Preview
  • Bet the Farm

  • The Dollars and Sense of Growing Food in America
  • By: Beth Hoffman
  • Narrated by: Susan Ericksen
  • Length: 7 hrs and 48 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (13 ratings)

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Bet the Farm

By: Beth Hoffman
Narrated by: Susan Ericksen
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Publisher's summary

Beth Hoffman was living the good life: she had a successful career as a journalist and professor, a comfortable home in San Francisco, and plenty of close friends and family. Yet in her late forties, she and her husband decided to leave the big city and move to his family ranch in Iowa—all for the dream of becoming a farmer. There was just one problem: money.

Half of America's two million farms made less than $300 in 2019. Between rising land costs, ever-more expensive equipment, the growing uncertainty of the climate, and few options for health care, farming today is a risky business. For many, simply staying afloat is a constant struggle.

Bet the Farm chronicles this struggle through Beth's eyes as a beginning farmer. She must contend with her father-in-law, who is reluctant to hand over control of the land. Growing oats is good for the environment but ends up being very bad for the wallet. The couple also must balance the books, hoping that farming isn't a romantic fantasy that takes every cent of their savings.

Bet the Farm is a first-hand account of the perils of farming today and a personal exploration of more just and sustainable ways of producing food.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2021 Beth Hoffman (P)2022 Tantor
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What listeners say about Bet the Farm

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Loved this book!!

So timely. Beth takes a long view of farming that opens eyes, brings into view experiences that are seldom seen and does it all with compassion and community building.
Great work!

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From the Farmer's perspective, a must-read.

Such an engaging overview of the reality of life for so many American Farmers and rural communities. Without healthy rural economies and independent farmers, our American future is weakened, but the news we get from mainstream media is not even close in the telling. From the horse's mouth, well-told and narrated, this is where food comes from, and we all need to know how. `

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