Rooted

Stories of Life, Land and a Farming Revolution

Farming formed a large part of my life growing up.  My grandparents were tenant farmers in Hampshire, a farm my Uncle took over.  My father was a land agent.  As a child, much of my life was rooted in the farming world.

But for most of my adulthood I lived and worked in cities.  Then, when I was writing my first book, our circumstances changed. I moved with my husband, son and baby, out of London and to the edge of a field in Suffolk.  Over the following years we took on the running of his small family farm: replanting hedgerows, re-establishing rights of way, introducing grazing livestock and converting 200 acres of conventional arable to organic.

The farmers I met were in a very different place to the one my grandfather had been in when he was admired and respected for growing the nation's food after the Second World War. 

When we moved back to London a few years later I was struck by how wide the gap in understanding between city and country had grown.

Rooted is my attempt to shine a light on some of the people in farming that those in the city rarely get to hear from.  Through their stories I hope to show the human cost of modern farming, as well as casting a light on a regenerative farming revolution happening on farms all over the country alongside some of the biggest political changes in generations.  Around the farmers' stories I weave my own: how I moved to the countryside for a break from real life, and ended up finding it instead.

Published by: PenguinRandomHouse

  • “Enthralling ... An unignorable call to understand the challenges facing not only farming but the Earth itself.”

    The Spectator

  • "Rooted is more than a memoir; Langford manages to contain and convey the whole scale of the coming agricultural revolution."

    The Telegraph

  • "Rooted offers a refreshing perspective on an overwhelmingly masculine world, and the stories it contains coalesce into a powerful narrative of struggle and innovation."

    The Financial Times

  • "The gap between city and country can feel wider than ever today. This book helps to bridge it. It’s an eloquent and absorbing read, suitable for all."

    Geographical Magazine

  • "Rooted is a beautifully written, powerful reminder of where we've gone wrong, what is at stake, and how we can change. I loved it."

    Christie Watson, author of The Language of Kindness

  • "Heartbreaking and hopeful, this story of a farming revival has never been more important. It opened my eyes and touched my soul."

    Esther Freud

  • "A magical book of wonderful stories about how farmers think and the challenges they face. It demonstrates that farmers across the country are passionate about producing food and caring for the land. A triumph."

    Jake Fiennes, author of Land Healer

  • "A beautifully written, incredibly timely book addressing not just where our food comes from and why this matters so much, but also fundamental questions relating to our relationship with the land, and the definition of home."

    Clover Stroud, author of My Wild and Sleepless Nights

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