Rural Wisdom

The wisdom of the upper Midwest is found in the minds and hearts of the people who live there. Wisdom is expressed in the stories people tell of earlier days and earlier times. Stories of happiness and hard work. Stories of hardship and joy. As rural people tell their stories, remember them, for in these stories are the values and beliefs that have been passed on from generation to generation, and make the upper Midwest what it is today. Noted author Jerry Apps collected these oft spoken phrases, observations, comments and conundrums. Together with striking photographs by his son, Steve Apps, staff photographer for the Wisconsin State Journal, the statements lend humorous. touching, unique glimpses into rural life in the upper Midwest. Book jacket.

In this delightful memoir of short stories and essays, the author uses the rural wisdom he gained in his youth to explain time, forgiveness, and the crush of change; and applies it the challenge of life in the big city. Here, there is history on a clothesline, wisdom in a thunderstorm, and appreciation in a car ride. His humor includes a wild turkey that lived in a doghouse with an old German Shepherd, escaped wild pigs, and the etiquette of trapping city mice. Follow the author as he explores the reverence of the beekeeper, the absolute quiet of the farm between dark and dawn, and compares today’s body-piercings to the nose jewelry used on the farm. The theme of the book reveals that each one of us wants to be loved, appreciated, and to contribute to life. But along the way we ignore our opportunities, and yet, life continually gives us second chances despite our inattentiveness. Read and enjoy the author’s appreciation of the richness of ourselves.

In an updated and expanded edition of a timeless classic, bestselling author Jerry Apps has written and collected oft-spoken phrases, observations, comments, and conundrums celebrating country life and rural living. Black and white photographs by Steve Apps, an award-winning photojournalist, complement the text that offers humorous, touching, and unique glimpses into the lighter side of life in the Midwest.

Author Shawn Ousley takes readers on an eye-opening journey through small-town life, uncovering the profound insights found in rural living. With vivid storytelling, he weaves together the narratives of rural families and individuals whose lives display the wisdom that is ever so present in the rural communities. As urban sprawl and technology spread, Rural Wisdom shines a light on the value of rural traditions, tight-knit bonds, and local self-reliance. From the escaped pig to the bonfire nights, the book paints a portrait of easy living and life lessons. Neighbors become like kin, handshakes seal deals, and communities pull together through thick and thin. Drawing on his experiences as a country boy, a husband, a father, and a neighbor, Shawn delves into the unique challenges and triumphs of rural living. He offers practical lessons on aspects like owning a truck and working with neighbors. Rural Wisdom provides insights extending far beyond any particular geography. With warmth and authenticity, Shawn invites readers to discover the simple joys of rural living and the unbreakable kinship tying communities together. More than a book, it celebrates the extraordinary grit found in the quiet corners of rural America.

Indifference has not always characterized American attitudes toward rural children, nor has neglect always been the cornerstone of state and federal policy toward rural education. Indeed, for nearly a century there was an avid and influential—though ultimately ineffective—rural school reform movement in the United States. But in recent years, rural education has become a "skeleton in the closet" of the education profession. More than 14 million children attend rural schools that receive only minuscule amounts of the nation s financial resources and professional attention. The authors of this book carefully analyze the beliefs, assumptions, policies, and practices that have shaped and continue to shape education in rural America, concluding that conventional wisdom in rural education has proved to be considerably more conventional than wise. They offer pragmatic suggestions for changes in rural schools, in educational policy, and in programs designed for rural communities. As Robert Coles tells us in his Foreword to the book, they "give us clear, strong, uncluttered prose—a good sign that they are able to offer sensible, honest, unpretentious suggestions and useful ideas. They give us. . .a social history that enables perspective . . . and [they give us] practical, well-argued suggestions for a public policy both humane and capable of realization for our rural areas."

Old-Time Country Wisdom and Lore for Garden and Trail, culled from and expanding on the classic Jerry Mack Johnson book Old-Time Country Wisdom and Lore, is the essential DIY reference for all your simple outdoor chores and activities.

Reminiscent in both spirit and design of the beloved Whole Earth Catalog, Country Wisdom & Know-How is an unprecedented collection of information on nearly 200 individual topics of country and self-sustained living. Compiled from the information in Storey Publishing's landmark series of "Country Wisdom Bulletins," this book is the most thorough and reliable volume of its kind. Organized by general topic including animals, cooking, crafts, gardening, health and well-being, and home, it is further broken down to cover dozens of specifics from "Building Chicken Coops" to "Making Cheese, Butter, and Yogurt" to "Improving Your Soil" to "Restoring Hardwood Floors." Nearly 1,000 black-and-white illustrations and photographs run throughout and fascinating projects and trusted advice crowd every page.

Achieve your goal of a self-sufficient, sustainable lifestyle, no matter where you live, with instruction on a range of basic home skills inspired by old time country living. As big box stores and foreign-made, disposable goods take over commerce, the drive to get back to the origins of what we consume and how we sustain ourselves is becoming ever more compelling. Whether you are a country dweller or an urbanite, or somewhere in between, you can respond by learning to live more simply, use what you have, and be more sustainable. With content from and expanding on the classic Jerry Mack Johnson book Old-Time Country Wisdom and Lore, this is a guide to living a sustainable lifestyle, lowering your carbon footprint, and finding the appreciation in the know-how to do for yourself or go without. Make your home a place where you invest yourself and learn to live with purpose using country wisdom and know-how as your guide. With more than 500 recipes, projects, and instructions, Old Time Country Wisdom at Home includes practical information on: How to can, dry, and preserve food Butter and cheese making Making your own skincare products Bread baking Cooking on fire Beer brewing Homemade remedies Making fruit leather Beekeeping Spinning wool into yarn Milling your own flour And so much more Basic, thorough, and reliable, this book deserves a place in urban and rural homes alike.

These stories not only share the wisdom but also heartwarming examples show how Country Wisdom was put into practice in the Good Ole Days.

This book examines Thai knowledge and wisdom from the perspective of postmodern, postcolonial globalization. Ma Rhea explores the ways in which the Thai university system attempts to balance old knowledge traditions, Buddhist and rural, with new Thai and imported knowledge. It traces the development of Thai university partnerships with outsiders, focusing on the seventy year relationship between Thailand and Australia. In comparison, it analyses the old Thai Buddhist wisdom tradition and in the final chapters proposes its worthiness as a pedagogical pathway for universities globally.