Readers who love the West will find Mary Kurtz's first collection of essays an insightful journey into the history, natural world, and community of a special mountain valley near Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Walk through the Elk River Valley with Mary as she shares her thoughtful perspectives on the people, history, rich landscape, and ranching traditions of the place she's called home for over thirty years. Join her as she introduces you to modern-day pioneers whose stories inspire and entertain. Meet a long-time rancher who hunts mountain lion where "no man ... ever walked"; a larger than life grandmother (usually seen wearing a bonnet and baseball hat) who never quite matched anyone's image of a rancher; and visionary land preservationists who protected the valley they love for generations to come. Sometimes poignant, always introspective, and informative, At Home in the Elk River Valley ultimately nudges each of us to contemplate deeper definitions of family, community and the physical place we call home. "In At Home in the Elk River Valley, Mary Kurtz invites readers to experience the ebb and flow of generations of ranchers in northwestern Colorado. Her lyrical prose ponders not only the seasonal change on the natural landscape, but the seasonal change of family life and those occurring within rural and western communities. Through her reflections, we gain an awareness of how closely tied we are to the past. This memoir is about change, loss, rejuvenation, and hope that is best enjoyed by the fireplace or under a shady elm to transport you into the slower pace of rural living." Sharon DeBartolo Carmack, author of You Can Write Your Family History
How a Midwestern family with no agriculture experience went from a few backyard chickens to a full-fledged farm—and discovered why local chicks are better. When Lucie Amundsen had a rare night out with her husband, she never imagined what he’d tell her over dinner—that his dream was to quit his office job (with benefits!) and start a commercial-scale pasture-raised egg farm. His entire agricultural experience consisted of raising five backyard hens, none of whom had yet laid a single egg. To create this pastured poultry ranch, the couple scrambles to acquire nearly two thousand chickens—all named Lola. These hens, purchased commercially, arrive bereft of basic chicken-y instincts, such as the evening urge to roost. The newbie farmers also deal with their own shortcomings, making for a failed inspection and intense struggles to keep livestock alive (much less laying) during a brutal winter. But with a heavy dose of humor, they learn to negotiate the highly stressed no-man’s-land known as Middle Agriculture. Amundsen sees firsthand how these midsized farms, situated between small-scale operations and mammoth factory farms, are vital to rebuilding America’s local food system. With an unexpected passion for this dubious enterprise, Amundsen shares a messy, wry, and entirely educational story of the unforeseen payoffs (and frequent pitfalls) of one couple’s ag adventure—and many, many hours spent wrangling chickens.
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From the ocean to the mountains, go off the beaten path and into the heart of Western Canada with Moon Vancouver & Canadian Rockies Road Trip. Eat, Sleep, Stop and Explore: With lists of the best trails, views, and more, you can hike the Rocky Mountains, canoe in Lake Louise, and snorkel with seals in the Pacific. Explore one of Vancouver's many parks, soak up the surfer vibe in Tofino, or go wine-tasting in the Okanagan Flexible Itineraries: Drive the entire two-week road trip or follow strategic routes like a week-long drive along the coast of British Columbia, as well as suggestions for spending time in Victoria, Vancouver, Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, and the Okanagan Maps and Driving Tools: 49 easy-to-use maps keep you oriented on and off the highway, along with site-to-site mileage, driving times, detailed directions for the entire route, and full-color photos throughout Local Expertise: Seasoned road-tripper and Canadian Carolyn B. Heller shares her passion for the mountains, shores, and rich history of Vancouver and the Canadian Rockies How to Plan Your Trip: Know when and where to get gas and how to avoid traffic, plus tips for driving in different road and weather conditions and suggestions for LGBTQ travelers, seniors, and road-trippers with kids With Moon Vancouver & Canadian Rockies Road Trip's practical tips, flexible itineraries, and local know-how, you're ready to fill up the tank and hit the road. Looking to explore more of North America on wheels? Try Moon Pacific Northwest Road Trip. Hanging out for a while? Check out Moon Vancouver, Moon British Columbia, or Moon Canadian Rockies.
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