Mountainside Mutts Book Club (September) Review:
The Salt Stones: Seasons of a Shepherd’s Life   by Helen Whybrow

Mountainside Mutts Book Club Review Rating: 🦴🦴🦴🦴

Local authors are a special treat for our little book club. The last time we hosted one was when Martha Molnar joined us to discuss her book, and it was a delight. She happened to live only a short drive away, which made it possible. Helen Whybrow, the author of The Salt Stones: Seasons of a Shepherd’s Life, is also Vermont-based, though a bit further north. We haven’t extended an invitation, but given that she’s been interviewed on NPR, one suspects her calendar may not leave much room for small gatherings. Still, if the opportunity to hear her speak arises, don’t hesitate—go. I know I will.

The Salt Stones spans roughly two decades, beginning when Whybrow and her partner first took over Knoll Farm, and carries us through the present day. It’s a luminous memoir about family—human and bovine—rooted in the Green Mountains of Vermont. With graceful prose, Whybrow reflects on raising Icelandic sheep, restoring an old farm, and raising her children in a place that is breathtakingly beautiful for part of the year, and brutally cold and wet for much of the rest. Her writing flows like the rolling hills she describes—rugged yet inviting.

Woven into these tales of farm life are personal stories and memories that invite the reader into her world. Perhaps my own connection comes from a shared heritage—both Whybrow and I have British-born parents—but I believe anyone who values history and stewardship will find themselves reflected in these pages. Whybrow is not just a shepherd in the literal sense; she also shepherds her readers toward deeper questions: Where do we come from? What do we stand for? What legacy will we leave?

This theme of interconnectedness—between people, land, and history—has surfaced in several of our recent book club selections. In a time when so much of the national conversation seems focused on division, a book like The Salt Stones feels like a gentle lifeline. It’s a reminder that others are also seeking meaning, trying, as we all are, to open the doors of the heart.

Although our club didn’t host Whybrow, I made my own pilgrimage north on Route 100 on a perfect early fall day, with my faithful co-pilot Buster in tow, to visit Knoll Farm. The drive itself was postcard Vermont—red barns, white steeples, fields of goldenrod and sunflower glowing under a sharp blue sky. Leaves drifted onto the road as we wound along the Black River. A sharp left turn and a steep incline delivered us to the farm stand.

Buster wasn’t allowed in the shop or the farm itself, but leashed dogs are welcome on nearby trails. At his age, though, he was perfectly content with a short sniff near the parking lot before settling back into the car. I wandered on my own. There are places in the world known as “energy vortexes”—Sedona, for instance—where people go for renewal. On that particular day, Knoll Farm felt much the same. I could have sat for hours, soaking in the stillness. It’s easy to see why the farm has become a popular retreat and event space. Though I didn’t glimpse the Icelandic sheep, I could picture a younger Whybrow in her wellies, trudging the wet hills with her daughter Wren running ahead, pajama bottoms soaked through.

As a book club pick, the consensus was clear: we thoroughly enjoyed The Salt Stones. Some of our recent choices have been a little heavy, leaning more academic than narrative. Whybrow’s book struck a satisfying balance—informative yet deeply personal. We gave it a rare 4.5 out of 5. None of us could quite articulate why it wasn’t a perfect 5; it was simply more a book to savor once than to reread endlessly.

As a Vermont business owner myself, I felt an immediate kinship with Whybrow and her reflections. It’s a book I’ll gladly recommend to friends. And beyond the pages, I highly encourage a visit to Knoll Farm itself. It’s a place that lingers with you long after you’ve left—just like Whybrow’s memoir.

Next Up:

Do you live in Rutland, Vermont and love books about nature? Our book club meets approximately every 6 weeks. What unites our members is a love for the animals and the natural world around us. Come join us.

Mountainside Mutts Book Club  selection (Oct) is: Thinking Like a Wolf: Lessons From the Yellowstone Packs. We’ll meet at 6pm on 29 October  2025. We’d love to have you join the discussion. You can even join via Zoom. Find us on the Book Clubs App or email: als@mountainsidemutts.com for further information.