specialists in local books and authors inc. Hardy & Fowles

SURVIVING AND THRIVING ON THE LANDSCAPE by Rebecca Laughton

Have you ever dreamt of living on the land? Many people are attracted to the security and satisfaction of becoming self-sufficient in vegetables, eggs, meat and energy, like Tom and Barbara Good in “The Good Life”. Others decide to take it one step further, and establish a land-based business to supply fresh food, firewood or crafts to local people. Yet, the path to a happy and harmonious life on the land can be littered with obstacles that have the potential to deter all but the most determined smallholder. Long hours, extremes of weather, low pay and bureaucratic stress can all take their toll, leading to exhaustion, illness and injury, financial problems and the breakdown of relationships.

Now, a new book is available to help aspiring smallholders overcome such obstacles and achieve their dreams. “Surviving and Thriving on the Land: How to use your time and energy to run a successful smallholding”, aims to help smallholders avoid burnout, and combine a high quality lifestyle with a low environmental impact. Its author, Rebecca Laughton, interviewed over seventy existing smallholders to discover the secrets of their success, as well as the main sources of stress. The result is a book is jam packed with real life examples of day to day life at organic market gardens, self-sufficient communities and eco-farms.

The book was launched in the same week that Bridport made the commitment to reduce its reliance on oil, by becoming a Transition Town. To cut carbon emissions and survive fuel price rises it is vital that Bridport becomes more self-sufficient in food and energy. “Surviving and Thriving on the Land” directly addresses the challenges that face those who wish to increase the availability of fresh, local produce. It offers practical solutions for people who cannot afford their own smallholdings, and demonstrates how some farmers manage their land with hand tools and horse drawn equipment instead of fossil fuel powered machinery.

Rebecca Laughton signing copies of “Surviving and Thriving on the Land” in The Book Shop, South Street, Bridport in November 2008