Little Farmstead Living: Creating a Country Life Just Past the City Limits

Preordered this on a whim and recieved it yesterday- a new favorite! Beautiful photographs on every page of a family with just enough acreage to enjoy country living outside the suburbs. Nothing overdone here of trying to “do it all” just because you have always wanted to- dogs, cats, some chickens and three adorable sheep share a family of 5 who simply craved a taste of country life. I love the way the book is laid out, she starts by explaining how they came to find their home and each chapter gives helpful advice on how they have adapted to where they are 5 years later. Although I know of her blog I never felt like the book was written by someone who pretends to have an automatic gift of living a country lifestyle- no outrageous staging vignettes, , no presence of having incredible antique “finds” everywhere or overflowing gardens that the average person could not aspire to. No page after page of interior rooms that are over the top farmhoused to death. A few simple recipes scattered in between and lovely images of her family; (handsome) boys who’s bedrooms touch on their personality and references to their lives as just regular kids. I guess what I liked overall was that the book is just right, short chapters with beautiful images that are easy to relate to without being overdone. Not just a picture book, but a look inside one family’s lifestyle living on a couple of acres just outside of town. Not pretentious in the least, I am so glad I ordered it and highly recommend it!!

My friend, who lives in Europe, has a dream of a farm of her own. I was searching for a book that could be easy enough for a non-English speaker to "read" just by looking at the photos. I saw other books, but they were heavy with a dark furniture and animal horns, heads, antlers. Yuck! Not for a vegetarian.This book caught my attention from the very first look at it. "Love at first sight!" The cover is capturing the essence of what it means to me to live on a farmstead: fresh eggs, an old credenza with white chipping weather-caused paint, wooden table and natural fabrics for a table runner.Then I looked inside and read through it in one day! And, I fell in love with it. Now I also want to have a farm similar to this little farmstead. However, at 57 years of age, it may be a little bit challenging, physically and financially. But! I got a copy of this book for myself as well.And I dared to make an attempt to "translate" or paraphrase rather, what is in this book, so my girlfriend, who is 56 can enjoy to the fullest what I found for her. She is learning on this book how to speak English :-)Only wish? If there could be an audiobook, so that for someone who does not speak English at all, as a Second Language, they could listen and learn to pronounce the words properly. I am a non-native speaker myself.Lovely, very feminine, but not kitchy. It is with a "good measure, just right" like Goldie Locks: not too little, not too much. Just right.Another reader/reviewer complained that there were the same photos. So? The author is beautifully walking through the farmstead, in pictures. Why should there be other photos if these represent all there is to show in the farmstead?I hope this book gets a "Book AWARD" for ease on the eye, for ease to read and... allowing room to dream. If one family did it, maybe other families in this stressed out world, who are in the technology, medical, and other high stress jobs, could benefit from spending money on their health by buying this book and buying a small farm for themselves...Nature is healing. Workout on a farm is a physical labor that replaces workout in a gym. Turning the soil, weeding, planting seeds and plants, and gathering crops - biting into an organic apple from one's own apple tree, learning how to make apple butter - this is what life is all about. The world needed a book like this.I hope it would be translated into other languages, like: Spanish, German, French, Polish, Russian, Greek, and any other that the author could find a market for.Thank you for bringing so artfully your farm to my home - in the size of your hard-cover book.

Beautiful book! Julie Thomas writes engagingly about her dream of living a country life just beyond the city lights. As her story unfolds, her yearning for a simpler way of life is contagious. She gives valuable information about finding and moving to a property with a farmhouse, acreage, and barn. Her eye for detail with each image captures rural life at its finest. Her narrative of raising her family with more freedom and space is thoughtfully composed. She shares what she has learned with styling her home, acquiring farm animals, gardening, and entertaining. I recommend Little Farmstead Living for a nostalgic read and a pleasure to the senses!

Every page of "Little Farmstead Living" is a treat. The photograpy beautifully captures the crisp, yet light and airy images of the Thomas household and farm life. Each page reveals a warm invitation to their beautiful, cozy lifestyle. You will love the spectacular decorating style, great tips, ideas and recipes.

I pre-ordered this book, thinking it's focus would be farmhouse decorating & gardening. In reality, the book is really about the author's own personal story about seeking a home to start a hobby farm and raise her family. Since I already live on a hobby farm (with more animals than the author, actually), I really didn't need to acquire a book like this. Also, the author fails to include information about common "hobby farm" activities, such as bee-keeping, that she herself does not engage in in her own life.

This book uses the very same photos multiple times; why are we all paying for same photos of same pieces of furniture??? Also annoyed “Dream” chapter is like looking at a family album that’s not yours, complete with narrative “aren’t we great” history. Not a Country Living kind of book-blurry family photos, and white painted furniture-same pieces and repetitive photo shots. The worst kind of personal ego display. Am returning.

I pre-ordered this book because I have been following Julie's blog Little Farmstead for a couple years now and thought I would enjoy it! Which I have to say I do as much as reading and seeing her blog everyday! I have taken my time looking through the book and soaking in the beautiful pictures of her home, the animals, gardens, seasonal decor and tips, plus her lovely family. It's definitely one of my new favorites!

Beautifully written book with gorgeous photography. A great read for anyone who wants to live the farmstead life or have a farmhouse styled home.

Very interesting read! Well written and gorgeous photos!!

I absolutely LOVE this book ! Beautiful pictures with a lovely story !

The color of the all pictures are not clear at all.All the colour is too light and spoiles its original beauty.Is this defective product? It looks like an antique book.I would like to return this book, if possible.I was disappointed so much.