What I Stand On

Before he died in 2012, organic farmer Bill Dow sat down to tell this account of his lifelong food activism and path-breaking farming methods. Raised on a family farm in Mississippi, Bill went to medical school in the sixties. Running into injustice at every turn, he combined his knowledge of farming with a passion for public health to focus on healthy, organic food. Decades before the blossoming of the food movement, he founded farmers' markets, sold directly to restaurants and experimented with organic methods. Bill was the first certified organic farmer in North Carolina. As a farmer, weather, pests and money worries took their toll. Yet, despite these challenges, Bill persevered and his story illuminates how good food can triumph. This is a feast for all those who care about food, farming and our future.

"Bill Dow transformed not just our local food scene, but impacted the direction of our community and health for generations." -- Andrea Reusing, James Beard award-winning chef/owner, Lantern and The Durham

"When it comes to sustainable farming in our region, all roads (and rows) lead back to Bill Dow's far-reaching and pioneeering influences." -- Dee Reid, journalist and consultant, ReidWorks

"Bill Dow is a practical visionary farmer who has always shared generously his philosophy, time and wisdom with the community around him. He is one of my heroes." -- Gary Phillips, writer, naturalist and entrepreneur

The book features images by Debbie Roos, noted Chatham County photographer and extension agent, a preface by Daryl Walker, Bill's life partner, and a foreword by chef Isaiah Allen. In the editor's introduction, Fred Broadwell explains how the book was conceived and created.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to beginning farmer scholarship funds at Central Carolina Community College and Carolina Farm Stewardship Association.