Drawing of a Farmer
Real World Resilience:
Stories of Land, People, and Community

Farmer Stories

"Inspiring and practical at a time when we desperately need both."

—Anne Waple, Founder and CEO, Earth’s Next Chapter

"Everyone who cares about what and whether our children and grandchildren will eat should acquaint themselves with this path-breaking, delightfully informative book."

—Richard Heinberg, senior fellow, Post Carbon Institute, author, Power: Limits and Prospects for Human Survival

"Brilliantly argues that it isn’t some vague notion of “technology” that will show us the way forward but people working together and carefully stewarding the land."

—Mark Bittman, author, Animal, Vegetable, Junk and How to Cook Everything

"This is a must read for anyone working in the resilience / adaptation field or contemplating doing so."

—Jim Fox, senior resilience associate, NEMAC+FernLeaf

"With grounded hope and urgency, Laura breaks silence and reshapes social justice language to explore issues of land and food in our changing climate."

—Meta Commerse, Founder & CEO, Story Medicine Worldwide, author Womaning

"Gifts us practical insights and plenty of examples of how we can reshape our food system from being depleting to one that is resilient and regenerative."

—Mathis Wackernagel, Ph.D., Founder and President, Global Footprint Network, co-author Ecological Footprint

"A brilliant, hopeful book and a call to action."

—Marianne Landzettel, author, Regenerative Agriculture: Farming with Benefits

A loving prod to the sustainable agriculture movement to go beyond sustainability to the transformation of food and farming into a commons where community-based wealth truly provides for human need.

—Elizabeth Henderson, farmer, author Sharing the Harvest

A Unique Collection of Adaptation Stories Rooted in Resilience

The second edition of Laura Lengnick’s award-winning book, Resilient Agriculture: Cultivating Food Systems for a Changing Climate (New Society Publishers), explores climate change, resilience and the future of food through the adaptation stories of sustainable, organic, biodynamic and regenerative farmers and ranchers growing food across the U.S.

This expanded and updated edition of Resilient Agriculture takes you beyond the headlines and the hype to shine a light on agricultural climate solutions with the power to cultivate new American foodways that are just, sustainable, regenerative and resilient.

Updated content includes:

  • Current and expected changes in regional weather patterns that disrupt food and farming
  • New adaptation stories from sustainable, organic, and regenerative farmers and updates on the producers featured in the first edition
  • Real-world applications of resilience thinking that connect the dots between food justice, sustainable development, regenerative economy, and planetary health
  • Companion website with stories, videos, issue briefs, reading guides, and more

Whether you are working in food and farming or are simply an interested eater, Resilient Agriculture will take you on a journey into real world resilience solutions on the ground and regenerating the well-being of land, people and community no matter the weather.

Image of Chapter 1 Intro Page: Chapter Questions PART 1 WHY THINK RESILIENCE?

Reading Guide

Reading Resilient Agriculture on your own or in a book group, course or learning circle?

Download this reader’s guide if you want some help getting started thinking about how to cultivate real world resilience in the places you call home.