Is Your Inner Farmer Calling? It's Time to Listen! Christopher McNinch has heard the whisper that has spoken to so many of our hearts: Come back, come home to a simpler time, to the rural ways that shaped the values of our forebears. A longtime financial advisor, McNinch dreamed of returning to the land and the farm life his grandparents knew. He now runs a small farm of 14 acres in Upstate New York, where he and his wife, Lisa, and their two teenage children raise alpacas and chickens. "You are not alone," he writes to those dreaming of embarking on such a journey. "The multitude of Farmville fans who indulge their virtual farm fantasy on Facebook is a reflection of our yearning to return to the land, start a real farm, build a backyard coop, grow the perfect tomato, tend a beehive, milk a goat. People want a share of the life that their parents, perhaps, or their grandparents knew, for themselves. Comes a time, for some, that the virtual must become reality." In Whispers from the Farm, McNinch weaves collected stories of those who have the same passion or who delight in their rural memories into a guide filled with practical advice for those who hope to embark on the adventure of running a small farm. Should you buy or lease your land? Which crops or livestock are appropriate for you? Along with telling you what you need to know and showing where to find it, he imparts the lessons learned along his own journey in starting a small farm. Christopher McNinch has created a book that he hopes will help a new generation of small farmers grow their own crop of memories - ones they can pass down for their children to cherish. Is starting a small farm whispering in your ear?

Part of a series of detailed reference manuals on American economic history, this volume traces the development and expansion of agriculture across the USA during the last half of the 19th century.

"Becca Stevens, best-selling author, high-profile social activist and priest, extols the transformative power of love in this inspiring collection of spiritual reflections. "Love is my grounding," says Becca Stevens. "Love is the most powerful source for social change in the world. Love heals. I'm not called to change the world. I am called to love it." Taking the form of personal and intimate letters, Becca considers the signposts that we need to guide us along the spiritual path, such as courage, humility, forgiveness, compassion, and faithfulness. She writes of her own experience of finding and following these simple road signs and her gratitude for those who enabled her to find them."--Publisher.

In a town overshadowed by dark secrets, five boys from different corners of the world are brought together by a twist of fate. They find themselves trapped in a complex web woven by the enigmatic Ms. Abernathy. On the surface, she appears as a guardian angel, offering sanctuary to these orphaned and vulnerable boys under the pretense of foster care at her sprawling Montana estate. Yet this facade of benevolence conceals a sinister alliance with the powerful Mexican cartel. Together, they orchestrate a harrowing operation deeply entrenched in child trafficking. The story exposes Ms. Abernathy's cruel business. It sheds light on the rampant abuse of children across the globe, from the war-torn streets of Ukraine to the poverty-stricken alleys of Latin America. Into this grim setting emerges the Majestic Guardian, El. In the form of a magnificent black panther, El is God's earthly embodiment, intervening to champion the cause of the oppressed. His piercing blue eyes, brimming with divine wisdom, and his sleek ebony fur, which seems to echo the sorrows of countless souls, mark him as a beacon of hope and a force against evil. Guided by El, the boys navigate a treacherous path rife with danger, deception, and the ever-looming shadow of the cartel. The narrative crescendos in a riveting confrontation between the young heroes, the malevolent Ms. Abernathy, and the formidable Mexican cartel. Yet with El's divine presence, they pursue their freedom and justice for all the voiceless victims of exploitation. In the aftermath, the Montana estate transforms from a hub of nightmares to a beacon of hope. With the Majestic Guardian's guidance, it becomes a sanctuary for rescued souls, demonstrating the enduring power of hope and redemption. Through their experiences, the boys unveil the dark underbelly of their immediate surroundings and the global epidemic of child abuse, emphasizing the resilience and strength of the human spirit when illuminated by divine grace.

Part of a series of detailed reference manuals on American economic history, this volume traces the development and expansion of agriculture across the USA during the last half of the 19th century.

The crisp autumn air was filled with the promise of Halloween as Eric, Jared, Emily, and Rhonda pulled into the winding driveway of Whispers in the Wind Farm. The farm, with its towering wind turbines silhouetted against the darkening sky, had a foreboding aura that sent a chill down Emily's spine. As their car crept along the gravel path, the massive blades of the turbines cast long, moving shadows across the landscape, creating an eerie dance of light and dark. The journey to the farm had been filled with laughter and excitement, but as they approached their destination, a palpable tension settled over the group. Eric, the self-proclaimed skeptic of the bunch, tried to maintain his air of nonchalance, but his knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel. Jared, usually the joker, had fallen uncharacteristically quiet, his eyes darting nervously between the looming turbines. Emily shifted uncomfortably in her seat, the leather upholstery suddenly feeling cold and clammy against her skin. She had always been the cautious one, the voice of reason that often went unheeded in their adventures. Now, as the car wound its way deeper into the heart of the farm, she couldn't shake the feeling that they had made a terrible mistake. "I don't know about this," Emily murmured, her voice barely audible over the roaring wind. She clutched her arms tightly around herself, her knuckles white with tension. The gauzy material of her hastily chosen ghost costume did little to ward off the chill that seemed to emanate from the very ground beneath them. "Relax, Em," Jared said, patting her arm. "It's just a Halloween thing." His words were meant to be reassuring, but there was an edge to his voice that betrayed his own unease. He glanced out the window, his werewolf mask pushed up on top of his head, revealing a face pale with apprehension. Rhonda, always the life of the party, rummaged through her bag and pulled out a flask. Her witch's hat was askew, and her carefully applied makeup was already starting to smear from the nervous sweat beading on her forehead. "Here," she said, handing it to Emily. "Just take a drink and you'll feel better." She winked, but her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. Emily hesitated, but the others were already passing the flask around, their forced laughter a brittle sound against the howling wind. She took a sip, the burn of cheap whiskey sliding down her throat. The alcohol dulled her senses, but it couldn't entirely quell the growing sense of dread in the pit of her stomach. As they approached the parking area, Emily noticed something odd about the other cars. They all seemed to be covered in a fine layer of dust, as if they'd been sitting there for days, maybe even weeks. She blinked, wondering if her eyes were playing tricks on her. The vehicles ranged from beat-up old pickup trucks to sleek city cars, but they all shared the same neglected appearance. "Guys," she started to say, but her words were drowned out by a sudden gust of wind that rocked the car. The others didn't seem to notice, too busy laughing and joking as they climbed out of the vehicle. The wind whipped around them, carrying with it the scent of decaying leaves and something else, something Emily couldn't quite identify but that made her stomach churn. Eric fumbled with the keys, dropping them twice before managing to lock the car. "Damn wind," he muttered, zipping up his vampire cape against the chill. "Let's get this over with." They made their way towards the entrance, their feet crunching on gravel and fallen leaves. The sound seemed unnaturally loud in the eerie quiet that had fallen over the farm. Even the wind seemed to have died down, leaving behind a stillness that pressed in on them from all sides. The ticket booth was a dilapidated wooden structure that looked like it might collapse at any moment. A flickering neon sign above it read "Whispers in the Wind Farm-Haunted Hayride." The garish light cast sickly shadows across the ground, creating grotesque shapes that seemed to writhe and twist in Emily's peripheral vision. As they approached, Emily noticed a figure inside the booth. At first, she thought it was a particularly realistic Halloween decoration a mannequin dressed up to look like a corpse. But then the figure moved, and Emily realized with a start that it was a living person.

SPOKEN IN WHISPERS is the autobiography of a remarkable woman. Nicci Mackay is a horse whisperer, one of only a few people in the world who can calm agitated horses or revive their broken spirits by translating what they say.Nicci, who has had the extraordinary gift of being able to communicate with animals since childhood, tells her story with honesty and humou r.She writes about a life dedicated to animals-from her years spent as groom and jockey in a racing yard, when she operated in secret, to more recent times, after the media discovered her amazing abilities. She now spends her time travelling extensively, translating and interperating on behalf of animals for their owners. Nicci gives the reader a rare and facinating insight into the minds, emotions and bewildering behaviour of our four-legged friends, from thoroughbred stallions to sheepdogs, opening the door to their world through often hilarious, sometime poignant, but always thought-provoking adventures and encounters with the animals she has met throughout her life. As well as horses, Nicci has worked with a variety of domestic pets, farm animals and birds. This will delight all those who share her love of animals.

Benjamin Reheboam and his gang of degenerates are some of the meanest, most loathsome thugs the West has ever seen. When two hapless pioneer families find themselves lost in the Gehenna Mountains, Reheboam's own private stomping grounds, they learn firsthand the extent of his violent disposition. BRANDED is a gritty spaghetti-Western, chock full of moonshine-induced debauchery and 19th Century lawlessness. It is author Crooktooth's second novel.