What a beautiful book. It’s like meandering through a garden. The author details his time at seminary interweaving stories from his life with his husband and friends, his parents and mostly his time working at a farm at seminary. I heard his compost speech at the Evolving Faith conference so hearing about his process of writing it was interesting. And his discussion of Rachel Held Evans death was just as devastating as when it happened. Jeff Chu had a bittersweet way of seeing life and a gorgeous way with words.

Introduction:

Jeff Chu's "Good Soil" is a memoir that takes readers through his journey from the bustling life of New York City to the serene, yet demanding, world of farming at Princeton Theological Seminary's "Farminary." Published in March 2025, this book intertwines personal growth with reflections on nature, spirituality, food, and cultural heritage.

Plot and Themes:

Journey of Transformation: Chu's narrative begins with a sense of ennui in his urban life, leading him to seek deeper meaning through the act of farming. The book chronicles his experiences over the seasons, learning not just about agriculture but about life, faith, and identity.
Spirituality and Nature: A significant portion of the book delves into the spiritual lessons gleaned from the earth. The farm becomes a metaphor for spiritual growth, where Chu reflects on how one cultivates the soul much like one would cultivate the soil.
Cultural Identity: As a first-generation Chinese American, Chu explores his heritage through the lens of the food he grows and eats. This aspect adds a rich layer to the narrative, intertwining personal identity with the broader human experience.
Community and Belonging: The book also touches on themes of community, highlighting how the farm brings together diverse individuals, each with their own story, fostering a sense of belonging and shared human experience.

Writing Style:

Chu's prose is lyrical and emotive, painting vivid pictures of the farm's landscape and the life teeming within it. His background as a journalist is evident in his ability to weave engaging narratives from everyday observations, making the mundane aspects of farming sound poetic. However, the narrative sometimes wanders into tangential anecdotes which, while enriching, might feel disjointed for readers seeking a more linear storytelling.

Strengths:

Profound Reflections: The book excels in drawing connections between the natural world and spiritual lessons, offering readers a unique perspective on how to live a more mindful, connected life.
Cultural Exploration: Chu's exploration of his Chinese American identity through food and farming is both enlightening and engaging, providing a fresh angle on cultural narratives.
Character Development: The memoir does an excellent job of character development, not just of Chu himself but also of the farm's inhabitants, making the reader feel connected to the community.

Weaknesses:

Pacing: Occasionally, the book struggles with pacing, with some sections feeling either too rushed or overly detailed.
Assumed Knowledge: There are moments where the narrative assumes a certain familiarity with theological or agricultural terms that might not be universally shared among readers.

Conclusion:

"Good Soil" by Jeff Chu is a beautifully written memoir that transcends the act of farming to explore profound themes of identity, spirituality, and community. It's a book that invites readers to slow down and reflect on their relationship with the earth and with each other. While it might occasionally meander in its storytelling, the depth of reflection and the poetic quality of Chu's writing make it a compelling read for those interested in personal growth, spirituality, and cultural narratives.

Detailed Ratings Breakdown:

Plot/Theme: 4.5/5 - The themes are rich and interconnected, though the plot's meandering can sometimes detract from the focus.
Characterization: 4/5 - The characters are well-developed, particularly Chu's self-exploration, though some secondary characters could have been fleshed out more.
Writing Style: 4/5 - Chu's style is poetic and engaging, yet occasionally, the narrative could benefit from tighter structure.
Emotional Impact: 4.5/5 - The book has a strong emotional resonance, particularly in themes of belonging and identity.
Overall Enjoyment: 4/5 - An enriching read for those who appreciate a blend of memoir, spirituality, and nature, though not for everyone due to its introspective nature.

Final Rating: 4/5 - "Good Soil" stands out for its thoughtful exploration of life through the lens of farming and spirituality, making it a significant addition to the genre of memoir and personal growth.

A moving and humble account of transformation through the divine grace embodied in nature. Though going to Divinity School seemed glamorous, as portrayed in this book the reality sounds terrible. Thank goodness Chu had the Farminary to show him a better way. Theology should be about meeting God, not just talking about God!

In October 2018, I was in the audience at the first Evolving Faith conference in Montreal, NC where Jeff Chu preached about the theology of the compost pile. I wept through his entire sermon (I was 7.5 months pregnant and cried basically the whole weekend. Shout out to author Jessica Turner who I met in the bathroom and who gave me her extra pack of tissues). I still have my notecard with my written hope on it that Jeff talks about in the chapter titled “worm” of Good Soil.

Jeff’s writing is masterful and always moving. You’ll find yourself wondering where he’s going with some explanation of noisy frogs and them, bam, the connection to some beautiful piece of theology hits you out of nowhere. This memoir of Jeff’s time at Princeton Seminary is beautifully written and an absolute pleasure to read. It’s dripping with love and reflections on his time working at the farm.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

Let me just start with the basics.

If I were to pick a favorite book of 2024 right now, it would be Jeff Chu's remarkable "Good Soil: The Education of an Accidental Farmhand."

While I expected to appreciate "Good Soil" having become familiar with Chu through his work with the Evolving Faith Conference and his co-authoring with Rachel Held Evans "Wholehearted Faith," the truth is I loved every word of "Good Soil" from the opening chapters that served up the roots of Chu's life to the natural, rhythmic prose of Chu's journey through Princeton Theological Seminary's "Farminary."

My favorite books tend to allow me to experience a full spectrum of emotions. Throughout my time with "Good Soil," I laughed, I cried, I reflected, I learned, and I felt a little less alone.

Chu was in his late 30's when he left his job as a magazine writer and enrolled at Princeton Theological Seminary. It was at Princeton that he encountered the "Farminary," a 21-acre working farm where students would learn to cultivate the earth while examining life's biggest questions. As would be spoken early on in the journey by the professors leading the program, it was expected that amidst the animals and the plants and the crops that would grow there love would also grow there.

I have shared more than once a pastoral visit not long after my cancer journey took my bladder and left me with an ostomy resulted in my answering the question from Rev. Gracie "How's your relationship with your body?" with a resounding "I hate it. " It was an unexpectedly honest spewing forth of unresolved trauma, a trauma based upon years of disability and years of violence and years of craving an intimacy I've never known. So, when Chu begins sharing his own relationship with his body I instantly began weeping (okay, sobbing) while also, I'd dare say, not quite feeling so alone in those unresolved areas.

There was more. So much more. Yet, to share too much is to ruin it for the reader who deserves to experience these lessons drawn from experiencing growth, decay, regeneration, and what it means to foster good soil. "Good Soil" is so refreshingly honest about family relationships that won't heal, friendships that will heal, the vitality of community, and the interconnectedness of us all.

"Good Soil" affirms the desire to belong and the significance of our roots. It affirms the decisions we make, at times when we're surrounded by those who disagree.

While I am a seminary graduate, I'm not a farmer. I can't say I'm particularly well-versed in ecological issues nor as a wheelchair user am I particularly adept at traveling out into nature other than along the trails (which I do quite frequently). Yet, I was enthralled by the warmth and wonder, connectedness and intimacy of "Good Soil."

If you've known me for any length of time, then you know that the word "tenderness" is my favorite word having become the key element of my namesake "Tenderness Tour" and having become perhaps my lifelong quest to both give and receive. Indeed, it was the word "tenderness" that came to mind again and again and again throughout "Good Soil."

There is also grief in "Good Soil," as anyone might expect who is familiar with Chu's connection to the late Rachel Held Evans. It's handled gently yet vulnerably, narratively a relatively small yet meaningful portion of the story that unfolds in "Good Soil." It could have backfired, of course, and yet Chu's remarkable wording makes it clear these were words he needed to write and stories he needed to tell.

Unquestionably, "Good Soil" is one of the best books of 2024 and an essential literary experience for those who practice a more progressive faith along with foodies, nature lovers, those who've ever felt like outsiders, and those who've ever discovered what it means to truly belong.

Jeff Chu made me cry, and I’m mad about it. Yes, I have been looking forward to his next book since I read his first one, and yes, I know Jeff has a way of telling stories that you feel deeply in your soul. Though I also do not like letting my emotions out, I cried. Multiple times.

A memoir following the seasons through his time at the Princeton Seminary’s “Farminary,” Jeff got to me pretty quickly. It’s not hard, really. Just talk about religion and family + belonging, or rather, feeling like you don’t belong, and my feelings have to go somewhere. He spoke of scars, belonging, death, and grief with vulnerability and wisdom. The thought put into each story, past and present time woven together, combined with connections from his studies and wonderings, makes you pause to reflect on your own growth, your story, meaning, and compost.

Thank you Jeff, and to NetGalley and the publisher. I’m honored to read Good Soil. I shall go refresh my garden and try to convince my husband (again) that we need a few chickens.

interesting way to craft a memoir of sorts - I found myself wishing there were more in-depth chapters of Jeff's story in it, and less of the nature stuff, but I'm fully an indoor kid :)

My neighborhood book club is reading John Green's The Anthropocene Reviewed and I took a break from Jeff Chu's Good Soil to reacquaint myself with Green's essay collection before this month's meeting. Which I didn't need to do because it turns out I had forgotten to change the date in my calendar and so I waltzed into a stranger's house, right through the front door, with cookies and a pitcher of Diet Dr. Pepper (because fountain is better than bottled) on the wrong night. Yes, it was as mortifying as it sounds. But due to this unfortunate mishap, I had the happy accident of reading John Green and Jeff Chu in conversation with each other and that was a treat! I don't think I would have made the connection on my own but both have a very pastoral voice when they write. I think what I mean by pastoral is they both acknowledge the overwhelming grief of life while encouraging us to have faith there will also be joy. I posted the following to the neighborhood book club about The Anthropocene Reviewed and I think it is an equally valid description of Good Soil, "This is such a warm and lovely book written by a person who has a gift for letting their vulnerability show in beautiful ways." Thank you to Jeff Chu, Convergent Books, and NetGalley for the eARC.

Another book I believe Good Soil should be read in conversation with is Camille T. Dungy's Soil: The Story of a Black Mother's Garden. Both books are part memoir, part history lesson. They explore gardening and racism. They confront very real systems of oppression and still leave room for hope. Honestly, if anyone is looking for a book club idea, I would throw in a little Ross Gay and Annie Dillard and make a series of it.

And now we get to the warning section of this review. I cried. I first encountered Chu during a writing workshop. Since then, I've attended various conferences where he has spoken. I knew the tears were coming. I was prepared. But if this is your first encounter, let me warn you, you will be moved. Chu has a way of telling his own story in a way that resonates with your own and there is never a dry eye left by the time he is done. Have a hanky handy is all I'm saying.

Reading Good Soil was the treat for my heart and soul I thought it would be. The writing is lovely. The stories are achingly vulnerable. The emotions are earned. And in the end, through all the grief, love wins.

This was such a good book! I love how the characters are not just people in this book, the nature and animals are also characters. This writer is so talented and I love the symbolism they create and pair. The creating of "good soil" both literally and figuratively is great, there were a lot of great call outs in this book!


Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!