CGS Book Club: Farm City

Our choice for the February 2026 Book Club is ... FARM CITY by Novella Carpenter. Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer is a 2009 memoir by Novella Carpenter about her experience creating a farm in an abandoned lot in inner-city Oakland, California, blending rural self-sufficiency with urban life. The book chronicles her journey from a few chickens to raising livestock like pigs, turkeys, and geese, using food scraps from local restaurants, and navigating the unique challenges and characters of her neighborhood. It's praised as a charming, funny, and insightful look at urban homesteading, food systems, and the intersection of city and country living. Available on Kindle, audiobook, and in paper/hardback book, chances are EXCELLENT you can also find a used copy or borrow one from the library. One of New York Times “Top 10 Books of 2009". > FREE EVENT - but your registration is required to obtain meeting updates and the Zoom link! Please note that our meeting will be IN-PERSON at the Columbus Garden School, but you may attend via Zoom if preferred. We hope you'll JOIN US! And yes, bring a treat to share if you are inspired. SPECIAL NOTE: CGS owner Tisa Watts lived in Oakland, CA when this book was written and visited Novella Carpenter at Farm City after it was published. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Past books we've read in the CGS Book Club: The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben The Overstory by Richard Powers Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer