Rooted Readers at Four Winds Farm
Planting Ideas. Growing Conversation. Building
Community.
Rooted Readers
is more than a traditional book club. It is a thoughtfully curated, nine-month
experience designed for readers who want meaningful conversation, memorable
gatherings, and the opportunity to build genuine connections within the
welcoming setting of Four Winds Farm.
From September
through May, members will gather seven times to explore an intentionally
selected collection of fiction and nonfiction. Each book opens the door to a
different conversation – about food and agriculture, nature, community,
history, resilience, personal growth, and our relationship with the world
around us.
Inspired by Kaizen, the practice of continuous,
incremental improvement, Rooted Readers embraces the idea that meaningful
growth often begins with something small: a new perspective, an unexpected
question, or a conversation that stays with us long after the evening ends.
More Than a Book Discussion
Each gathering
is carefully designed around that month’s selection and includes:
- A guided, engaging book
discussion - A themed tasting,
activity, reflection, or exchange - Curated snacks and
beverages - All materials needed
for the featured experience - Time to connect with a
consistent community of fellow readers
Throughout the
season, members might share an in-season charcuterie board, sample foods
inspired by the Great Depression, participate in a reciprocity exchange, or
enjoy an Ina Garten–inspired cocktail hour. Every detail is chosen to bring the
book beyond the page and create an experience that feels welcoming, thoughtful,
and worth looking forward to.
You do not
need to be a literary expert or an experienced book-club member. Simply read
the selection before each gathering and arrive ready to share, listen, and
explore the ideas it inspires.
Membership Options
Two full-term
membership options are available for purchase as a package here and below.
Full-Term Membership With Books
Includes
admission to all seven gatherings, all six required books, curated snacks and
beverages, and all featured activities, tastings, and supplies throughout the
nine-month season. Your books will be selected and provided for you, making it
easy to enjoy the complete Rooted Readers experience from beginning to end.
Full-Term Membership Without Books
Includes
admission to all seven gatherings, curated snacks and beverages, and all
featured activities, tastings, and supplies throughout the nine-month season.
Members choosing this option are responsible for obtaining their own copies of
the six required books.
A limited
number of drop-in tickets may be available for individual meetings. Full-term
membership offers the best overall value and is strongly encouraged for those
who want to experience the complete reading journey, build deeper connections
with fellow members, and see the season’s conversations develop from one
gathering to the next.
2026–2027 Reading Schedule
September 14, 2026 – Rooted Readers Kickoff
Get to know
the club and meet your fellow readers before we begin our first selection.
Bring a favorite book – or one you have read recently – to share with the
group. We’ll enjoy snacks, talk about what makes a great book-club experience,
and introduce the upcoming reading list.
No advance reading is required for this gathering.
October 26, 2026 – Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver
This
nonfiction narrative follows one family’s effort to spend a year eating locally
and seasonally, exploring where food comes from and how our choices connect us
to the land.
Featured activity: Enjoy an in-season
charcuterie board inspired by the book while discussing local food,
seasonality, and the choices that shape the way we eat.
December 7, 2026 – Why Fish Don’t Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the
Hidden Order of Life by Lulu Miller
Part
biography, part memoir, and part scientific exploration, this book examines
order, chaos, nature, resilience, and how we create meaning in an unpredictable
world.
Featured activity: A “What’s Your Dandelion?”
reflection and discussion. Participants may anonymously share something that
brings meaning, joy, or stability to their lives.
January 18, 2027 – The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the
Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Through
lessons drawn from the natural world, Kimmerer invites readers to imagine lives
and communities rooted in gratitude, reciprocity, generosity, and connection.
Featured activity: A “take one, leave one”
exchange inspired by the book’s themes of sharing and reciprocity. Additional
details about what to bring will be provided before the meeting.
March 1, 2027 – One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way by Robert Maurer
This practical
guide explores how small, manageable actions can help us overcome fear, build
momentum, and create meaningful, lasting change.
Featured activity: Revisit New Year’s
resolutions through a Kaizen lens and turn one larger goal into a realistic
series of small steps.
April 12, 2027 – The Four Winds by
Kristin Hannah
Set during the
Great Depression and Dust Bowl, this historical novel follows a Texas woman who
journeys west with her children in search of safety, opportunity, and a better
life.
Featured activity: Sample Depression-era foods
and join a “What Would You Pack?” discussion exploring difficult choices,
resilience, and what we value most.
May 24, 2027 – Be Ready When the Luck Happens: A Memoir by Ina Garten
In this
memoir, the Barefoot Contessa reflects on food, business, creativity,
relationships, risk-taking, and the choices that shaped her life and career.
Featured activity: An Ina Garten–inspired
cocktail hour and signature recipe exchange. Additional instructions for the
recipe exchange will be shared before the meeting.
Come for the
books, stay for the conversation, and leave with new ideas, new connections,
and something worth carrying forward.