For thirty years, nature writer Peri Phillips McQuay and her conservation educator husband, Barry, have savored a rich life in a rented house in the midst of an 800 acre wild conservation area, where Peri established a successful writing career while Barry taught thousands of school children reverence for nature. Now, with retirement looming, it is time to begin the daunting search for a new and different refuge.

Told with the excitement of a novel, The Country of Home is an intimate story of a couple finding land to cherish, only to experience all the challenges, crises and triumphs of building a first home. As the author and her husband learn the art of house-making and orchestrate the building of the simple house they design themselves, their shining love of living closely with the land is always present. Along with the inevitable tensions between owners and builders is all the joy of a dream come true.

Dedicated to “those who dream of a small house in the country” The Country of Home will appeal both to those who intend to build a home of their own, but more importantly, to those of all ages who enjoy a compelling story. This timely book celebrates the possibilities and rewards of simple living and the self-reliance and perhaps most importantly, the healing power of nature.