Farewell, My Subaru: An Epic Adventure in Local Living

Diary of local, green living

From Cool Tools: These days there's a glut of first-person reportage centered on alternative lifestyles. Some narratives can come across as self-righteous and self-indulgent. This book is not one of those. When 30-something journalist Doug Fine buys a plot of land in New Mexico and vows to live as "green" as possible, his self-deprecating, humorous outlook kicks in. He never denies he's in over his head. Quite the opposite, which makes every misstep and subsequent triumph all the more gratifying. From rearing goats found on Craigslist to garnering rainwater harvesting tips via -- what else? -- http://harvestingrainwater.com, and Googling a VegOil auto mechanic, Fine's journey is exactly what it professes to be: "green, Digital Age living." No substitute for the rigorous how-to's penned by experts, this entertaining, heartfelt journey is a testament to what's possible with a Web connection and heaps of determination. Indeed, the path to alternative living truly begins at our fingertips. Even if you could care less about going green, living local or starting-up solar, there's inspiration to be had. Plus, delicious recipes highlighting some of Fine's homegrown stuffs.

-- Steven Leckart