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The Chief Shepherdess

Lessons in Life, Love and Farming

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The Chief Shepherdess

By: Zoe Colville
Narrated by: Zoe Colville
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

"I grab the motionless lamb, which is frighteningly slippery, and scramble on my feet, swinging its little body around to help it breathe. I see its chest move, then it sneezes and starts breathing. It's stunned by its delivery experience. As am I. I'm high on adrenaline. Tears are streaming down my face. I pop the lamb down on the ground and start frantically rubbing its tiny body... Looking back, I can see that this was one of the first moments of questioning whether I'm truly cut out for farming and realising that the answer might be...yes"

Zoë Colville spent years in a fancy hair salon with a long list of clients, living on cigarettes, croissants, and a shoestring. It was everything she'd ever wanted. But when an unexpected and overwhelming loss caused her life to shift unexpectedly, she found herself on a different path. One where the only use for a hairdryer is warming new-born lambs; where the cycle of life on a farm gives new meaning on purpose, and where nature is both a strict teacher and a balm to soothe the pressures of everyday life.

Alongside her long-term boyfriend, Zoë is now a full-time farmer, business owner and activist. In this memoir, she speaks vivaciously, humourously, and candidly about the lessons learned along the way, from mental health, social media and identity to surviving as an entrepreneur in a shifting economy. And through those lessons - in love, loss, and lambing - discovering something even more important: that it's always the right time to take a bold step and try something new.

©2023 Zoe Colville (P)2023 Penguin Audio
Animal husbandry Animals Grief & Loss Rural
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Critic reviews

"A new breed of shepherdess blazing a trail across social media, challenging outdated ideas about the job and capturing the public's imagination along the way." (Daily Mail)

"The shepherdess whose flock you definitely need to follow." (Hello!)

What listeners say about The Chief Shepherdess

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brilliant

funny, happy, sad, inspiring. lovely read. realistic to farm life and hopefully will help educate

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It's a love story

I've followed Zoe on Instagram for some time, and the book is a great extension of the truth telling, real life farming ups & downs you see on that account. What I didn't realise was how emotional it would be. It''s really a love story. The growing love of the farming world, the love of family, a partner and love of self.

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Spectacular Spectacular!

This is one of the best book's I have listened to in a long time! Well done Zoe Colville, you absolute legend! So refreshing to listen to someone who is so incredibly real!! Bravo!

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Loved it!!!!

Great book to listen to.
Very emotional when Zoe talked about her dad.
moments when I found myself laughing out loud on the train.
You achieved so much in the last few years.
well done

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So good!

Loved it! Made me cry more than I expected it would and really enjoyed listening to the Audible version

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Well written

no holds barred story of life as a Shepardess. love how Zoe doesn't gloss over how hard, but rewarding a farmers life is.

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Fantastic

I really enjoyed this so much and found it to be really refreshing, I thoroughly loved every minute and found my self both laughing and crying during this! An absolute stellar book narrated fantastically also! Deffo crossing my fingers for another in the future!

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raw & honest. everything I wanted it to be and mor

Zoe this book is simply stunning, your words flow perfectly, it is raw and honest and I loved every second of it. it was do much more than I wanted it to be. thank you

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What a fantastic listen

Real, honest, laugh out load funny and tear jerkingly sad. Completely gripped from start to finish. A wonderful listen .

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Excellent biography

Life brings its trials and challenges often when we are struggling with anxieties and emotions

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