Absolutely loved this book. Beautifully written and inspiring. Aug 13, Caleb Melamed rated it it was amazing. A really enjoyable read. Much better than I expected. In simple, serviceable, and not overly done prose Tomine outlines one year of his family's life as they forage for mushrooms, fish for salmon, hunt for clams, oysters, and crabs, hunt for deer, garden, and cut firewood.
He chooses to live this life not for some altruistic or mightier than thou reason, but because he loves food and seems to love the work of finding, hunting, or growing his food. As a soon to be father I read this book as a pare A really enjoyable read.
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- Closer to the Ground - Wikipedia.
- be closer to the ground - English translation – Linguee.
As a soon to be father I read this book as a parenting book although it is certainly not a parenting book. He involves his children in all the food gathering mentioned above except for hunting.
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- Theory after Derrida: Essays in Critical Praxis.
He is patient with his children, takes time to explain to them the hows and whys of what he is doing, and makes sure they participate in all the activities. This means his 6 year old daughter knows how to fish, cook, hunt for oysters, crabs etc. Cool stuff and a role model for how I want to raise our son. The chapter, "Prius Envy" was also poignant. He writes about how he drives an old Montero that gets 18 miles to the gallon. But he doesn't drive much, he uses the thing for everything from hauling firewood to pulling his boat.
He writes about how hard and expensive it is to try to live the Prius lifestyle and how it is really another form of consumerism. Green-washing if you will. I tend to agree that his lifestyle is more sustainable and indeed closer to the ground. One only needs to see my large Dodge truck as proof. But I ride my bike to work everyday. All in all an outstanding read and I would highly recommend to any parents who want to raise their children "Closer to the Ground.
He constantly talks to his children, has the patience to allow them to explore the natural world, he feeds them great food, keeps them active, keeps them safe, creates situations that have loads of social interaction, feeds their curiosity, teaching them self-control they have to be safe and in control on a boat for example. Man being a parent is going to be hard. Jun 08, Pat Provencal rated it really liked it.
Real life in Washington state with insight into the ocean side lifestyle. An obvious wealth of information for fishermen and those who hope to live a more "back to the land" lifestyle with a touch of Japanese wisdom thrown in for good measure. Throughly enjoyed Closer to the Ground.
Dec 02, Books In Common rated it it was amazing Shelves: Celebrate the coast and its abundant natural resources with Closer to the Ground: Dylan Tomine's memoir is a sometimes serious, sometimes humorous account of one family's love for their surroundings and a life supported by nature's bounty - home gardens, fishing, foraging, more fishing, and the tasty results of the family's labor.
Although set in the state of Washington, Closer to the Ground's themes resonate with readers livin Celebrate the coast and its abundant natural resources with Closer to the Ground: Although set in the state of Washington, Closer to the Ground's themes resonate with readers living in many of America's diverse landscapes. Program opportunities could include programs on cooking, working cooperatively with community, parenting, sustainable living, nature, food, and more.
Closer the Ground also provides a great foundation for family programs encouraging participation with parents and children of all ages. Aug 23, David Fox rated it liked it. Another recent read that started slow for me.
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It follows a father and his family living in the sound of the coast of Washington. What suffocated my progress through the book at first was a sense that I will never have a chance to live as beautiful and natural life as he does in the wild. His home is 5 minutes from a boat ramp and from there the bays and rivers and oceans are his world to explore. He hunts, fishes, harvests and grows. I perceived it to be preachy at first but then I fell in love Another recent read that started slow for me. I perceived it to be preachy at first but then I fell in love with his family.
Closer to the Ground: An Outdoor Family's Year on the Water, in the Woods and at the Table
The story becomes much more about a regular family trying to live the life that makes sense to them. His tone helps you focus on the the wildlife and scenery rather than turned inward towards himself. It doesn't hurt that his daughter and son are charming. I'd love to visit them for dinner during dungeness crab season: Jan 03, Karolis rated it really liked it. Easy read for those who are keen to live closer to nature.
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No BS reality of how difficult it is to fully go off the grid and many first hand accounts of raising a family on an island, attempting to be as self-sufficient as possible in the changing natural environment, yet not bashful of the reality of how most people live in cities today. A bit melancholic at times, but Dylan doesn't veer too far into he details of conservation and possible outcomes, just that he's making sure to share with his Easy read for those who are keen to live closer to nature. A bit melancholic at times, but Dylan doesn't veer too far into he details of conservation and possible outcomes, just that he's making sure to share with his kids all that he valued growing up.
Hoping that they'll be able to do the same with the next generation. A good read to cozy up by a fire in a cabin. I got inspired to revisit some of really fun things I did as a kid: Good ideal to follow for this upcoming year. Oct 25, Wendy Feltham rated it it was amazing Shelves: A friend recommended this book because she knew I liked natural history, and the author is a local. This is a very special book about appreciating nature and foraging in all seasons here in the Pacific Northwest.
Dylan Tomine leads his young children on a series of adventures as they dig for clams, fish for salmon, haul up crab pots, and pick berries and mushrooms. His stories are interspersed with wisdom about parenting, ecology, and birds. The experience of reading this book is A friend recommended this book because she knew I liked natural history, and the author is a local.
The experience of reading this book is enhanced with black and white wood cut illustrations by Nikki McClure, a local artist who also captures the beauty of this area. Apr 25, Emilie rated it really liked it. Such a simple tale, but so refreshing. This book is about one man and his family's life on a small island near Seattle, starting in the spring and ending in winter.
I have been reading a number of doom and gloom environmental books recently, and this book was a nice change. Tomine certainly mentions climate change and its effects on his local environment, but this book is more of a love note to the area and to nature in general. After reading I found myself paying attention to the natural world Such a simple tale, but so refreshing.
After reading I found myself paying attention to the natural world around me-- trying to note bird species and appreciating a cloudy day in normally sunny Denver-- and for that I'm grateful. Dec 25, Robert rated it really liked it. Dylan Tomine writes of a year raising his two young kids in the outdoors, living on an island in Western WA.
The book is pure memoir and divided into four seasons - he describes some family rituals in each season like digging clams, planting blueberries, and chopping firewood. If no action is taken, the potential to improve the implementation of this priority. If no action is taken, the potential to improve the implementation.
Ensure a closer approxim at ion to EU st anda rd s in the area o f social [ We know how long it. Israel a n d the E U a re commi tt e d to a c hie v e closer p o li tical co-operation [ I srae l a nd the EU ar e com mi tted to achiev e closer p olitical co-operation [ The r ig id wall shall be either anchored i n the g round or plac ed on the gro un d with, if necessary, additional arresting devices [ As Ukraine c om e s closer to the i n te rnal market, adoption of and compliance with the principles of the EU Code of Conduct for Business Taxation.
As Ukraine comes closer to the internal market, adoption of and compliance with the principles of the EU Code of Conduct for Business Taxation. EU policy wi l l be to c o nt inue its support in the area of interconnection, including infrastructure, to encou ra g e the e f fo rts of the individual countries an d o f the r e gi o n to e n ha nce their intra-region transport, en su r e the closer c o or dination [ The i mp lementation of new programmes o n the g round has continued [ While Tomine's memoir is decidedly food-focused particularly on food specific to the Pacific Northwest , he also shares thoughts on matters large and small, whether the many uses of plastic buckets or the trade-offs that must be made in choosing a budget-friendly sustainable lifestyle.
That their lifestyle creates quality time for the family is evident from a conversation with his daughter and sweet moments in the woods with his son. Tomine clearly feels that he has made the right choice, and readers may find themselves questioning how they can gain more of that free time. Valerie Borchardt, Georges Borchardt, Inc. No one's rated or reviewed this product yet. Skip to main content. Closer to the Ground.
Closer to the Ground is the deeply personal story of a father learning to share his love of nature with his children, not through the indoor lens of words or pictures, but directly, palpably, by exploring the natural world as they forage, cook and eat from the woods and sea.