Date of Award
2026
Document Type
Thesis (Master's)
Department or Program
Master of Arts in Liberal Studies
First Advisor
Professor Barbara Kreiger
Second Advisor
Professor Anna Minardi
Third Advisor
Professor Donald Pease
Abstract
The Secret Life of Ferns is a collection of personal essays that contemplate the joys and difficulties of homesteading and rural life in the northern Vermont region known as the Northeast Kingdom. Observations and experiences over the last three decades serve as catalysts for reflection as I explore themes of isolation, loss, adaptability, and connection. My insights are informed by my role as an immersed outsider: a native New Yorker who has endured the playful label of “flatlander” for many years. My reflections draw from my experiences growing up in a large city.
My work highlights relationships between women, family, friends, and members of my community. Motherhood often takes center stage. Nature is also a principal player, underscoring the inextricable connection between daily life in the Northeast Kingdom and the climate, flora, fauna, topography, and weather that shapes it. While my work focuses on personal experiences, it also reveals a larger, more complicated and prideful struggle for survival in my impoverished rural community.
Recommended Citation
Wren, Mindy M., "The Secret Life of Ferns: Narratives and Reflections on Homesteading" (2026). Dartmouth College Master’s Theses. 288.
https://digitalcommons.dartmouth.edu/masters_theses/288
