Tag Archives: katy farber

The Order of the Trees (pre-orders open now)

TreesCover2 (2)

I am thrilled (and a bit nervous!) to announce that Green Writer’s Press, a homegrown, Vermont publisher with a focus on “authors who want to make the world a better place” will be publishing my first middle level/young adult novel in May. I couldn’t ask for a publisher that is more in line with the my values and this story. It makes me proud that the book will be printed on FSC certified recycled paper with soy based inks in the U.S.

The book is called The Order of the Trees– and is about Cedar, who was found as a baby under an old growth tree in the Vermont woods. This is the story of her sixth grade year, her first true friend, and how their fate is connected to the magical woods in which she was found.

The Order of the Trees is now available for pre-order through Amazon. If you order during the pre-order period and let me know (in the comments, on Facebook or Twitter) I would be happy to send you a previously unpublished short story about redemption on a junior high bus that was filled with spit balls, harassment and exclusion. This story created a forum for those who experienced similar traumatic events on junior high buses. Many found the story validating and I am so grateful for this as it has helped me to process this challenging time as well.

I couldn’t be more excited about my new publisher. Dede Cummings, literary agent and publisher, is a fireball of positivity and is bringing beautiful books to life this spring about sustainability, climate change, teaching and mindfulness. I am so excited to be included in this spring catalog. 

I’m so lucky that two of my favorite Vermont authors for young adults wrote blurbs for the book after reading advance copies: Rita Murphy, author of Night Flying, and Doug Wilhelm, author of The Revealer and many other books. I will share those soon.

I would be so grateful if you could ask for this book at your local library, bookstore, and school. It releases on May 1st and I will fill you in on other details as the date draws near!

Growing up Blue and White in Happy Valley

It’s hard to understand how profound the Penn State child abuse scandal is unless you live or lived in State College.

Unless you grew up in a town where on Saturdays every living soul was either heading to the game, was already at a tailgate, or was already in their seat in bleachers of Beaver stadium.

Unless every Saturday your family spent together—either meeting  up with family friends at a tailgate, eating cheesy, saucy foods in sweaters and Penn State sweatshirts, tossing  footballs, goofing around, and looking for players.  Checking in about lives, laughing, and talking about how Penn State could win.

Unless you sat in the stands, layered up against the sub zero cold, cheek to cheek with your brother and parents, screaming and yelling and cheering, hair covered with flecks of snow.

Unless you watched the exuberance of the sport, for years, and the community building effect it had on students, children and adults alike.  Collective, soul rousing cheers–raising your voice with thousands of people.  White outs.  The Nittany lion’s endless antics. The shirtless, painted, screaming fans.  The thumping band, echoing in your chest.  Eating stadium food in all of its salty, unhealthy glory.

Unless one of the first songs you learned as a toddler was Fight on State, and the song is as familiar as Mary had a little lamb.

Unless you grew up beside Joe Paterno’s and Jerry Sandusky’ children.  Knew them, went to classes with them, knew Joe’s house, even partied in Sunset park behind it, and kissed a boy in his backyard.

Unless you spent away games dressed in your Penn State clothes, eating tailgate food in your house, gathered around  the TV.  Mom cheering at the screen, my dad ironing, looking up, eager to find for the score.  The landscape of your weekend, the planets in your family constellation.

You really can’t imagine.

The trouble with pedestals is that it is a long fall down.  And a community, a university, and a family falls along.

One of the intricacies of youth is the ability to idolize, and place upon a pedestals, our parents, our leaders, our heroes.  It is dangerous, reckless, and damaging when we see them fall—when we learn that people aren’t perfect, that indeed people we believe in so much, and have watched for so long, can fail.

It takes your breath away, and leaves you wondering about your own  life, your own potential failings, and the indelible and oppressive vulnerability that haunts us all.

I’ve seen this in my life—I  know the familiar let down, the hollowness and the sense of becoming  unmoored.  Growing up, I saw it my one of my coaches, and in my own family. I carry these disappointments deep in my adult self, under layers.

But it doesn’t make it hurt less now.

It only reminds me how fragile this life is and how easily things are taken away– how every single decision we make can change our lives forever.

And none of it really matters, even how my own childhood, the fabric of my upbringing, was centered around this mythic sport and coach.  What matters are the relationships, not the vehicles, necessarily, or the traditions that surrounded them.

Because in this instance, what matters most is that children were hurt.  They were abused, horribly and irrevocably hurt and victimized and no one stopped it.  Not even the one who saw it, or our beloved Joepa.

That is our biggest tragedy.

And no matter who is fired, or how many students turn over cars, or who might pine for the simple glory days of a Penn State youth, it doesn’t change this.

We mourn for the children first, for what they lost.  We hope in our hearts for their recovery, for healing, for justice.

Second, our childhood, and our family traditions, have been altered forever, but what remains is what always mattered most.  Love of community, family, friends, and sport.

This will rise again in Happy Valley.  But yes, we have lost our innocence, and another hero.

image:  by acaben on Flickr under CC

Eat Non-Toxic: a manual for busy parents by Katy Farber is released today!

(Eat Non-Toxic is now exclusively available on Amazon for Kindle!)

We all want to keep our kids safe from toxins and chemicals in food and feeding gear. Every day there seems to be a new report about what to eat, what not to eat, what to buy, what to avoid. It’s overwhelming for many new and tired parents!

Many of you don’t want to read scientific studies or lengthly articles. Who has time? You just want to know what to do keep your kids safe and healthy. Now. Yesterday, actually.

That’s what you’ll find in the new eBook, Eat Non-Toxic: A manual for busy parents, written by author, teacher, and the founder of the blog, Non-Toxic Kids, Katy Farber. In this book, you’ll find clear, useable, helpful steps for how to protect your family and the earth from the toxins and chemicals from food and feeding gear.

From Eat Non-Toxic, readers will:

1. Discover why you should avoid toxins in food and eating gear.

2. Learn the essentials for cutting your family’s exposure to chemicals.

3. Find real, practical, and usable tips and ideas feeding your family in a safe and healthy way.

4. Discover credible resources for more information.

5. Find trusted online retailers that feature safer, greener products for families.

6. Receive recipes and ideas for using more whole foods in your cooking.

7. Find background information about important environmental and safety issues.

8. Learn how to limit toxins in your family’s diet without huge costs, effort, or time.

This is officially launch day!  Woot!  For the next 4 days only, the manual will be priced at 25% off its regular price of 9.99.

This manual will help you simplify meal times, protect your children from unnecessary toxic exposures, eat healthier and lighter on the earth.

Please spread the word!