Speak to the Earth: Pages From a Farmwife's Journal

by Rachel Peden, Sidonie Coryn (Illustrator)

A farmwife for 45 years, Rachel Peden believed that the family farm's best crop is a "harvest of the spirit." In Speak to the Earth, she looks at life — domestic and wild, human and critter — through the eyes of someone who witnesses nine seasons of the year rather than the typical four. Peden views the farm as "a place of opportunity simultaneous with obligation, an immaculate fitting-together of plant and animal life." Each year yields an abundance of small, priceless observations, and through her writings, Peden encourages readers to appreciate both the simple pleasures in life as well as the more profound qualities embodied in family and neighbors, mallards and ladybugs, possums and pigs, and the irresistible characteristics of old houses, local history, and changing times.

Genres: Nonfiction

240 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1974

Reviews

[Jessa McCauley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was already reading this book when I visited McCormick Creek State Park near Bloomington, IN and stumbled upon the site of the original Peden farm (Rachel's husband's family). It was a real "aha!" moment for me. I have to say, I was hoping for more somewhat inane details of her life like what she was canning, eggs collected, etc. There are a few mentions of those sort of things, but the overall theme of the book seems to be an appreciation for the old ways and marveling at how small things in nature are indicative of the bigger picture. The ending I found a little depressing. While I marveled at her ability to pinpoint what exactly is wrong with man's attitude toward the earth, things have only seemingly gotten worse in the last 40 years.

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the passages were boring, I will admit, but the topic changed so frequently that I couldn't stay mad at it. I really enjoyed how she poetically described nature, especially when she dove into macro details. I also really enjoyed seeing the lives and simplicity of the people she described. She had me feeling like I was walking through their house and peeking behind their cabinets. A lot of her messages throughout the book were beautifully sent, and easy to swallow.

This is the third book in a row that I have read on this topic, and I have to say of all three I like Peden's perspective the most. She doesn't feel the need to sugar coat it, but doesn't make it seem extreme or too rough either. I loved her mediocrity.

*sent to Tom Gerald

[Sylvie Vanhoozer · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I have remembered the words of Job: 'Speak to the earth and it will teach you.' It has taught me a great deal, has given me more questions than answers, and I have learned to listen as well as to speak to it."

[Sadie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet book of excerpts from her newspaper column that highlight experiences of farm life and old fashioned things in Indiana.

[Partridge Public]

Peden, Rachel 917.72

[Kathyg · Rating 2 out of 5]

boring