City vs. Country Life
Feb. 29, 2008

"One of the most striking characteristics of each "depression period" is the tacit acknowledgment of city dwellers that "the farm is the safest place to live;" for though there is each year a migration from the country to the city and a counter movement to the suburbs and a less pronounced one to more agricultural environment, the movement becomes an exodus when business takes a slump and employees are thrown out of work.

So long as the income continues the employee is prone to quell what desires he may have for rural life and to tolerate the disadvantages of urban surroundings rather than to drop a certainty for an uncertainty; but when hard times arrive and his savings steadily melt away he begins to appreciate the advantages of a home which does not gobble up his hard earned money but produces much of its up-keep, especially in the way of food for the family.
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In a poignant sense city existence is non-productive; it deals with what has been produced elsewhere. Moreover it is dependent upon "income" to supply "outgo" and in the great majority of cases has nothing to show -- not even character -- for all the time and effort spent. Country life reverses this order; it not only produces "outgo" to supply "income" but when well ordered it provides "surplus." Nay, further, it develops character in the man and each member of the family."

~M.G. Kains Five Acres and Independence

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"So long as the income continues the employee is prone to quell what desires he may have for rural life and to tolerate the disadvantages of urban surroundings rather than to drop a certainty for an uncertainty; but when hard times arrive and his savings steadily melt away he begins to appreciate the advantages of a home which does not gobble up his hard earned money but produces much of its up-keep, especially in the way of food for the family."

If that doesn't sum it all up for me I don't know what does! Looks like a great book. My library does not have it. We have yet to pick our plot in life, so this could be a great guide. Thanks again for sharing.

closertofree - 11:41 PM - Feb. 29, 2008

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Hi

It is so funny I checked in to say HI and end up on a farm post. :-) May God Bless Your Day!!

AmoScribo - 1:42 AM - Mar. 1, 2008

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p.s.

"...does not gobble up his hard earned money..."

Guess this author does not have horses! haha

AmoScribo - 1:44 AM - Mar. 1, 2008

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Hi

Allison!

I think in the book he says something like "the pleasure horse has no place on the small farm" for exactly that reason. :-)

Same with me Angela!

hrlabonte - 7:41 AM - Mar. 1, 2008

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