Good Living Book Club - April

By Gail, Eckwright, Good Living Book Club Coordinator

April Good Living Book Club - by Gail Eckwright

Land Rich, Cash Poor: My Family’s Hope and the Untold History of the Disappearing American Farmer by Brian Reisinger

“We are losing not only the family farms that feed us but also a part of ourselves.”

Welcome back! Welcome Earth Month 2025!

Last month our book club joined Ina Garten on her delightfully told life-journey, as she became the brains and chef behind “The Barefoot Contessa,” author of award-winning cookbooks and star of media programs. She titled her memoir Be Ready When the Luck Happens, but it was Garten’s high energy and strong work ethic, not luck, that brought her success.

Land Rich, Cash Poor is a more serious look at what happens when, no matter how hard we work and how much we love what we do, luck just doesn’t seem to happen. Author Brian Reisinger recounts the history of the American farmer, from the early 1900s through the present, interwoven with the story of his family and their rising and falling fortunes amidst the rapidly changing landscape of American farming. It’s not only the weather that farmers have to watch: international and national economic policies, urban-rural migration trends, and technology, all play major roles in farmers’ lives and livelihood. And yet farmers have little control over these outside forces that determine their lives.

Reisinger insightfully identifies many of the difficulties facing farmers in the past century through the present. He offers some potential solutions to help farmers remain on their land, even as his own family continues to struggle with reinventing themselves to keep their farming heritage. Reisinger presents a number of concrete proposals for solutions. Perhaps most significantly, he makes the point that small farms are not the complete answer to America’s food needs and big farms are not always “the bad guys.”

Land Rich, Cash Poor is a thoughtful analysis and cautionary tale, told by someone who has lived the farming life. Please join the Good Living Book Club for a lively discussion of this book on Sunday, April 27 at 3-4:30pm, in the Good Food gallery (near the deli) at the Food Coop. Be sure to check local bookstores and libraries for copies of this book. Bookpeople of Moscow offers a 15% discount to book club members for titles featured at club meetings. This title is also available for purchase online in ebook and audio formats.

Book Club Meeting Date: Sunday, April 27
Time: 3 - 4:30 p.m.
Place: The Good Food Gallery (near the Deli) small snack will be served.

About the Good Living Book Club

The book club will meet monthly, on the third Sunday of the month, January - May and September - December. Led by Gail Eckwright. Each month we will talk about a book related to good food, good health, good work, good neighbors and friends, or just plain good life in general! Some of these books offer guidance or caveats on how to achieve these “goods;” others provide examples of lives well-lived or perhaps cautionary tales. You will find memoirs, how-tos, manifestos, and fiction among the book club selections. All have the potential to stimulate lively conversation.

All books are available for purchase from Bookpeople of Moscow or from other commercial sources. I am able to order up to 4 copies of a title from Bookpeople, to be purchased by club members at a discount; but remember, some publishers’ books are not discountable. This link provides more information about the book club ordering and discount program through Bookpeople: https://www.bookpeopleofmoscow.com/book-clubs

If you choose to purchase a book club title through Bookpeople, keep in mind that a maximum of 4 copies will be available at the 15% discount. Most titles are available for e-readers and in audiobook formats through other commercial sources, as well. Be sure to check local libraries for specific titles, too.

Questions:
If you have any questions, please contact Gail at bookclub@moscowfood.coop