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Good Soil: The Education of an Accidental Farmhand
NATIONAL BESTSELLER A profound meditation on nature, heritage, and belonging, from an accomplished journalist who left New York City for life on a working farm
“I needed this book. I think you need it, too.”—Maggie Smith, New York Times bestselling author of You Could Make This Place Beautiful
In his late thirties, Jeff Chu left his job as a magazine writer and found himself at Princeton Theological Seminary’s “Farminary”—a twenty-one-acre working farm where students learn to cultivate the earth while examining life’s biggest questions. Now, he unpacks what he learned about creating “good soil,” both literally and figuratively, drawing lessons from the rhythms of growth, decay, and regeneration that define life on the land.
In gorgeous, transporting reflections, Chu introduces us to the cast of characters, human and not, who became his teachers. While observing the egrets that visit the pond, the worms that turn waste into fertile soil, and the Chinese long beans that get passed over in the farm’s CSA, Chu considers our desire to belong, the story behind the food on our plate, and the significance of his own roots. What is the earth trying to tell us, if we’ll only stop and listen?
Good Soil helps readers connect to the land and to one another at a time when we seem drawn most to the phones in our hands. For nature lovers, foodies, and anyone who has daydreamed about a more fulfilling life, this book is a tribute to friendship, to the sacredness of our bond with the natural world, and to how love can grow from the unlikeliest of places.
“I needed this book. I think you need it, too.”—Maggie Smith, New York Times bestselling author of You Could Make This Place Beautiful
In his late thirties, Jeff Chu left his job as a magazine writer and found himself at Princeton Theological Seminary’s “Farminary”—a twenty-one-acre working farm where students learn to cultivate the earth while examining life’s biggest questions. Now, he unpacks what he learned about creating “good soil,” both literally and figuratively, drawing lessons from the rhythms of growth, decay, and regeneration that define life on the land.
In gorgeous, transporting reflections, Chu introduces us to the cast of characters, human and not, who became his teachers. While observing the egrets that visit the pond, the worms that turn waste into fertile soil, and the Chinese long beans that get passed over in the farm’s CSA, Chu considers our desire to belong, the story behind the food on our plate, and the significance of his own roots. What is the earth trying to tell us, if we’ll only stop and listen?
Good Soil helps readers connect to the land and to one another at a time when we seem drawn most to the phones in our hands. For nature lovers, foodies, and anyone who has daydreamed about a more fulfilling life, this book is a tribute to friendship, to the sacredness of our bond with the natural world, and to how love can grow from the unlikeliest of places.
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First published March 25, 2025
340 people are currently reading
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About the author
Jeff Chu
6 books191 followersJeff Chu is an award-winning journalist, essayist, preacher, and speaker.
He serves as an editor-at-large at Travel+Leisure magazine, teacher in residence at Crosspointe Church in Cary, N.C., and parish associate for storytelling and witness at the First Presbyterian Church in Berkeley, Calif. Formerly a writer at Time and an editor at Fast Company, his work has also appeared in The New York Times, The New York Times Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and in numerous other outlets.
Jeff is an ordained minister in the Reformed Church in America. For several years, he served as co-curator of Evolving Faith.
He lives in Grand Rapids, Mich., with his husband, Tristan.
He serves as an editor-at-large at Travel+Leisure magazine, teacher in residence at Crosspointe Church in Cary, N.C., and parish associate for storytelling and witness at the First Presbyterian Church in Berkeley, Calif. Formerly a writer at Time and an editor at Fast Company, his work has also appeared in The New York Times, The New York Times Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and in numerous other outlets.
Jeff is an ordained minister in the Reformed Church in America. For several years, he served as co-curator of Evolving Faith.
He lives in Grand Rapids, Mich., with his husband, Tristan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 461 reviews
June 22, 2025
I’ve spent this week on a much-needed vacation, after wrapping a rare assignment direct from the CEO.
Julius Caesar wanted an interactive eLearning for all 95K+ employees, in half our typical development time.
I was so scared. I’ve been at the company under a year—don’t understand even half the damn acronyms. So why me? And what if I couldn’t produce? And how quickly would they fire me after I dropped the ball?
But I’m my mother’s daughter, so I went ahead and crushed it. Holed up in dark rooms, worked insane hours, and produced work that garnered commendation from my boss and higher ups.
Yay, right? Except I was exhausted, crying at random intervals, and God help the sorry bastard who forgot to handle me with care. My doctor ran bloodwork and — she said it more sciency, but — “Your vitamin D and neutrophil levels are whack, Jack.”
Also, I’ve been eating pizza. Lots of pizza. And that’s never a good sign.
So, a vacation in Georgia. Long Savannah walks amid live oaks and Spanish moss. Forsyth Park. Bonaventure Cemetery. Tybee Island at night, when tourists clear out, the sky fills with stars, and warm winds keep mosquitoes at bay. Also, a spontaneous detour to Edisto Island (grateful to you, Bonnie).
Going in, I was full of cortisol and sad surprise at losing connection to the joy that’s been my strength. I wanted a book that would make me remember who I am, what actually matters, why I should wake up in the morning and choose organic whole grain blah blah over stuffed crust with salami.
Tall order, but Jeff Chu delivered.
I did the audiobook, which the author narrates. His voice sounds almost exactly like that of the man I once loved, a fact that made me cry through the whole first chapter. It’s not about the man, that’s done. It’s about this book coming to me out of the blue, just in time, in a voice that’s as tender as it is precise. Chu was raised ultra-religious in the same city I grew up in, came out as gay to the horror of his family, married a Texas torch and moved to NYC for a career millions of girls would kill for (DWP).
And then he was like, wait a second, I’m not happy, and became…
a seminary student. (You’ll see why that’s funny.)
then a farmer.
then, obviously, a memoirist.
Sign me up, baby. Sounds like a trajectory I can get behind with turbo thrusts.
One star off because Chu can go overboard with his precision, to the point it feels like he’s taken all the beautiful butterflies of faith, meaning, love and community, and pinned them to a carefully labeled spreading board. I love precision, but the metaphorical image that dominates this memoir is soil, which is messy and resists sterilization.
Book/Song Pairings:
1. Georgia (Vance Joy)
2. Stained Glass (John Lucas)
P.S. Storytellers get judged for showboating, so if you rolled your eyes when I shared a work win? Enjoy that moment. But I also told you the rest. How it’s unclear to me yet if a corporate career is worth it. How I miss the sunshine and struggle to make healthy choices when so much of life is grind and obligation.
So kiss my ass, I guess, is my point. If you had a problem, that is. Half of you have victories that far outshine my little triumph, and the other half need to get off the couch and crush a goal of your own. (Sorry, but I did warn you: currently fragile.)
P.P.S. This is my fourth and final Pride Month read. It’s the first time I’ve done this, and I enjoyed it enough that I plan to make it an annual tradition.
Julius Caesar wanted an interactive eLearning for all 95K+ employees, in half our typical development time.
I was so scared. I’ve been at the company under a year—don’t understand even half the damn acronyms. So why me? And what if I couldn’t produce? And how quickly would they fire me after I dropped the ball?
But I’m my mother’s daughter, so I went ahead and crushed it. Holed up in dark rooms, worked insane hours, and produced work that garnered commendation from my boss and higher ups.
Yay, right? Except I was exhausted, crying at random intervals, and God help the sorry bastard who forgot to handle me with care. My doctor ran bloodwork and — she said it more sciency, but — “Your vitamin D and neutrophil levels are whack, Jack.”
Also, I’ve been eating pizza. Lots of pizza. And that’s never a good sign.
So, a vacation in Georgia. Long Savannah walks amid live oaks and Spanish moss. Forsyth Park. Bonaventure Cemetery. Tybee Island at night, when tourists clear out, the sky fills with stars, and warm winds keep mosquitoes at bay. Also, a spontaneous detour to Edisto Island (grateful to you, Bonnie).
Going in, I was full of cortisol and sad surprise at losing connection to the joy that’s been my strength. I wanted a book that would make me remember who I am, what actually matters, why I should wake up in the morning and choose organic whole grain blah blah over stuffed crust with salami.
Tall order, but Jeff Chu delivered.
I did the audiobook, which the author narrates. His voice sounds almost exactly like that of the man I once loved, a fact that made me cry through the whole first chapter. It’s not about the man, that’s done. It’s about this book coming to me out of the blue, just in time, in a voice that’s as tender as it is precise. Chu was raised ultra-religious in the same city I grew up in, came out as gay to the horror of his family, married a Texas torch and moved to NYC for a career millions of girls would kill for (DWP).
And then he was like, wait a second, I’m not happy, and became…
a seminary student. (You’ll see why that’s funny.)
then a farmer.
then, obviously, a memoirist.
Sign me up, baby. Sounds like a trajectory I can get behind with turbo thrusts.
One star off because Chu can go overboard with his precision, to the point it feels like he’s taken all the beautiful butterflies of faith, meaning, love and community, and pinned them to a carefully labeled spreading board. I love precision, but the metaphorical image that dominates this memoir is soil, which is messy and resists sterilization.
Book/Song Pairings:
1. Georgia (Vance Joy)
2. Stained Glass (John Lucas)
P.S. Storytellers get judged for showboating, so if you rolled your eyes when I shared a work win? Enjoy that moment. But I also told you the rest. How it’s unclear to me yet if a corporate career is worth it. How I miss the sunshine and struggle to make healthy choices when so much of life is grind and obligation.
So kiss my ass, I guess, is my point. If you had a problem, that is. Half of you have victories that far outshine my little triumph, and the other half need to get off the couch and crush a goal of your own. (Sorry, but I did warn you: currently fragile.)
P.P.S. This is my fourth and final Pride Month read. It’s the first time I’ve done this, and I enjoyed it enough that I plan to make it an annual tradition.
April 25, 2025
Let me just start with the basics.
If I were to pick a favorite book of 2024 right now, it would be Jeff Chu's remarkable "Good Soil: The Education of an Accidental Farmhand."
While I expected to appreciate "Good Soil" having become familiar with Chu through his work with the Evolving Faith Conference and his co-authoring with Rachel Held Evans "Wholehearted Faith," the truth is I loved every word of "Good Soil" from the opening chapters that served up the roots of Chu's life to the natural, rhythmic prose of Chu's journey through Princeton Theological Seminary's "Farminary."
My favorite books tend to allow me to experience a full spectrum of emotions. Throughout my time with "Good Soil," I laughed, I cried, I reflected, I learned, and I felt a little less alone.
Chu was in his late 30's when he left his job as a magazine writer and enrolled at Princeton Theological Seminary. It was at Princeton that he encountered the "Farminary," a 21-acre working farm where students would learn to cultivate the earth while examining life's biggest questions. As would be spoken early on in the journey by the professors leading the program, it was expected that amidst the animals and the plants and the crops that would grow there love would also grow there.
I have shared more than once a pastoral visit not long after my cancer journey took my bladder and left me with an ostomy resulted in my answering the question from Rev. Gracie "How's your relationship with your body?" with a resounding "I hate it. " It was an unexpectedly honest spewing forth of unresolved trauma, a trauma based upon years of disability and years of violence and years of craving an intimacy I've never known. So, when Chu begins sharing his own relationship with his body I instantly began weeping (okay, sobbing) while also, I'd dare say, not quite feeling so alone in those unresolved areas.
There was more. So much more. Yet, to share too much is to ruin it for the reader who deserves to experience these lessons drawn from experiencing growth, decay, regeneration, and what it means to foster good soil. "Good Soil" is so refreshingly honest about family relationships that won't heal, friendships that will heal, the vitality of community, and the interconnectedness of us all.
"Good Soil" affirms the desire to belong and the significance of our roots. It affirms the decisions we make, at times when we're surrounded by those who disagree.
While I am a seminary graduate, I'm not a farmer. I can't say I'm particularly well-versed in ecological issues nor as a wheelchair user am I particularly adept at traveling out into nature other than along the trails (which I do quite frequently). Yet, I was enthralled by the warmth and wonder, connectedness and intimacy of "Good Soil."
If you've known me for any length of time, then you know that the word "tenderness" is my favorite word having become the key element of my namesake "Tenderness Tour" and having become perhaps my lifelong quest to both give and receive. Indeed, it was the word "tenderness" that came to mind again and again and again throughout "Good Soil."
There is also grief in "Good Soil," as anyone might expect who is familiar with Chu's connection to the late Rachel Held Evans. It's handled gently yet vulnerably, narratively a relatively small yet meaningful portion of the story that unfolds in "Good Soil." It could have backfired, of course, and yet Chu's remarkable wording makes it clear these were words he needed to write and stories he needed to tell.
Unquestionably, "Good Soil" is one of the best books of 2025 and an essential literary experience for those who practice a more progressive faith along with foodies, nature lovers, those who've ever felt like outsiders, and those who've ever discovered what it means to truly belong.
If I were to pick a favorite book of 2024 right now, it would be Jeff Chu's remarkable "Good Soil: The Education of an Accidental Farmhand."
While I expected to appreciate "Good Soil" having become familiar with Chu through his work with the Evolving Faith Conference and his co-authoring with Rachel Held Evans "Wholehearted Faith," the truth is I loved every word of "Good Soil" from the opening chapters that served up the roots of Chu's life to the natural, rhythmic prose of Chu's journey through Princeton Theological Seminary's "Farminary."
My favorite books tend to allow me to experience a full spectrum of emotions. Throughout my time with "Good Soil," I laughed, I cried, I reflected, I learned, and I felt a little less alone.
Chu was in his late 30's when he left his job as a magazine writer and enrolled at Princeton Theological Seminary. It was at Princeton that he encountered the "Farminary," a 21-acre working farm where students would learn to cultivate the earth while examining life's biggest questions. As would be spoken early on in the journey by the professors leading the program, it was expected that amidst the animals and the plants and the crops that would grow there love would also grow there.
I have shared more than once a pastoral visit not long after my cancer journey took my bladder and left me with an ostomy resulted in my answering the question from Rev. Gracie "How's your relationship with your body?" with a resounding "I hate it. " It was an unexpectedly honest spewing forth of unresolved trauma, a trauma based upon years of disability and years of violence and years of craving an intimacy I've never known. So, when Chu begins sharing his own relationship with his body I instantly began weeping (okay, sobbing) while also, I'd dare say, not quite feeling so alone in those unresolved areas.
There was more. So much more. Yet, to share too much is to ruin it for the reader who deserves to experience these lessons drawn from experiencing growth, decay, regeneration, and what it means to foster good soil. "Good Soil" is so refreshingly honest about family relationships that won't heal, friendships that will heal, the vitality of community, and the interconnectedness of us all.
"Good Soil" affirms the desire to belong and the significance of our roots. It affirms the decisions we make, at times when we're surrounded by those who disagree.
While I am a seminary graduate, I'm not a farmer. I can't say I'm particularly well-versed in ecological issues nor as a wheelchair user am I particularly adept at traveling out into nature other than along the trails (which I do quite frequently). Yet, I was enthralled by the warmth and wonder, connectedness and intimacy of "Good Soil."
If you've known me for any length of time, then you know that the word "tenderness" is my favorite word having become the key element of my namesake "Tenderness Tour" and having become perhaps my lifelong quest to both give and receive. Indeed, it was the word "tenderness" that came to mind again and again and again throughout "Good Soil."
There is also grief in "Good Soil," as anyone might expect who is familiar with Chu's connection to the late Rachel Held Evans. It's handled gently yet vulnerably, narratively a relatively small yet meaningful portion of the story that unfolds in "Good Soil." It could have backfired, of course, and yet Chu's remarkable wording makes it clear these were words he needed to write and stories he needed to tell.
Unquestionably, "Good Soil" is one of the best books of 2025 and an essential literary experience for those who practice a more progressive faith along with foodies, nature lovers, those who've ever felt like outsiders, and those who've ever discovered what it means to truly belong.
February 18, 2025
This is one of those rare, precious books that filled my soul with a glimpse of how, on this muddy planet full of wrongdoing and death, God or love or grace might still be near to us. But it is a grace tinged with sadness, a love marked by loss, a faith that hopes rather than one that knows. I’ve already recommended GOOD SOIL to more people in real life than any book in recent memory. It has me whispering to my discouraged friends, my queer friends, my one-foot-out-the-door friends, Jesus-loving-but-anti-Christian-nationalism friends, “Have you heard of Jeff Chu?”
The book is grounded in reflections arising out of Chu’s time working and taking classes at the Farminary (the farm at Princeton Theological Seminary), but as Chu counsels in the Author’s Note, he employs a circular rather than a linear mode of storytelling. The writing is exceptional, so it’s never hard to follow; even when the narratives seem fragmented, there’s always a purpose. He pulls in stories of his ancestor’s journeys, his parents’ disapproval of his sexuality, the food and language of his Cantonese American upbringing, his questions about faith and God, and the lessons of compost and little deaths and perpetual grief. Despite the specificity of Chu’s story, this book speaks universally to the human condition; I’m convinced that Chu is the sage that our times require. He does the radical (and highly unpopular) thing of loving one’s enemies with gentle strength and courage, but without compromising his spiritual integrity. And it all comes back to his confidence in God’s boundless love.
A remarkable book that will both heal and challenge you.
The book is grounded in reflections arising out of Chu’s time working and taking classes at the Farminary (the farm at Princeton Theological Seminary), but as Chu counsels in the Author’s Note, he employs a circular rather than a linear mode of storytelling. The writing is exceptional, so it’s never hard to follow; even when the narratives seem fragmented, there’s always a purpose. He pulls in stories of his ancestor’s journeys, his parents’ disapproval of his sexuality, the food and language of his Cantonese American upbringing, his questions about faith and God, and the lessons of compost and little deaths and perpetual grief. Despite the specificity of Chu’s story, this book speaks universally to the human condition; I’m convinced that Chu is the sage that our times require. He does the radical (and highly unpopular) thing of loving one’s enemies with gentle strength and courage, but without compromising his spiritual integrity. And it all comes back to his confidence in God’s boundless love.
A remarkable book that will both heal and challenge you.
April 29, 2025
A well-written, thoughtful, and vulnerable memoir, about the author’s experience working on the school farm while in seminary, and about his various personal struggles, especially with his conservative Chinese immigrant family and their reaction to his marrying a man. The marketing does downplay the amount of Christianity in the book, as other reviewers have mentioned, but it’s progressive and not preachy, and should work for secular readers too as long as you don’t mind the author discussing his spiritual life from time to time.
It was a bit of a slow read for me, as the chapters often feel like self-contained short essays, and I think it’s best appreciated a little bit at a time. At first I found myself disliking the author somewhat, but warmed up to him as I went along. He seems like an intense and often unhappy person, but he comes by it honestly and is self-aware. His reflections are to the point and seem well thought through.
Overall, this isn’t one I have a lot to say about, but I appreciated my time with it and would recommend to anyone interested in memoirs about nature and spirituality.
It was a bit of a slow read for me, as the chapters often feel like self-contained short essays, and I think it’s best appreciated a little bit at a time. At first I found myself disliking the author somewhat, but warmed up to him as I went along. He seems like an intense and often unhappy person, but he comes by it honestly and is self-aware. His reflections are to the point and seem well thought through.
Overall, this isn’t one I have a lot to say about, but I appreciated my time with it and would recommend to anyone interested in memoirs about nature and spirituality.
November 2, 2024
Jeff Chu made me cry, and I’m mad about it. Yes, I have been looking forward to his next book since I read his first one, and yes, I know Jeff has a way of telling stories that you feel deeply in your soul. Though I also do not like letting my emotions out, I cried. Multiple times.
A memoir following the seasons through his time at the Princeton Seminary’s “Farminary,” Jeff got to me pretty quickly. It’s not hard, really. Just talk about religion and family + belonging, or rather, feeling like you don’t belong, and my feelings have to go somewhere. He spoke of scars, belonging, death, and grief with vulnerability and wisdom. The thought put into each story, past and present time woven together, combined with connections from his studies and wonderings, makes you pause to reflect on your own growth, your story, meaning, and compost.
Thank you Jeff, and to NetGalley and the publisher. I’m honored to read Good Soil. I shall go refresh my garden and try to convince my husband (again) that we need a few chickens.
A memoir following the seasons through his time at the Princeton Seminary’s “Farminary,” Jeff got to me pretty quickly. It’s not hard, really. Just talk about religion and family + belonging, or rather, feeling like you don’t belong, and my feelings have to go somewhere. He spoke of scars, belonging, death, and grief with vulnerability and wisdom. The thought put into each story, past and present time woven together, combined with connections from his studies and wonderings, makes you pause to reflect on your own growth, your story, meaning, and compost.
Thank you Jeff, and to NetGalley and the publisher. I’m honored to read Good Soil. I shall go refresh my garden and try to convince my husband (again) that we need a few chickens.
April 3, 2025
The writing is proficient. The book just wasn't what I was expecting from the description.
July 11, 2025
Jeff Chu is an Asian-American writer-turned-minister. I initially thought his 2025 memoir Good Soil would be in the vein of memoirs like Kristin Kimball's The Dirty Life: On Farming, Food, and Love or Brent Underwood's Ghost Town Living: Mining for Purpose and Chasing Dreams at the Edge of Death Valley - a story of a city person who makes a big life decision to move to the country/off the grid, reconnect with tradition, pursue a much more physically-demanding profession, and share their foibles and reflections along the way - but while Good Soil has elements of these tropes, it's a much more spiritual, reflective book at heart. Chu's premise is the decision he made in his 40s to pivot from a professional commercial writing career to become an ordained minister in the Reformed Church of America, which involves joining a Princeton seminary program that includes a farming extracurricular. While farming (and religion) are central frameworks of the book, these are used as a lens to focus on Chu's journey toward self-acceptance and navigating imperfect relationships with imperfect people. Though Chu doesn't use MBTI framework, he struck me as very IxFP - experiencing the world primarily through introverted feeling (using the function stack model), and hence coming off as perseverative, passive, overly-sensitive, and unable-to-escape-one's-own-head at one extreme (generally seen in those who are young, inexperienced, and live the metaphorical 'unexamined lives'), but contemplative, deeply thoughtful and wise at the other extreme (which is usually achieved through life experience and conscious character growth). As Chu reflects deeply on his life through both the experiences of going through seminary and writing this book, I was able to appreciate a lot of character growth in him - which is a sure sign of a good memoir.
My statistics:
Book 214 for 2025
Book 2140 cumulatively
My statistics:
Book 214 for 2025
Book 2140 cumulatively
October 27, 2025
Jeff Chu is a reporter/writer who has long struggled with reconciling his strict Baptist upbringing from his ethnic Chinese parents with his homosexuality and loving marriage with Tristan. He attempted to find a resolution by attending seminary (!) at Princeton.
In "Good Soil," Jeff tells us the story of serendipitously signing up for a seminar at a farm affiliated with the seminary. Jeff is very familiar with gardening and creating good food from the garden from his childhood. Cooking huge Chinese meals is his mother's love language; Jeff also loves to cook for his loved ones.
The chapters are divided by the seasons at the farm, starting with autumn and working through the two and a half years he spent as a farmhand, working for Nate and his wife, who gave pastoral advice and care along with instruction on growing and tending vegetables. There was a memorable chapter on obtaining chicks, then caring for them as they grew, then slaughtering them for meat. Jeff tried to work though relationships with his fellow farmhands; his feelings of separateness as a gay Asian American; and what he wanted to do after seminary.
Jeff finds the farm activities to be one long metaphor for providing pastoral care. Even as he graduated from seminary, and suffered two major losses at the same time, he still hadn't settled on a career choice, only knowing that he didn't necessarily want to pastor a church. He hadn't seemed to reconcile his very conservative family with his marriage, either. Jeff is apparently still a work in progress. Best wishes to him. 4.6 stars or so, rounded up to 5.
In "Good Soil," Jeff tells us the story of serendipitously signing up for a seminar at a farm affiliated with the seminary. Jeff is very familiar with gardening and creating good food from the garden from his childhood. Cooking huge Chinese meals is his mother's love language; Jeff also loves to cook for his loved ones.
The chapters are divided by the seasons at the farm, starting with autumn and working through the two and a half years he spent as a farmhand, working for Nate and his wife, who gave pastoral advice and care along with instruction on growing and tending vegetables. There was a memorable chapter on obtaining chicks, then caring for them as they grew, then slaughtering them for meat. Jeff tried to work though relationships with his fellow farmhands; his feelings of separateness as a gay Asian American; and what he wanted to do after seminary.
Jeff finds the farm activities to be one long metaphor for providing pastoral care. Even as he graduated from seminary, and suffered two major losses at the same time, he still hadn't settled on a career choice, only knowing that he didn't necessarily want to pastor a church. He hadn't seemed to reconcile his very conservative family with his marriage, either. Jeff is apparently still a work in progress. Best wishes to him. 4.6 stars or so, rounded up to 5.
May 31, 2025
3.5 Stars
Good Soil is a well-written, earnest, and transparent memoir by Jeff Chu about his years at Princeton Seminary and his lifestyle choices. He shares his experiences as a first generation Chinese-American and his work on a farm connected with the seminary. Fans of food preparation will enjoy this aspect of the memoir.
Chu spends a good amount of time discussing his lifestyle choices and identity. His reflection on his parents' reactions to his lifestyle and their acceptance was especially thoughtful. Even though his parents do not agree with his lifestyle, they do not reject him. They show their love for him in the best ways they can, and Jeff Chu accepts these gestures. In opposition to today's prevailing thoughts about drawing boundaries and cutting people out of your life who don't agree with you, Chu concludes that the Scriptures teach "honor your mother and your father." So Chu and his partner honor his parents and respect their beliefs, and the family finds ways to accommodate and respect each other. I found his explanation refreshing and healthy in today's culture, which encourages you to cut yourself off from those who disagree with you. I admire him for his hard work and courage in this area.
Thanks #NetGalley @ConvergentBooks for a complimentary eARC of #GoodSoil upon my request. My opinions are my own.
For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com
Good Soil is a well-written, earnest, and transparent memoir by Jeff Chu about his years at Princeton Seminary and his lifestyle choices. He shares his experiences as a first generation Chinese-American and his work on a farm connected with the seminary. Fans of food preparation will enjoy this aspect of the memoir.
Chu spends a good amount of time discussing his lifestyle choices and identity. His reflection on his parents' reactions to his lifestyle and their acceptance was especially thoughtful. Even though his parents do not agree with his lifestyle, they do not reject him. They show their love for him in the best ways they can, and Jeff Chu accepts these gestures. In opposition to today's prevailing thoughts about drawing boundaries and cutting people out of your life who don't agree with you, Chu concludes that the Scriptures teach "honor your mother and your father." So Chu and his partner honor his parents and respect their beliefs, and the family finds ways to accommodate and respect each other. I found his explanation refreshing and healthy in today's culture, which encourages you to cut yourself off from those who disagree with you. I admire him for his hard work and courage in this area.
Thanks #NetGalley @ConvergentBooks for a complimentary eARC of #GoodSoil upon my request. My opinions are my own.
For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com
December 31, 2025
4.5 stars.
Will write more later. In short: I bought a signed copy of Good Soil after attending Chu's author talk and wept the whole way home. What a comfort this book and his story has been for me
Will write more later. In short: I bought a signed copy of Good Soil after attending Chu's author talk and wept the whole way home. What a comfort this book and his story has been for me
dnf
March 28, 2025I didn't actually finish this book, and the primary reason is I think that the blurb is somewhat misleading. I DNFd at 40%.
The good thing is the book isn't bad. The writing is solid, it's very easy to digest, and while it's not super evocative, it's still has personality. The chapters are an okay length, they tend to stick to the topic at hand, although they feel a bit all over timeline wise, but that makes sense being more topic oriented. I also love that for an LGBTQIA+ person in the church, this book is going to mean a lot to that person, and I love that for them.
For me, the problem is while I am all for people having their religion, I don't want to be part of it unless I chose to. For this book, I didn't. It has exactly one line in the blurb that makes it seem like it may be religious in nature, so I assumed it would be a subplot at best. I was very wrong. It's VERY religious, and I found it extremely difficult to be engaged because of it. I came for farm/garden reading and that's there, but it's a catalyst for the religious talk. I can't finish it.
I hope someone who needs this finds it, again it's not BAD, just not at all what I felt it was advertised as.
The good thing is the book isn't bad. The writing is solid, it's very easy to digest, and while it's not super evocative, it's still has personality. The chapters are an okay length, they tend to stick to the topic at hand, although they feel a bit all over timeline wise, but that makes sense being more topic oriented. I also love that for an LGBTQIA+ person in the church, this book is going to mean a lot to that person, and I love that for them.
For me, the problem is while I am all for people having their religion, I don't want to be part of it unless I chose to. For this book, I didn't. It has exactly one line in the blurb that makes it seem like it may be religious in nature, so I assumed it would be a subplot at best. I was very wrong. It's VERY religious, and I found it extremely difficult to be engaged because of it. I came for farm/garden reading and that's there, but it's a catalyst for the religious talk. I can't finish it.
I hope someone who needs this finds it, again it's not BAD, just not at all what I felt it was advertised as.
June 3, 2025
3.5. I may come back and increase the rating based on how the book settles in. It was interesting sociologically but to quote Abby from Love on the Spectrum: “it’s interesting, but I’m not interested”
September 29, 2025
Beautifully, beautifully written, both as a work of spirituality and a work of gardening.
Which is maybe an essential connection after all.
Which is maybe an essential connection after all.
September 22, 2025
2.5 and rounding down. I read this to complete three Goodreads challenges and get each bookmark badge in one go. The summary seemed interesting, but overall the book was not very uplifting and too “woe is me” for my liking. Good writing though. Some parts were interesting to read.
April 15, 2025
As an avid gardener, I appreciated Chu's foundational metaphor. I'm also a kildeer spectator, a grower of green provider beans, and a listener to the kids who always insisted that beets taste like dirt. His vulnerability seasoned with humor carries a story of hope as he shares his own story alongside the story of his fellow accidental farmhands.
June 25, 2025
Sadly too philosophical for me. Didn’t resonate even tho I wanted it to:/
Read
May 28, 2025I love soil!
Completely my fault that I didn’t realise how religious this book would be so not going to give it a rating but I listened to the audiobook and it was so relaxing. Also interesting to hear about how the farm played into his understanding of his relationships and faith
Completely my fault that I didn’t realise how religious this book would be so not going to give it a rating but I listened to the audiobook and it was so relaxing. Also interesting to hear about how the farm played into his understanding of his relationships and faith
April 30, 2025
during the month of April I just felt in the mood for two spiritual books from leaders I admire.
Jeff’s story intersected w mine when I attended evolving faith and heard him speak for the first time. he took my paper I’d written my deepest spiritual fear on and brought it back to the farminary to feed the compost pile. My life has not been the same since. Thank you Jeff for your words and your life that have brought great meaning to my own.
Jeff’s story intersected w mine when I attended evolving faith and heard him speak for the first time. he took my paper I’d written my deepest spiritual fear on and brought it back to the farminary to feed the compost pile. My life has not been the same since. Thank you Jeff for your words and your life that have brought great meaning to my own.
March 25, 2025
In October 2018, I was in the audience at the first Evolving Faith conference in Montreal, NC where Jeff Chu preached about the theology of the compost pile. I wept through his entire sermon (I was 7.5 months pregnant and cried basically the whole weekend. Shout out to author Jessica Turner who I met in the bathroom and who gave me her extra pack of tissues). I still have my notecard with my written hope on it that Jeff talks about in the chapter titled “worm” of Good Soil.
Jeff’s writing is masterful and always moving. You’ll find yourself wondering where he’s going with some explanation of noisy frogs and them, bam, the connection to some beautiful piece of theology hits you out of nowhere. This memoir of Jeff’s time at Princeton Seminary is beautifully written and an absolute pleasure to read. It’s dripping with love and reflections on his time working at the farm.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Jeff’s writing is masterful and always moving. You’ll find yourself wondering where he’s going with some explanation of noisy frogs and them, bam, the connection to some beautiful piece of theology hits you out of nowhere. This memoir of Jeff’s time at Princeton Seminary is beautifully written and an absolute pleasure to read. It’s dripping with love and reflections on his time working at the farm.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
January 7, 2025
Before we begin, I'd like to thank NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I adored this book. I appreciated Jeff's vulnerability with his story and everything he learned during his time at the Farminary. He broke down his cultural background and connections to the farm in an accessible way, but what I appreciated the most was the way he openly wrestled with his faith, and that there weren't easy answers to his questions, especially when it came to trying to find a home in the world, and himself. Some of the questions were an answered in a new light, but others were left unanswered...just like real life. We truly learn so much about God when we work with his very good creation.
I look forward to a reread of this once it's officially published! Thank you Jeff for sharing your heart with us.
I adored this book. I appreciated Jeff's vulnerability with his story and everything he learned during his time at the Farminary. He broke down his cultural background and connections to the farm in an accessible way, but what I appreciated the most was the way he openly wrestled with his faith, and that there weren't easy answers to his questions, especially when it came to trying to find a home in the world, and himself. Some of the questions were an answered in a new light, but others were left unanswered...just like real life. We truly learn so much about God when we work with his very good creation.
I look forward to a reread of this once it's officially published! Thank you Jeff for sharing your heart with us.
April 9, 2025
Soil, theology, food; love, death, and the breathtaking reality of being a human in this messy world. What’s not to love?
June 2, 2025
The description was misleading. This book was not what I expected, unfortunately! I had high hopes
April 18, 2025
I heard about Good Soil before it came out from many writers I respect. But I kept putting off preordering it because of the title and subtitle. I won’t even walk in grass barefoot, so my level of interest in farming, or even gardening, is low, to say the least. And I (wrongly) assumed this book was aimed at people who enjoy working in soil. Fortunately, I was offered the opportunity to read Good Soil before it came out, so I gave it a chance. And I knew by the first few pages how lucky I was to be reading this incredible book. I’ve read many excellent spiritual memoirs, and this is among the very best.
In telling his story, Jeff Chu manages to be brutally honest while modeling healthy boundaries. He lets us into his griefs and makes us laugh. He shows us faith by how he lives and who he is without ever needing to preach or proselytize. He even opened me up, far beyond what I thought possible, to the wonder of farming, growing food, tending animals, knowing where and how and why things grow (or don’t), and caring about the rhythms and the details of life and death—for what they are, not just as metaphor or because of what they can teach.
As I reflected on this book, I asked myself what it is about. I think it is about learning to live and grow, even when it is uncomfortable or profoundly painful. And I think it is about discovering and developing the ability to nurture oneself, one’s community, and creation. And accepting that living, growing, and nurturing will include getting dirty.
Despite my lack of interest in farming or soil, I wanted to be on that farm, to be part of this story. Because this story is connected to so many other stories. And the way Jeff Chu tells stories leaves no doubt that every story matters. We will never know most of the stories of the people around us, even those closest to us. And we will probably never tell most of our own stories. But this story, Good Soil, is one I highly recommend because the specifics of Jeff Chu’s story will somehow resonate with your (probably very different) story in ways that will make you feel more alive, more capable of growth, and more able to live through the grief of death and the pain of life.
I also recommend reading Good Soil because I think we all need some fried rice. The first chapter is entitled “fried rice.” It was a nice beginning but I had no idea Jeff Chu was, intentionally, whetting my appetite. With each subsequent fried rice story, I longed to taste his what he was cooking. And, as the book went on, I began to wonder if, just maybe, I should try making it myself. Near the end, I thought, “I’m going to look back and find all of his advice about how to cook fried rice, and see if I can use that as the framework of a recipe.” And then—what a gift—he used the appendix to offer just that recipe framework I was craving.
Read this book—and try making some fried rice!
Thank you to Convergent for the privilege of reading an advance DRC of this book. I loved it so much, I purchased my own copy. All opinions are my own.
In telling his story, Jeff Chu manages to be brutally honest while modeling healthy boundaries. He lets us into his griefs and makes us laugh. He shows us faith by how he lives and who he is without ever needing to preach or proselytize. He even opened me up, far beyond what I thought possible, to the wonder of farming, growing food, tending animals, knowing where and how and why things grow (or don’t), and caring about the rhythms and the details of life and death—for what they are, not just as metaphor or because of what they can teach.
As I reflected on this book, I asked myself what it is about. I think it is about learning to live and grow, even when it is uncomfortable or profoundly painful. And I think it is about discovering and developing the ability to nurture oneself, one’s community, and creation. And accepting that living, growing, and nurturing will include getting dirty.
Despite my lack of interest in farming or soil, I wanted to be on that farm, to be part of this story. Because this story is connected to so many other stories. And the way Jeff Chu tells stories leaves no doubt that every story matters. We will never know most of the stories of the people around us, even those closest to us. And we will probably never tell most of our own stories. But this story, Good Soil, is one I highly recommend because the specifics of Jeff Chu’s story will somehow resonate with your (probably very different) story in ways that will make you feel more alive, more capable of growth, and more able to live through the grief of death and the pain of life.
I also recommend reading Good Soil because I think we all need some fried rice. The first chapter is entitled “fried rice.” It was a nice beginning but I had no idea Jeff Chu was, intentionally, whetting my appetite. With each subsequent fried rice story, I longed to taste his what he was cooking. And, as the book went on, I began to wonder if, just maybe, I should try making it myself. Near the end, I thought, “I’m going to look back and find all of his advice about how to cook fried rice, and see if I can use that as the framework of a recipe.” And then—what a gift—he used the appendix to offer just that recipe framework I was craving.
Read this book—and try making some fried rice!
Thank you to Convergent for the privilege of reading an advance DRC of this book. I loved it so much, I purchased my own copy. All opinions are my own.
December 12, 2025
What an absolute gem to read! The inclusion of the subject of spirituality was a welcomed surprise.
Chu is an incredible storyteller. His allegories of his experiences on a seminary based farm not only help you learn about the agrarian life, but you also feel the joy, heartbreak, struggles with shame and sense of belonging, and “difficult love” that he endures.
You can tell that Chu is immensely empathetic, and his humility and willingness to acknowledge his shortcomings is admirable.
Also, as an American born Taiwanese, there were so many times throughout the book where I felt connected to his upbringing, culturally and spiritually. From growing up in an Asian family who eventually got converted, the bullying due to having a small stature, being singled out for having Chinese food lunches, to being the type of introvert “who is allergic to small talk”, I can relate.
I’m so glad I happened upon Chu’s book. It was a lovely, heartfelt breath of fresh air. Good Soil is definitely a re-read in the future for me.
Chu is an incredible storyteller. His allegories of his experiences on a seminary based farm not only help you learn about the agrarian life, but you also feel the joy, heartbreak, struggles with shame and sense of belonging, and “difficult love” that he endures.
You can tell that Chu is immensely empathetic, and his humility and willingness to acknowledge his shortcomings is admirable.
Also, as an American born Taiwanese, there were so many times throughout the book where I felt connected to his upbringing, culturally and spiritually. From growing up in an Asian family who eventually got converted, the bullying due to having a small stature, being singled out for having Chinese food lunches, to being the type of introvert “who is allergic to small talk”, I can relate.
I’m so glad I happened upon Chu’s book. It was a lovely, heartfelt breath of fresh air. Good Soil is definitely a re-read in the future for me.
July 1, 2025
Good Soil is a deeply poignant memoir of Jeff Chu, who left his job as a journalist to attend Princeton Theological Seminary’s “Farminary.” Chu had a somewhat strained relationship with his devout Christian parents. This strained relationship kept them from attending Jeff's wedding, his marriage to his husband, Tristan. After much reflection, Chu makes a surprising decision to attend the Seminary to work on a Master's of Divinity. Chu always had a connection to food and enjoyed cooking, eating, and entertaining. The idea of working at the Farminary as part of his Seminary experience became a cathartic exercise in love and relationships, allowing Chu to come to terms with some of his demons and create "good soil" in which to grow and harvest a love for himself and others.
A wonderful story of love, forgiveness, renewal, and redemption.
A wonderful story of love, forgiveness, renewal, and redemption.
December 19, 2025
A solid 6/5 stars. This book is the perfect blend of thoughtful reflection and laugh out loud moments. The audio version is narrated by the author and is an excellent listen, but that being said, it is one of a few books that I've listened to that I may reread in the physical version because, as much as I got out of it, I know I would glean more from actually reading it. In an age of ever increasing polarization, voices that spread grace have been balm for my weary soul, and because of that this book makes it into my top 3 books of 2025. It doesn't hurt either that it combines my favorite hobby with discussions of faith.
December 2, 2025
really really enjoyed this. lots of brilliant thoughts and difficulties that aren’t easily and/or ever solved. i saw myself in some of the stuff he said and saw a very different perspective in other stuff. lots of cool stuff about the farm. lots of good stuff about christianity that to me, a non christian but who has an older sister currently super into christianity felt very new and interesting. i listened to the audiobook which was narrated by the author and was rlly done well
tw dog death, decently explicit, along with sexual assault, homophobia, and death of a friend.
tw dog death, decently explicit, along with sexual assault, homophobia, and death of a friend.
August 22, 2025
I didn’t know this was a Christian memoir when I started reading it. Was definitely hesitant to finish but I ended up really enjoying it. It was mostly very spiritual and reflective through farming metaphors, which was cool. Chu’s background and cross-cultural experiences made for a lot of interesting and relatable stories. And I liked how he didn’t try to convince the reader his faith was perfect or figured out.
November 21, 2025
I appreciated the roundabout style Jeff Chu wrote this book - it was really beautiful and poignant. The way he described some of his friends and family made me consider some relationships in my own life in a new light. I can’t say that I’m now inspired to go out and milk a goat or even start growing vegetables, for that matter, but Chu’s way of finding faith through ordinary things will stick with me.
September 18, 2025
For those not aware, in my past life, I have a masters in theology. And so perhaps from that perspective, I wanted more from this book. Maybe if I had previous familiarity with the author I’d have had a deeper connection. That said, I unexpectedly loved the chapters titled “worm” and “compost” best. Go figure!
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