Gaining Ground

A Story of Farmers' Markets, Local Food, and Saving the Family Farm

By: Forrest Pritchard

Narrated by: Roger Wayne

Length: 9 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

One fateful day in 1996, after discovering that five freight cars' worth of glittering corn have reaped a tiny profit of $18.16, young Forrest Pritchard vows to save his family's farm. What ensues - through hilarious encounters with all manner of livestock and colorful local characters - is a crash course in sustainable agriculture. Pritchard's biggest ally is his renegade father, who initially questions his son's career choice and rejects organic foods for sugary mainstream fare. But just when the farm starts to turn heads at local farmers' markets, his father's health takes a turn for the worse. With poetry and humor, this inspiring memoir tugs on your heartstrings and feeds your soul long after you've finished.

©2013 Forrest Pritchard (P)2013 Tantor

Critic reviews

"By the end of his wonderful book, Pritchard lies in a field pondering his own slim margin of success from slowing things down in our fast paced world; a well-deserved moment of happiness for this important new spokesperson of the future of agriculture and poet of the earth." ( Publishers Weekly Starred Review

"Roger Wayne's warm, lively reading of Forrest Pritchard's memoir of saving his family's farm in the Shenandoah Valley is a hopeful and conversational experience.... integrity is heard in Wayne's performance." ( AudioFile)

A great story of the American dream

Growing a business from the ground up and loving it while you do it is the American dream. Being able use your wits and will power to accomplish something that both brings you joy and provides for your family is what it’s all about. In the earliest days this dream was realized by settlers in the great American wilderness and the dream is still alive by the people who are reclaiming the land for sustainable local food production.

Good story, good narrator and learned a lot

Interesting stuff. Learned quite a bit that makes me want to eat organic. Reader is excellent. Holds my attention and easy to follow.

A nice story that you can follow that is a feel good tale. Also cool that it is true.

A page turner.

Lovely!!! Straight forward and honest, Forrest delivers a full picture of a small farming lifestyle. How voting with your dollars matters. How important local is, and what trust and community is all about. Great first read for nonbelievers of organic/natural farming. So much wast and disconnect in American food culture. Great read for those living the life also.

Great story! Loved it!

This is a great book for anyone who wants to learn about what the reality of being a farmer in America is... Plus the author does an excellent job telling the story of how he became an organic farmer of free range meat.

very good book

this is one of the best books I have read remind me of my father and loved the goat in the front sit with sit belt

Top notch listen

By far one of my favorite top 10 books. Expertly written and captivating narration keeps you wanting more. Light hearted humor made me laugh out loud to where my family would look at me oddly wondering why I was laughing to myself. Yet there are so many morals to this story. It brings you closer to Mother Nature, appreciating how she so wonderfully provides, yet how for-granted we take her. If we only listen to what she is telling us, we would all live more abundantly, more joyful, and more grateful lives. A truly enjoyable book that I look forward to reading again.

Excellent story. Must read for aspiring farmers

Would you listen to Gaining Ground again? Why?

Excellent story; a must read for all aspiring farmers. I farm myself and this book is spot on. Thanks Forrest for telling a great story true to heart like it really is.

This book has heart and humor

Would you consider the audio edition of Gaining Ground to be better than the print version?

I didn't read the book but the narrator was OUTSTANDING!!

What other book might you compare Gaining Ground to and why?

Accidental Farmer and The Dirty Life

Which scene was your favorite?

Bringing Pedro the Goat Home to the Farm.....Too Funny.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Through all the hard times he was able to make light of the situation and keep on going!

Any additional comments?

Loved the audiobook. Would definitely listen again and definitely recommend!!

Only Book I’ve ever given a solid 5 star rating

This book came to my husband and I at just the right time. We recently purchased a farm and want to make a go of raising cattle, chickens and crops. It has been our lifelong dream but we are just getting started and have so much to learn. We feel like Forrest Pritchard wrote this book just for us. We learned from his mistakes, learned so much about what it takes to be a farmer and we’re entertained by his stories all at the same time. Roger Wayne did an excellent job narrating the book. Until the end, I thought it was Forrest himself doing the narration because he told the story so well, like it was his own. I’m so glad Forrest did not give up when so many times it would have been easy to do so. It gives my Husband and I hope that we can make a go of it too. And when times get tough for us, as I know they will at times, we will remember Forrest and his tenacity and the inspiration we got from this book. Such a wonderful story for farmers mans non-farmers alike!

Told with some wry wit, reality

This book had me laughing in some parts, commiserating in others, but all with an appreciation of the author's honesty in pursuing his chosen life's path. I came away with an appreciation of what is on MY family's table, and choices that can be made.