Sheepish

Two Women, Fifty Sheep, and Enough Wool to Save the Planet

By: Catherine Friend

Narrated by: Erin Bennett

Length: 7 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

What do you do when you love your farm...but it doesn’t love you? After 15 years of farming, Catherine Friend is tired. After all, while shepherding is one of the oldest professions, it’s not getting any easier. The number of sheep in America has fallen by 90 percent in the last 90 years. But just as Catherine thinks it’s time to hang up her shepherd’s crook, she discovers that sheep might be too valuable to give up. What ensues is a funny, thoughtful romp through the history of our woolly friends, why small farms are important, and how each one of us - and the planet - would benefit from being very sheepish, indeed.

©2011 Catherine Friend (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

I got hit by a farm, too

I fell in love with the idea of a farm, but not a real one. We boarded our alpacas for 8 years and gave up.

These women didn't give up. Through thick and thin, they made it work and learned so much along the way. But I think the culture is against. them. I am a spinner, a knitter, and a weaver. I love wool, but PETA thinks shearing is cruel and has a billboard in Manhattan to prove it.

Alas , the small farm is an anachronism. Farmers are on the wrong side of history. Not me; I was inspired and someday I will have a small flock of my own.

The flow was great

Mrs. Friend’s writing style has an excellent flow. The stories build lovingly upon it other.

The electric fence is a shocker

What a lively story that has great and memorable laugh out loud moments. I will never loot at a dog and an electric fence the same way again. I listened while I sat spinning wool, and thinking about getting some sheep.
Loved it!

Absolutely fun and intriguing.

Narrator has a nice voice. Storyline was catchy and kept you looking for the next. It was a fun and informative read.

Fantastic!

Loved the story. Kept my attention and really makes me think I can live that lifestyle.

Painfully unfunny

This book has the kinds of jokes your mom would tell. Very groan inducing. Baby boomers joking about being baby boomers really are the worst.

Witty woolly wonders

This book was such a treat! I particularly recommend it to knitters, spinners and wool lovers alike.

I am a shepherd.. of course I love it

I think this book was written out of quandary the author finds herself in. She is the assistant farmer... the farm was not her dream. But she loves someone who wants to farm... so she finds herself farming Sheep, ducks, chickens... and trying to figure out how to make it work in her own mind. It is funny. and I cheer as she finally gets fiber and fiber folks. I thank the author in that I also struggle with the how's and the why's of raising sheep. I come away with renewed purpose. Now if I can get my grumbling husband and sons to lend a hand without complaining.... I need another book.

I'm Sheepish

Loved this book. I've been farming for 20 years and been raising fiber sheep (Gotlands and Shetland) for the last 9.i is I had discovered the joy of sheep earlier. I totally understand the ups and down so beautifully written here. Also love all the explanation of sheep related terms. What an enjoyable read. Thank you.

Ewe will really enjoy this!

Sheepish is part autobiography, part guide-to-farming, part research, part wonderful narrative and all worth reading, er, listening to. The author has embedded lots of very thoughtful quotes from non-sheepy people and some pretty quirky humor that makes this book something you'll laugh-out-loud at one moment, and have to pause to consider in another moment. The narrator seemed to have a bit of a snarky attitude, in a few bits, that I didn't really attribute to the author, but that was only a minor distraction.