Book Review - Growing Season by Author Suzanne Mundell Waring

While Great Falls is justifiably known as “the Museum center of Montana”, the city is also the fortunate home of several authors well-known throughout the region and even nationally, as well as locally. Your bookcase may have a volume or two (or many) by them. If you are looking for more, for yourself or as holiday gifts, check out the fine local book stores.

One of the new books gracing their shelves is Growing Season, by Suzanne Mundell Waring. Known for her non-fiction articles about the places and peoples around our community, which have appeared in many different publications, Suzanne also writes appealing fiction with vivid characters and recognizable settings. This volume is no exception (you may even recognize the cover model). And anyone who is a farmer, knows a farmer, or imagines being one will certainly identify with the many trials, uncertainties, and yes, the pleasures and satisfactions of working on one's own land.

None of that was in young Ben Reynold's mind when the story opens. As soon as he finishes his college degree, he plans to move to the big city of Minneapolis, marry his girlfriend Kelsey, and maybe, somewhere in the far future, return to the family farm. His life lies before him, not back home plowing the fields, planting and harvesting the wheat, constantly worrying about yields and markets. Not yet.

Then his world is turned upside down, like a tornado that uproots and destroys the crop. His father has had a heart attack and is suddenly gone. Ben is expected to, must, take over the farm and all its responsibilities, and postpone, perhaps forever, his young man's dreams.

Of course, he accepts this unexpected role, however reluctantly, and however much he hopes it will be short-term. Unfortunately, Kelsey is adamant that she will not undertake the role of farmer's wife, and is determined to convince him to honor their plans to take up the joys of urban living. Ben is sure he can change her mind, and won't give up.

But he discovers that the farm is not as solvent as he thought, and he must find ways to save money, perhaps by experimenting with new crops. By chance, Ben is introduced to innovative growers who are investing in organic farming, which is difficult but more profitable in the long run. Ben is also interested in the health aspects of organic crops, both for the consumers and the land. Such is the power of this vision that these farmers may change our way of eating, and perhaps, as farmers always have, transform our world. For “Where wheat is growing, hope remains”.

Through fiction, Suzanne enlightens us to these possibilities and gives us a great story, with characters we feel we could meet and enjoy any time around our communities. She will be speaking to the Montana Organic Association on December 10, and the Rotary Club on January 13 on her research.

For a non-fiction view of transitioning into organic farming and unusual crops, check out Lentil Underground by Liz Carlisle.

By Carole Ann Clark: November 28, 2025 - Great Falls, Mt