THIS FARMING LIFE

This book tells the story of the joys and the harsh realities of farm life, from a writer whose family has farmed the same piece of land for five generations. Manawatu farmer Tim Saunders describes his life through the seasons: Summer, shearing, slaughter, crop harvest, conservation; Autumn, floods, trading stock, drenching, dagging; Winter, maize harvest, lambing; and Spring, docking, pet sheep, weaning. It’s a tough life, and through his powerful, poignant writing, Tim tells of his connection to the land, why he loves farming, how he’s also conflicted by it and what it is that keeps him tethered to that place. This unique account of rural life in New Zealand is well written and offers a fascinating read, even for those who have never set foot on a farm before.

Tim Saunders Allen & Unwin RRP $36.99