AN AUTHOR born and raised in Winchester has published her second book.

Sarah Langford, who was educated at St Swithun’s and Peter Symonds, and later as a barrister, published Rooted:Stories of Life, Land and a Farming Revolution on July 7.

Chapter one of her book is set primarily in rural Hampshire.

Coming from a farming background in Hampshire, she studied English at university before training as a barrister. Sarah left the bar on maternity leave to have her two sons and in 2017 moved to Suffolk and, together with her husband, took on the management of his small family farm.

Described as 'powerful, moving and often captivating' by the Financial Times, her book shines a light on the human side of modern farming. In addition, it shows us how land connects us all, not only in terms of global sustainability but in our relationships with our physical and mental health, our communities, our planet and ourselves.

READ MORE: The UK’s biggest food and drink festival Foodies Festival returns to Winchester

Sarah, 42, said: “I pitched the book in 2019 when farming still seemed quite a niche topic, I never heard the topic discussed too much, but when Covid happened and people came across empty supermarket shelves which pushed the question where does it all come from anyway?

Hampshire Chronicle: Front cover of Rooted by Sarah Langford

“This book covers extremely important events, but I also wanted it to be engaging - this book is about so much more than food, it’s about our connection with each other, our loss of connection with the natural world, the sense of childhood.

“It is sort of like a case study, it covers loads of real-life stories but they're told in a very narrative way, like you’re reading a novel.

SEE ALSO: Winchester street’s diamond jubilee party

“I really wanted to tell the human story side of farming, which I didn’t particularly feel was being told as much as the other sides of farming!”

An authentic portrait of 21st Century farming, this personal account explores the idea that that the task of restoring our earth and ensuring a sustainable future both for our food and ourselves, lies in the hands of those who live closest to the land.

Sarah compares the different approach and attitude to farmers and farming, using not only her families background, to illustrate this, but also by interviewing farmers from all over the country and then telling their stories.

The successful author has confirmed that she also does want to “write more books in the future, that are following some of the same ideas and themes” but is keeping these ideas close to her chest.

 

A message from the editor

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support.

Subscribing means you have unrestricted access to the latest news and reader rewards - all with an advertising-light website.

Don't take my word for it – subscribe here to see for yourself.

Looking to advertise an event? Then check out our free events guide.

Want to keep up with the latest news and join in the debate? You can find and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.