Product Description

In 1982 the Griffiths left the security of suburbia to grow garlic in West Wales. This is a funny and sometimes touching, warts-and-all account of their first three years: of how they learned lambing and marketing and ploughing and hay-making: and of the dung-sodden joys of milking and the surreal terrors of bee-keeping. Be amused. Be very amused. Scenes from a Smallholding is by turns challenging, touching, and informative; but above all, it is very funny.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #32064 in Books
• Published on: 2005-05-05
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

From the Publisher
Not completely devoid of handy hints, but essentially a personal memoir, written for fun, of how Chas Griffin and his family set up and tried to run an organic smallholding, starting from scratch

About the Author
Chas Griffin was a college lecturer, living in a leafy Nottingham suburb, when he decided to move with his family to a farm in West Wales.

Customer Reviews

Fresher than farm air
This is the first book in ages that I have stopped reading and put away... why? Because I'm going on holiday next week and I just want to take it away with me and read it then instead. Why I bought this book I don't know because it isn't my usual read but it is positively the most refreshing, funny, informative book I think I've ever read (and no I don't know the author, his family, his cows or anyone... I'm just a book-buyer who got lucky.) Whereas I thought my eyes might glaze over at how to grow courgettes, somehow Mr Griffin manages to hold my interest. I've laughed aloud at many a spot and am really having to force myself to stop reading and pack the book away because it is an absolute joy. One of those books I will really be sorry to get to the end of. Buy it, read it,keep it.
Kindest regards....

An Original Downshifter.....
Chas Griffin had an 'Epiphany'in Urban Birmingham and that was that. Chas, wife & children soon swapped grey for green, fumes for fertiliser (organic of course) and a self- sufficient lifestyle in rural Wales soon becoming Organic Garlic Growers to provide a small income. Things ain't easy for the Griffins but despite the hard work and set backs, their ability to view their lives with humour and Chas's ability to contemplate the bizarre make this book truley different from others. I liked the writing style, intelligent, quirky, informative, gentle but passionate- above all its a great human story and the ending will have you wanting the author to write book 2- right away.....

Best book I've read in a long time
Scenes from a Smallholding is one of best books I've ever read, simple as that. Incredibly funny, perceptive, thought provoking and motivational. What more could you want?

Learn about one man and his family's life changing experience and have an absolute whale of time to boot!