The Farmer's Wife

My Life in Days

By: Helen Rebanks

Narrated by: Esmée Cook, Helen Rebanks

Length: 8 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

An honest portrait of rural life and an authentic exploration of both the hard work and reward of keeping a home and raising a family.

Helen Rebanks’s beautifully written memoir takes place across a single day on her working farm in the Lake District of England. Weaving past and present, through a journey of self-discovery, the book takes us from the farmhouse table of her grandmother and into the home she now shares with her husband, four kids, and an abundance of animals.

Helen shares, with rare truthfulness, her life in days, sometimes a wonder and a joy but others a grind to be survived. It’s a story about food and love; the need we all have for simple, honest, nourishing dishes and relationships. A heartfelt, unvarnished meditation on the power of domestic life, the book includes gentle wisdom to help us get through our days, whatever they throw at us.

Along with her husband, farmer/author James Rebanks (The Shepherd’s Life), Helen and her family work as a tight-knit team. Their farm has become globally important through their nature-friendly farming practices. They host events regularly at the farm to share their expertise and encourage others to farm sustainably.

This is Helen Rebanks’s debut.

Recipes and accompanying lists are included in the audiobook companion PDF download.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Helen Rebanks (P)2023 Harper Horizon

So fulfilling

Such a well told story of a life lived. Her perspective of looking back at herself, her husband, her children, her parents, her extended family, her community and how they are all so intertwined. The joy and pain of really living a full and engaged life. Thank you for sharing so many details of your life!

Beautifully written and performed

I highly recommend this autobiography that interweaves her life story with present day life on the family farm.

Informative & Entertaining

I gained a renewed appreciation for farmers and farming. Current culture doesn’t allow for understanding the critical importance of the food we put in our bodies every day. Agribusiness has cut us off from the most important thing we can do for good health. Those interested in the most basic source of energy, satisfaction and health will value the message of The Farmer’s Wife.

A serendipitous find

I loved this book, and it was a serendipitous find for me. Helen, if you should read this, there’s a neat story about how I found your book. A friend sent me a photo of my own book, “Following the Echoes,” on the shelf of a bookshop in Canada. It was in between Alan Rickman’s diary and your book. I took notice of the title “The Farmer’s Wife,” and it immediately piqued my interest. And then I noticed the name Rebanks. I absolutely loved your husband’s book, and when I realized that, indeed, his wife had written one too, I immediately got it on Audible. And, already from the opening lines, I knew I would love it — as I did. I have no kids and no farm, but I live in a rural farming area in Norway, and your story really resonated with me. Thank you for writing a gorgeous book! Cheers from Claudia.

What a pair and partner to The Shepherd’s Life!

This woman does the best job I can remember reading of detailing the endlessness of a mother’s tasks. She also vividly shows the roots of bickering that can divide a couple. On the other hand, she talks about wonderful food she makes, about sustainable farming and the importance of great food for our health ( and spirits). I

Vivid Explanation

I was attracted to this author as her husband is into agricuture. I was excited to hear how Ms. Helen navigated as wife of a farmer.
Profanity as the s word was heard twice and about the cushions sounded like the f word.
I didn't like that, especially sharing it for the first time with my wife and her cousin, people who avoid profanity. I need to say more on the positive later if I can. Stopped at Morning 2 as I was afraid to listen further.