On Good Land: The Autobiography of an Urban Farm

by Michael Ableman

Book Overview

In the heart of suburban Santa Barbara, where land is pricey and a field is worth more covered with asphalt than arugula, asparagus, and apple trees, thrives Fairview Gardens, a small organic farm managed for the past 18 years by Michael Ableman. On Good Land, an engrossing read, chronicles the life of the 100-year-old farm -- from its history to Ableman's first glimpse of the land to the current struggle to save it from development. Blending photographs,...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0811819213
• ISBN13: 9780811819213
• Release Date: May 1998
• Publisher: Chronicle Books
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 1.43 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 1.0" x 1.0"

Customer Reviews

A darn good book!

I live in a desert climate, so farming is something that interests me in this desolate place I live in. I really enjoyed this book because of the success story and the farming aspect of the book. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes farms.

One of my favorite books!

This book was an inspiration to read. It gives me hope that urban sprawl might be contained in some small parts of the world. It's also a good guide to organic farming and living, and getting past the "hippie" stereotype that organics still have. I'd highly recommend this book.

a very personal journey

Reading Michael Ableman's book was like stumbling upon his personal journal. I could imagine it's dirt-stained, hand-written pages - the miscellaneous seed or wind-blown earthen particles stuck deep in the creases of the binding. This book is filled with earnest, intimate tales - the everyday woes and triumphs of a gentle farmer, side-by-side with the battle stories of a true community activist. It is his journey that I found so fascinating, so inspiring. Ableman's story is compelling because he has been on the good path and done the good work for a long time - more than 17 years. From the early days of setting up the produce stand on weekends at a local farmer's market, to lamenting a killing winter frost, he draws the reader into the drama. Ableman's intensely close relationship with the land is his reward for paying close attention to its needs. His goals were clear - to grow healthy food for local people in a way that respected the land's ability to sustain itself. He learned by doing, followed his intuition, and made tough decisions based on what was right, or what he believed to be right at the moment. This book offers its readers as much "food for thought" about life, as it does about farming!

Enlightening, thought provoking.

I am not related to the author (like the previous reviewer). Loved this book. Couldn't put it down. I'm a long time organic gardener but I found this California farm story fascinating. As soon as I finished it my 18 year old daughter grabbed it and it doesn't look like I'll get it back soon. Two of her friends are in line to read it. Lovely photographs,too.

An unbiased review.

As one who has known the author since birth, I'm not surprised that he has conveyed the message of this work with such perfection, but I am surprised that he has turned it into such an enjoyable story. And what a beautifully bound volume - with some (but not enough) photography like his earlier, "From The Good Earth." This book not only exposes issues vital in our time - it's a great read. But then, I shouldn't be surprised - this guy writes like his father!