By Alexander Langlands, an archeologist and one of the “re-enacters” on the BBC series “Tales From The Green Valley” (farming in 1620) and “Victorian Farm” (farming in 1850). Picked the book up in St. Paul, when visiting Niki, a few days before we stumbled across the tv series. (How odd is that?)

One essential tool from the medieval period, right up the the present, is the billhook, and I can’t imagine living without one (though I have for quite some time). Brush clearing, the making of hedges and wattle hurdles, kindling and faggots, the manufacture (manu means by hand) of strong and lightweight woven wood baskets—and, the like.

The last line in the book reads as follows: “To be cræfty is all about resourceful living and about going back to the basics: a mindful life achieved through beautiful simplicity.”

AND, speaking of cræfty: Abby is the first person in my acquaintance to be written up in Forbes.