Jennifer Grayson

“A CALL TO FARMS is a transformative act of journalism. Who writes an eloquent page-turner about farms? Jennifer Grayson does. A CALL TO FARMS erases shopworn stereotypes of farms and farmers, gracefully leading the reader into a boots-on, magical culture crucial to the well-being of society, the land, and our future.”

—Paul Hawken, New York Times–bestselling author of Regeneration and Drawdown


Hope for the future lies with a new generation of regenerative farmers.

The rising movement of regenerative agriculture holds great promise for transforming our food system while reclaiming planetary and human health. Yet there is a little-known fact that could amplify the call for change: Within a decade, nearly half of all farmland in America will change hands as the older generation of farmers steps aside. Meanwhile, the groundswell of new growers eager to steward that land are up against seemingly every obstacle: rising land costs, insufficient income, a Goliath industrial food system, and the billionaires and corporations grabbing farmland at a staggering pace.

So, how can we mobilize a “greatest generation” of sustainable small farmers at this crucial tipping point? How could resilient local agriculture transform our country, heal the earth, and ensure healthy, fresh food is accessible to all? To answer those questions, award-winning journalist Jennifer Grayson embedded herself in a groundbreaking beginning farmer training program, then embarked on this investigative travelogue about the new, diverse farmers, graziers, and food activists working toward a stirring vision of the future. From a one-acre “market garden” in Oregon to the activists reviving food sovereignty in South Carolina — A CALL TO FARMS is the captivating story of these new adventurous farmers finding hope and purpose in an uncertain and imperiled age. 

“In this deeply inspiring book, Jennifer Grayson examines the motives, practices, problems, and successes of a diverse collection of young, small-scale farmers growing food sustainably and achieving enormous satisfaction and joy in the process. The farmers provide abundant reasons for hope in the future of food that’s healthier for producers, people, and the planet. If you’re looking for hope, here it is.”
—MARION NESTLE, PHD, MPH, professor emerita of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University and author of Slow Cooked: An Unexpected Life in Food Politics


“A Call to Farms is a transformative act of journalism. Who writes an eloquent page-turner about farms? Jennifer Grayson does. A Call to Farms erases shopworn stereotypes of farms and farmers, gracefully leading the reader into a boots-on, magical culture crucial to the well-being of society, the land, and our future.”
—PAUL HAWKEN, New York Times–bestselling author of Regeneration and Drawdown


“A Call to Farms is a pivotal exploration into the heart of the new agrarian lifestyle, a topic close to my own journey. Jennifer Grayson captures the essence of what it means to be a modern, small-scale farmer, intertwining the challenges and triumphs faced by those committed to nurturing the land. Her eloquent narrative not only highlights the importance of sustainable practices but also celebrates the joy and satisfaction found in this crucial work. This book is an essential read for anyone passionate about the earth, its caretakers, and the sustainable-food movement.”
—JM FORTIER, author of The Market Gardener and advocate for small-scale organic agriculture

“Food, farming, and a purposeful life all come together in this inspiring tour that visits America’s new generation of regenerative pioneers.”
—DAVID R. MONTGOMERY, MacArthur fellow, author of Growing a Revolution, and coauthor of What Your Food Ate


“This is a wonderful book, perhaps a milestone in the gathering movement for a sane, agroecological food system. Each chapter is its own little jewel, glinting with the joy and energy of people finding connection among land, food, and community. Bittersweet jewels they are, though, because Jennifer Grayson knows the painful histories that have sundered these connections and still are shaping our world. That she can face this squarely while conveying such hope is a testament to her skills as a writer and also to the power of the new stories that the farmers whom she describes are writing.”
—CHRIS SMAJE, author of A Small Farm Future and Saying No to a Farm-Free Future

 

“A Call to Farms makes the case for the urgent necessity to return to organic, regenerative agriculture, as it was prior to the introduction of GMOs and chemical inputs. As Jennifer Grayson persuasively and authentically explains, as we restore the terrain, we will restore our own health.”
—MICHELLE PERRO, MD, integrative physician, cofounder and CEO of GMOScience.org, and author of What’s Making Our Children Sick?


“…Richly reported . . . Against [a] litany of outrage, Grayson’s book is like taking a sunny walk on the first spring day after a long, harsh winter.”
—LOS ANGELES TIMES

"A Call to Farms . . . is a valiant and passionate attempt to reconnect consumers to the wonder of nature by introducing us to small-scale regenerative farmers and ranchers operating with creativity and grit from Oregon to South Carolina. Grayson’s prose is as inspiring as her book’s titular call for a bloodless revolution.”
—FORBES


"In this vibrant report . . . Grayson provides colorful accounts of the farmers’ life stories . . . a spirited look at the lives of small, eco-conscious farmers."
—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY


"In A Call to Farms, Grayson highlights profiles of young farmers — from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina to central Massachusetts — working to create more sustainable farms. Underlying each profile are the effects and unique challenges farmers are facing due to a rapidly changing climate. These snapshots provide a window into a world of farming where young people are actively resisting the industrialized monocultures that dominate our landscape; their farms are often grounded in education, sustainable practices, and, above all, community.”
—CIVIL EATS


“Investigative journalist Jennifer Grayson writes an eye-opening account that details the challenges new farmers will face in an era of climate change and food inequality. As part of her research, Grayson immersed herself in a farmer training program, where she met farmers and food activists, and she profiles them throughout the book. A Call to Farms documents the regenerative, sustainable practices emerging farmers are committed to using to help reverse climate degradation and inequity.”
—FOOD TANK


For publicity and media requests, contact zpolendo@wwnorton.com and info@jennifergrayson.com

Cover photo: Tai Power Seeff