Green Trust
I borrowed her book years back from the local library, and got so much out of it, I bought my own copy. I only regret I did not get to meet her in person.
I think Don will appreciate your tribute to Carla on your newsletter. He will be here soon (was waiting on her ashes to bring Carla home with him) to read everyone's emails. Thank you- caretaker
I received Carla's homemade book as a wedding gift in 1976. Since then I have owned three more versions, none as precious as that first one, but all so wonderful. I did have the sweet pleasure of meeting Carla at the Chiricahua Churchmen's camp a few years ago. When I realized that I was sitting right across the room from a woman whom I'd admired for years, it really made my day!
I had planned to go one day to visit her, and spend more time with Carla, whom I'd come to consider a friend, and now I wish I had done that sooner.
Note to self and others, go visit friends when the spirit moves you, don't put it off for some other day. That day may never come.
My mother bought me the first issue I had of the Encylopedia of Country Living. I read it and returned the favor. Over the years I lost my copy and then I inherited hers. I have purchased copies for serveral friends. They all still have theirs and refer to it often just as I do. I had an opportunity to see Carla in person just last summer near my home and again in the fall while visiting a friend more than halfway across the nation. I didn't do either and will regret it for years if not the rest of my life. I missed seeing Gregory Hines perform in Seattle as well and I should have learned from that exper-
ience that you should never wait to experience "a good thing". Go for it when you have the first opportunity. I will always be sorry that I didn't get to see a real "hero" of mine up close and personal...
Glenna
Carla was one of the people who helped change my life. I was trapped working in the legal profession until 1994. My wife bought me a copy of The Encyclopedia of Country Living and it spoke of the many ways of living that I so much dreamed about. In part, it was reading and re-reading her book that helped change me and I now am living that life. I just learned of her passing when I received my current issue of Countryside. We were to attend her seminars at Lehman's Hardware this past fall, but ended up not attending. I am so saddened that we missed meeting her.
She will surely be remembered in the ways she wished. She changed the lives of many people and she certainly did her part to preserve a wonderful lifestyle. While God has taken her to a better place, I pray that he will bless her family and those of us who loved her so much by allowing us to continue living our lives, in part, through her guidance.
Carla's Encyclopedia of Country Living made it possible for my husband and me to live the way we had always desired. We are country folk at heartm abd there is no way we were going to make it in town. A friend recommended the book and loaned me her copy for a few days. Then I met Jim, and he had her original memeographed version. Love was born!
Carla, you blessed me greatly. You are my sister in Christ. One day, I'm going to thank you in person!
Carla was highly admired by me. In 1977 I was married with a small child. We acquired goats, rabbits etc.her book was a godsend for tons of answers to questions..I bought copies for my Mom and my sister also.
In the mid-70s I cycled onto the MV Coho ferry to Port Angeles from Victoria, BC on Vancouver Island and happened on Carla at her table in a street fair, selling mimeographed copies of the original book -- hole-punched and "bound" with discarded phone wire. I bought the book (which weighed as much as my 10-speed) and pedalled back to catch the return ferry -- feeling enriched for having met this woman at a time when we were aiming "back to the land." The most indelible memory of her writings were not of burning offr hog bristles or making soap, but of the hollowness of "appearances," as when a pitying chain smoker in a suit and leased car paid her and son's grilled cheese lunch bill unknown to her, because he saw their "ragged" look and the little kid not even with matching socks -- all belying the fact she and her family were debt free, had 30 productive acres, lived with the seasons and without the need to "consume or be consumed." It is now 2008 and I have just learned of Carla's passing after doing the Google check on her whereabouts. Well, she is a lot of places in the hearts of many such as my family. We did a 10-acre thing way north, then 24 acres further south, and now want for nothing on a single acre on a wee island off the coast of Vancouver Island. The tenets of her philosopy are ever more valid today than they were back then.
I have had her book for to many years to count. I had it when I was in my late 20's yearly 30's and now I am in 60's. Today i was looking for her book and could not find it so I decided to come to the computer and look. I find that she has passed away and I am very sad about that. Her book was a part of my everyday reading for years wether I did anything or not that she had written in there. I did her yougurt receipe for years and the jerky receipe was one that I was looking for today and can not find.... (the book to look it up). So sorry to read of her passing.....I never was able to accomplish as much as I would have liked to when I was younger and had more energy,I can say I admired her,I believe i seen her once on the Phil Donahue show am I correct on that? Sincerely Bonnie
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