Inspiring story for anyone suffering from illness – you can find your way back!
I have to confess, my Grounded by Liz Zorab review should have appeared much earlier than this. However, I became engrossed in it, not just as a book to review for work, but out of pure enjoyment. It’s the story of Liz, her husband Mr J and their labours in transforming a paddock (Byther Farm) to provide most of their food in just over four years.
Liz left the rat race and overcame the effects of chronic illness to develop a self-sufficient, independent lifestyle.
Grounded is a blend of practical tips and personal experience of living with mental and physical illness. Whether you have a garden or not, there’s a lot to relate to here. As someone living with chronic illness, I found it extremely comforting to know I wasn’t alone, and a longing to be independent and live the life you want isn’t unique.
As Liz says: “Don’t let one bad experience stop you from achieving your dreams. Instead, use it as a catalyst for finding another way forward.”
Community-supported agriculture model
Byther Farm is less than 0.8 acres, yet it provides the couple with 80 per cent of their food and drink every year. They also sell vegetables via a community-supported agriculture model.
The Good Life it ain’t – aiming towards self-sufficiency is fraught with problems, and Liz doesn’t hide their mistakes. However, as the years progress, the successes outweigh the failures. Liz spent more than 20 years working with specialist housing charities and in community development. She won an RHS Silver Medal for a community-led garden featured on BBC’s ‘Gardeners World Live’ in 2002.
Liz writes for Permaculture Magazine and teaches gardening and self-sufficiency skills. You can find her on YouTube at Liz Zorab – Byther Farm. Grounded by Liz Zorab is available now, ISBN: 978 1 85623 302 6, RRP £16.
Read more horticultural book reviews you might like – The Thoughtful Gardener and Good Soil; Urban Flowers; The Salad Garden; The Jam Maker’s Garden; RHS The Creative Gardener and Charles Dowding’s latest No-Dig volume.
