John Vivian (1) (1935–2022)
Author of Building Stone Walls
For other authors named John Vivian, see the disambiguation page.
Works by John Vivian
THE NEW, IMPROVED WOOD HEAT 2 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Vivian, John Morrison
- Birthdate
- 1935-03-27
- Date of death
- 2022-03-17
- Gender
- male
- Education
- Harvard University (MBA)
- Organizations
- U.S. Marine Corps
- Short biography
- [excerpted from Daily Hampshire Gazette online obituary]
John was a United States Marine Corps veteran and earned his MBA from Harvard University. He worked for Towers, Perrin, Forster & Crosby (now Willis Towers Watson) and briefly lived in Belgium as a consultant. Realizing that the corporate life was not his chosen path, John followed his ambition to become an author. As a proponent of self-sufficiency, he naturally gravitated to the back-to-the-land movement of the 1970s, resulting in some of his most popular publications. A talented wordsmith, John had most recently been a long-time contributing author and editor for Mother Earth News magazine when he retired in 2001. - Places of residence
- Belgium
Kennebunkport, Maine, USA - Place of death
- South Hadley, Massachusetts, USA
- Map Location
- USA
Members
Reviews
Another bee book given us last Christmas. Not read it cover to cover, but just to dip in where I please. Already interested by the AHB section at the back. As I was reading from the back forwards it was a while before I realised this is not a desease but the Africanised Honey Bee which does not get covered by local books here. This was very refreshing to read as it gave an American slant on a lot of things and was a very clear and engaging book.
Building Fences of Wood, Stone, Metal, & Plants: Making Fence with Wood, Metal, Stone and Living Plants by John Vivian
Better than some of the fencing books I've read; he's got enough personal stories starting his chapters to let the reader know he's been-there-done-that. In some cases, like his fenced in dog yard, he walks us thru his decision process in choosing what materials to use. Unlike many others, he includes a chapter on living fences: hedgerows, shrub borders, etc. Especially for hedgerows, he knows most people have a misconception that just any shrubby border will qualify, so clearly explains how show more to make it impenetrable. He did not go as far as a British book I'd read which said to cut and lay the shrubby trees first. I guess it depends on what condition your border is to begin with.
Given his New England location, he understandably devotes time to stone fences. Also well detailed are various wood fences from lumber, brick, cement block (including suggestions for veneer facing), electric and wire fences. Gate details are well developed throughout the different chapters. Beginning chapter is on planning. Shorter sections on primitive fences such as rail fences, hurdles, and wattle fences.
Some drawbacks: he sometimes includes pricing, as a guide to help decide how much of the work or what type of materials you'll use, and obviously the prices are outdated (tho the general idea would be the same. Also he keeps referring us to "talk with a local contractor" to see what they'd recommend, e.g. for footers or depth of post holes. If I knew a contractor who had nothing to do but sit around giving out free advice, I probably wouldn't need this book. I can understand an author putting that in, as a precautionary principle, in case things don't go right if we follow his general guidelines. show less
Given his New England location, he understandably devotes time to stone fences. Also well detailed are various wood fences from lumber, brick, cement block (including suggestions for veneer facing), electric and wire fences. Gate details are well developed throughout the different chapters. Beginning chapter is on planning. Shorter sections on primitive fences such as rail fences, hurdles, and wattle fences.
Some drawbacks: he sometimes includes pricing, as a guide to help decide how much of the work or what type of materials you'll use, and obviously the prices are outdated (tho the general idea would be the same. Also he keeps referring us to "talk with a local contractor" to see what they'd recommend, e.g. for footers or depth of post holes. If I knew a contractor who had nothing to do but sit around giving out free advice, I probably wouldn't need this book. I can understand an author putting that in, as a precautionary principle, in case things don't go right if we follow his general guidelines. show less
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Statistics
- Works
- 13
- Members
- 589
- Popularity
- #42,597
- Rating
- 3.9
- Reviews
- 3
- ISBNs
- 66