The Summer is only a Winter away! I'm working on a new presentation about town farms. It's based on the research I did when I was writing Town Farm Boy. Booking now for Summer dates. 

Town farms are a fascinating microcosm of days gone by. The idea was to have a place where "the poor" could earn their keep through honest labor. Instead, they often served as a dumping ground for the elderly and disabled. Supported by town taxpayers, the idea was to keep expenses low and supplement those costs with extra produce and meat from the farm. As with everything else in life, things didn't necessarily go as planned.

I'll be presenting some of the poignant and horrifying tales I discovered along the way. It's a fascinating look at how communities tried to balance their sense of duty to their neighbors with the very real drain on their collective wallets.

Coming soon to a library or museum near you.