A Warning to Readers: This story can’t be told in prose.

A request for editorial assistance.

This will be the first post that will be available in its entirety only to “paid subscribers.” Without spending too much time on this distinction, I will say that these are the people who have decided to do with a little bit less so that I can fix up the car that will get me to my parent’s for the holidays, or to a farming conference to speak this winter. These folks have agreed to pay for the few things I still buy from the market: black tea, olive oil, dish soap, phone service, electricity, etc. They have chipped in different amounts to cover my $500/month stipend request. It is an intimate and deeply meaningful act to share money and life with one another, and I am immensely grateful. That said, my wish would be for Substack to have a category called “engaged subscribers,” as the sustenance offered to the work here takes many forms, only one of which is financial.

As I jump back into the book-writing project full time, it will be immensely helpful to receive reflections and suggestions from people with different degrees of familiarity with the stories I am trying to tell. If you are willing to take a read and send back some comments, you needn’t pay money. Simply respond to this email with the request, “I would like to receive a gift subscription.” I have that power on the back end. The following is a new draft preface to the book, which has emerged from recent conversations. Again, if you would like to read further you can either “become a paid subscriber” by sending a few dollars this way, OR reply to this email and ask for a gift subscription. Many thanks for your companionship. —Adam