Nelson Mandela enters the Pantheon

Nelson Mandela “the greatest father there ever was”. Photo from Dylan Martinez, Reuters File Photo

The great man’s marathon is finally run. Nelson Mandela (1918 – 2013) has entered the pantheon of 20^th century greats. Preceded by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela now takes his place alongside them in the great beyond.

I concluded High up in the Rolling Hills with the following words:

Eventually, mountains of baggage that had held us back are removed, and progress is achieved. In taking a stand, slavery was nominally abolished, suffrage was established, and basic universal human rights and freedoms fostered. People can find a true voice, child and spousal abuse can be stamped out, apartheid, segregation and racism can be eradicated, people of different religions can live side by side, biodiversity can be conserved, nature can be respected, and, finally even the shameful stain of war can be wiped off the face of the earth. This can likely only be achieved if the reins of our affairs are handed over to nurturing women, before it’s too late. “If we are going to have a future, it has to be a womanly future”, as Vandana Shiva says. Shining beacons of hope like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela have been rare among men, true visionaries who dreamed such things and acted fearlessly on their dreams. Where are the enlightened leaders of today?

A human being is part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. We experience ourselves, our thoughts and feelings as something separate from the rest. A kind of optical delusion of consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from the prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. The true value of a human being is determined by the measure and the sense in which they have obtained liberation from the self. We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if humanity is to survive. (Albert Einstein, 1954)

Nelson Mandela’s selfless life is testimony to the fact that progress on many fronts is indeed possible. His countless words and deeds of conciliation did move mountains. He was an exceptional man who restored a level of hope and belief for people in South Africa and around the world. He has set the table for generations to come.

  

4-Star Review on Amazon

4.0 out of 5 stars Learning from the land, Nov. 3 2013

This review is from: High Up in the Rolling Hills:A Living on the Land (Kindle Edition) http://www.amazon.ca/dp/1475985851/ref=rdr_ext_tmb

Here self-transformation is driven by a steady stream of incremental adjustments. This book is a spiritual journey. The author finds a path from urban living to small-farm commercial organic farming, predominantly leafy greens, garlic and vegetables. No Hollywood grand events but a steady, though bumpy, convergence of self-awareness, relationship growth, health and nutrition, and gardening and farming. Each facet develops along the way, informed by trial and error and insights from the other facets, converging into an holistic practice respectful of self, community and nature. The book itself develops a cyclic, almost poetic structure as the seasons of the land shape the author. I particularly enjoyed the reflective post-harvest canoe trips in the autumnal Canadian Shield.

The book is philosophical without philosophy - biography as lived philosophy, rather than philosophical lecturing. Here, respect for the processes of nature is not so much a moral obligation as something learned through experience as a means to more profound spiritual enrichment. An enjoyable and enlightening read.

Guillermo Viviani

Guillermo Viviani

In his lifetime, Guillermo (Bill) Viviani was surrounded by beautiful women. I have no doubt that these lovely women in tandem (but especially Karen, his loving wife) helped to extend his life and maximize the quality of it. The bone marrow cancer that afflicted him for a dozen years eventually sapped away his energies, but these were times wrapped in the love of his family, including his Chilean brothers and sisters, which he truly doted on.

Gundi and I have them all in our thoughts in these days following his passing. Rest in peace, Guillermo.

In this photo from Alexandra’s wedding in July of this year, Guillermo is embraced by Lindy (Karen’s daughter), Andrea (his third daughter), Alexandra (his fourth daughter), Karen (his wife), Cristina (his first daughter), and Claudia (his second daughter).   

Publisher's Press Release

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

EDITORS: For review copies or interview requests, contact:

Marketing Services

Tel: 800-288-4677

Fax: 812-961-3133

Email: promotions(at)iuniverse(dot)com

(When requesting a review copy, please provide a street address.)   

Couple seeks out more natural lifestyle in Peter Finch’s new memoir

Husband and wife become organic farmer and glass artist in ‘High Up in the Rolling Hills’

ROSENEATH, Ontario – In “High Up in the Rolling Hills: A Living on the Land” (published by iUniverse), author Peter Finch shares the personal journey that he and his wife, Gundi, set out on, exploring, as an independent couple, the vital role of nature, creativity and healthy food in life.

In midlife, the couple made the shift to living on the land, ushering in a new phase in their life, as they set down roots in the hills and settled into a deliberately simplified lifestyle. Invigorated by their natural surroundings and the pleasures and health benefits of growing, selling, and eating fresh organic food, Finch reveals how he became a passionate advocate of traditional, small-scale, organic, chemical-free farming.

An excerpt from “High Up in the Rolling Hills”:

“Craving fresh air, peace and quiet, a simpler life, a slower pace and more space, we headed up into these mysterious hills. We feathered our new nest, a hillside homestead and a sizeable (55 acres) chunk of land, and wondered what tomorrow might bring. The rural community we came to was first cautious, then accommodating, then outright welcoming to us.”

Finch says that the creative and natural lifestyle they adopted has brought health, wellbeing, inspiration and contentment. “Peace of mind is the reward for living simply and well,” he says. “The more we stray from nature, the more lost we become”.

“High Up in the Rolling Hills”

By Peter Finch

Hardcover | 5.5 x 8.5 in | 204 pages | ISBN 9781475985870

Softcover | 5.5 x 8.5 in | 204 pages | ISBN 9781475985856

E-Book | ISBN 9781475985863

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Peter Finch was born in Buckinghamshire, England, and is a dual-nationality naturalized Canadian who graduated with a degree in modern languages from St. Peter’s College (Oxford University). A world traveler and organic farmer, Finch lives with his wife, Gundi, in the rolling hills of Northumberland County near Toronto in southern Ontario, Canada. “High Up in the Rolling Hills” is Finch’s first book.

iUniverse, an Author Solutions, Inc. self-publishing imprint, is the leading book marketing, editorial services, and supported self-publishing provider. iUniverse has a strategic alliance with Indigo Books & Music, Inc. in Canada, and titles accepted into the iUniverse Rising Star program are featured in a special collection on BarnesandNoble.com. iUniverse recognizes excellence in book publishing through the Star, Reader’s Choice, Rising Star and Editor’s Choice designations – self-publishing’s only such awards program. Headquartered in Bloomington, Ind., iUniverse also operates offices in Indianapolis. For more information or to publish a book, please visit iuniverse.com or call 1-800-AUTHORS. For the latest, follow @iuniversebooks on Twitter.

Song for Negra

Negra at her regular perch at my cocktail hour, July, 2010 

It is four weeks today since we had to say goodbye to our little Negra, the sleek effervescent black cat that was my constant joy and companion while home here on the farm. She came to us as a little kitten a few months before we moved out to the hills some fourteen years ago, a move that inspired me to write High Up in the Rolling Hills.

As I was mourning her loss, my friend David sent me a link to a video of Emmylou Harris singing Not Enough. The lyrics are an exquisite expression of loss of a loved one and I hope I will be forgiven for quoting them here:

Oh my darling, I miss you so.

How I loved you, you'll never know.
Though it's time for me to let you go.
Oh my darling, I'll miss you so.

Can't believe you're really gone for good.
I still hold on to places you once stood.
I should move on, but I never could,
Really believe you're gone for good.

Oh my friend, what could I do?
I just came home to bury you.
The road is long, the road is rough.
You’re in my heart, that's not close enough.

All those years, disappear
All my tears, are not enough, not enough.
How can it be the ties that bind,
Cut down deep and are so unkind?
When we lose them we will never find,
Anything stronger than the ties that bind.

I still have your memory.
One or two pictures of you and me.
Life is long and life is tough,
But when you love someone,
Life is not long enough.

For me, this has become my Song for Negra.

Emmylou Harris sings her song so tenderly here:

Boldness has genius

“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”

It was not Nietzsche (whom I readily quote in High Up in the Rolling Hills) who wrote this, but Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

I like to think that it is a tenet that has subconsciously driven me throughout my life and made me make the decisions and detours that I have. In looking beyond short-term brutish goals, horizons and vistas open up that draw us out into beautiful realms of exploration and discovery. Following dreams leads us to places we cannot uncover by pursuing goals alone.  

Remembering Dad

Dad and Mum, in their garden ten years ago

This rainy cool day would have marked my Dad’s ninetieth birthday. He suddenly passed on almost eight years ago now; how time flies.

An excerpt from the book:
In my youth, Dad envied my footloose travels, my wanderlust. As a loving father, he always wanted me to settle into a cosy routine, into a safe marriage, into a secure career. He was always coming up with new ideas, especially for my fledgling map business and gardening pursuits. I, in turn, envied his flying and gliding exploits; he told me that there is nothing to match the feeling of hearing only the whoosh of the wind when gliding free. I also envied his bravura in taking on challenges and truly getting things done. I took on his passion for gardening, sports, poetry, maps and music, and some of his humanitarian character couldn’t help but rub off on me. 

As I remember him today, his indomitable energy and hearty enthusiasm come back strongly. With my book now published and with positive energy coming back to me in the form of generous response, it is only fitting that I feel confident, energized and overall very positive about the life I am able to lead. Dad was dedicated to the several thousand disadvantaged children he and Mum looked after in their calling as wardens at Little Pond House and operators of Chilton Farmhouse Childrens Holidays. He was dedicated to humanitarianism in many guises, especially those less fortunate that he went out of his way to befriend and care for. I often feel that I was free to do many things he would love to have done – complete my education with study at university, travel extensively, read widely, and make a living from growing food.

Cheers and Happy Birthday, Dad. Thanks for the happy memories. 

Remembering Elizabeth Harris on Riverdale Farmers Market Opening Day

Elizabeth Harris

Today is the opening day of the 2013 season for Riverdale Farmers Market in Toronto. I find myself at home on the farm. A gentle rain is falling on the lush spring greenery all around. Feeling slightly guilty not to be at market as the rain falls in Toronto, I find myself remembering fondly Elizabeth Harris, the founding market manager, on this her breakout day of the year. It is not possible to imagine not being at market were she still with us, marshalling her farmers and cajoling. 

Honouring Elizabeth, here is an excerpt from my newly-published book, High Up in the Rolling Hills:    

It was the irrepressible Elizabeth Harris who had given me my big break as a certified organic grower all those years ago. Then as vice-president of Quinte Organic Farmers Co-operative, I approached Elizabeth to apply for the co-op to be a vendor at her flagship organic farmers market at Riverdale Farm in Cabbagetown, Toronto. She sized up what we offered, 12 small certified-organic family farms pooling their produce to market direct to the customer, and she voiced her doubts. She was used to allowing only single farms to join her family of vendors. But she sized me up too and found something she liked or trusted, so she said, “Okay, but only as long as you bring all the farmers in to sell at your stand through the season.” “Sure,” I promised having gotten a foot in the door. It wasn’t to be, of course; only one or two farmers bothered to come in at all, but the first season was a roaring success for the co-op as a fledgling sales organization. I made sure we stayed on Elizabeth’s good side—as one had to—and, over several years, Elizabeth and I developed a wonderful mutual respect. I was awed by her tight control of the market, her fairness, her discipline with slack vendors, her amazing vision in holding it all together and bringing people together.

“Peter, I’d like you to meet Jamie Kennedy.”

“Peter, can any of your farmers supply three bushels of romano beans for a dinner for seventy-five this Friday?”

She would often call up and tell me about the latest new vendors that she was excited to have visited. She had such respect for farmers and for food produced honestly and in a fresh way. And she would ask my opinion and advice. Early on at market, I incurred her wrath. She had strong rules and enforced them. Vendors were not allowed to sell before the bell rang, right at 3:00 p.m. As I tried to sneak in a sale for a customer who was running off to work, a booming voice bellowed out from the other side of the park: “Mr. Finch, the market opens at three o’clock, and not before!” Last year, held up in traffic and running late in setting up, I upheld her rule when an impending storm told her to ring the bell early. “No, Elizabeth, that’s not fair; I’m not ready,” I pleaded. She agreed to wait, and for weeks after, she deferred to me to see if I was ready before ringing the bell. A softening, maybe? I feel deep down that she truly respected her senior farmers, and I was lucky enough to have been in that number.

Elizabeth slipped away from us, succumbing to cancer, but her amazing energy, drive and spirit would remain with us as we tried to honour her legacy and continued to provide for the table she set for us so passionately. It had been an honour and a privilege to know her; hard to believe that she wouldn’t be shuffling along on a glorious spring afternoon on opening day of market in May and that her voice wouldn’t be greeting me across the park: “Peter, who do you have helping you today? I’d like to introduce you to …”

What is High Up in the Rolling Hills all about?

In his youth, Peter Finch wove his way through a series of exploits and adventures. Travels took him to Canada, where a fateful encounter in the Rocky Mountains opened up new horizons. In midlife he and his wife Gundi made the shift to country living, ushering in a new phase in their life, as they set down roots in the hills and settled into a deliberately simplified lifestyle.

Peter relates how he and Gundi immersed themselves in ways guided by nature. As she created and sold glass sculptures, he sunk his hands and tools into pure glacial-till soils, sowing, planting, and growing culinary and medicinal herbs, heirloom vegetables and salad greens to take to farmers markets and restaurants in and around Toronto. Invigorated by the pleasures and health benefits of growing, selling, and eating fresh organic food, Peter reveals how he became a passionate advocate of traditional, small-scale, chemical-free farming.

High Up in the Rolling Hills shares the personal journey of an independent couple as they explore the vital role of nature, creativity, and healthy food in life.

Now available through major booksellers!

Softcover back cover

Thrilled to see that my book, High Up in the Rolling Hills, is now available through my publisher, IUniverse, and all major booksellers in Canada and the United States. Some booksellers and their re-sellers are offering substantial discounts on both hardcover and softcover versions, so shop around!

Go to any of the following and search for High Up in the Rolling Hills.

www.IUniverse.com
www.Amazon.com
www.Amazon.ca
www.barnesandnoble.com
www.Borders.com
www.Chapters.Indigo.ca.

Or, better still, you can pick up a signed copy from me in person at the Rolling Hills Organics stand, any Saturday at the Evergreen Brick Works Farmers Market in Toronto, ebw.evergreen.ca/farmers-market.

June 7 Update
Tickled to now see the book now showing up as also available from Amazon:
in Brazil www.amazon.com.br
in France www.amazon.fr
in Germany www.amazon.de
in India www.amazon.in
in Japan www.amazon.co.jp
in Spain www.amazon.es

Hard copies received

Thrilled to receive one hard cover copy and one soft cover copy of High Up in the Rolling Hills by Purolator today!

After years of penning, months of editing, weeks of revising, and days of waiting for the first printed copies of my first published book, it is immensely satisfying to see the happily colourful cover and flip through the 204 pages. I suppose I'm proud more than anything else to have accounted for my life to date and made some sense of the experiences that have driven and inspired me.

The book can already be ordered at the bookstore of www.IUniverse.com. It will be available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Chapters Indigo (in Canada) shortly. A Press Release is next. And I will be ordering a quantity of books to sell to customers at Brick Works and Riverdale farmers markets in Toronto. I think more than a few should be interested in my story. 

My Book is Published!

High Up in the Rolling Hills is now officially “live” and published. This, my first book, is available first in the Bookstore at www.iuniverse.com. Within a few weeks it will be available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, and, in Canada, through Chapters Indigo. It will also be available to order here through Paypal.

In his youth, Peter Finch wove his way through a series of exploits and adventures. Travels took him to Canada, where a fateful encounter in the Rocky Mountains opened up new horizons. In midlife he and his wife Gundi made the shift to country living, ushering in a new phase in their life, as they set down roots in the hills and settled into a deliberately simplified lifestyle.

Peter relates how he and Gundi immersed themselves in ways guided by nature. As she created and sold glass sculptures, he sunk his hands and tools into pure glacial-till soils, sowing, planting, and growing culinary and medicinal herbs, heirloom vegetables and salad greens to take to farmers markets and restaurants in and around Toronto. Invigorated by the pleasures and health benefits of growing, selling, and eating fresh organic food, Peter reveals how he became a passionate advocate of traditional, small-scale, chemical-free farming.

High Up in the Rolling Hills shares the personal journey of an independent couple as they explore the vital role of nature, creativity, and healthy food in life.

The soft cover version retails for US $17.95.

The hard cover version retails for US $27.95.

The e-book retails for US $3.99.

High Up in the Rolling Hills

My final manuscript has gone off to the publisher. High Up in the Rolling Hills, A Living on the Land, is a book in its final stages of design that will be in print shortly. 

This personal journey explores my own independent travels, migration to a new land, organic farming, farmers markets, country living and the vital role of nature, creativity and healthy food in our lives.

Tracking the experiences and adventures leading up to our mid-life shift to country living, High Up in the Rolling Hills, A Living on the Land charts the discoveries of an independent couple as we set down roots in the hills.

As my artist wife Gundi creates stacked glass sculptures, I, farmer Peter, sink hands and tools into pure glacial-till soils, sow seeds, plant seedlings and grow culinary and medicinal herbs, heirloom vegetables and leafy greens to take to farmers markets and restaurants in the city. Along the way, we experience the pleasures and health benefits of growing, selling and eating fresh organic food, all close to our artful home in the hills. In a frantic age, we tap into a simple, deliberate, highly rewarding lifestyle and make a healthy living.

The practice of farming makes me delve into age-old methods of growing food as I seek out natural ways to work the soil, nurture nutritious vegetables and herbs. A romantic at heart, I have become a passionate advocate of organic farming and a burgeoning alternative local food movement based on farmers markets and innovative providers, purveyors and consumers linked by common aspirations and values. In a world in which nature is fast being closed out and regulated, this is one of countless instances around the world of farmers taking charge by reclaiming food, land and health in harmony with their natural surroundings.