The Intentional Peasant

Concern over pesticides, and his own research on DDT andother 'risks', prompted Simon Spencer and his wife Carol tomove to Wales to buy a smallholding and become self-sufficient. Abandoning an academic career he sought a newlife close to nature and following organic principles as far as possible.

The book describes the practicalities of most forms oflivestock from poultry to cows, growing vegetables and fruit and producing most of one's own food. It is full of well testedadvice on building, firewood and numerous useful practicalskills. It is partly autobiographical with the author relatinghow he balanced this lifestyle with careers in computing andlater, the conservation of butterflies.

The book is very critical of modern agriculture and foodproduction and despairs of politicians' attempts to tackle boththe climate emergency and the biodiversity emergency.Wildlife-friendly farming is at the heart of the smallholdingand there are detailed descriptions of what has been lost fromthe countryside around them over 45 years.