Ten Acres Enough

"Ten Acres Enough" by Edmund Morris is a practical guidebook written in the mid-19th century. Focusing on the author's personal experiences, the book illustrates how a small farm can provide for a large family, emphasizing the potential of smaller plots of land within close reach of urban markets. The narrative underlines practical farming methods, particularly in cultivating smaller fruits, and reflects the author's journey from city life to successful rural living. At the start of the narrative, the author recounts his city life in Philadelphia, marked by financial struggles, a growing family, and a yearning for stability away from the turmoil of urban life. After much deliberation, he resolves to leave his business behind and purchase a small farm, seeking the tranquility and self-sufficiency offered by rural life. The opening details his aspirations and the practical considerations guiding his decision, such as the realization that a modest piece of land can fulfill his family's needs and safeguard them from the unpredictable nature of city commerce. The author’s experiences prepare him for farming, assuring the reader that success does not depend on vast expanses of land but on intelligent cultivation and management of a small acreage.

Ten Acres Enough, by Edmund Morris. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #48753.