The truly remarkable story of a unique woman living on a remote mountain wildlife refuge – nearing sixty, solitary, solar-powered and almost self-sufficient – and the ups and downs of life that led her there. Full of energy, humour, and love for her own and the wider environment, this candid book inspires, entertains and informs.
A writer with insufficient income, a grandma with unwelcome arthritis, she was unsure if she could manage the hard work and mechanical demands of a totally self-sufficient lifestyle, but she gave it a go – and found it full of funny incidents and great rewards. With only the wildlife as her neighbours, she learnt to live in tune with nature on her wildlife refuge, helping to repair past damage and trying to do no more.
Living alone on a remote mountain in the harsh Australian bush would not be every woman's choice. In fact, Sharyn Munro has so often been asked, 'Why do you live there?' that she decided to write a book as her answer. THE WOMAN ON THE MOUNTAIN is the resulting lyrically written account of her journey towards a sustainable and truly rewarding lifestyle in her beloved mountain forests, where she has 'only' the abundant wildlife for company. That decades-long journey was no smooth, planned passage, but a stumble over setbacks, propelled by almost accidental decisions. After the ups and downs of relationships, single parenting, and an unlikely variety of jobs, at 55 she found herself alone — in the bush. Unsure whether she could manage the hard work and mechanical demands of a self-sufficient lifestyle, she nevertheless gave it a go — and mostly succeeded.
She has also learnt to live in tune with nature on her wildlife refuge, despite the occasional discordant note, helping to repair past damage and trying to do no more. 'Civilised conservation' she calls it, 'having your cake and eating it too — before the wallabies do.' With increasing numbers of people longing for a simpler life, THE WOMAN ON THE MOUNTAIN reveals what can be achieved when vision and passion are combined with a little hard work, a lot of adaptability — and a dash of humour.
Often humorous, always candid, sometimes heart-wrenching, THE WOMAN ON THE MOUNTAIN will charm and inform, and inspire all those who have unfulfilled dreams. Sharyn's is also a passionate cry to us to tread more lightly on our planet so that we can leave a better world for future generations. Visit Sharyn's website www.sharynmunro.com
