The Best of the Barefoot Farmer by Jeff Poppen

Reviewed by Allan Balliett for ACRES U.S.A. Magazine - May 2003

Instead of attending college, Jeff Poppen, a Midwestern farm-boy and future author of a column for the Macon County Chronicle called "The Barefoot Farmer", moved to a beautiful but rundown farm in north central Tennessee. With no electricity, plumbing, or capital, he began learning how to make a living off of the land, organically and alternatively.

That was twenty-five years ago. Under Jeff's management, Long Hungry Creek Farm has become a very productive and well-known biodynamic farm. Jeff himself continues writing articles about his farm experiences for the Macon County Chronicle, developing a strong CSA and organizing biodynamic conferences, as well as appearing on local public television in a series of organic gardening programs. His local efforts at public education, along with many others nationwide, have not been wasted. The organic movement has steadily gained a momentum which shows little sign of slowing down.

At a time when the "gardening essay" section at Borders bookstores has become larger than the "how to grow vegetables" section, and anyone who has spent one season in a garden has felt qualified to write about it, Jeff's book is a treasure. In a voice that is open and friendly, each of Jeff's articles in this volume evokes a sense of time and a sense of place - you're on Jeff's farm with him, actually doing something, be it stringing fence or making cheese, planting potatoes or pruning trees. Interspersed with old-timers' farm lore is plenty of information about the practical application of Rudolf Steiner's Agriculture Course, along with "how to grow vegetables" knowledge in an easy to read style.

This is easily the best book on biodynamic farming to be published by an American since Hugh Lovel's A Biodynamic Farm. What a treasure it is for anyone interested in learning how to work with plants in the context of their cosmic setting, the biodynamics way. Don't take this recommendation wrong, though. Jeff is never airy-fairy, he's so down to earth that he doesn't even let shoes come between him and the ground! Anyone looking for more information about biodynamics already knows what a wonderful treasure it is to find a practitioner with a quarter century of experience who is willing to tell you everything he knows - and to admit what he doesn't know, as well.

Through the 89 articles, drawn from 25 years of joy-filled farming experience, we hear the earnest, relaxed voice of Jeff Poppen telling us about life on the land from a level of observation that has developed through dedicated and reverent work. Reading this simple yet complete book is like having a conversation with a very wise and gentle friend who is willing to do all the talking. When we tire, we can simply mark the page with a piece of straw and close this book, knowing that Jeff will be ready to patiently tell us more about biodynamic farming the next time we open the pages of "The Barefoot Farmer."

- Allan Balliett

Allan Balliett is the organizer of the Biodynamic Viticulture Conference to be held November 14-16, 2003, in Loudoun County, Virginia. Portions of this review first appeared in LILIPOH Magazine. This review published in ACRES U.S.A. Magazine - May 2003