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18 days and 23:43:32
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The Orchard Path: On Nature, Time, and Growing Pears
Not yet published
Expected 9 Mar 27Win a free print copy of this book!
18 days and 23:43:32
15 copies available
U.S. only
An enchantingly profound meditation on our connection to the natural world and finding meaning beyond the demands of our daily lives, as told through the story of a pear orchard and the man who raised it
Thirty years ago, Colin Harrison came across an ad in a local newspaper for an abandoned plot of land, once a potato farm, in Suffolk County, Long Island. Curious, he arrived to find seven overgrown acres. There was no electricity, no water, and no paved road. There were also no phone lines, and no way to receive the news—a complete escape from the deadlines of his working life. Harrison purchased the land.
Years passed, and what began as a modest planting of four fruit trees at his retreat outside the city became an orchard of nearly two hundred pear trees that the writer tends himself.
The Orchard Path braids together the vibrant story of Harrison’s orchard with the lessons he has learned from seasons of tree care and touches on the meaning of orchards, as well as the charming history of pear varieties. As he guides us through planting to pruning, watering and waiting, to finally harvesting the fruits of one’s labor, he also teaches us about the pleasures that come from patience, the rewards of hard outdoor work, and the peace that arise from our interconnectedness with the Earth. Along the way, he meditates on privacy, beauty, and our perception of time. And on bees, wood ladders, and raccoons. Readers of all ages who seek a tonic for our disordered era will find hope in these pages.
Rendered in lush, measured prose, The Orchard Path is at once one man’s ode to a life-changing endeavor and a contemplation of mortality, living a life of purpose, and the power of taking part in something that will outlast us all.
Thirty years ago, Colin Harrison came across an ad in a local newspaper for an abandoned plot of land, once a potato farm, in Suffolk County, Long Island. Curious, he arrived to find seven overgrown acres. There was no electricity, no water, and no paved road. There were also no phone lines, and no way to receive the news—a complete escape from the deadlines of his working life. Harrison purchased the land.
Years passed, and what began as a modest planting of four fruit trees at his retreat outside the city became an orchard of nearly two hundred pear trees that the writer tends himself.
The Orchard Path braids together the vibrant story of Harrison’s orchard with the lessons he has learned from seasons of tree care and touches on the meaning of orchards, as well as the charming history of pear varieties. As he guides us through planting to pruning, watering and waiting, to finally harvesting the fruits of one’s labor, he also teaches us about the pleasures that come from patience, the rewards of hard outdoor work, and the peace that arise from our interconnectedness with the Earth. Along the way, he meditates on privacy, beauty, and our perception of time. And on bees, wood ladders, and raccoons. Readers of all ages who seek a tonic for our disordered era will find hope in these pages.
Rendered in lush, measured prose, The Orchard Path is at once one man’s ode to a life-changing endeavor and a contemplation of mortality, living a life of purpose, and the power of taking part in something that will outlast us all.
224 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 9, 2027
About the author
Colin Harrison
63 books150 followersColin Harrison is a crime novelist. He is a vice president and senior editor at Scribner.
He lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn, with his wife, the writer Kathryn Harrison, and their three children (Sarah, Walker and Julia).
He attended: Haverford College, BA 1982; University of Iowa Writers' Workshop. MFA 1986
His short nonfiction has appeared in The New York Times, New York Magazine, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, Vogue, Salon, Worth, and other various publications.
He lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn, with his wife, the writer Kathryn Harrison, and their three children (Sarah, Walker and Julia).
He attended: Haverford College, BA 1982; University of Iowa Writers' Workshop. MFA 1986
His short nonfiction has appeared in The New York Times, New York Magazine, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, Vogue, Salon, Worth, and other various publications.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 8, 2026
In a time of AI, 24/7 news, influencers, and screens at our fingertips, Harrison's memoir aims to redirect the mind toward slowing down and reconnecting with the more natural processes of life. All his reflections are shaped and informed by his experience cultivating a pear orchard on his personal property over the years, and I love when I read a piece that's been written about a topic the author is so devoted to. It's very clear, in the voice of this narrative, that tending to pear trees hasn't been some passive hobby for him; it's been how he's found fulfillment and a healthy way to be.
Not only do you get Harrison's reflections here, but there's light background about orchards, in general, and different pear varieties. Perhaps a touch too light. I would have read more chapters/information, but brevity has really been put to work. It made me think this would be great bedtime reading. Chapters aren't too long; it's not a page-turning, thrilling plot that's going to keep you up until the wee hours; and it's meditative, in a way.
I think, if you enjoyed this, you may also like ORANGES (McPhee), LATE MIGRATIONS (Renkl), and SOIL (Dungy).
Thank you, NetGalley, for the advanced copy!
Not only do you get Harrison's reflections here, but there's light background about orchards, in general, and different pear varieties. Perhaps a touch too light. I would have read more chapters/information, but brevity has really been put to work. It made me think this would be great bedtime reading. Chapters aren't too long; it's not a page-turning, thrilling plot that's going to keep you up until the wee hours; and it's meditative, in a way.
I think, if you enjoyed this, you may also like ORANGES (McPhee), LATE MIGRATIONS (Renkl), and SOIL (Dungy).
Thank you, NetGalley, for the advanced copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A lovely reset after reading some tumultuous books lately. Thank you NetGalley and Viking Penguin for granting me this ARC. #TheOrchardPath, #Goodreads, #NetGalley.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews