Fresh from the Farm is so much more than a cookbook—it’s a heartfelt chronicle of personal reinvention and a love letter to seasonal, farm-fresh cooking. Author Susie Middleton, affectionately dubbed the “Queen of Fresh,” beautifully blends storytelling and recipe curation as she invites readers into her life on Martha’s Vineyard. With charm and sincerity, Middleton shares her journey from the hustle of corporate publishing to the quiet determination of farming and feeding a community.

Divided into three lush growing seasons—late spring to early fall—the book offers 121 vibrant recipes that spotlight the beauty of homegrown produce. Dishes like Curry Coconut Butternut Squash Soup and Summer Veggie-Palooza Paella not only tantalize the taste buds, they also celebrate the deep connection between food and land. Each chapter feels like a warm invitation to slow down, savor, and nourish.

What sets this book apart is how Middleton weaves her personal stories into the culinary experience. Whether it’s recounting her early missteps with chickens or her joy at harvesting the season’s first zucchini, her voice is intimate, authentic, and often inspiring. It’s like getting life advice and dinner ideas from a friend who’s already made the leap into simpler, more intentional living.

Vegetarian-forward but friendly to omnivores, Fresh from the Farm is an essential for anyone looking to eat with the seasons—or anyone dreaming of a life closer to the earth. It’s as delightful on the nightstand as it is on the kitchen counter.

I absolutely loved this book! I tend to read cookbooks like novels anyway, so this one, with it’s fascinating story of how a farm to be captivated me. Martha’s Vineyard, so I appreciated that aspect as well. I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s personal notes, particularly the reasons why she made each recipe. I felt as though I was sitting down with a grandparent or longtime family friend.

The book itself is beautiful, with mouth watering pictures on thick, glossy pages with print large enough to be easy to read. I welcomed the division into growing seasons. I don’t have a farm, but I do have a deck garden, and I like to make good use of produce as it becomes available. This was very helpful.

Every recipe that I’ve tried has been delicious. I made the Colonel Mustard’s Not-So-Mysterious Greens, Sausage and Tortellini Soup and served it at a mystery dinner. Everyone loved both the soup and the name.

This cookbook is an absolute delight.

A great cookbook choice for a library shelf. The recipes are straight forward, easy to follow, and the photos of them help a lot as well. The book is well laid out and would be a great gift for someone who likes to cook farm to table style food. Thank you for the review copy!

Love fresh meals. I love to support local farmers, so finding a cookbook that lets me cook local without haveing to search all over the internet.

Received this book from NetGalley for review.
The author is a former editor in chief of Fine Cooking magazine who chronicles her transition from corporate world to farm living. This is a wonderful cookbook for those looking to eat healthy and enjoy "off the farm" living. Makes me want to start a garden of my own!