased by 50% in recent years, and the accidental death rate of these older farmers exceeds the national average by more than 40%. All this Barbara McLean explores in her book, and although there are plenty of details about sheep farming itself to enjoy, it was perhaps these other issues I enjoyed most of all. Such as her views on the stewardship of the land. Her home, for example is on the traditional territory of the Iroquois Confederacy. Should it, perhaps, be given back? She also discusses the position of women in farming, as only relatively recently has the contribution of women been recognised in law. The climate crisis, too, is having an effect on farming. So I found myself riveted as I read. Even if you’re someone who has no interest in the nitty-gritty of the farming day, there is still so much else to enjoy here. As well as a farmer, Barbara McLean is an academic, and it shows in her writing, which is always clear, concise and perfectly pitched. A great read, for many reasons.

[L Bianco · Rating 4 out of 5]

An endearing book, following the rhythm of the seasons on a small sheep farm in Northern Ontario. The author is looking back on 50 years on Lambsquarter, where she and her husband raised their family, and cared for a flock of sheep bred mainly for their wool rather than for meat. Her writing is lovely and despite the tinge of sadness as she is aging and less able to manage able the work of the farm, I found beauty in her descriptions of the land and the wildlife. Not so much beauty in caring for the sheep during lambing, a lot of hard work and anxious moments but fascinating to read.

The book is divided into twelve sections by month, and the sections get shorter as the months go by, January to December, much as her days of managing the work of the farm are slowing down.

Not a sentimental memoir, life on a farm never is, but I was sorry when I finished this book, wanting to know what happens next.

[Jessica Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Farming is difficult work. This book really gives the reader the inside scoop into just how difficult it can be. I have a deep respect for farmers, never realizing, before now, how much work is required of them on any given day. It’s a relentless job, full of challenges and disappointments. Yet, the rewards seem immeasurable and mostly satisfying. It’s sad to see farming families giving up their farms in the book or having their farms go derelict after the farmers pass. We have a great need for these farmers in the world. The author does a great job of explaining issues that impact modern farming and also the impact a warming climate has on it as well. I enjoyed learning about sheep and farming in Canada. This was a good read to companion my James Herriot study.

[Susan Marrier · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-written and fascinating account of life on an Ontario sheep farm. In this gentle, reflective memoir I learned a lot about sheep farming and farming in general and how it has changed over the 50 years Barbara and Tom have practiced it. I also learned about stone wall building, the habits of the wildlife, sheep farming in Scotland, and so much more. She also reflects on neighbourliness and aging, while taking us through the year, month-by-month, with reflections on the past as well. Whether or not you have had any interest in farming or sheep farming in particular, this is a book that will take you out of the angst of these times into a gentler world of animals, changing seasons, and satisfying work.

[Susan Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about Barbara's life as a sheep farmer for over 50 years which is organized in the book by months. She has good info to share about her raising & caring for sheep, and as a weaver, and living on her & her husband's farm in Ontario. The book entails a lot of hard work. I marked many notes in the book and like how she spoke about the agricultural changes she's seen in farming over the years and the trends happening now. How many farmers are in their 80s and small farms make not enough for families to live on. She speaks of aging on the farm and worries she won't be able to keep going for much longer. I sympathized with her and hope she will be able to stay for more years. Her life & work seemed inspiring.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable, cozy read, perfect for sitting by a fire, covered in a warm blanket, with a steaming cup of tea at your side. Divided into months, from January to December, it an educational and bittersweet foray into sheep farming and homesteading, while growing older. So many people must imagine escaping from the hustle and bustle of city life to settle on a farm, and to live off the land - i know i have! I was inspired by the many hardships experienced and overcome, as well as the joys of living an honest life amidst nature. Really well written, with some beautiful imagery! Very enjoyable!

[MrsAReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a beautiful meditation on farm life and human's place in nature. Barbara McLean is an aging shepherd and she is grappling with her legacy and her future on her farm. This book is structured around the months of the year, and I love that decision. We follow the patterns of a year, and the changing weather patterns, the chores, the holidays. This is a beautiful and heartfelt book, and I would love to become just like Barbara McLean: a thoughtful shepherd of both a flock of animals and the farm itself.

[Liza_lo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pastoral is once again becoming en vogue so McLean's memoir, combining a year in her life with recollections of her past feel timely.

This is a romantic read for any urbanite with notions about small farming but McLean also view her decisions with pragmatism. She talks about how despite the sense of history that farming has her farm and many others are the result of colonialism and land stolen from First Nations people. She talks openly about her fears as she ages in a labour intensive career with no succession plan.

A wonderful reflective book.

[Amelie Rennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I picked it as a bit of a genre switch-up, and I'm so glad I did. I loved seeing how farm life can be both cruel and extremely rewarding, and it was wonderful to go through the seasons with McLean and feel the joys of tending a flock. The book was really well-written and felt very personal and diary-like for the author, which made it enjoyable to read. I'm glad I read this book and learned a little bit about a life of farming with minimal technology that is becoming all but obsolete in recent years.

[Marnie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not for me. Although I learned a few things I found it overly descriptive and mundane.
What was most surprising to me was how depressing I found it. The author discusses aging a lot, her poor eyesight, all the things she can no longer do or has to do differently and while I understand that aging is inevitable, I felt there could be a more positive reflection on it all. It just left me feeling sad.

[Rebecca Luce-Kapler · Rating 5 out of 5]

It brought up so many memories for me. I grew up on a farm in Alberta, and McLean captures just the right ambience of being and working on a farm. She thoughtfully and tenderly entwines her feelings of time passing and growing older. I am on a similar journey, and I found that her insights on aging were genuine for me.

[Janel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shepherds Sight: A Farming Life reminded me of Wendell Berry’s writing, particularly Hannah Coulter and Jayber Crow. Like Berry’s works, this book offers profound insights into rural life, community, and the relationship between humans and the land.
This book brings to life the ups and downs, the moments of loss and triumph, and the detective work inherent in managing a farm.

[Jodie Siu · Rating 5 out of 5]

An immersive read about the joys, heartache, worries, and appreciation of a sheep-farming life in rural Ontario. McLean demonstrates wisdom, courage, and honest self-reflection as she ages. A love letter to the kinds of hands-on, sustainable skill that keeps the rest of us eating and enjoying the pleasures of the land.

[Jak Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book perfectly captures seasons: seasons on a farm and seasons of our lives. It was helpful and informative as someone who is a small scale shepherd to see how one family manages their flock. I hope that as I age I will gain the knowledge that the author has. She writes beautifully and I appreciate how she uses this book to grapple with her own power and insecurities.

[Sasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

The beginning was good. Overall it got repetitive and boring. I thought the writing jumped around too much between years within a month to be enjoyable to read. It reads more like someone randomly talking about their life than a crafted story.

[Diane Dewing · Rating 2 out of 5]

This year in the life of an aging shepherd did not strike a cord with me. As a nearly 70 year old keeper of sheep myself, the story was familiar. While my daughter found this book bucolic and inspiring, I was bored. I guess I don't find sheep that interesting.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author takes you through a year in her life at her sheep farm. I was hoping for more details on the animals and farm life and less of a retrospective of how things have changed and continue to change. It got a bit repetitive and I had a hard time finishing it because of this.

[Marnie Basney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved

I get into books about nature and farming, this one has plenty of both. I grew up on a beef and horse farm, and knew nothing of sheep. I do now! Thank you for the delightfully informative and interesting read!

[Bonnye Reed]

Netgalley
pub date March 19, 2024
ECW Press

[Alex Munn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s well written and very descriptive and a very good account of farming life, at times romantic but mostly anything but. The people who are likely to enjoy it know who they are.