Ron’s Ramblings: Characters, Critters and Us Cantankerous Rednecks
by Ron Garwood
Author Reputation Press


"My grandparents spoiled me pretty bad for my hunting and fishing habit; a habit that I loved as a young person and still do."

Author Garvey grew up in Valley County, Montana, which borders Canada and is divided by the Milk River. There, in the exceedingly harsh winters, Garwood learned early to harvest ice blocks from the river to be stored in wood shavings to cool the houses in the heat of summer. Parents and grandparents taught the youngster to hunt, farm, and operate a variety of home-rigged equipment. His grandpa played mandolin until a finger was mangled performing one of the many tasks needed to keep their homestead—a portion of land granted by the federal government—secure and prosperous. Garwood’s first date with his wife of forty-nine years was a jackrabbit hunt. One of his notable “Redneck” abilities involves cycling water to his house, burying lines securely under straw bales. Surviving a serious fire, he notes that house fires were prevalent among earlier homesteaders with unenclosed heat sources inside their simple abodes. But, as he also relates, most persisted in improving their farms, surviving like his forebears by “living off the land.”

Author and family historian Garwood has collected chronicles, ecological and naturalistic data, and a bevy of memories to construct this enjoyable narrative about past and present life in northern Montana. He has been an active participant in local conservation groups, projecting a genuine concern for the lands he and his family still inhabit. His work projects enthusiasm for preserving the historical and scientific facts supporting his loyalty to Valley County and the sometimes amusing, moral-infused folksy tales that touched the people he has known personally, some of whom have contributed their own reflections and recollections to this dynamic effort. Garwood’s engaging collection offers enlightenment for those outside the area wanting to learn more, as well as entertaining lore for fireside chats among those who live in and are committed to the region.

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