Erin French was living the dream–she had a successful career as a food photographer in New York City. But when she lost her job, Erin found herself at a crossroads. She could stay in the city and try to rebuild her life or move back home to rural Vermont and start over from scratch. Determined to reinvent herself, Erin decided to do both: she bought an rundown farmhouse with acreage outside of town and began turning it into a sustainable homestead. Finding Freedom is both an inspiring story about making big changes in your life and a practical guide for anyone who wants to learn how to grow their own food, raise chickens and bees, compost waste, purify water, generate energy using renewable resources…and more. Filled with beautiful photographs of the author’s charming self-sufficient home and step-by-step instructions on everything from planting crops profitably on small plots of land to building simple furniture from reclaimed materials, this book shows that living sustainably doesn’t haveto be difficult or expensive–it can be downright fun!
For who is this book for ?
If you are interested in living a sustainable and self-sufficient lifestyle, then this book is for you. Erin French provides detailed instructions on how to create a homestead from scratch, no matter where you live. Her beautiful photographs of her own home will inspire you to get started on your own green journey.
Pros :
- The author’s story is inspirational and relatable.
- The book is filled with beautiful photographs of the author’s home.
- It provides practical instructions on how to live more sustainably.
Cons :
- The author could have written more about the difficulties of starting from scratch.
- The book is a little too “peachy” and lacks criticality.
- There are no pictures of what not to do, which could lead a reader astray.
Learn more about the author
Erin French is a self-taught cook and photographer who, after losing her job in New York City, decided to buy an rundown farmhouse outside of town and turn it into a sustainable homestead. She wrote Finding Freedom: A Cook’s Story; Remaking a Life from Scratch as both an inspiring story about making big changes in your life and a practical guide for anyone who wants to learn how to grow their own food, raise chickens and bees, compost waste, purify water…and more. The book is filled with beautiful photographs of the author’s charming self-sufficient home and step-by-step instructions on everything from planting crops profitably on small plots of land to building simple furniture from reclaimed materials.
Reader Reviews
“If you’re at all interested in sustainable living, this book is a must-read. Erin French has done an amazing job of breaking down the basics of sustainability into easy-to-follow instructions that will help you get started on your own homesteading journey.”
“I could not put this book down! Erin French has done an amazing job of documenting her journey to self-sufficiency. The photographs are stunning and the instructions are easy to follow. This is the perfect guide for anyone who wants to learn how to live more sustainably.”
“This book is a treasure trove of information for anyone who wants to lead a more sustainable life. Erin French has done an amazing job of compiling everything she’s learned in her journey from city slicker to rural homesteader, and presenting it in an easy-to-follow format. The photographs are lovely, and the writing is warm and engaging. I can’t wait to put some of these techniques into practice!”
“I have never seen a book that talks about sustainable living in such an interesting and approachable way. I am definitely going to try some of the things Erin French recommends in her book.”
