Ordinary Soil

By: Alex Woodard

Narrators: Scott Brick; George Newbern

Greenleaf Audiobooks

ISBN: 9798886454192

Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press

Publication Date: 09/16/2025

Format: Audiobook

My Rating: 5 Stars (ALC)

AUG 2025 MUST-READ BOOKS

TOP AUDIOBOOKS OF 2025

IPPY Gold Medalist, 2024

“Ordinary Soil brings to haunting life the desperate realities of the American heartland but also offers a glimpse into a better future... a call to action for all of us.” —WOODY HARRELSON

Haunted by a shadow from the past, a young farmer attempts suicide beneath a rotting burial elm, unearthing a dark ancestral history. But deep beneath the diseased generational roots lies a powerful secret—one that could save both the man and the land.

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My Review

ORDINARY SOIL by Alex Woodard is a poignant multi-generational novel that masterfully weaves together elements of fiction and fact. Set against the vast and rugged landscape of the Oklahoma Panhandle, the story delves deep into the intricate connections between agriculture, generational trauma, and the pressing issues of environmental health.

Through vivid storytelling, the narrative uncovers the resilience of those who till the earth, reflecting on their struggles and triumphs as they grapple with the legacies of the past and the hope for a sustainable future.

About...

The story begins with Jake, a modern-day farmer in rural Oklahoma, attempting suicide beneath a rotting burial elm on his family’s property. He is overwhelmed by a failing farm, opioid addiction, and the recent loss of his young daughter to leukemia.

The Ghostly Witness:

Both as a child and now as an adult, Jake is haunted by "The Man in the Wheat," a Native American spirit (his Choctaw ancestor) who attempts to warn him of the mistakes being made on the land.

The Medical Investigation:

Mark, a local physician and oncology researcher, notices a pattern of chronic illness and cancer throughout the community. He discovers that Jake’s wife, Jess, remains healthy because she eats only from her own organic, chemical-free garden, unlike the rest of the town.

Multi-Generational Legacy:

The narrative leapfrogs through time—from the 1860s to the present day—following four generations of Jake’s family:

Great-Great-Grandfather:

A Native American ancestor whose story establishes the family's deep, albeit fractured, connection to the soil.

Grandfather/Father:

Their transition toward mechanical farming and heavy pesticide use to chase profits, which slowly "killed" the soil and led to modern health crises like Parkinson’s disease.

The Characters....

In ORDINARY SOIL, the characters represent different facets of a generational struggle between modern industrial life and ancestral roots in the Oklahoma Panhandle.

Jake: The central protagonist, a depressed Oklahoma farmer who has reached a breaking point. He is a member of the Choctaw Nation and struggles with opioid abuse, chronic illness, and the grief of losing his young daughter to leukemia. He is haunted by an ancestor whose spirit urges him to see the "error of his ways" regarding the land.

Dr. Mark: An inquisitive physician and oncology researcher who returns to his hometown. He identifies a pattern of chronic disease in the community and becomes a lifeline for Jake. His scientific investigation into soil toxins and his own Choctaw roots mirror Jake's journey toward healing.

Jessica (Jess): Jake’s wife, who is emotionally distant from him as she copes with their daughter's death. Unlike others in the community, she remains relatively healthy because she maintains a private vegetable garden, which serves as a vital clue for Mark’s research.

Adam: Jake’s estranged brother, who similarly suffers from opioid addiction and is haunted by the same family shadows and spectral visions.

Aki: Jake’s Choctaw ancestor, whose story is told in flashbacks. He represents the "old ways" of respecting the land and is the source of the family’s ancestral wisdom that was nearly lost to cultural erasure and industrialization.

Supporting Characters...

Jake’s Father: A man suffering from Parkinson’s disease, which the novel links to the long-term use of chemical pesticides on the family farm.

Hailey: Jake and Jessica’s late daughter, whose death from leukemia serves as the catalyst for the family's emotional collapse and the subsequent investigation into environmental poisoning.

The Land: Often described as a character in itself, the soil in the Oklahoma Panhandle is a "living" entity that has been abused by a century of mechanical and chemical farming but still holds the secret to redemption.

My thoughts....

Timely and critical, in Woodard's haunting yet thought-provoking novel, ORDINARY SOIL, the characters find redemption through the soil, as Jake and Mark eventually uncover "the secret" buried in the land: the restorative power of regenerative agriculture.

Despite the heavy themes of despair and loss, the book ultimately offers a message of hope. The protagonist, Jake, discovers a powerful secret in the soil that provides a path to redemption for both himself and the land, suggesting that positive change is possible through a return to more sustainable practices and a renewed connection to nature.

In ORDINARY SOIL, Alex Woodard establishes a sharp contrast between "soil" and "dirt" to illustrate the environmental and human health crises facing the American heartland.

The novel expertly explores themes of environmental crisis, generational trauma, and the redemptive power of the land, heavily incorporating elements of American history, particularly regarding Indigenous culture and modern agricultural practices.

Jake realizes that saving his own life and his family's legacy requires healing the soil itself by abandoning industrial chemical practices for more respectful land management.

The novel functions as a powerful "call to action," challenging readers to reconsider their relationship with sustenance and the environment. You can find more about the book on Alex Woodard's official website.

Alex Woodard was inspired to write ORDINARY SOIL by a combination of a chance encounter with a medical expert, his own family heritage, and a desire to address the current crisis in American agriculture. The critical link between soil health and human health served as the primary catalyst for the book.

Woodard continues to advocate for these themes by donating a portion of the book's proceeds to Farmer's Footprint, a non-profit dedicated to soil health and regenerative farming.

The title ORDINARY SOIL reflects both a literal environmental message and a deeper ancestral metaphor. Its significance lies in the following themes:

~Ancestral Dust and Memory

~Soil Health as Human Health

~Soil vs. Dirt

~The Root Cause

~Mundane vs. Sacred

~Generational Legacy

The "soil" serves as the literal and figurative burial ground for the family's history. The plot involves "unearthing" dark ancestral histories and exposing "diseased roots" of trauma that have poisoned the family as much as chemicals have poisoned the land.

Themes Relating to American History

~Indigenous Wisdom and Land Management

~Capitalism and Corporate Greed

~The Dust Bowl Legacy

~Cultural Erasure

On a personal note...

I came across this enchanting and informative audio recording and was instantly captivated by the author’s spellbinding storytelling. Pair that with the performances of two of my favorite voices, and I was utterly enthralled.

As a fervent advocate for health, wellness, land, and the nourishing power of organic foods (a vegan) with serious multiple complex auto-immune diseases, food, chemical, and environmental allergies, I found the narrative not only enlightening and informative, but truly uplifting and hopeful. The author artfully weaves together personal anecdotes filled with vivid imagery and compelling insights that resonate deeply with my convictions. This narrative paints a striking picture of the profound interconnectedness between nature and our overall well-being, inviting listeners to reflect on the delicate balance that sustains both our bodies and the earth.

The audiobook....

Prepare to be captivated by one of the TOP audiobooks of 2025!

Performed by the incredibly talented duo, Scott Brick and George Newbern, this audio experience transports listeners into a richly imagined world brimming with intrigue and mystery. Their masterful storytelling breathes life into the characters and the vivid settings, immersing you in an unforgettable journey. Each word resonates, capturing the very essence of the narrative and offering an engaging and powerful listening experience that will leave you craving more.

Recs...

If you enjoyed this fascinating topic, novel, there are many books exploring the link between soil health and human health that often focus on how soil microbiology affects the nutritional density of food and the prevention of chronic disease.

Popular Non-Fiction & Narratives:

~What Your Food Ate: How to Heal Our Land and Reclaim Our Health by David R. Montgomery and Anne Biklé.

~The Hidden Half of Nature: The Microbial Roots of Life and Health by David Montgomery and Anne Biklé

~The Soil Will Save Us: How Scientists, Farmers, and Foodies Are Healing the Soil to Save the Planet by Kristin Ohlson

~Call of the Reed Warbler: A New Agriculture, A New Earth by Charles Massy

~Dirt to Soil: One Family’s Journey into Regenerative Agriculture by Gabe Brown

~SOS: Save Our Soils: How Regenerative Food and Farming Will Save Your Health and the Planet by Louis De Jaeger

Special thanks to Greenleaf Audiobooks and NetGalley for sharing an advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks

My Rating: 5 Stars +

Pub Date: Set 16, 2025

Top Audiobooks of 2025

Praise

“An epic, beautiful, and compelling story, rich in plot and characters, with a powerful message that needs to be heard by all of us.”

—RANDY ZISK

Producer/Director, East New York, The Blacklist, Monk, The Mentalist, NCIS, NYPD Blue, Grey’s Anatomy

“Beautifully written . . . captivates readers with an urgent call to action and a message of pure hope. Woodard eloquently weaves a tale of relatable humanity that inspires us all to embrace our connection to the earth.”

—EVAN HARRISON

CEO of Kiss the Ground

“Captivating…an essential love story between human and earth. They are one.”

—JAY NAIDOO

Cabinet Minister for Nelson Mandela and Chairman of the UN Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition

About the Author

Alex Woodard has toured nationally behind several critically acclaimed albums, earning a few prestigious industry nods while sharing the stage with some of his heroes.

His For the Sender book, album, and concert series has garnered praise from Huffington Post (“important, enlightening, and ultimately inspiring”), Deepak Chopra (“a beautiful tribute to the resilience of the human spirit”), Dr. Wayne Dyer (“an inspiring, thought-provoking, and life-changing work”), and Billboard magazine (“one of the year’s most touching, unique releases”), among others.

Alex lives with four horses, two dogs, two chickens, and two beautiful humans on a small ranch near the California coast. WEBSITE