Escapism and Non-Fiction

 I want chickens and fresh eggs. I also really want to have a giant orchard with apple, pear, and apricot trees. And I would love some blueberry, gooseberry, and red currant bushes. And while we are at it, lets add raspberry to the list, too. I really want to be able to go out to the garden and pick a nice fat cabbage. And cucumbers. And, oh, lets throw in a goat, too, because they can munch on shrubs and weeds, you could milk it, and goats are cute. Stinky, but cute. And you can use their poo in the garden.

As they say in Russia, “hotet’ ne vredno”. Which translates, approximately as “no harm in wanting things”, delivered with a healthy dose of sarcasm and, possibly, a derisive snort somewhere in there, too.

I don’t particularly like gardening  – it’s hard, hard work and I prefer to spend my leisure time with a book (yes, I am lazy like that). Also, I like the freedom to travel and see new places any time I feel like it, which is very hard to do if you have an abundant garden (which requires lots so hard work) and chickens, goats and other animals (which also require lots of hard work). 

When I read, I usually prefer fiction, because I want an opportunity to escape and be someplace else for a little while (especially when I am stressed and tired). I want to be transported somewhere different, I want to be solving mysteries and discovering things full of wonder. 

I am discovering that, sometimes, nonfiction can be just as good at providing an escape. Because I am reading Barbara Kingsolver’s “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle” – and yes, it’s a little preachy in places, and I find myself rolling my eyes every so often, but I can’t wait to be able to pick up the book whenever I have a few minutes to spare. I am ear-marking the pages so that I can go back and read fun stuff to my kids. I am making my husband check how expensive it would be to mail-order chicks (no, I am not actually buying chicks – this is just pure daydreaming and escapism). I am looking up local farms where I can buy fresh produce. I am nodding my head excitedly when I go through pages and pages about why it’s better to buy local produce that’s in season and why store-bought tomatoes taste like… nothing. 

I am in a good spot for this book– our family cooks most meals, we try to stick to simple healthy ingredients, we go to the farmers market almost every week, and we do our best to buy what’s in-season. We grow a couple of things in our garden – but that’s not a serious source of food for us, more like fun snacks or supplements for the salad (we did get really nice lettuce and kale this year). Kingsolver meets me where I am, and then she invites me to come along for a ride to see if I can do just a little more. And it is so much fun! 

Have you ever had chickens? How much work is it? (No, I am not getting chickens. Definitely, not getting chickens, no way).