Poetry for the back cover of the SKIP book

Paul and I are wrangling over the words that go on the back cover of the book.  Here are a couple options we came up with.  Do you have a preference?  Do you have better poetry for it?  We're limited in space but we think these are about the right number of words/characters.

First:
Each year in the US, millions of acres of farmland are abandoned. Meanwhile, thousands of people join the rat race with the hopes of someday affording a homestead.

Millions of elderly people are desperately trying to find somebody to inherit their homestead.  Somebody worthy.  Somebody that won’t just sell it for a quick buck.  Somebody that will love the land the way they love it now!  

SKIP is a collection of tasks that an industrious person can accomplish and publicly document.   Like growing a garden, building a shed, building a small pond or felling a tree. Things that when all added up prove that you would rather love a homestead than sell it.

Second:
Every year millions of acres of farmland are abandoned.  Countless hobby farms and homesteads are sold off and bulldozed.  

At the same time, millions of young people dream of returning to the land.  They want to help heal the earth by getting their hands dirty.  The only way they can see achieving their dream is a long trip through the rat race.

SKIP is a skills-based curriculum that people can complete in their spare time.  Public documentation of their growing abilities impresses those who are looking for a worthy heir.  Suddenly a more direct path to their little patch of heaven appears.

A path that Skips the debt.  Skips the rat race.  Skips the 8-5.

To whom are you speaking? First rule, define your audience.

I prefer the second one, it sounds more positive.

The only thing I’d change is “millions of people, young and old, dream . . .”

Or just drop “young”

Who is your audience? I’m 51 and still dreaming and working on my BB’s and PEP. I have friends who are now empty nesters but still shackled.

The last podcast I listened to Paul was chatting with Mark whose on his way to Ant Village. Is Mark young?

Just a thought - look forward to reading the book.

I think we have two audiences for the content of the book...  

People (generally younger) who might be able to take the SKIP path directly to retirement

People (generally older) who have land or assets and would be interested in this program if they only knew about it

I think the purpose of the blurb on the back of the book is to get either audience to buy the book.  Or anyone who thinks someone in one of those groups needs it for a birthday present.

Landowners: Perhaps you have a heritage property, decades of family history and pioneer effort, and don’t want it bulldozed for a strip mall. Family doesn’t want to live there. Who can you trust to carry on your legacy?

Young homesteaders: You have a flaming passion to build and grow, to feed people and protect the land. Yet it will take decades of 9-to-5 slavery to raise the money. This is madness. There has to be a way!

SKIP connects the dots. Skills To Inherit Property. Young homesteaders dedicate long hours to pioneer skills, proving they are worthy to take on the challenge. Landowners can see the fire in their eyes, and the dedication in their hearts – to build on this legacy, and build a better world.

Too good to be true? Look inside.

I particularly like this definition of SKIP: skills-based curriculum