Home Grown: Adventures in Parenting off the Beaten Path, Unschooling, and Reconnecting with the Natural World

5 stars because of an interesting subject and good writing.I disagree with unschooling, though, as I believe there are plenty of hours in the day, week, and year for a formal education, nature pursuits, and farm work.The problem with kids lack of nature isn't time wasted in school; it's because nature lacks 110V plugs. My wife grew up on a dairy farm not far from here, received a formal education in a k-12 school house, and because a pharmacist by age 23. Unschooling closes doors that need not be closed. You can live on a farm, wander the woods, go to school and soccer practice, and still have plenty of family time. Also, the author mentions today's lack of mentors for children. In my experience, I found them in school, and I'm very appreciative of that.So, a good read, but unschooling is too extreme.

I read this book on the heels of Peter Gray's Free to Learn. Both of these books in combination make a great resource for any family considering unschooling or just looking for inspiration to allow their children more freedom, free play and exploration. While Peter Gray lays out a history, anthropology and philosophy of unschooling and benefits of free play, Ben Hewitt goes into detailed account and beautiful anecdotes of their own family experiences allowing self directed learning for their two sons. Beautifully written, nice humor, and vivid imagery.Ben Hewitt's three books, Saved, Home Grown, and most recent Nourishing Homestead make a great "Trilogy" for any family who are looking for more holistic and mindful ways of living.

Excellent book with great points. Reading this book while having small kids definitely makes you consider a lot of stuff. I wish the ending was a more broad description of what the outcome of unschooling was. Overall a great book.

Just a lovely, beautiful book. I first heard about it on the Ben Greenfield podcast, and was immediately intrigued. I've always wanted to have a remote farm. Reading this book made me even more aware of how far removed the vast majority of people are from the things that really matter: the raw, pure spirituality that can only be found when one is deeply connected to nature; the deep satisfaction and vitality that comes from producing your own food and being in touch with the land and the animals; the presence and joy that comes from actually seeing your children grow up and explore the world: not from afar while they're in school and you're working, but from actually raising them at home. I love how Ben's sons have that kind of freedom to explore the woods and whatever books and subjects are just interesting to them. While I, myself, attended public school, I spent my afternoons (at least in elementary school) out in the woods in my backyard. I did like school, however, especially for all the wonderful friends I made and the interesting things I got exposed to that I wouldn't have found on my own. That's the main problem I see with unschooling that Ben didn't really address. If you're attending a good-quality school, you get to learn about things that you might have never found otherwise. The structure was good for me. I think an ideal situation, at least for me, would be to home-school my children in their elementary-school years, when they can develop self-confidence and interests free from social pressure and certain indoctrinations. And they can get plenty of nature time. But by middle school- and high school-age, I do think (good) formal schooling becomes incredibly valuable, both for socialization and structured learning. It's sounds like Ben's sons might be a little bit too unstructured, and not respectful of their parents or of their place in a larger society.

Having read all of Hewitt's books and as a regular reader of his blog, I thought I knew what to expect when my pre-ordered copy of "Homegrown" arrived. As wonderfully inspiring and beautifully written as I knew it would be, it surpasses my expectations. Part of the appeal Hewitt's stories have for me is the similarities of his sons to my own two boys (though mine are younger - only 2 and 3 years old.) I have almost started to think of the Hewitt boys as my own boys' older counterparts and this book gives me a glimpse into what may lie ahead for us. I particularly like the final essay in which Hewitt ponders his family's future and offers gentle suggestions for embracing a life as part of the natural world and finding your place in it. Of course, everyone's story is different and Hewitt very clearly makes it known that his family's choices are not right for everyone. I think his level of humility and kindness is rare in someone so clearly passionate about a subject. It would be so easy to become preachy even when advice and comments are well-intentioned but Hewitt never comes close to even a hint of condescension in his writing. His style is picturesque but accessible as if the reader is having a conversation with a good friend who happens to be a great story teller. While homeschooling, and even unschooling, are not as unusual an educational choice as they once were (here in NC, the number of homeschooled children just recently surpassed the number of children who attend private schools), there is still a lot of questions and uncertainty about this lifestyle choice among the general population. I recommend this book unreservedly to anyone interested in homeschooling, unschooling, crafting a life in harmony with nature, and those who just want to create a more beautiful world for their children to grow into - whatever that means to them.

I order this book after hearing an interview with Ben on The Permaculture podcast, his writing is concise and easy reading. His musings on child rearing are well written, and thought provoking. While his book reads like a quiet stroll, soft spoken and moving. I can't help but think that his actions in life mirror many of our aspirations as people and parents. I wish I had read it earlier. Well done Ben Hewitt.

Beautiful and inspiring read.

Ioved this book, wish it could have been longer as Ben expressed this beautiful tapestry for you about life on the farm and he and his wife's decision to allow their two boys to learn through living. Inspiring content, wonderfully descriptive. As a mother who has recently taken their child out of the traditional school system and placed them at home to learn, I am happy to report that this book had helped me deschool and begin the process of unschooling. Thank you Ben and Penny

Ben Hewitt nous raconte son histoire, ses choix de vie (habitat, éducation, job) et comment sa famille s'est attachée à son lieu de vie. La voix qu'il suit est celle d'une vie simple dénudée des enchantements, croyances et chaînes du capitalisme. Vivre simplement permet à la famille Hewitt de diriger leur vie dans le sens qu'il souhaite et échapper aux milles et une courses que les parents font quotidiennement pour ne garder que l'essentiel. Et on voit dans Ben Hewitt un homme qui vie pleinement. Ses descriptions de paysages et de la vie à la campagne sont riches de beauté et d'humilité. Ses descriptions de l'évolution de ses enfants déscolarisés sont riches d'enseignement et la légèreté de sa plume donne à ceux qui liront ce livre une bonne dose d'air frais voire d'inspiration pour faire sa vie autrement.

This book has won my heart. These boys have been 'unschooled': given the freedom to follow their own inclinations, to learn what they wanted to learn, to be mentored in skills they valued by instructors and friends they admired. They have been integrated into the productive life of their family's land, and learnt initiative, responsibility and team-work by doing real, purposeful, valuable work. They spend most of their time roaming the forest, hunting, trapping, gathering, inventing, using, planning, learning, and have been brought up to have productive responsibilities like their own goats and gardens. And, yes, they have learnt to read and write and do maths, as well as bits of geography and biology, and all sorts, as and when they found a need for them relevant to their own interests and goals. They have been trusted in a way almost no children are in our world. I really think everybody concerned with the education of young people should open their mind to this very alternative perspective.I reflected on this book in greater detail at my blog - http://3stes.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/what-is-education-for.html

Everything I wanted it to be and then some. Just buy it you won't be disappointed. Thought provoking in the best ways possible.