The New Farm
Our Ten Years on the Front Lines of the Good Food Revolution
by Brent Preston
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Pub Date May 02 2017 | Archive Date May 05 2017
Penguin Random House Canada | Random House Canada
Description
You know those books where the city folks move to the country and have all kinds of crazy misadventures? Where the barnyard is a place of bucolic harmony and each passing season brings the author closer to understanding his proper place in the natural order? You know those books where the primary objective is not so much farming, but writing about farming?
This isn’t that kind of book.
It’s true that Brent Preston and Gillian Flies did leave the city and move to the country, and they did make a lot of stupid mistakes, some of which are pretty funny in hindsight. But their goal from the beginning was to build a real farm, one that would sustain their family, heal their environment, and nourish their community. It was a goal that was achieved not through bucolic self-reflection, but through a decade of grinding toil and perseverance.
Told with humour and heart in Preston’s unflinchingly honest voice, The New Farm is the story of one family’s transition from die-hard urbanites to bona fide farmers and passionate advocates for a more just and sustainable food system. It’s the story of how a couple of young professionals learned not just how to grow food, but how to succeed at the business of farming. And it’s the story of how a small, sustainable, organic farm ended up providing not just a livelihood, but a happy, meaningful and fulfilling way of life.
Advance Praise
“A refreshingly honest, beautifully crafted story of family life on the front lines of the good-food economy, serving double duty as a handbook for those who dream of leaving the rat race. You will be inspired.” —Alisa Smith, co-author of The 100-Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating
“A must-read story told with honesty, humour and humility by a passionate farmer who reminds us what our food system can and should be about.” —Daniel Boulud, chef and owner, The Dinex Group
“We have a very close relationship with The New Farm. When we opened in Toronto, our number one priority was establishing lasting relationships with farms and purveyors that we admire and respect. The New Farm is a prime example of this. They have welcomed our team to their farm, and we continue to visit and expand on that relationship. We share the conviction that great food should be accessible to everyone, and Brent and Gillian work very hard to make that a reality. They stick to their values, and have managed to do so in a sustainable manner. The story of how they did this is important and needs to be told.” —David Chang, chef and founder of Momofuku
“It's one thing to dream of leaving behind your career to follow a more sustainable path, but how many of us have the courage to actually make that leap? Brent Preston uses brilliant storytelling and brutal honesty to describe what it takes to create both a viable organic farm and a more meaningful life for himself and his family. The New Farm is the kind of book that will inspire people to make positive change.” —Arianna Huffington, founder of The Huffington Post and founder and CEO of Thrive Global
“This is a hilarious, deeply honest memoir, with profound insight into the ways in which small-scale agriculture can be a viable alternative to our havoc-wrecking current system. Now more than ever we need such wise and inspiring stories to guide us as we seek to build a more just and healthy world. I dare you to read this book and remain unmoved about the urgency for change.” —Nick Saul, president and CEO of Community Food Centres Canada
“I started using New Farm produce in all my kitchens almost ten years ago because it was excellent quality and delicious to eat. When I got to know Brent and Gillian, I realized that their commitment to building a just and sustainable food system was even more remarkable than the food they produced. The New Farm will be an important book, one that will resonate with those who hope for change in the way we eat, and for change in the way we live our lives.” —Jamie Kennedy, chef-owner of Jamie Kennedy Kitchens and author of J.K. The Jamie Kennedy Cookbook
“This book has timely and important things to say about food and farming and building a more sustainable future, but it’s also a fantastic story about the new economy, a textbook case of doing well by doing good. The New Farm should be required reading for every Canadian entrepreneur.” —Arlene Dickinson, businesswoman, author, former judge on Dragon’s Den
“Reading Brent’s book was as satisfying and as entertaining as learning the origin story of a favourite superhero. Delicious food starts with the best ingredients, and no one sets a higher standard for the food they grow than The New Farm. I hold Brent and Gillian in the same esteem as the best chefs I’ve worked with because they have forever changed the way I cook.” —Carl Heinrich, winner of Top Chef Canada
Available Editions
EDITION | Other Format |
ISBN | 9780345811851 |
PRICE | CA$32.00 (CAD) |
PAGES | 336 |