Great Possessions: An Amish Farmer's Journal

This wonderful book celebrates the simple yet profound pleasures of nature. David Kline writes with a understated elegance for all like-minded gentle souls. Fascinating observations abound, from rough-legged hawks and great horned owls to monarch and viceroy butterflies to the hidden world of fencerows (yes, fencerows!) The author leads us through the seasons with charming grace. Great Possessions is a classic in the field of nature writing, with the ability to warm you on a chilly winter night, or cool your brow on a warm summer afternoon.

Excellent set of essays exploring the natural world (emphasis, birds) of the author's local region within walking distance. Beautifully written, this book is bound to become a classic of the genre. Loved it.

David Kline, an Amish farmer, describes the natural wonders around him in this book. The essays, first appearing in Family Life Magazine, share his love of birds, trees, and wildlife. His love of birds is quite evidence throughout the essays. One essay suggested fruits, both berries and ones growing on trees, one should seek to cultivate. The essay also suggested nut trees which should be planted. As I read it, I wondered how many of my Amish ancestors followed similar patterns of planting these for their own families. While they contributed to the family's cupboard, they also provided a source of entertainment through bird watching. When I read the title, I thought the book would focus more on aspects of farming, but I enjoyed this show more just as much. show less

This is a gentle journal mostly of bird and wildlife around an Ohio Amish farm. I found it relaxing and informative but sometimes wished he'd written more about the farm and Amish culture. A good book for avid birders.

Yes, The Amish do write about themselves. In GREAT POSSESSIONS, Amish farmer David Kline writes about his life as a farmer, but he also writes about the natural world that surrounds him & his family. For example, he & his children keep track of the birds that they see in their yards & fields. They look up information in bird books & encyclopedias & are always on the look-out for new & unusual sightings in the natural world. Mr. Klein describes the horses he uses on his farm, the care he gives them, how they cultivate his fields & even a bit of their personalities.
This book is not only useful to understand the ways of the Amish, but it also gives a picture of life as it was lived in the years before machines were invented, the lives that show more were lived by many of our ancestors. show less