The Keep: Living with the Tame and the Wild on a Mountainside Farm

by Henry T. Ireys, Priscilla M. Ireys

When a mid-life couple finds an old farm that promises refuge from hectic lives and encroaching illness, their world opens up to unexpected breeding heritage goats, hogs, and cattle; managing a half-dozen large guardian dogs; dealing with barn fires, rapacious logging, and the death of treasured animals. The farm and the surrounding forest also lead to surprising moments of beauty—from sublime sunsets and powerful connections with animals to an outpouring of help from neighbors.

Written separately by wife and husband with distinctly separate voices, the book’s essays illustrate different perspectives of life on a farm dedicated to the compassionate treatment of livestock and a deep appreciation of nature’s complexities. Priscilla embraces the intensity of loving animals; Henry explores the mysteries of living in a beautiful place. And, in telling their tales, the authors provide a glimpse into their own marriage—as complicated, improbable, and enduring as life itself. The Keep—the term for “the strongest or central tower of a castle, acting as a final refuge”—is a love letter to an unexpected place and adopted lifestyle.

302 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2025

Reviews

[Craig Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting book about city folks who move to rural West Virginia to run a farm. Lots of highs and lows. An interesting feature is that the husband and wife co-authors sometimes write about the same event and the contrast in their perspectives is fascinating.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Keep" is a remarkable series of engaging, heartfelt, reflective, often poignant stories written by a husband and wife who retreated from demanding careers and the pace of city life to a mountaintop farm in Paw Paw, West Virginia in search of sanctuary, healing, and a connection with the natural world.

Their writing is honest, playful, down to earth, and generous of heart. And at times, raw and irreverent.

Determined, savvy, and struggling with arthritic limitations, Priscilla is hellbent on raising heritage breed Spanish Goats as a business venture. While successful, she encounters obstacles and setbacks along the way.

Henry, walks the land seeking to discern the unfamiliar voices of the mountains, the trees, and the wildlife that inhabits their hillside farm.

I enjoyed meeting Eddie, a mountain man neighbor, a hired hand who becomes an unlikely but trusted friend. The authors introduce us to their Maremma guardian dogs, horses, heritage goats and hogs, and ducks who live on the land and must steer clear of the coyotes who prowl the perimeter in hopes of an easy meal.

Often at odds about how best to prioritize and address the daily challenges on the farm, Henry and Priscilla's disparate stories and voices converge in their devotion to family, friends, and the stewardship of their 80-acre Appalachian Farm. Grateful for visitations of undeserved Grace.

Among my favorite stories was Priscilla's "The Dilemma of Loving Hogs" and Henry's "The Forgiving Land."

"The Keep" is my favorite Fall book - best read unhurriedly by a warm hearth. Guaranteed to be a wonderful holiday gift for friends and family alike!

[M. Sarki · Rating 3 out of 5]

A marvelous idea and a very strong beginning made this a very good read right from the start. Switching back and forth between perspectives also added some flavor to this memoir of a couple city folks buying some property in West Virginia and starting a farm. Captivating story for many pages, that is until the fire changed everything including the text that followed. The FTC requires I state that I received this book for review from the publisher for free.

Please read my complete review here:

https://open.substack.com/pub/msarki/...

[Nancy Kilgore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Henry and Priscilla Ireys write of their passionate commitment to the land and responsible management of their farm. Priscilla's stories of her goats and the other animals are so personal and emotional that they draw you into the lives and travails of these animals, all of whom have names. When something went awry with them, I was moved to tears. Henry's stories are also passionate, often giving the bigger picture of the ethics of land management. With both of these perspectives, so skillfully written and edited, I was immersed in the life of this farm in West Virginia.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those contemplating farming..this will open your eyes to the truth of compassionate care for animals and the reality of how every part of farming intertwines with life. Seeing both sides of the story from husband and wife is amusing and telling of how our memories adjust each perspective to our own reality. I really hope there is a part 2 for more stories as I feel this only scratched the surface.

[Lauren Longbottom · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was such an informative read. I felt like I learned so much about the farming world and it was explained to where I was able to understand it. I felt more of a connection to the wife, Priscilla, chapters. She made me fall in love with characters inly after a couple of pages. The chapters were short but jam packed with heart and emotion. A great choice for someone trying to get out of their comfort zone.