Book Talk: Accidental Shepherd, Author Liese Greensfelder
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Join us as we welcome Science Writer and Farm Advisor Liese Greensfelder to the Swedish Club for a conversation about her memoir, Accidental Shepherd: How a California Girl Rescued an Ancient Mountain Farm in Norway. She will be joined by Marianne Stecher-Hansen, Professor of Danish and Scandinavian Studies at the University of Washington.
In 1972, 20-year-old Liese arrived in the small Norwegian town of Øystese expecting a summer job—and instead found herself running a remote, centuries-old farm high above the Hardanger Fjord. With no farming experience, she suddenly became responsible for over 100 sheep, a few cows, a draft horse, and a herding dog. What was supposed to be a temporary arrangement stretched into a year of soul-testing work, cultural immersion, and deep connection to the land and its people.
Accidental Shepherd is a vivid, honest account of that year—from lighthearted moments like sampling fruit wines and skiing, to the emotional trials of animal care, isolation, and harsh weather. As Liese adapts to life in a fading agricultural tradition, she captures a disappearing world and her own journey of resilience, identity, and belonging.
This event is free and open to all. Walk-ins welcomed.