'Locally Laid' chosen as One Book Northland

A memoir written about the start of a local farm has been chosen as this year's One Book Northland. Lucie Amundsen's "Locally Laid: How We Built a Plucky, Industry-changing Egg Farm - From Scratch" will be the focus of the 16th annual regional book reading. Community members and area book groups are invited to read the book as part of One Book Northland.
Duluth Library Manager Carla Powers said they're enthused about the book being chosen and it'll be a fun local project for the community. One Book Northland is like a "book club on steroids," where one book is read at one time in the community, Powers said. "We're encouraging everyone to read the same book at the same time just to bring the community together for a common thread of conversation," Powers said. "It's really aimed at bringing the community together and giving people a chance to have some conversation with their friends and neighbors." In the book, Amundsen describes the launch of Locally Laid Egg Company, the small business she started with her husband. The book is an honest look at the process - including arguments with her husband in the driveway. As part of One Book Northland, Amundsen is scheduled to speak about Locally Laid at 7 p.m. April 25 at Fitger's. "I hope that people will read it and laugh and get drawn into the story of this couple and this family starting this impossible farm. Hopefully that narrative will drive them to learning more about our bigger food system through the story of our small farm," Amundsen said. Amundsen said it's an honor that people chose her memoir, which will be released in paperback on Feb. 28. "There's something really wonderful when your hometown embraces your work, and it's just a really nice feeling of getting a nod that writing about the Northland, that it wants to push it forward like that," she said. She said she hears from people that they always wanted to have a farm and that she's living the dream. But after people read her book, they realize they don't really want to have a farm, she said with a laugh. When it comes to her speech in April for One Book Northland, Amundsen said she likes to be entertaining when she speaks. But while she's telling stories that make people laugh, she's sharing information about the food system. The best compliment she receives is when readers tell her that they learned something from the book. "I'm talking about farming and this concept of middle agriculture and chickens and these don't necessarily seem like entertaining subjects. While I don't spare any of the humiliating stories that happen to us - that's always well-received, I have found - I do some sneaky teaching," she said.A memoir written about the start of a local farm has been chosen as this year's One Book Northland.Lucie Amundsen's "Locally Laid: How We Built a Plucky, Industry-changing Egg Farm - From Scratch" will be the focus of the 16th annual regional book reading. Community members and area book groups are invited to read the book as part of One Book Northland.
Duluth Library Manager Carla Powers said they're enthused about the book being chosen and it'll be a fun local project for the community. One Book Northland is like a "book club on steroids," where one book is read at one time in the community, Powers said."We're encouraging everyone to read the same book at the same time just to bring the community together for a common thread of conversation," Powers said. "It's really aimed at bringing the community together and giving people a chance to have some conversation with their friends and neighbors."In the book, Amundsen describes the launch of Locally Laid Egg Company, the small business she started with her husband. The book is an honest look at the process - including arguments with her husband in the driveway.As part of One Book Northland, Amundsen is scheduled to speak about Locally Laid at 7 p.m. April 25 at Fitger's."I hope that people will read it and laugh and get drawn into the story of this couple and this family starting this impossible farm. Hopefully that narrative will drive them to learning more about our bigger food system through the story of our small farm," Amundsen said.Amundsen said it's an honor that people chose her memoir, which will be released in paperback on Feb. 28."There's something really wonderful when your hometown embraces your work, and it's just a really nice feeling of getting a nod that writing about the Northland, that it wants to push it forward like that," she said.She said she hears from people that they always wanted to have a farm and that she's living the dream. But after people read her book, they realize they don't really want to have a farm, she said with a laugh.When it comes to her speech in April for One Book Northland, Amundsen said she likes to be entertaining when she speaks. But while she's telling stories that make people laugh, she's sharing information about the food system. The best compliment she receives is when readers tell her that they learned something from the book."I'm talking about farming and this concept of middle agriculture and chickens and these don't necessarily seem like entertaining subjects. While I don't spare any of the humiliating stories that happen to us - that's always well-received, I have found - I do some sneaky teaching," she said.