Tuesday, September 12th, 2023, 6:30 pm
Carole Soule of Miles Smith Farm in Loudon visits Gibson's Bookstore with a book on what it is to be a farmer, and what it takes to raise cattle humanely, with Yes, I Name Them: A Memoir.
Is it possible to love animals and raise them to become meat? Years ago, Carole was a vegetarian then she became a farmer. Naming every animal connects her to each one, and shows respect and affection for them, no matter their role on the farm.
Livestock farming is full of adventure, hardship, and a few victories. It’s as horrible as picking up after a coyote massacre of sheep or as gratifying as working a mighty pair of Scottish Highlander oxen. It’s delightful when Brittany has a calf but difficult when a steer has to be sent for processing.
She learned how to deliver stubborn calves, train oxen, and run a farm store. Unlike buying a new car, there is no owner’s manual for farming. This book traces her learning curve, made all the more dramatic because mishap is the best teacher.
The book also brings life to Miles Smith, who, in the 1850s, cleared trees from the land and, with help from his oxen, built the iconic New England stone walls that surround the farm. He built the farmhouse, creating each chimney brick from the clay on his property.
Whether Carole’s sharing hard lessons, fun moments, or time traveling to the past, there is an appetite for stories about cattle raised humanely. This book is for all of you.
This book offers a window into a way of life others yearn for. Often humorous and sometimes tragic, this book connects readers to a once-common farming way of life.
About the author: Carole Soule is co-owner of Miles Smith Farm (www.milessmithfarm.com) in Loudon, N.H., where she raises beef and shares the joys of her farm with kids and adults. Whether Carole is sharing hard lessons, fun moments, or time-traveling to the past, there is an appetite for her stories. Readers are interested in her farm and livestock and care that cattle are raised humanely. She's written this book for all of them.
Can't make this event? Order a signed copy of Yes, I Name Them through our website, and leave your personalization request in the order notes!
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Is it possible to love animals and raise them to become meat? Years ago, Carole was a vegetarian then she became a farmer. Naming every animal connects her to each one, and shows respect and affection for them, no matter their role on the farm.