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Great Possessions : An Amish Farmer's Journal
Organized in four sections corresponding to the seasons, this account by an Amish farmer of his life in Southern Ohio, celebrates his daily labours, his family and, most importantly, the flora and fauna of his 70 acre farm. He works his land with horses and without electricity. He describes the proper preparation of Sassafras tea, maple sugaring in late winter, chopping firewood in autumn and rejoices in the vast diversity of the birds.
264 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
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About the author
David Kline
3 books19 followersDavid Kline is the author of Great Possessions: An Amish Farmer's Journal. A member of an Amish community, he lives on a farm near Fredericksburg, Ohio.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
November 7, 2021
I was delighted to find this one on our library's shelf, as I so enjoyed one of Kline's other books - Scratching the Woodchuck: Nature on an Amish Farm.
This Ohio-based farmer's amiable, down-to-earth writing style, and deep appreciation for nature really resonates with me.
His collection of essays takes the reader through the seasons, and seems to focus mainly on birds, though nothing related to the outdoors escapes his sharp eyes. Here he relates the tale of felling an enormous oak tree that had died over the winter:
Gathering around the enormous stump, we started counting the rings and calling out birthdays. Three of the children were in the twelve rings of sapwood. When reaching the eighty-second ring we marked it - Grandpa's birth year. All told we counted 311 growth rings, give or take a few years. What had taken nature three centuries to make we had undone in about fifteen minutes. Not completely, for there was still a lot of wood to be sawed and burned. But for the first time since the late seventeenth century this space in our woods was now open sky.
A beautiful observance from a beautiful book.
This Ohio-based farmer's amiable, down-to-earth writing style, and deep appreciation for nature really resonates with me.
His collection of essays takes the reader through the seasons, and seems to focus mainly on birds, though nothing related to the outdoors escapes his sharp eyes. Here he relates the tale of felling an enormous oak tree that had died over the winter:
Gathering around the enormous stump, we started counting the rings and calling out birthdays. Three of the children were in the twelve rings of sapwood. When reaching the eighty-second ring we marked it - Grandpa's birth year. All told we counted 311 growth rings, give or take a few years. What had taken nature three centuries to make we had undone in about fifteen minutes. Not completely, for there was still a lot of wood to be sawed and burned. But for the first time since the late seventeenth century this space in our woods was now open sky.
A beautiful observance from a beautiful book.
December 28, 2025
An easy and wholesome read, this book is a series of essays by an Amishman (originally published in Family Life of all places) that are well-written and reminiscent of Thoreau, Annie Dillard, and other famous nature writers. Does make you wistful for that way of life, but an appreciation for nature like his does not require it
November 4, 2007
what i learned : a haiku review
the gift of presence
humble attention to life
birds sky overhead
the gift of presence
humble attention to life
birds sky overhead
January 28, 2020
David Kline, an Amish farmer, describes the natural wonders around him in this book. The essays, first appearing in Family Life Magazine, share his love of birds, trees, and wildlife. His love of birds is quite evidence throughout the essays. One essay suggested fruits, both berries and ones growing on trees, one should seek to cultivate. The essay also suggested nut trees which should be planted. As I read it, I wondered how many of my Amish ancestors followed similar patterns of planting these for their own families. While they contributed to the family's cupboard, they also provided a source of entertainment through bird watching. When I read the title, I thought the book would focus more on aspects of farming, but I enjoyed this just as much.
January 25, 2013
The author, David Kline, is Amish and a farmer, so he lives very close to nature. While the subtitle is, "An Amish Farmer's Journal," this book is not about the Amish. It is about a man's love for God's creation that surrounds him on his farm and his sadness at what has been lost and what we continue to lose.
The introduction by the author is a powerful statement for sustainable, small scale, family farming. Wendell Berry in the foreword notes this with his statement that Kline's life, "informed as it is by the Amish reverence for the natural world and the stewardship everywhere implicit in Amish farming--makes a union of economy and ecology." In the introduction Kline asks, "Should we give up the kind of farming that has been proven to preserve communities and land and is ecologically and spiritually sound for a way that is culturally and environmentally harmful?" This truly summarizes the viewpoint David Kline brings to his journal.
Kline takes us through the year on his farm and lets us see the different plants, birds and animals that migrate through or live on his farm and those around him. He talks about the loss of Chestnut trees, mushrooms, Woodpeckers and a hundred other birds as they appear in his region of Ohio during the year.
This is a `must read' for those who love nature.
The introduction by the author is a powerful statement for sustainable, small scale, family farming. Wendell Berry in the foreword notes this with his statement that Kline's life, "informed as it is by the Amish reverence for the natural world and the stewardship everywhere implicit in Amish farming--makes a union of economy and ecology." In the introduction Kline asks, "Should we give up the kind of farming that has been proven to preserve communities and land and is ecologically and spiritually sound for a way that is culturally and environmentally harmful?" This truly summarizes the viewpoint David Kline brings to his journal.
Kline takes us through the year on his farm and lets us see the different plants, birds and animals that migrate through or live on his farm and those around him. He talks about the loss of Chestnut trees, mushrooms, Woodpeckers and a hundred other birds as they appear in his region of Ohio during the year.
This is a `must read' for those who love nature.
August 14, 2007
The forward's by Wendell Berry, which should give some additional clue as to the content. Generally, very nice nature writing with a focus on encouraging organic and nondestructive/noninvasive farming techniques. Tends to the abstract rather than the specific and as always, I would probably have liked things to go one step further, to really consider the impact that changes in farming styles would have on the community the author lived in (let alone everywhere else). Still, a pretty book with an important task.
April 11, 2019
My favorite Amish naturalist/farmer writes another series of natural history essays from his Ohio farm. Folksy, earnest and full of keen observations, these essays make great reading, especially in the morning or evening.
What makes these stories so appealing is Kline’s undisguised and heartfelt passion and caring for the plants, animals and natural phenomena he comes across in his farming life. In fact he takes things a step further, building nesting boxes, putting out extra feed and growing flowers and trees in order to attract and nourish wild creatures.
His books always feel like going back in time to another era when life was simple, community was strong and making a living from the land didn't preclude caring for the environment.
What makes these stories so appealing is Kline’s undisguised and heartfelt passion and caring for the plants, animals and natural phenomena he comes across in his farming life. In fact he takes things a step further, building nesting boxes, putting out extra feed and growing flowers and trees in order to attract and nourish wild creatures.
His books always feel like going back in time to another era when life was simple, community was strong and making a living from the land didn't preclude caring for the environment.
May 24, 2011
back to the farm and a lot of bird watching this time. many short stories divided by the seasons. a light enjoyable read. SCRATCHING THE WOODCHUCK gave a little more variety of farm life and if you going to read only one of these i would suggest that one over this. however, if you are a bird lover...you will be all over this one.
September 13, 2017
I made a deal with myself that I could only read Kline outside, except for the winter. It was fun to go through the book as the seasons changed and soak it in! I am a huge fan of natural history memoirs and Kline does it really well. Usually by the end of one setting with the book, I nearly convince myself that I need to become a farmer and live the simple live.
May 30, 2009
Great natural science writing. Collection of newspaper columns.
January 1, 2018
This is a beautiful book to read. One man. One farm. Things quietly observed. Godly thoughts. You want this book on your selves.
January 4, 2021
Preface of this book: “The Amish are not necessarily against modern technology. We have simply chosen not to be controlled by it.”
Me: “You have my attention.”
The title refers primarily to the author’s relationship with the diverse wildlife on and near their family farm, as well as an awareness and appreciation of the land, the seasons, time spent with family and neighbors, a high level of self-sufficiency and autonomy over their lives.
Obviously a full Amish lifestyle isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but much like when I read Buddhist literature, I found plenty of great lessons and reminders.
The one I put to use right away was going for a walk with no particular destination or “particular subjects in mind. As Emily said, we just went seeing things.”
After our first significant snowfall, I walked through Durand-Eastman Park as I have before, but went off path in the fresh snow to follow animal tracks, checked out woodpecker holes up close, stopped and listened, and generally just wandered and allowed my curiosity to lead the way. Two hours later I walked back as the sun was setting through the trees, and it just felt good. It’s not surprising, but we do seem to need to be reminded of the value of unscheduled leisure and time outside.
The book is set up at 75 very short chapters (4-5 pages each), broken into the four seasons, and each chapter focusing on a different animal, plant, or activity. Well-written, descriptive, and I imagine enjoyable for most readers, but I’d definitely recommend reading it slowly. Both to enjoy it, and because if (like me) you don’t already have a pretty decent knowledge of wildlife (and birds in particular), those chapters can start to be difficult to differentiate. It’s a good reminder that he learned all the unique calls, patterns, and behaviors over years of observation.
Me: “You have my attention.”
The title refers primarily to the author’s relationship with the diverse wildlife on and near their family farm, as well as an awareness and appreciation of the land, the seasons, time spent with family and neighbors, a high level of self-sufficiency and autonomy over their lives.
Obviously a full Amish lifestyle isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but much like when I read Buddhist literature, I found plenty of great lessons and reminders.
The one I put to use right away was going for a walk with no particular destination or “particular subjects in mind. As Emily said, we just went seeing things.”
After our first significant snowfall, I walked through Durand-Eastman Park as I have before, but went off path in the fresh snow to follow animal tracks, checked out woodpecker holes up close, stopped and listened, and generally just wandered and allowed my curiosity to lead the way. Two hours later I walked back as the sun was setting through the trees, and it just felt good. It’s not surprising, but we do seem to need to be reminded of the value of unscheduled leisure and time outside.
The book is set up at 75 very short chapters (4-5 pages each), broken into the four seasons, and each chapter focusing on a different animal, plant, or activity. Well-written, descriptive, and I imagine enjoyable for most readers, but I’d definitely recommend reading it slowly. Both to enjoy it, and because if (like me) you don’t already have a pretty decent knowledge of wildlife (and birds in particular), those chapters can start to be difficult to differentiate. It’s a good reminder that he learned all the unique calls, patterns, and behaviors over years of observation.
July 20, 2021
Gives a good Walden vibe, though if you are not an ornithologist (i.e. someone who likes birds) this might not be the book for you. Each chapter was bite-sized 15 minute reads that made for easy pick-up and read anywhere style.
For a full review of this book and similar Walden-esque books, check out this episode of the book review podcast From the Archives: https://anchor.fm/anthropologyarchive....
For a full review of this book and similar Walden-esque books, check out this episode of the book review podcast From the Archives: https://anchor.fm/anthropologyarchive....
June 25, 2023
I will admit that I did not read all of this. The author wrote much about his observations of his land and the things he observed. As he was very interested in birds, much of the book was about the many kinds of birds that he encountered. As a non-birder, this was interesting at first but then my interest waned in these chapters. However, I came away with a great sense of the amazing amount of observation from a slower life, a connection to land over time, land, wildlife and all of these connections. I was left with a certain amount of a 'wow' and a sense of loss not having that long-term connection to land with which one has gained a certain intimacy.
January 6, 2021
This is a very fine book about wildlife especially birds as observed by this farmer. Thoroughly enjoyed reading the short chapters which followed the seasons of the year. Any one who has a love for wildlife will enjoy reading this book.
May 24, 2022
Excellent set of essays exploring the natural world (emphasis, birds) of the author's local region within walking distance. Beautifully written, this book is bound to become a classic of the genre. Loved it.
June 30, 2017
Wonderful nature essays by an Ohio farmer based on observations on his farm.
June 15, 2018
A wonderful book.
January 3, 2020
A lovely account of a farming observing the wonders of the natural world. I savored it.
August 16, 2022
Interesting but not what I expected. The journal focused more on observing the wildlife on the farm than the actual farming.
April 3, 2024
I really enjoyed it. I was actually supposed to meet David Kline as he is a friend of my professors but wasn't able to. Apparently he's a really lovely guy!
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April 11, 2024have to admit that i didn't read the whole book... we read sections for class but im still marking it as read ;)
August 5, 2013
What a great read this book is! Some people think it's a compliment to say "I couldn't put the book down." In this case, I deliberately did put it down after each chapter, savoring one each day, usually in the mornings. Each chapter became a daily meditation for me.
David Kline obviously knows a great deal about the natural world. Not only is he in touch with the seasons' natural rhythms from working his small farm, but he is also keenly observant of the flora and fauna around him. From his keen observations, he has learned what each bird's or animal's habits, habitat, calls, and rhythms are. He names numerous birds I've never even heard of, such as crossbills, snow buntings, and horned larks. I thought I'd never seen a snow bunting, but when I watched them on the Internet, I realized I'd seen flocks of them often when we were living in Addison County, Vermont. I also realized that my husband and I had spotted a snowy owl on several occasions in that same area.
Great Possessions is a wonderful title for this book, for it names what we have all around us if we take our eyes off the numerous screens in front of our faces long enough to observe nature around us. David Kline's detailed description of his daily observations and labors of love on his farm, offers the best of his Amish culture to the rest of the world -- a culture steeped in tradition that strives to commune with one another and with the natural world. Herein lie many lessons for those of us who find our lives too full or too complicated to manage at times. The Amish remind us that if we care to slow down the pace of our lives, we, too, can be more communal with others and with Nature.
A good example of this is how, when I read in this book about a bird species I'd never heard of before, I looked it up on the Internet. One day I was thinking that I had an advantage that David Kline doesn't, given he doesn't have access to computers or the Internet. Then I realized I had it all wrong. There is so much more joy and excitement in seeing birds in their natural setting, than to see videos of the birds on the Internet. David Kline may have to wait years to see a rare bird, but when he does, he isn't apt to soon forget it. I have been a casual birder for years, and I saw a scarlet tanager in the wild recently. I've seen scarlet tanagers less than a dozen times in my life, so I found it very exciting... way more so than watching a video of one.
For people who take the time to read Great Possessions, I think they will agree that this is an inspirational read, and a wonderful reminder of something we can learn from a slower-paced and intentional lifestyle like that of the Amish.
David Kline obviously knows a great deal about the natural world. Not only is he in touch with the seasons' natural rhythms from working his small farm, but he is also keenly observant of the flora and fauna around him. From his keen observations, he has learned what each bird's or animal's habits, habitat, calls, and rhythms are. He names numerous birds I've never even heard of, such as crossbills, snow buntings, and horned larks. I thought I'd never seen a snow bunting, but when I watched them on the Internet, I realized I'd seen flocks of them often when we were living in Addison County, Vermont. I also realized that my husband and I had spotted a snowy owl on several occasions in that same area.
Great Possessions is a wonderful title for this book, for it names what we have all around us if we take our eyes off the numerous screens in front of our faces long enough to observe nature around us. David Kline's detailed description of his daily observations and labors of love on his farm, offers the best of his Amish culture to the rest of the world -- a culture steeped in tradition that strives to commune with one another and with the natural world. Herein lie many lessons for those of us who find our lives too full or too complicated to manage at times. The Amish remind us that if we care to slow down the pace of our lives, we, too, can be more communal with others and with Nature.
A good example of this is how, when I read in this book about a bird species I'd never heard of before, I looked it up on the Internet. One day I was thinking that I had an advantage that David Kline doesn't, given he doesn't have access to computers or the Internet. Then I realized I had it all wrong. There is so much more joy and excitement in seeing birds in their natural setting, than to see videos of the birds on the Internet. David Kline may have to wait years to see a rare bird, but when he does, he isn't apt to soon forget it. I have been a casual birder for years, and I saw a scarlet tanager in the wild recently. I've seen scarlet tanagers less than a dozen times in my life, so I found it very exciting... way more so than watching a video of one.
For people who take the time to read Great Possessions, I think they will agree that this is an inspirational read, and a wonderful reminder of something we can learn from a slower-paced and intentional lifestyle like that of the Amish.
June 27, 2013
This collection of short essays, while earnestly written, didn't hold my attention long enough to warrant more than three stars in this review. Farmer-naturalist David Kline has a wealth of knowledge and experience regarding the wildlife native to his region of Ohio, and he does a good job of conveying his love, respect, and fear for the future of these creatures. Unfortunately, his ability as a writer isn't as keen as his ability to farm, leaving me a little bored at times. The majority of these essays focus on migrating birds; I hoped for a little more diversity in the subject matter. Don't get me wrong - it's an interesting book, and as I said, one that is earnestly written. But it's not one that will stick with me for a long time. And, having been written more than 20 years ago now, it suffers from some dated material. Mr. Kline wrote this at the very dawn of the neo-environmental movement, and I suspect that some of the warnings he sounds about the future of wildlife in his area have been addressed, and are are being righted. I know for a fact that the black-footed ferret he mentions as an example of human intervention in nature's course have made a tremendous comeback. Their rehabilitation program out west is now considered a success. I hope Mr. Kline now feels a greater sense of hope for their future, and the natural world's in general.
January 17, 2013
Wendell Berry's forward alone is worth the price of this book. And I was as impressed by Kline's writing as I was when I heard him in person last year. He may be an Amish farmer (itself reason enough to pay attention to what he has to say), but he is also an astute, keen observer as well as a philosopher and theologian.
If I had to choose one of these essays to be read or reread, it would be "Farwell to the Giants" pp 190-196. Here Kline laments the logging of a neighboring wood lot that he has knows since childhood.
He has no sympathy for no-till farming or factory farming in general, for anyone who still needs to be convinced.
If I had to choose one of these essays to be read or reread, it would be "Farwell to the Giants" pp 190-196. Here Kline laments the logging of a neighboring wood lot that he has knows since childhood.
He has no sympathy for no-till farming or factory farming in general, for anyone who still needs to be convinced.
December 1, 2015
A collection of short articles written for an Amish publication. A perfect book for the back porch or the cabin. To be picked up and read and reread, visited like an old friend that you wish was David Kline himself. I would love to sit by a warm wood burning stove on a winter afternoon and listen to David tell these stories of simple joys of living in the natural world and not just on it. Short of that, I have to settle for reading them on my porch when a rare quiet moment is available. Each story of 5 pages or so is self contained so the book can be picked up and read at any point.
June 29, 2011
Lots of information about birds, sometimes just straight pages and pages of bird watching descriptions. However, I kept reading. Tidbits of the Amish life kept me intrigued such as the stories of making syrup, sentimentality, and pure gratefulness of life. Like I said, a little dry at times, but the book makes you feel good and appreciate the little things in life.
July 11, 2014
A lovely month-by-month description of Mr. Kline's observations around his home. I will re-read this with a bird reference book because much of what he observes is bird life, and I need the visual reference.
October 21, 2012
The publisher is a family friend, and my mother is a colleague of Mr. Kline's, so I found myself with a copy of the book. I found it quite peaceful. Boring, but not uninteresting. It made me a bit homesick for the area where I grew up.
April 19, 2009
Like Leopold's A Sand County Almanac, this book is a series of short stories about the natural world. I found this very fun to read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews