A Long Way from Anywhere

<p class=ql-align-justify><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>In</span><em style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> A Long Way from Anywhere: Living Off-Grid in the American West </em><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Norah Esty shares her unexpected journey from a math prodigy and tenured professor to a homesteader in the remote wilds of Eastern Oregon. After earning her Ph.D. at U.C. Berkeley and securing a comfortable academic career in Boston Norah and her husband Jim stunned everyone-including themselves-by abandoning urban life for an off-grid existence. Inspired by authors like Michael Pollan and Wendell Berry they traded their city condo for a rural homestead despite having no plan homesteading experience or background in rural living.</span></p><p class=ql-align-justify></p><p class=ql-align-justify><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>With enthusiasm as their guide Norah and Jim quickly learned the challenges of living off-grid. From raising livestock to butchering rabbits operating tractors to troubleshooting generators every day brought new lessons and unexpected hardships. Life in the wilderness offered moments of wonder-wolves howling in the hills mountain lions crossing through snow-but also stark realities like dealing with predators and the isolation of being far from medical help. Through it all Norah reflects on the joys and perils of off-grid living offering a candid insightful look at the challenges of leaving behind the familiar to embrace the unknown.</span></p><p></p>