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Dianne Jacob, Will Write For Food

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Down on an Author's Inner City Oakland Farm

August 30, 2009 by diannejacob

Home girl Novella Carpenter threw an open house Saturday  and welcomed whoever wanted to come tour her urban farm, meet her goats, chickens, bees and rabbit; buy her book, Farm City; and exchange information about urban homesteading. I came home with a bag of ripe prune plums, made into jam, and goat poo and hay on one of my sneakers.

Transformation of an empty lot next to the author's house.

Transformation of an empty lot next to the author's house near downtown.

Visitors peruse the garden. Novella lives next door on the second floor.

Visitors admire the garden Novella writes about in her book. Novella lives next door on the second floor.

The author signing books.

The author signing books.

My friend Nani Steele, author of My Nepenthe, peruses the outhouse behind the house.

Nani Steele, author of My Nepenthe, amused to see an outhouse for guests.

Oops, it's a little crowded in there. Novella milks her goats and makes chevre.

Oops, it's busy right now. The goats had babies, and Novella's looking for homes.

This character from the neighborhood asked for change, then chicken. The woman behind the stand offered him lavender and lemon coffeecake.

A character from the neighborhood asked for spare change, then chicken. The woman behind the stand offered him lavender and lemon coffeecake instead. Right.

Novella says the goats will move to this car, a safer place from predators. She had artist friends jazz up the Mercedes for the goats. Behind is a Buddhist monastery.

Novella says the ducks will move to this car, a safer place from predators. She had artist friends jazz up the Mercedes to welcome them. Behind is a Buddhist monastery.

Filed Under: Cookbooks Tagged With: Farm City, Novella Carpenter, urban homesteading

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nani says

    August 31, 2009 at 7:52 pm

    Love the pictorial, and thanks for such a fabulous day-and yes, quite amused with the goat/outhouse. Those were the days of my youth…

  2. Jessica says

    September 4, 2009 at 4:57 pm

    Great post—and pictures! I’m actually in the middle of Novella’s book right now, and have been very curious to see images of the farm.
    Thanks!

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