Overview

One fateful day in 1996, upon discovering that five freight cars' worth of glittering corn have reaped a tiny profit of $18.16, young Forrest Pritchard undertakes to save his family's farm. What ensues—through hilarious encounters with all manner of livestock and colorful local characters—is a crash course in sustainable agriculture. Pritchard's biggest ally is his renegade father, who initially questions his career choice and eschews organic foods for sugary mainstream fare; but just when the farm starts to turn heads at local markets, his father's health takes a turn for the worse.With poetry and humor, this timely memoir tugs on the heartstrings and feeds the soul long after the last page is turned.

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I've dedicated my business life to supporting organic farmers--but honestly, I didn't have the full story until now. This isn't a hippie manifesto about going back to the land to raise some chickens. Gaining Ground is the beautiful and nourishing story of an accomplished self-taught farmer making it work. It's about passion and dedication. It's about ecology, economy, family. And the truth of organic farming is so much more challenging and fantastic than I could have imagined. You can visit the farm and see for yourself, but start by reading this book. I have great and deep respect for Pritchard's stewardship, and a new love of the American farm. --Nell Newman, founder of Newman's Own Organics Witty farm memoirs are sprouting like spring wheat, but real food must be tasty as well as good for you; this true story is both. <br>--Nina Planck, author of Real Food, What to Eat and Why <br><br> Compelling and beautifully written, Gaining Ground makes us laugh, cry, and, above all, restores our faith that dreams can and do change our world. Wannabe farmers, long-time farmers, and anyone who desires a sustainable food system will all love and learn from this story. <br>--Tanya Denckla Cobb, author of Reclaiming Our Food and The Gardener's A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food I have been buying food from Forrest for years, but until now I never understood how delicious the story behind the products was. Just as all cooks know a dish is more than the sum of ingredients used, so too is farming more than sun, soil, and rain--it is a human story of endurance, wit, and creativity. Reading this book will give every bite you take a little more savor, a little more flavor knowing the love that it took to create it. <br>--Barton Seaver, chef, National Geographic fellow, author of For Cod and Country <br><br>

I've dedicated my business life to supporting organic farmers--but honestly, I didn't have the full story until now. This isn't a hippie manifesto about going back to the land to raise some chickens. Gaining Ground is the beautiful and nourishing story of an accomplished self-taught farmer making it work. It's about passion and dedication. It's about ecology, economy, family. And the truth of organic farming is so much more challenging and fantastic than I could have imagined. You can visit the farm and see for yourself, but start by reading this book. I have great and deep respect for Pritchard's stewardship, and a new love of the American farm. --Nell Newman, founder of Newman's Own Organics Witty farm memoirs are sprouting like spring wheat, but real food must be tasty as well as good for you; this true story is both. <br>--Nina Planck, author of Real Food, What to Eat and Why <br> Compelling and beautifully written, Gaining Ground makes us laugh, cry, and, above all, restores our faith that dreams can and do change our world. Wannabe farmers, long-time farmers, and anyone who desires a sustainable food system will all love and learn from this story. <br>--Tanya Denckla Cobb, author of Reclaiming Our Food and The Gardener's A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food I have been buying food from Forrest for years, but until now I never understood how delicious the story behind the products was. Just as all cooks know a dish is more than the sum of ingredients used, so too is farming more than sun, soil, and rain--it is a human story of endurance, wit, and creativity. Reading this book will give every bite you take a little more savor, a little more flavor knowing the love that it took to create it. <br>--Barton Seaver, chef, National Geographic fellow, and author of For Cod and Country You will be on the edge of your seat as you read about how Forrest Pritchard saved his seventh-generation family farm. . . . [A] highly recommended page-turner for anyo

I've dedicated my business life to supporting organic farmers--but honestly, I didn't have the full story until now. This isn't a hippie manifesto about going back to the land to raise some chickens. Gaining Ground is the beautiful and nourishing story of an accomplished self-taught farmer making it work. It's about passion and dedication. It's about ecology, economy, family. And the truth of organic farming is so much more challenging and fantastic than I could have imagined. You can visit the farm and see for yourself, but start by reading this book. I have great and deep respect for Pritchard's stewardship, and a new love of the American farm. --Nell Newman, founder of Newman's Own Organics Witty farm memoirs are sprouting like spring wheat, but real food must be tasty as well as good for you; this true story is both. <br>--Nina Planck, author of Real Food, What to Eat and Why <br> Compelling and beautifully written, Gaining Ground makes us laugh, cry, and, above all, restores our faith that dreams can and do change our world. Wannabe farmers, long-time farmers, and anyone who desires a sustainable food system will all love and learn from this story. <br>--Tanya Denckla Cobb, author of Reclaiming Our Food and The Gardener's A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food I have been buying food from Forrest for years, but until now I never understood how delicious the story behind the products was. Just as all cooks know a dish is more than the sum of ingredients used, so too is farming more than sun, soil, and rain--it is a human story of endurance, wit, and creativity. Reading this book will give every bite you take a little more savor, a little more flavor knowing the love that it took to create it. <br>--Barton Seaver, chef, National Geographic fellow, author of For Cod and Country You will be on the edge of your seat as you read about how Forrest Pritchard saved his seventh-generation family farm. . . . [A] highly recommended page-turner for anyone i

I've dedicated my business life to supporting organic farmers--but honestly, I didn't have the full story until now. This isn't a hippie manifesto about going back to the land to raise some chickens. Gaining Ground is the beautiful and nourishing story of an accomplished self-taught farmer making it work. It's about passion and dedication. It's about ecology, economy, family. And the truth of organic farming is so much more challenging and fantastic than I could have imagined. You can visit the farm and see for yourself, but start by reading this book. I have great and deep respect for Pritchard's stewardship, and a new love of the American farm. --Nell Newman, founder of Newman's Own Organics Witty farm memoirs are sprouting like spring wheat, but real food must be tasty as well as good for you; this true story is both. <br>--Nina Planck, author of Real Food, What to Eat and Why <br><br> Compelling and beautifully written, Gaining Ground makes us laugh, cry, and, above all, restores our faith that dreams can and do change our world. Wannabe farmers, long-time farmers, and anyone who desires a sustainable food system will all love and learn from this story. <br>--Tanya Denckla Cobb, author of Reclaiming Our Food and The Gardener's A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food

Author Information

Forrest Pritchard is a professional farmer with degrees in English and Geology from William & Mary. His poems have been published in national literary magazines, and Smith Meadows has been featured on NPR and in the Washington Post. Pritchard is a frequent speaker at conferences and universities. He lives on Smith Meadows in Berryville, VA, with his family, and each weekend his farm serves dedicated customers at local farmers' markets.

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