Charlie Pye-Smith is a writer and broadcaster who has contributed to the BBC, Financial Times, Daily Telegraph and New Scientist, among others. He has written numerous books, including The Facts of Rural Life, The Other Nile, Travels in Nepal, Rebels and Outcasts, In Search of Wild India and The Subsidy Scandal and he co-authored Working the Land and The Wealth of Communities. He is based in London and reports regularly on global farming and environmental issues for international research and development agencies.

“We need to take where our food comes from seriously … Pye-Smith’s investigation is thorough and at times remarkable” – Clive Aslet, The Times; “Thoughtful … the story he tells is both full of hope and trepidation” – Tom Fort, Literary Review; “Timely … it’s not just recommended reading for all those who have a special affinity with rural Britain, warts and all, but it should be top of the summer readinglist for every Cabinet minister” – Yorkshire Evening Post; “A brilliantly well observed story of the British countryside, its history and its future … a Rural Rides for the 21st century” – Western Morning News; “Personal and passionate … Pye-Smith is always keen to show that farmers get just as emotional as the rest of us, even if they do it in a gruff and manly way. Its great strength is that it is neither a manifesto or a jeremiad … the view from the ground level is, of course, more complex” – The National; “An eye-opening journey … interesting insight into an industry which has something of an uncertain future” – Cotswold Life; “Captures the spirit of the English countryside … it’s the easiest of reads, with memorable characters, surprising statistics and incisive reflections by this most gentle of authors. … Even those of us steeped in agriculture will find new insights in every chapter” - Country Life Magazine; “Pye-Smith’s writing is approachable … will be enjoyed just as much by someone who has been farming all their life as somebody who knows little about agriculture but is looking for an enjoyable non-fiction read” – Ben Eagle, thinkingcountry.com; “If you are interested in how food gets to you in Britain, be sure to pick up this book” – bookishbeck.wordpress.com

• Contents; Introduction ix; 1 To the Heart of England 1; 2 All Churned Up 31; 3 Dyed in the Wool? 55; 4 The Fruits of Success 83; 5 The Art of Growing Vegetables 109; 6 Outdoors Good, Indoors Bad? 141; 7 Return of the Natives 169; 8 Ploughing a New Furrow 191; Epilogue 221; Acknowledgements 227; Index 231

Charlie Pye-Smith is a writer and broadcaster who has contributed to the BBC, Financial Times, Daily Telegraph and New Scientist, among others. He has written numerous books, including The Facts of Rural Life, The Other Nile, Travels in Nepal, Rebels and Outcasts, In Search of Wild India and The Subsidy Scandal and he co-authored Working the Land and The Wealth of Communities. He is based in London and reports regularly on global farming and environmental issues for international research and development agencies.

“We need to take where our food comes from seriously … Pye-Smith’s investigation is thorough and at times remarkable” – Clive Aslet, The Times; “Thoughtful … the story he tells is both full of hope and trepidation” – Tom Fort, Literary Review; “Timely … it’s not just recommended reading for all those who have a special affinity with rural Britain, warts and all, but it should be top of the summer readinglist for every Cabinet minister” – Yorkshire Evening Post; “A brilliantly well observed story of the British countryside, its history and its future … a Rural Rides for the 21st century” – Western Morning News; “Personal and passionate … Pye-Smith is always keen to show that farmers get just as emotional as the rest of us, even if they do it in a gruff and manly way. Its great strength is that it is neither a manifesto or a jeremiad … the view from the ground level is, of course, more complex” – The National; “An eye-opening journey … interesting insight into an industry which has something of an uncertain future” – Cotswold Life; “Captures the spirit of the English countryside … it’s the easiest of reads, with memorable characters, surprising statistics and incisive reflections by this most gentle of authors. … Even those of us steeped in agriculture will find new insights in every chapter” - Country Life Magazine; “Pye-Smith’s writing is approachable … will be enjoyed just as much by someone who has been farming all their life as somebody who knows little about agriculture but is looking for an enjoyable non-fiction read” – Ben Eagle, thinkingcountry.com; “If you are interested in how food gets to you in Britain, be sure to pick up this book” – bookishbeck.wordpress.com

• Contents; Introduction ix; 1 To the Heart of England 1; 2 All Churned Up 31; 3 Dyed in the Wool? 55; 4 The Fruits of Success 83; 5 The Art of Growing Vegetables 109; 6 Outdoors Good, Indoors Bad? 141; 7 Return of the Natives 169; 8 Ploughing a New Furrow 191; Epilogue 221; Acknowledgements 227; Index 231

Charlie Pye-Smith is a writer and broadcaster who has contributed to the BBC, Financial Times, Daily Telegraph and New Scientist, among others. He has written numerous books, including The Facts of Rural Life, The Other Nile, Travels in Nepal, Rebels and Outcasts, In Search of Wild India and The Subsidy Scandal and he co-authored Working the Land and The Wealth of Communities. He is based in London and reports regularly on global farming and environmental issues for international research and development agencies.

“We need to take where our food comes from seriously … Pye-Smith’s investigation is thorough and at times remarkable” – Clive Aslet, The Times; “Thoughtful … the story he tells is both full of hope and trepidation” – Tom Fort, Literary Review; “Timely … it’s not just recommended reading for all those who have a special affinity with rural Britain, warts and all, but it should be top of the summer readinglist for every Cabinet minister” – Yorkshire Evening Post; “A brilliantly well observed story of the British countryside, its history and its future … a Rural Rides for the 21st century” – Western Morning News; “Personal and passionate … Pye-Smith is always keen to show that farmers get just as emotional as the rest of us, even if they do it in a gruff and manly way. Its great strength is that it is neither a manifesto or a jeremiad … the view from the ground level is, of course, more complex” – The National; “An eye-opening journey … interesting insight into an industry which has something of an uncertain future” – Cotswold Life; “Captures the spirit of the English countryside … it’s the easiest of reads, with memorable characters, surprising statistics and incisive reflections by this most gentle of authors. … Even those of us steeped in agriculture will find new insights in every chapter” - Country Life Magazine; “Pye-Smith’s writing is approachable … will be enjoyed just as much by someone who has been farming all their life as somebody who knows little about agriculture but is looking for an enjoyable non-fiction read” – Ben Eagle, thinkingcountry.com; “If you are interested in how food gets to you in Britain, be sure to pick up this book” – bookishbeck.wordpress.com

• Contents; Introduction ix; 1 To the Heart of England 1; 2 All Churned Up 31; 3 Dyed in the Wool? 55; 4 The Fruits of Success 83; 5 The Art of Growing Vegetables 109; 6 Outdoors Good, Indoors Bad? 141; 7 Return of the Natives 169; 8 Ploughing a New Furrow 191; Epilogue 221; Acknowledgements 227; Index 231