The Feast Nearby book cover

The Feast Nearby by Robin Mather Summary

The Feast Nearby
Robin Mather
3.79 (1835 Reviews)
Inspiration
Self-growth
Health
Overview
Key Takeaways
Author
FAQs

Overview of The Feast Nearby

When life collapsed, Robin Mather rebuilt it on $40 weekly, creating a sustainable feast from local bounty. This beloved memoir, championed by frugal living communities, reveals how losing everything led to finding abundance through chickens, foraging, and the forgotten art of community interdependence.

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Key takeaways

1

When Life Collapsed, the Garden Grew

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Picture standing in your kitchen at midnight, hands stained crimson from pitting eight quarts of cherries, a lone firefly blinking hypnotically against your bedroom screen. Your marriage has ended. Your career has vanished. Your bank account shows $40 for the week's groceries. This is where transformation begins-not in triumph, but in the quiet decision to feed yourself well anyway. When Robin Mather lost everything in a single devastating week in 2009, she retreated to a 650-square-foot Michigan cottage with a poodle, a parrot, and a radical commitment: to eat beautifully on almost nothing, sourcing food within 100 miles. What sounds like deprivation became something else entirely-a master class in how abundance hides in unexpected places, how community forms around shared meals, and how the simple act of preserving strawberries can preserve your sanity too.

2

Reading Nature's Calendar Instead of Your Own

3

The Unexpected Wealth of Six Chickens

4

Finding Meat That Matters

5

The Dairy Question and the Politics of Milk

6

Community Built on Exchange, Not Transactions

7

The Feast You've Been Looking For

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The Feast Nearby isn't just a book — it's a masterclass in Inspiration. To help you absorb its lessons in the way that works best for you, we offer five unique learning modes. Whether you're a deep thinker, a fast learner, or a story lover, there's a mode designed to fit your style.

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@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
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likes
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"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
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@Jaded_Falcon
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
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@Moemenn
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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
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star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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comments
201
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16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
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