Possum Living: How to Live Well Without a Job and with No Money

I first heard about this book in “Countryside and Small Stock Magazine” (published in Wisconsin by the Belanger family) about 15 years ago. It was hard to find–I finally lucked out after looking for 3 years and found a used copy in a thrift store. Dolly Freed wrote this when she was 19 living with her divorced father in a house they had bought cheap and restored in rural Pennsylvania, the nearest city being Philadelphia. She writes with such individuality, humor, and enthusiasm that I broke out with laughter while reading the book. For example, she talks about the “necessities of life” including alcoholic beverages; she then explains how to make your own–no problem–using a pressure cooker! She also tells how she raises chickens and “bunnies” in the basement for food.

It’s great that the book is available again. The cover of the new book is very similar to the original edition’s, which was paperbag-brown in color. These original editions, printed in 1979 and the early 1980s, are priced today at about $200 a copy!

The reprinted book is a bargain at less than $10 from Amazon. “Possum Living” is much shorter but in the same vein as Carla Emery’s “Encyclopedia of Country Living.” Don’t miss it!
Rating: 5 / 5

I bought Possum Living when it first came out in the late 1970s and devoured it. Although that was during a period when I had a great career and an income to match, I have always had a strong frugal side. This book provided a wealth of great ideas, but even more it was a tremendous source of inspiration. I loved the book, read it 3 or 4 times, and then lost it, along with many other books, in the process of a move. Most of the books I lost were not worth replacing, and I couldn’t even remember what many of them were. But Possum Living was special. I missed it and lamented the loss – even more so when I learned the book was out of print and I could not find another copy.

Some years later, when I found myself jobless and broke for a couple of years, I remembered the lessons Dolly Freed shares in this wonderful book and what could have been a tragedy became a great, liberating adventure.

I had wondered whatever became of Dolly and had tried in vain to find her by searching the internet. After many years, I’m absolutely delighted to learn that Possum Living has been reprinted and is available once again. I’ve ordered another copy, and this time I intend to hold on to it. I trust a whole new generation will discover not only this book, but the lifestyle which it champions. With today’s worsening economy, the message of Possum Living is needed more now than ever.

Get this book. Reading it may change your life – and could even save it.
Rating: 5 / 5

I am still savoring this book page by page.

I love Dolly’s (and her description of her Dad’s) humor. Her method descriptions and recipes are concise, adequate, truly practical, and contain none of the snobbery of “expert advice”. It was a joy to read her step-by-steps with comments. I must confess, at the time Dolly originally wrote this, I would have loved it even more, as her way of low-income life was the way of necessity at the time for me — not the wonderful, funny, embracing choice it was for Dolly! I have bought multiple copies to share with my children and mainly younger friends. I’ll be instigating a good part of her “recipes” on our family vacations (we always have some similar “Possum Living” project going on anyways — now it will be with life-embracing “Dolly” style)!.

Read it for the love of living, as well as the wonderful, active relief from the “rat race”.

Rating: 5 / 5

I was thrilled to discover the new release of this book and especially happy to read the afterward by Dolly. Over the years, I have often wondered what had become of her and what directions her life took. My old copy of Possum Living sits tattered and taped in my permanent book collection which consists of only twelve books. I love this book and would read other titles by Dolly if she were inclined to write and publish them. (hint, hint). I may not have agreed with everything in the book but found it to be a wonderfully written account of Dolly’s experience, full of humor and candor and wisdom way beyond her years. I was also one of the (many, I’m sure) folks who was inspired by Dolly and actually took her advise and embarked on the possum lifestyle. I found a dilapidated, abandoned house in a pleasant neighborhood and bought it at auction, dirt cheap. Believe it or not, I was by myself with no help or support and earning minimum wage at the time. It was true that broken pipes and windows and rats (yes, rats) just didn’t seem like a big deal without the big thirty year mortgage, and there was enormous satisfaction in fixing the place up, improving both my home and the neighborhood. Since then, I have discovered so many radical ways to stretch a dollar or completely get around the dollar that I could easily write my own book. Most people who consider themselves “frugal” aren’t anywhere near it. I’m still living in the same house and most people don’t see anything “different” unless they really scratch beneath the surface. Often when they do, they are both horrified and envious. The usual response is, “I could never….” “I could never live without a car” (forbid they should have to plan ahead); “I could never line dry my clothes” (forbid they should have to go outside into the fresh air for a whole five minutes to hang a load). That’s o.k. I wouldn’t want a lot of the stuff in their life either. Now that I am older, I know folks who are stressing over their retirement. Some have discovered that they can no longer afford to retire or have been forced OUT of retirement. I think it’s sad and a waste of life to work toward retirement. I have no retirement plans because there is nothing I’m doing now that I wouldn’t be happy doing for the rest of my life. I think the reason that people look forward to retirement is not because they want to stop working. There isn’t a thing wrong with good honest work. It keeps one active, engaged and involved with the world. The attraction of retirement is freedom….the freedom to travel, pursue hobbies, spend time with family, whatever. I already have that and have for many many years. Possum living is not about avoiding work. It’s about not being stuck in a job and about having choices and being in charge of your own life. I have had years when I worked very hard and years when I hardly worked at all. It all depended on my priorities at the time. I am buying a bunch of copies to give as gifts to all the folks who I refused to loan my copy to. Buy this book. Read this book. Become a possum or don’t. But do question everything and don’t let anyone tell you what can’t be done. There is a lot of misinformation out there passed off as “common knowledge” and “common sense”. I was told repeatedly that none of this was possible. It is amazing what is possible. Figure it out for yourself and make your own choices.

Rating: 5 / 5

This book was suggested to me after it was newly released recently. I was very impressed! It was strange reading, almost as if time has folded in half and placed us in the very same sociopolitical place. I’m not sure about all of the suggestions, but then the author provided a very nice afterword to this new edition. I intend on trying at least some of the recipes and was already beginning my “urban homestead” backyard garden, anyway. I enjoyed it tremendously!
Rating: 4 / 5