How to be a farmer

A charming anthology of classical Greek and Roman writings celebrating country life—from a philosophy of compost to hymns to the gods of agriculture

Whether you farm or garden, live in the countryside or want to move there, or simply enjoy the occasional rural retreat, you'll be delighted by this cornucopia of writings on living and working on the land, harvested from the fertile fields of ancient Greek and Roman literature. An inspiring antidote to the digital age, How to Be a Farmer evokes the beauty and bounty of nature with a rich blend of philosophy, practical advice, history, and humor. Together, these timeless reflections on what the Greeks called boukolika and the Romans res rusticae provide an entertaining and illuminating guide to a more meaningful and sustainable way of living.

In new translations by the classicist and farmer M.D. Usher, with the original texts on the facing pages, Hesiod praises the dignity of labor; Plato describes the rustic simplicity of his ideal republic; Varro dedicates an agricultural manual to his wife, Fundania (“Mrs. Farmer”); and Vergil idealizes farmers as residents of the Gilded Age. In other selections, Horace extols the joys of the simple life on his beloved country farm; Pliny the Elder explains why all culture stems from agriculture; Columella praises donkeys and tells how to choose a ram or a dog; Musonius Rufus argues that farming is the best means of support for a philosopher; and there is much more.

Proving that farming is ultimately a mindset we should all cultivate, How to Be a Farmer will charm anyone who loves nature or its fruits.