Rooted: Stories of Life, Land and a Farming Revolution

by Sarah Langford

When Sarah Langford left her city life behind she found herself unexpectedly back in the world of farming - it was not how she remembered. Instead, she saw farmers dealing with very different problems to those faced by her grandfather's generation: a hostile urban media, extreme weather and political changes. Yet as Sarah learned how to farm and grew closer to the land, she discovered a new generation on a path of regenerative change. In Rooted , Sarah weaves her own story around those who taught her what it means to be a farmer. She shines a light on the human side of modern farming, and shows how land connects us all, not only in terms of global sustainability but in our relationships with our physical and mental health, our communities and our planet.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Environment, Memoir, Agriculture, Food, Sustainability

336 pages, Paperback

First published July 7, 2022

Reviews

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 2022 I’ve read a number of books with “very good food for thought.” Yes, that is a joke given the subject of this book. Rooted qualifies near the top of these books. It is really well written. Who would have thought I’d eagerly pick up a book about farming—thanks Nature Literature group. My father grew up on a farm and left that life as soon as possible. The heartache and the Great Depression separated him from that and it’s obviously not an uncommon story.

Sarah Langford used her education to leave the farm for work and life in London. The same went for her husband. 83% of The population in the UK are urbanites now. Because of job situations Langford and her husband and small children returned to a family farm in what was to be a temporary situation. It soon became a passion and we get to see her awakening.

As an American I have difficulty understanding the differences in farming policy and scale but many things apply world wide. Thanks to this book I have a much greater appreciation for what farmers do for us and what a difficult time they have. No wonder suicide rates are two to three times higher among farmers than the general population both in the UK and the USA. Debt, feelings of failure, isolation and general mental health issues are significant in these statistics.

The author and her husband conclude that organic farming is the niche to explore for them not just because it seems the only way small, non-agribusiness farming can be financially viable but it is the path farmers need to follow after years of being pushed to produce more and more food via chemicals and farming methods alien to their ancestors.

Rooted shows how agriculture has swung from one idea to another and how farmers are often battered and caught in a terrible bind. Langford interviews a number of contemporary farmers and tells their stories. I cringe at thought
that our virtue often comes at their expense.

Beautifully written book.

[Mitch Karunaratne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those times when the right book falls into your hands at the right time! Having recently moved from the city to the Suffolk countryside - we've been craving to understand the landscape around us, what's happening in those fields (both above and below ground). We've been fascinated by the movement of farm machinery, the cycle of growth and the quality of the earth. Langford - who farms very near to us - tells the stories of farmers who are beginning to do things differently, in more diverse, sustainable and restorative ways. Fascinating!

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The relationship between town and country, between those who produce food and those who consume it (although, of course, farmers eat too, and city dwellers can grow food!) has not always been an easy one. However, with the added dimensions of global climate change and ever more mouths to feed that relationship is under more strain than it has ever been.

At first sight, Langford’s Rooted seems to be an unlikely candidate to help heal that relationship. Sarah and husband Ben are educated professionals living a good life in London. Intelligent, well connected and upwardly mobile, Sarah is content with being rooted in her city lifestyle. But, they both have strong rural connections in Suffolk including (in Sarah’s case) an Uncle who is an agricultural feature writing celebrity! And, boy, has she inherited that ability to write!

As I began reading, my feeling was that I needed to be convinced. Sarah and Ben relocate from London to Suffolk to take over Ben’s family’s small farm. This is privilege. So many other young families would love such an opportunity, but getting on that farming ladder is fiendishly problematic. My hope was that Sarah would handle this sensitively. She does.

The book is split between Sarah and Ben’s own experiences as they begin their farming career and chapters that shift the focus to other farmers up and down the country. The Langfords decide that the only way for them to farm their land is in sympathy with nature and decide to pursue what is called ‘regenerative farming’. The farmers featured in this book are doing something similar.

At the heart of ‘Rooted’ is the author’s concern at the pressure farmers are under. They will be needed more than ever to produce food, but many of them feel as though they are blamed unfairly for so many things ranging from a broken food system to biodiversity loss. Whilst farming must take its share of the blame, for the most part individual farmers feel like pawns on the board lacking effective agency.

As Sarah writes, “Food is no longer seen as a public good, but as a public given. This shift in mission is both huge and difficult, because farming is more than just a job. It is an identity.” And then later, “But behind all the anger is this. Oh, how it sticks in the craw to be told he is destroying the world for doing what he has been asked to do.”

The farming stories told in this book are informative, illuminating and at times deeply moving. They deal with issues such as isolation, economic hardship, generational tensions and pride in a job well done. There are moments of profound insight of which the following is just one example:

Isolation and independence often go hand in hand on the family farm. Lots of potentially damaging stuff is internalised and finds expression only much later. Sarah identifies this phenomenon in these powerful words:
“Father and son talk about it in the way some British men talk, where something small actually means something really big. Like when their brother dies and their eyes stay dry, but then the old dog dies and they cry and howl and rage at the sky and rock its body in their arms, and everyone knows it is really their brother they are cradling.”

There is much insight, creativity and sensitivity in this book. It does what is says in the title, it is about what it means to be rooted. It is a plea for an increasingly urban nation not to forget or, even worse, to demonise its farmers. Referencing etymology and religious ritual Langford calls for a recognition of staying connected to the earth, “We are designed to be earthed. We grow the food that keeps us alive from it. We will end up part of it.”

Fabulous book. No hesitation in giving it top marks!

[Jasmine Holliday · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always sceptical about books on farming for nature, nervous that the author will either demonise farmers, or over simplify really complex problems. This book did neither, this is a really nuanced look at farming & nature that I think would be really valuable for anyone to read to understand the impacts of the things they consume.

Some of the stories from the farmers Sarah writes about felt like stories from my own family, or from the farmers that I've worked with. I found it very emotional at times to be seen in that way.

I read this because I've just moved to a new role working with farmers to do more for nature, it has reminded me that there is plenty that can be done to help farmers achieve nature goals, pioneer and improve their lives at the same time.

[Patrick Keating · Rating 5 out of 5]

Langford writes with both the enthusiastic curiosity and technical knowledge that only someone with her fascinating life could have accomplished so elegantly. This should be compulsory reading for anyone that benefits from everything that British farmers do, which as it turns out, is us all.

[Kiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book - really taught me a lot about regenerative farming and how we need to look after the land and planet now more than ever before.

[Roger Morgan-Grenville · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written and clear-eyed account of the challenges and opportunities for British farming. Highly recommended.

[Leona Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read
Well balanced and well researched
Truly thought-provoking

[Mrs Miriam D Cheal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating book on organic farming and food production. Well worth reading. Very easy

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone should read this book. EVERYONE.

[Imaduddin Ahmed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this book up on the basis of its cover. So that you're not disappointed as I was - this contains a lot of first person narrative and personal story, a lot of rambling. Amongst this are kernels of useful information.

Key takeaways -

Apparently crops and trees productively intercrop, and if you grow clovers and wild flowers with the trees, it'll attract bees and hasten fruit production on your trees.

Crops and trees are good complements because they draw nutrients at different depths. The tree roots apparently help feed crops so that they require far fewer inputs. They also provide wind shelter and drainage protection. The crops help space the trees out so they get enough sun to grow higher.

Using mobile fencing to divide a field in four, if you have cows graze on the field for a quarter to a whole of the day, they'll compete and grow and eat the weeds and stamp their poo into the soil. Will stimulate further growth of the grass at the top and its roots to hold the soil together better and enrich it.

Also if you leave cows out in the open in the winter, they'll be leaner and stronger and might not need help calving. The diversity in types of green they eat is good for them.

[Gita Swasti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Petani memegang masa depan dan sejarah negara di tangan mereka. Dengan demikian, mereka juga memegang masa depan kita semua. Pilihan yang dibuat petani mempengaruhi semua orang dalam hal, (1) Kualitas udara dan air, (2) Kekayaan satwa liar, (3) Kesehatan tanah untuk menghasilkan makanan bergizi, dan (4) Kemampuan tanah untuk menyimpan karbon yang berpotensi mendinginkan planet.

Pertanian adalah suatu hal yang sangat erat dalam hidup saya. Saya punya pengalaman mengimplementasikan program peningkatan kapasitas petani kelapa selama kurang lebih dua tahun. Konsep bahwa pertanian tidak hanya urusan ladang, rasa-rasanya sudah saya resapi semenjak bergelut dengan komunitas petani kelapa di Banyuasin, Sumatra Selatan. Dari buku ini, saya belajar lanskap baru di Eropa.

Penduduk kota cenderung melihat petani melalui dua sudut pandang yang ekstrem: baik diidealkan seperti karakter dalam buku cerita atau dicap sebagai perusak lingkungan. Pandangan yang terlalu disederhanakan ini gagal menangkap kompleksitas pertanian modern dan orang-orang di baliknya. Pertanian, tentu saja bukan sekadar pekerjaan, tapi bagian dari identitas pribadi dan sejarah keluarga.

Saya menyukai bagaimana Langford menyajikan refleksi mendalam tentang hubungan manusia dengan alam dan proses pembelajaran melalui kisah-kisah berbeda. Karena lagi-lagi, pertanian adalah bagian dari identitas pribadi dan sejarah keluarga. Saya menyukai keberpihakan Langford yang mengkritisi cara buku-buku alam populer menggambarkan alam terlalu takzim dan tak terjangkau. Padahal alam dekat sekali dengan kita. Kita dapat merasakan sengatannya, tiupannya, kelembutannya, dan segala bentuk interaksi yang nyata dan langsung. Alam tidak hanya konsep abstrak untuk dikagumi dari jauh. Alam adalah realitas yang bisa kita alami dengan semua indera.

Langford juga mengambil konsep vernalisasi tanaman; kebutuhan akan periode dingin untuk dapat berbunga sebagai metafora kehidupan yang mendalam. Dalam konteks ini, tanaman membutuhkan eksposur terhadap suhu rendah dalam jangka waktu tertentu agar dapat melanjutkan siklus reproduksinya dengan sempurna. Serupa dengan hal tersebut, masa-masa genting atau periode "musim dingin" dalam hidup kita mungkin justru merupakan elemen penting yang diperlukan untuk perkembangan personal, karakter, dan pemahaman diri lebih dalam. Fase-fase penuh tantangan ini tentu saja tidak menyenangkan saat kita mengalaminya. Namun, hal itu memberikan angin segar baru untuk transformasi. Sama seperti tumbuhan.

Buku ini saya baca di awal tahun. Saya baru sempat mengulasnya sekarang. Namun, ternyata saya punya juga catatan Makan Bergizi Gratis (program pemerintah Indonesia) yang turut dibahas Langford pada sisi pertanian. Hampir 3 juta anak di Inggris tinggal di rumah tangga yang tidak mampu membeli cukup makanan sesuai pedoman gizi resmi. Lalu, apa penyebabnya? Karena krisis lingkungan. Karena krisis lingkungan juga, sederet masalah muncul. Kesehatan mental & fisik, biaya pengobatan penyakit terhadap berat badan, dan banyak anak yang harus dirawat di rumah sakit karena gigi rusak.

Jika kita menghubungkan makanan dengan kesehatan (fisik dan mental), pemerintah mungkin akan mulai melihat pentingnya mendanai kebutuhan pangan mingguan bagi keluarga yang masih kesulitan membeli makanan. Jika kita menghubungkan makanan dengan lingkungan, label dan harga produk bisa mulai mencerminkan biaya sebenarnya terhadap iklim dan lingkungan.

Buku ini menjadi penting karena memberikan perspektif yang mendalam tentang hubungan antara pertanian, lingkungan, dan kehidupan manusia secara keseluruhan. Pembaca jadi tahu kompleksitas pertanian yang kerap luput dari masyarakat urban. Pembaca juga mengajak kita berempati lebih jauh tentang profesi petani yang sangat penting dalam menyelamatkan planet ini.

[Lily Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are many interesting facts in this book and it was quite illuminating reading a more pro-farmer and pro-farming point of view after several more eco-warrior-like books. I found it beneficial to read about the incentives and disincentives farmers grapple with, both in the past and currently. I also learned a fair bit about how farming actually works, in terms of tenancies, contracting and the actual planting and harvesting, which I found interesting.

The subtitle of the book on my copy is “How Regenerative Farming Can Change The World”, which presents the book as more educational than it actually is - it is mostly a memoir. There is also a fair bit of data, but it is buried in the footnotes at the back, which I felt detracted from the book.

My main gripe however was how pro-meat this book is, to the point of going against everything I have heard or read about meat’s impact on the environment. The author goes as far as to say we need “grazing animals to lock up carbon and cool the planet for us”. What?! Worse, there are no direct references for this claim despite it being stated multiple times, which I find very suspect. I found research from this year which shows that these claims are based on incomplete data and assumptions, and that it is extremely unlikely we would be able to offset even the emissions of the animals themselves this way, let alone any excess to “cool the planet” (journal article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s4146...).

The impression the author gives that we can continue to farm and eat as much meat as we do currently, as long as the animals are grazed outside, really seems like she is sticking her head in the sand to avoid the well-known environmental issues presented by the industry. For me it undermined an otherwise interesting and well-written book.

[JY · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rooted is a great introduction to regenerative farming methods that are necessary responses to decades of environmentally and socially injurious methods of farming/land maintenance. Given the more common focus on the environmental damage dealt by industrial farming and corresponding supply chains, Langford's focus on the more human costs of farming (i.e., the social and emotional life of farmers as they take on the responsibility of harmful farming and undertake significant social and financial risks to convert to regenerative farming) is insightful and timely, and has so much potential to inspire agency for change in the farming industry. I also especially enjoyed the nuance she provided when she mentioned that there is no definite right or wrong way to farm, even though some claim as such. Some farmers turn to a mix of non-organic and organic methods to accommodate varying realities of the soil. Thorough planning is almost always impossible in the realm of farming, given the inherent variability of the natural environment.

I wonder if the memoir form is the best way to frame this narrative, though. I suppose the author's life experiences could provide for predominantly urban readers a window into the possibility of reconsidering their worldview and priorities (therefore understanding how much their well-being are connected to one another's, including that of other life forms on Earth). But I felt that so much depth was lost in this current format. I wish more time was spent on detailing the oscillations/struggles faced by the individual farmers, including their doubts and various trials and errors (e.g., having to resort to a mix of organic and non-organic methods), which is one of the main points of the book.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Penguin were kind enough to send me a copy of this before paperback release - I bumped it up my TBR when I found that it had been shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize, as I like to read some of the list before the announcement and I'm very glad that I did.

I loved this! I'd not read much about it, and anticipated it being either really memoir based, or really technical, but it's a great combination of the two which works well. Sarah and her family's story, her childhood experiences around farms and her current life maintaining one are interspersed beautifully through the stories of many other farmers and the myriad issues they face. Common themes come through, but they all have different experiences and something new to teach Sarah (and us by extension) - and they're all trying various methods of farming that might be kinder to their pockets, but are especially often kinder to the wildlife that surrounds them.

Farming is in my family, so I enjoyed reading and discovering more about the traditions and the people disrupting these traditions and making positive changes for nature. I learned a lot and my eyes were opened to various things. There are certainly a few darker moments between Sarah and her family's own experiences and the harsh realities of farming that are all too often kept hidden from consumers who have lost their relationship with the land and the people that make their food, but most of all it was just a beautiful book. Anything that reminds us of our connection to the earth gets a big thumbs up from me, and this was written wonderfully. I'll be "rooting" for Sarah next month when the Wainwright Prize winners are announced, though she's got some tough competition...

[Roger Saunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly interesting and informative. The format works really well - she intersperses chapters describing her personal and familial journey into farming and the countryside with stories of individual farmers who face crises in their practices and make transitions into regenerative farming. It's fascinating to read about the way economic conditions for farming have changed since 1945 and the consequent public attitudes towards farmers. And painful too to learn of the pressures towards ever-bigger farms, maximising outputs at enormous environmental, human health and animal welfare costs, as well as the suicide rate amongst farmers. The book shows convincingly that there is another way, though clearly there's a huge way to go to create the support framework needed for this alternative, regenerative approach. It's made me think much more about where the food on the shelves comes from, who farmed it and how. And intensified a growing abhorrence of supermarkets. And confirmed my suspicions about militant veganism....

[Alex Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm particularly interested in regenerative farming, and the book had enough detail to keep me fascinated. She is also a solid writer and researcher, so the historical and political background was also well-informed and interesting. I enjoyed the city-girl tries farming aspects of it too, and suspect that the bulk of her readership will come from city types with vague dreams of trying farming, too. I was a little offside with some aspects of it - I got the impression that they were really quite a well off family who could afford the experiment, and the whole whacked-out system of EU then British farm subsidies makes it very difficult to understand the true financial sustainability of their operations. But the book was well written, passionate without being a polemic, is informed by a family history of farming and deep connections in that community, and felt honest. A welcome addition to a growing genre.

[Becca Stuttard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book that is part memoir, part farmers' stories. It's so digestible that I felt like I took on a lot about the different regenerative and organic farming methods that people have taken on, in different parts of the country. I appreciate the nuance and personal stories, emphasising that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to transforming farming to bring it back in tune with natural ecosystems so that is it actually sustainable for years to come. The anecdotes also humanise farmers, who are overly demonised by people who are far removed from the land. Troublingly the book doesn't fulfil its tagline's promise of answering 'How regenerative farming can change the world' with the glaring inclusion of livestock farming. Realistically, unless the massive use of resources that go into rearing animals for meat, dairy and eggs is scrutinised, making a few more arable farms free of fertiliser isn't going to change the world.

[Snorki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Langford lived in the city with her husband and children, but the family found themselves living in the country for a couple of years, returning to a place where Langford’s grandparents had farmed. This took them on a journey to farming and working the land part-time, during which they discovered or re-discovered farming life. The book contrasts the state of farming today with generations ago, and looks at the problems caused by food subsidies, cheap imported food, Brexit, artificial fertilisers and various other factors that are bringing farmers to the brink of ruin. But is also examines some alternative routes taken by some - to return to a more balanced way of farming that can both take care of the land and deliver high quality food. It’s an interesting account of some potentially sustainable alternatives to today’s ultra-intensive farming.

[Matthewcable · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really well written book which successfully examines the paradox of modern farming in the UK - on one hand providing food for the country at a reasonable price, on the other destroying the environment through intensive practices and chemical use. It touched me immensely. The author avoids the easy trap of demonising farmers or justifying their misdeeds. Farmers are often in impossible positions and under profound economic and psychological pressure. Instead, through the device of her own experience of buying a small farm and by visiting farmers around the country who have dared to be different, Langford offers something more constructive and hopeful. Here is a path to improving our farming practices (and animal welfare) which doesn’t steal from future generations. As an optimist I would like to think we follow it.

[Marta Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never written a review before but I felt so compelled to talk about this book that I just couldn’t sit back and keep quiet about it - my words won’t do it any justice, mind you.

What. a. book. 
I’m left speechless at how Sarah’s writing wraps around you like a comforting embrace, when the weight of the climate crisis feels overwhelming. Her words enthral you and evoke so many deep emotions that it moves you.

For anyone who is even 1% interested in our planet and the fight against global warming, I couldn’t recommend this book highly enough. This book takes you back to our roots, shedding light to the impact farming has on every aspect of our lives.

It has taught me so much and made me look at things in an entirely different light. It’s a book I’ll treasure forever.

Words simply can’t capture its beauty.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 3.5. A refreshing counterbalance to the current view that farming today is the root of all evil, singlehandedly trashing biodiversity and getting a huge amount for doing so. Of course, it's far more complicated. Humanising the farmers, providing their side of the story was highly effective providing insight into this often forgotten about workforce. Of particular interest were the reflections on farming culture, how difficult it is to do something novel for fear of ridicule, how it's still a man's world and how very resilient you have to be. However, I felt the title was misleading. It was more a memoir of her farming efforts and what farming means to her along with the stories of other farmers. The highly lyrical style was endearing at first but began to get a bit tiresome and gushing towards the end, with more fluff than substance.

[Esther Pyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

6*

If you read one non fiction book ever - make it this one.

This is hands down the best nonfiction I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing.

It’s beautifully written, and incredibly read by the author. It is not just a history of British farming, it’s our connection with the land - past and future, our connection with each other - past and future. It’s inspiring and moving stories from the farming community while also sharing the wins and trials and difficulties farmers have faced. The government’s affect on farming and farmers, what it means to be a farmer and so much more.

I was moved in every single sentence, and the authors narration is evocative flawless. Intonations which added meaning to the already beautiful prose.

Love

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read. I have been savouring this book and reading it in small chunks. It is so beautifully written and so rich with research which is woven into the powerful stories it shares. It’s a story of hope for the future of farming but also a rallying cry for connection and change.

Langford teaches us about the history of farming in the UK through the stories of the farmers who’ve lived through it. It shows the impact of policy on these farmers and how this affects the health and well-being of us all as part of the chain. It makes it clear that we need to support the farmers of the future. Those with vision and an understanding that nothing can grow without balance and diversity.

[Christina Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had been recommended this book many times but not made time to read it. Why didn't I read it sooner? Gosh what a beautifully and eloquently written tale of life as a townie returning to the country. I have a young family myself as well as a patch of land and found it both moving and so very relatable. I have been thoroughly inspired and want every farmer in the UK to read it too, to change their ways and see the alternatives to chemicals and the benefits to farming the old way. I long to learn many of the skills described in Sarah's book and also read more books like it. A brilliant read whether you're a farmer or not.

[Sarah Asbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this brave book. Sarah has put her neck on the line coming to farming following her career in law. She listens to several generations of farmers and trusts her own instincts all at the same time. She opens the eyes of others as to the agricultural crisis we are in and how we got here. She ends by emphasising the link between food, mental & physical health and sustainability in all senses of the word working with nature. It is also a beautiful read including a growning family and appreciation of nature and it’s fragility in the hands of humans.

[David Twine · Rating 3 out of 5]

An insight into the choices/ challenges facing farmers amidst climate crisis and biodiversity loss. The author grew up in a farming family and returned to small scale livestock and crop production after a career as a city barrister. She argues that "regenerative" organic farming is the best solution and she trusts farmers to make the changes required. She does not shy away from criticising the overuse of pesticides and chemical fertilisers, but she completely ignores any solutions that are based on not eating meat.

[Al Mal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this book, part diary part science and part interviews/ studies. Not sure if I learnt much from it that I didn’t already know but I enjoyed the personal writing style and the hopeful conclusions!
But I don’t think the diary/ personal writings resonate with the subtitle “how regenerative farming can change the world” which suggests a more rigorous analysis of regenerative farming on a large scale to solve the issues that are highlighted by the book. Maybe we just need to connect the dots ourselves …

[Cate · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book! Filled with heartbreaking and heartwarming stories from a range of different farmers, and the author's own journey into the world of agriculture. This book is sharing a very important environmental message about biodiversity, our soils, and food production. I've read many books in this genre and so many trigger eco-anxiety but this doesn't. Sarah gives her message with hope. Thank you ❤️

[Adam Botley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice overview of the impact that regenerative farming can have. It’s a good introduction but for a book that is exploring the science of regenerative agriculture it very much swerves some of the often ignored harmful impacts (glyphosate use etc), whilst focusing on the shortcomings of other farming styles. In my opinion, this leads to the balance of the book being a bit off. It was nice to see farmers insight into how it’s never simple good vs bad practice regardless of how you farm.