VIRGINIA BEACH — I am thrilled to announce that the columns by my friend John “Farmer John” Wilson, who has written about sustainable farming and gardening since 2017 for The Independent News, are now collected in a new book that goes on sale this coming week.
From the Ground Up: Columns from The Princess Anne Independent News features five years of columns by Wilson, a longtime Virginia Beach farmer and consultant. It will be released by Pungo Publishing Co., LLC, which publishes The Independent News.
This is our first book. We’re all pretty darned excited about it.
From the Ground Up takes readers on a humorous, passionate journey through topics related to healthy eating and sustainable practices, including soil health, growing strong plants, benefits of raising your own chickens and the importance of local food sources.
It is being sold exclusively by Kate’s Next Door Market, 1805 Kempsville Road, Virginia Beach, and online via katesnextdoormarket.com. The cover price is $15, and a portion of the proceeds from all sales support our efforts to continue to provide original community journalism for the citizens of Virginia Beach. Shipping costs will apply to online orders.
The book will be available for sale on Sunday, Aug. 7.
Wilson, who is still a farming and gardening consultant, formerly ran New Earth Farm in Pungo and Farmer John’s Market at Farmhouse Brewery in Kempsville.
“This collection of columns is just me, a farmer from Virginia Beach, Virginia, trying to tell you some stories about why the things we eat and the ways we produce them matter,” Wilson writes in the foreword to the book.
From the Ground Up also features original cover art by our friend and farmer Rick Friday, who has contributed cartoons and illustrations to The Independent News. Joy Fatooh served as our copy editor. I edited the book.
Wilson’s collection places the spotlight on local farmers and restaurateurs who are putting sustainable ideals into practice at local farms, nurseries and restaurants.
It also includes reflections on soil health and his own experiences as a farmer.
Finally, Wilson writes about his recovery this past year from a stroke – and, to the delight of thousands of locals who read his work, his return to writing.
If you are interested in having Farmer John speak about his work and new book, please reach me at (757) 502-5393 or jhd@princessanneindy.com.
I hope you will consider supporting this project, which is a first for our little newspaper, and help us continue to provide original local journalism and the work of writers like Wilson.
You can read the press release about the book by clicking on this link.
© 2022 Pungo Publishing Co., LLC
I’m enjoying John Wilson’s book. I thought I knew a lot about compost but apparently I don’t.