MOVING UPCOUNTRY, MITCHELL,'84,1ST VERMONT HOMESTEADING

MOVING UPCOUNTRY

A YANKEE WAY OF KNOWLEDGE

A CLEAR-EYED, OFTEN UPROARIOUS FIRST PERSON ACCOUNT OF A CITY BRED FAMILY'S HARD-WON TRANSFORMATION INTO VERMONT SHEEP FARMERS

BY

DON MITCHELL

A YANKEE MAGAZINE PUBLICATION

DUBLIN, NEW HAMPSHIRE

1984

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"DON MITCHELL AND HIS WIFE ABANDONED THEIR SOPHISTICATED URBAN LIFESTYLE IN FAVOR OF UPCOUNTRY FARMING.  AN ASTOUNDING DECISION, CONSIDERING THAT NEITHER KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT COUNTRY LIFE APRT FORM THE ROSY HUED VISION SHARED BY THE BACK TO LANDERS OF THE SIXTIES.  INDEED, THEY HAD EVERYTHING TO LEARN, OFTEN BY PAINFUL EXPERIENCE."

"HOW THEY DID IT MAKES AN INFORMATIVE INSPIRING, AND OFTEN UPROARIOUS TALE, DRAWN BY DON MITCHELL IN ACCURATE STROKES ON THE BEAUTIFUL BACKGROUND OF UPCOUNTRY VERMONT.  THE MITCHELLS TRIED OUT ALL SORTS OF FARM PROJECTS; CHICKENS ("A SORT OF BEGINNER'S DUCK") THEN DUCKS THEMSELVES; SHEEP; PIGS, MAPLE SUGARING, CUTTING WOOD AND HAY; GROWING CORN (DISASTER); AND VEGETABLE GARDENING AND PRESERVING.  EVENTUALLY IT BECAME CLEAR THAT WHAT WORKED FOR THEM, FINANCIALLY AND TEMPERAMENTALLY, WAS SHEEP."

"IN THE COURSE OF THIS HILARIOUS ODYSSEY OF TRANSITION, THE MITCHELLS LEARNED.  LEARNED THE VALUE OF MACHINES.  LEARNED THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SIXTIES' IDEAL AND REALITY.  DISCOVERED THE INTRICACIES OF COUNTRY ETIQUETTE AND THE FARMER'S SCHEDULE OF THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX FORMS.  LEARNED TO GET ALONG WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS.  IN FACT, THEY MADE IT, AGAINST ALL ODDS, AND AFTER 10 YEARS ARE INDEED ESTABLISHED SHEEP GROWERS."