Ditch the City and Go Country: How to Master the Art of Rural Life From a Former City Dweller

The No-Nonsense Guide For Country Dreamers

Though moving to the country takes determination, every ex-urbanite says it was the best decision they ever made. The same rings true for Alissa Hessler, who relocated from Seattle to rural Maine years ago and has never looked back. In this book she uses her wit, charm and experience to help you chart a path to successful country living.

Ditch the City and Go Country covers the ins and outs of how to find a home, how to keep your current job remotely or where to look for a new one, how to own livestock and prepare for disasters, how to make a smooth transition and become a part of your new community and how to embrace the seasons. With this must-have guide, you’ll be able to stop daydreaming and finally live the life you’ve always wanted in the country.

Alissa Hessler was inspired to launch her blog Urban Exodus after relocating to Maine in 2011. She has been featured in Modern Farmer, Popular Photography, Click Magazine and Maine Home.

Alissa Morris is the creator of Urban Exodus and co-runs Hessler Creative, a boutique creative agency. She has been featured in Modern Farmer, Popular Photography, Click Magazine and Maine Home.

After relocating to Maine in 2011, she was inspired to create Urban Exodus because there were no honest depictions of country life, only idyllic representations. Her goal is to showcase not only the “living the good life” aspect of farming, but also the everyday struggles. The realistic profiles featured on Urban Exodus have created a new and growing community of ex-urbanites.