Little Farm in the Foothills

A Boomer Couple's Search for the Slow Life

When two Boomers flee the city for a slower, simpler, and more serene lifestyle, they discover that simplicity can get awfully complicated… and life becomes anything but serene.

In this feel-good tale for gardeners, nature-lovers, and dreamers of all ages, Little Farm in the Foothills follows a midlife couple’s pursuit of the “new” Great American Dream—living closer to the land—as they begin their new hands-on life, growing their own food and transforming an old clearcut into a little homestead.

"The Browne's foray into slower living in Whatcom County is an enjoyable read. Their delightful, yet very real, experiences in making the big leap toward their dreams make for a humorous and charming book." --Jan Walsh, Washington State Librarian

Here's more about the story: by the time Susan and her husband John first conceived the idea of having a country place, they were settled into a comfortable and convenient home in the city, happily raising some vegetables in the back yard. Being experienced gardeners, they figured that relocating would be no big deal—they’d expand the garden a little, have a bit more peace and quiet. So they bought 10 acres in the middle of the woods and prepared to pretty much transfer that comfortable town life to the new property.

But this modest plan becomes an adventure that is more life-changing than they could have ever imagined.

There was so much to this new life they never faced before—breaking ground by hand and wildlife predation of their first crops. Despite a tight budget and many roadblocks along the way, they must also cope with unexpected adversity like isolation, infrastructure failures, and extreme weather.

Little Farm in the Foothills is not a memoir about farming…it’s a warmhearted story of making a dream come true. As Susan writes of their Foothills home, “it’s not a farm, it’s not even a farmette, but it’s the dream of a farm.” Watch for the sequel to Little Farm in the Foothills, coming Spring 2018!

"A delightful account." The Bellingham Herald

If you like country stories, you might enjoy Susan's new Irish novel, The Galway Girls! In this warmhearted tale of women’s friendship and discovering love where you least expect it, The Galway Girls follows Irish thirtysomethings Kerry and Fiona as they search for their heart’s desire among the misty green hills of the Irish countryside.

About the Author:

Susan Colleen Browne, a novelist and creative writing instructor, writes and gardens from her little farm in the Pacific Northwest, USA. She’s a big fan of the novels of Aussie Liane Moriarty and Irish author Marian Keyes.

If you enjoy Irish stories, you might like Susan’s Village of Ballydara series, Irish romantic women's fiction! The series includes novels about young Irish women struggling with family relationships and finding lasting love, and family-centered short stories. Since she loves reading and watching Irish stories too, she shares a list of favorite Irish books and movies on her website, at susancolleenbrowne.com. If you like backyard farming, cooking with homegrown food and country living, you’ll find Susan’s stories and pics at her Little Farm blog.

When not writing, Susan is wrangling chickens, tending vegetable beds, and dreaming up new Irish stories!