Jerry Apps shares 25 years of wilderness canoeing experience—wicked thunderstorms, inquisitive bears, swamping a canoe, and watching the night sky filled with stars—as well as advice from how to set up a camp and protect food from hungry bears, to minimalist cooking, appreciating a rainy day, and a history of the Boundary Waters region.

From the winner of the 2014 Regional Emmy Award for A Farm Winter with Jerry AppsJerry Apps, renowned author and veteran storyteller, believes that storytelling is the key to maintaining our humanity, fostering connection, and preserving our common history. In Telling Your Story, he offers tips for people who are interested in telling their own stories. Readers will learn how to choose stories from their memories, how to journal, and find tips for writing and oral storytelling as well as J...

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.

When Jerry Apps was growing up on a Wisconsin farm in the 1930s and 1940s, times were tough. Yet most folks living on farms had plenty to eat. Preparing food from scratch was just the way things were done, and people knew what was in their food and where it came from. Delicious meals were at the center of every family and social affair, whether it be a threshing-day dinner with all the neighbors, the end-of-school-year picnic, or just a hearty supper after chores were done. As Jerry writes...

A first-of-its-kind handbook, allowing the reader to combine the processes of critical and creative thinking with a detailed discussion of the environmental challenges facing our planetPlanting an Idea is part guidebook for better critical and creative thinking and part overview of the environmental challenges that face our planet today. It is designed to help readers young and old examine and develop opinions on a variety of environmental issues based on substance, creativity, and...

Timeless Wisdom for a Modern WorldLetters from Hillside Farm is a deeply personal and evocative collection of essays that captures the essence of Midwestern farm life. Through a series of "letters," acclaimed author Jerry Apps reflects on the rhythms of the seasons, the hard work of the land, and the quiet beauty of the natural world. Drawing on his own experiences growing up on a Wisconsin farm during the Depression and World War II, Apps...

Scott Olson is the County Extension Agent for Ames County. He wants to solve the problems between the folks in his county after a rock with a disturbing message crashes through the window during a community meeting. Along with his coworkers, he tries to bring calm to a contentious community, while figuring out how to balance the dangers of his efforts with convincing his long-time love and coworker that he can make the time for her that she deserves.

The Quiet SeasonRemembering Country WintersJerry Apps“As I think back to the days of my childhood, the frost-covered windows in my bedroom,the frigid walks to the country school, the excitement of a blizzard, and a hundred other memories, I realize that these experiences left an indelible mark on me and made me who I am today.”—From the IntroductionJerry Apps recalls winters growing up on a farm in central Wisconsin during the latter years of the Depres...

Stories of fishing with family and friends by beloved author Jerry AppsFrom his first experiences going fishing with his pa as a boy, Jerry Apps was hooked. Eighty-some years later, Apps reflects on a lifetime of fishing and the memories and lessons hauled in along the way. As he recounts the simple pleasures of casting a line from shore on a warm summer evening or reeling in a lunker on opening day of trout season, he reminds us of the values fishing can teach peo...

Before tractors or steam engines arrived on the farm, horses did all the heavy work. From spring plowing to the fall harvest, the mighty draft horse powered farms across the Midwest. Relied upon to complete a multitude of tasks, including towing threshing machines and plows, hauling milk to the local cheese factory, and pulling the family buggy to church each Sunday, these animals were at the center of farm life, cementing the bond between human and horse.Horse-Drawn Days: A Ce...

In this collection of thoughtful essays, Jerry Apps reflects on the “simple things” that made up everyday life on the farm—an old cedar fencepost, Fanny the farm dog, the trusty tools used for farmwork, the kerosene lantern the family gathered around each morning and evening. As he holds each item up to the light for a closer look, he plumbs his memories for the deeper meanings of these objects, sharing the values instilled in him during his rural boyhood in the 1940s and 1950s. He conclud...

Jerry Apps details the virtues and hardships of rural living.“Do your chores without complaining. Show up on time. Do every job well. Always try to do better. Never stop learning. Next year will be better. Care for others, especially those who have less than you. Accept those who are different from you. Love the land.”In this paperback edition of a beloved Jerry Apps classic, the rural historian captures the heart and soul of life in rural America. Inspired by his mother’s ...