Writing, Farming Come to Northfield Public Library on Thursday

Editor's note: The Library Round Table features several guest columnists from the Northfield Public Library. This piece is from Leesa Wisdorf, reference and youth services manager.

Part of a librarian’s job is something we call “readers’ advisory.” We get questions every day from folks who are looking for a “good book” and are hoping the librarian can “recommend something.” If we know the person in front of us, the answer is often easy but many times we need to ask questions of our own to discern what genre they prefer, what authors they’ve enjoyed, etc., before we are able to suggest titles to them.

This year, one of my own personal favorites and one I’ve been recommending is Sheepish: Two Women, Fifty Sheep, and Enough Wool to Save the Planet by local author Catherine Friend. Catherine and her partner Melissa moved from the Twin Cities to Zumbrota to become “serious” farmers. You know, the kind that don’t name their animals because one day they will eat and sell said animals.

As part of a city-turned-country family of 10 who named one of their calves Hamburger for the same reason, I instantly identified with these women who struggled to de-personalize their relationships with the animals they would ultimately ingest. Of course it doesn’t work. All of the animals making their way to this farm end up with names and personalities. Like any new job that you jump into without a lot of background, Catherine and Melissa find joy and trial in their new profession.

This book is a continuation of the stories Catherine first wrote about in her earlier book Hit by a Farm. But 15 years of trial-and-error farming start to take a toll, and, like many middle-aged people, Catherine starts questioning her life choices and bemoaning the constraints that caring for animals 24/7 brings. Her book is honest, thoughtful, and often times very funny. Embedded in this memoir is a history of wool, sheep, and shepherding. Anyone who loves fibers and knitting will enjoy the evolution of Catherine’s disdain of knitters and knitting to her joy of hand spun wool hand dyed into richly vibrant yarn and her determination to learn to knit a pair of socks.

On Sept. 22, the library will host Catherine Friend in the library meeting room at 7 p.m. preceded by a bring-your-knitting project open house from 5-7 p.m. Newly opened will be on hand and will have books for sale. We hope you will join us.