GOOD SOIL: THE EDUCATION OF AN ACCIDENTAL FARMHAND

St. Luke's Episcopal Church and Charis Books and More are excited to welcome author Jeff Chu for the launch of his book, .

Jeff Chu is an award-winning journalist and editor-at-large for Travel+Leisure and a New York Times bestselling author (with Rachel Held Evans) of as well as

In , Chu helps readers connect to the land and to one another at a time when we all seem more drawn to the distractions of modern technology. For nature lovers, foodies, and anyone who has sought more fulfillment, this book shows how love flourishes when all do their part to cultivate acceptance and nurture friendship.

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?

Jeff Chu will be joined in conversation by Amena Brown. Brown is a spoken word poet, author, and performing artist whose work interweaves keep-it-real storytelling, rhyme and humor. The author of five spoken word albums and two non-fiction books, Amena is currently working on a new book of comedic essays under comedian Phoebe Robinson’s publishing imprint, Tiny Reparations, to be released in summer 2026. She is also the poetic partner for PATTERN Beauty, Tracee Ellis Ross’ natural hair care brand.

From performing at global events such as the MAKERS Conference and Creativity
World Forum to emceeing events such as Pantene’s My Black is Beautiful Tour and
Essence Festival’s Beauty Carnival Stage, Amena takes arenas, theaters, and
performance venues and turns them into living rooms. She has had the honor of sharing
stage with many great artists, authors, and thinkers such as Sonia Sanchez, Pearl
Cleage, Cornel West, Mindy Kaling, Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, Michelle Buteau,
and many others.

She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband DJ Opdiggy and their dog Kane, where
she is also the Chapter Host of CreativeMornings Atlanta.

Host or Publisher Charis Books and More + Charis Circle