Kate begins to wonder what, if anything, she can do to make life simpler. Her first project was to embark on a spot of gardening. She wants to learn how to grow fruit and veg in a dedicated section on her 4 acres of land! This sounded like a good place to start, the excitement and enjoyment of growing your own food. She describes it as ‘fate’ that she ended up infront of the camera in the first place, a job shenever particularly wanted, instead favouringthe anonymity of work behind the scenes. Itwas her boss on The Holiday Programmewho changed her career path at the end ofthe 90s, asking her to do a screen test for apresenting role on her second day on the jobas a researcher for the show. She said noinitially, horrified at the thought of subjectingherself to the scrutiny of celebrity. But eventuallyshe relented and has been presenting a varietyof different shows ever since, although you stillget the impression that the job needs her morethan she needs it. Kate Humble pours her enviable knowledge into attainable goals. It’s a winning combination and the prize – a life in balance with nature – is definitely worth claiming.’– LUCY SIEGLE Unexpectedly I was very busy doing five different series. My husband is a cameraman and director and we ended up doing a lot of work and I was very grateful to get to do some lovely projects, including Weekend Workshop for Discovery, which was about upcycling.

It took me a long time to read A Year of Living Simply because I had a considerable amount going on in my life but every time I returned to it I found it complete balm for the soul. It was akin to meeting up with an old friend you haven’t seen for years and yet it’s as if you only saw them a couple of hours ago. And In the same way Kate Humble discovers new skills, I learnt all manner of things from her warm, conversational, humane style. I’m usually sceptical of celebrity endorsements for books, but the comments attached to A Year of Living Simply are absolutely right. It is a treat of a read.

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Recently I got very into Kate Humble’s television series Twice the Life for Half the Price. The premise is that families living in urban environments seek out a life in the country that delivers less of the stress of modern life and more of life on the land, for less money or at least relatively less for what they have in return. What distinguishes this programme from others about escaping to the country is that the lives they seek out are real and authentic country lives, rather than chocolate box versions bought out of their appreciated London assets and healthy pension pots. As a result the programme is both more accessible and more satisfying. In this year of living simply, she does a lot of journeying. I didn't expect that. So for the first two-thirds of the book I was trying to reconcile her trips to see people doing wonderful things that recycle, or reuse on a grand scale, especially housing. I’m in two minds about A Year of Living Simply as the timing of it coming out during the Covid19 pandemic is either very appropriate or not depending on how you look at it and I suspect on the state of your mental health as you read it. Before I started listening to this, I vaguely liked Kate Humble, but had no strong feelings either way. However, having got through the story to the end, I find myself deliberately avoiding watching anything on TV with her in it.

As others have said the title is misleading. This is Kate’s year of visiting other people who live simply and failing to adopt the lifestyles she’s promoting. She doesn’t succeed at bread making, veg growing or sewing. As most of us wouldn’t if we’re being honest. So what’s the takeaway? it would be lovely to be able to travel by train, take the slower path, rather than fly - but that isn't an option for many people if it's cheaper to fly. We can't all pay someone to teach us to make bread, advise on our garden, or buy the kind of toaster that can be repaired. What I particularly love is her philosophy for happiness, which is the subject of her new book, A Year of Living Simply. The clue is in the title. Remember the basics. Instead of barging through the day on autopilot, really stop to think about the tiniest little things that added a moment of joy. No, of course stopping and smelling the flowers won’t cure all our ills and woes. But taking the time to savour the things that bring pleasure, really being in that moment and appreciating it, can remind you that most days have moments that buoy your mood.’– JO ELVIN, MAIL ON SUNDAY YOU I have a garden and we spent a long time creating a vegetable patch, but I didn’t spend enough time in it. I looked at the resources around me and thought ‘how can I use them better in a way that will make me fully happy’? You can feel a bit disconnected and that we are like flotsam and jetsam being cast around.” There's plenty about "earthships" and about shopping too and I must admit, I love her attitude to shopping in a physical shop. It's also interesting reading about her gain knowledge on gardening.

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It’s full of wisdom and a lot of humour too. The section on finding her husband’s hordes of light bulbs and plaster to last a lifetime and beyond resonated all too much with my own household. Must be a male thing!

Humble debut as an on-screen character in Spymaker: The Secret Life of Ian Fleming in 1990. Humble began her TV profession as a scientist, later exchanging to showing projects, for example, Top Gear, and Tomorrow’s World. I didn’t get the chance to read until recently, by which time (as happens) my mood had changed somewhat and I couldn’t really remember why it was I had it. I began to read therefore a little bit grumpily and with unfair expectations that I would be preached at. Some of the book was very affirming for me as I am fortunate enough to live in a community that is very cohesive and we have a Repair Cafe, a Men’s Shed and similar initiatives. A Year of Living Simply is very inspiring if you want to help build your own community and have a simpler and happier life.I did Springwatch at Pensthorpe, I’ve done lots of filming on the coast. It is a very beautiful part of the world. My husband also has good friends who farm there and I find myself there fairly often. And I’ve never seen mad March hares boxing anywhere better than Norfolk.” When Kate Humble said that she doesn’t want kids and never even wanted to have children, the public git upset. For this, she has to face lots of criticism. What is Kate Humble’s net worth? Some bits go on too long. I can’t believe how long the Earthships section went on for. Only for her to finish by revealing that they are primarily made with concrete so they’re not that good for the environment after all and that it’s better not to build a new house. At this point I was mildly disappointed with the book. I was expecting to read more about de-cluttering her life, making simple swaps as well as money savings ideas as ultimately Kate was advocating living debt free. Reads like a tv show. Would have worked better as a tv show or if instead of interviewing people we heard their stories first hand as a collection.

Kate’s book has the warmth and calming effect of a log fire and a glass of wine. Unknit your brow and let go. It’s a treat.’– GARETH MALONE PDF / EPUB File Name: A_Year_of_Living_Simply_-_Kate_Humble.pdf, A_Year_of_Living_Simply_-_Kate_Humble.epub On 16 Feb 2009, she showed up in Countdown’s Dictionary Corner. On 3 Oct 2009, Humble was designated President of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. As a Writer In this book, Kate shares her journey to find out what it really means to live a simple life. Kate has a busy life, her tv career means that she travels around the country, often away from home for weeks at a time. In a world that’s strange, unsettling and not a little mad, joy, happiness, just feeling better about ourselves, our world, our future, being able to take a breath, are all vital and Kate Humble’s book is a precious guide to helping us achieve all that.

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I’d defy anyone to read A Year of Living Simply and not be inspired to change something in their life. It may be something as simple as sorting a shelf (and I have) to a more life altering action as deciding to live off grid, but Kate Humble’s honest, beautifully written book feels like a true catalyst for change at the most personal of levels. This isn’t a self-help book but my word it delivers food for thought and ideas to enhance any reader’s life. It also affords a glimpse into the life of the author that feels a privilege to see. What I particularly love is her philosophy for happiness, which is the subject of her new book, A Year of Living Simply . The clue is in the title. Remember the basics. Instead of barging through the day on autopilot, really stop to think about the tiniest little things that added a moment of joy. No, of course stopping and smelling the flowers won't cure all our ills and woes. But taking the time to savour the things that bring pleasure, really being in that moment and appreciating it, can r emind you that most days have moments that buoy your mood.' - JO ELVIN, MAIL ON SUNDAY YOU I wondered why she had to fly to the Taos community with their recycled housing (using bottles and other reclaimed materials) in New Mexico. There is plenty of information about it, after all it's been going for over forty years.