The Wisdom of the Radish

Who knew that the hot career choice for recent college grads would be farming? Lynda Hopkins, a farmer's girlfriend, took her master's degree in environmental science communication and planted kale, radishes, and tomatoes on a small farm in Northern California to earn a living (sort of). What at first sounds pastoral and idyllic soon becomes a series of challenges as the realities of what it takes to run a farm come to light. From making the classic neophyte agronomist error of getting emotionally involved with her chickens to ruminating on the value of radishes, Hopkins's retelling of life on a farm in the modern age is engaging, even gripping. Through it all, Hopkins cultivates a sense of belonging, and with a lot of hard work and a little luck, she becomes quite a bit more than just a farmer's girlfriend.