"A sincere, heartfelt memoir that is emotional and earthy,
taking you into the herd, into the life of a true shepherd."
Shepherd: A Memoir
by Richard Gilbert
Upon moving to Appalachian Ohio
with their two small children, Richard Gilbert and his wife are thrilled to
learn there still are places in America that haven’t been homogenized. But
their excitement over the region’s beauty and quirky character turns to culture
shock as they try to put down roots far from their busy professional jobs in
town. They struggle to rebuild a farmhouse, and Gilbert gets conned buying
equipment and sheep—a ewe with an “outie” belly button turns out to be a
neutered male, and mysterious illnesses plague the flock. Haunted by his
father’s loss of his boyhood farm, Gilbert likewise struggles to earn money in
agriculture. Finally an unlikely teacher shows him how to raise hardy sheep—a
remarkable ewe named Freckles whose mothering ability epitomizes her species’
hidden beauty. Discovering as much about himself as he does these gentle
animals, Gilbert becomes a seasoned agrarian and a respected livestock breeder.
He makes peace with his romantic dream, his father, and himself. Shepherd, a
story both personal and emblematic, captures the mythic pull and the practical
difficulty of family scale sustainable farming.
My
Review…
Migrating to rural Appalachia from
Florida, author Richard Gilbert shares his dreams, perils, and joys while
raising sheep. Gilbert tells the story of how he and his wife purchased a seventeen-acre
farmstead in the rolling hills of southeastern Ohio. Relishing the beauty of
the landscape, his descriptive narrative is spot-on. His realization of Appalachia’s
poverty and isolation is on target, too. Shepherd
is about Gilbert’s interaction with sometimes quirky neighbors and sometimes
quirky sheep… although not always, and the story unfolds as a life journey that
embraces the excitement of lambing to the struggles of shepherding. Gilbert
writes, “…I was embarrassed by my squeamishness over slime and blood and birth
fluids.” A sincere, heartfelt memoir that is emotional and earthy, taking you
into the herd, into the life of a true shepherd. Recommended reading.
Biography
Shepherd: A Memoir was
honored as a 2015 Ohioana Book Award Finalist in Nonfiction. Richard Gilbert's
essays have been published by Brevity; Chautauqua; Fourth Genre; Orion; River
Teeth; and Utne Reader. His articles have appeared in Farming: People, Land,
Community; The Shepherd; and The Stockman Grassfarmer. Gilbert was marketing
manager of Ohio University Press/Swallow Press. Before that he was a newspaper
reporter in Georgia, Florida, and Indiana, where he won awards for public
service and feature writing. He holds an MFA in creative nonfiction from
Goucher College, Baltimore.
Shepherd's Pinterest page has
photos and updates: http://www.pinterest.com/RichardSGilbert/my-memoir-of-farming/
Richard Gilbert's web site and
blog: http://richardgilbert.me
Special
note…
Dear Richard... Congratulations on your great success as a writer, mentor, and guide. Thank you, Richard, for your
wisdom and support in my literary endeavors. Your insight has proven to be a
great asset. Best
wishes always…
Gina, Riding & Writing
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