Amazon International Bestseller

Lee GLover

Author Of

“Field Trip:
My Years on a Johns Island Farm”

– And Now –

“The Largest Sea Island:
A History of Johns Island Amid An Evolving America”

Available Now!

Get Your Copy Today

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A Brief Synopsis

This book presents a rich, community-driven history of Johns Island, South Carolina—an area deeply rooted in agricultural heritage, African American resilience, postwar transitions, and cultural preservation. Through a narrative spanning the post–World War II period to the present day, it captures the evolving character of the island’s people, landmarks, and industries. This narrative deftly weaves together oral histories, geographic touchstones, agricultural shifts, and social transformations, offering readers a deeply localized but universally resonant story of land, labor, memory, and identity.

The strength of this book lies in its layered storytelling. Whether recounting the legacy of tomato farming, the rise of tourism and gated communities, or the roles of educators, musicians, midwives, and civil rights leaders, it honors the collective memory of those who made Johns Island what it is. The manuscript does not simply document change—it reflects on the meanings of that change: the tensions between “comeyas” and “binyas,” between development and displacement, and between progress and the preservation of cultural roots. Firsthand anecdotes, biographical sketches, and profiles of places—from the Progressive Club to the Angel Oak—bring the past into vivid dialogue with the present. Stylisticly, your prose balances historical detail with emotional resonance. The tone is community-centered, informative, and empathetic. The writing remains accessible to a wide readership without sacrificing historical depth or nuance.

The book succeeds as both a historical record and a tribute. It is particularly well suited for local audiences, educators, students of African American history, and anyone interested in the cultural topography of the American South. This is not merely a book about a place—it is a living archive of stories, struggles, and triumphs.

Meet The Author
Purchase Here

A Brief Synopsis

Change is constant. It’s happening all around us all the time. At this very moment, all across America, cities, towns and communities are changing. Populations shift, incomes fluctuate, and social norms evolve. Change is a huge concept.

And just south of Charleston, South Carolina, Johns Island was a tiny community. Until it wasn’t.

Field Trip is a deeply personal documentation of this change to preserve some of the times, events, and people that are rapidly fading into history. Through remembrances and shared history, the reader will learn the trials and joys of growing the food we eat, and the intricacies of working with many different peoples.

Meet The Author
Purchase Here
Field Trip Cover
Available At These Online Retailers
And These Fine Locations
  • Buxton Books
  • Gullah Gourmet
  • Indigo Books
  • Litchfield Books
  • Old Charleston Trading Company
  • Rosebank Farms Market
  • Preservation Society Gift Shop – King Street
  • The Tomato Shed Cafe

Lee Glover

About The Author

Lee Glover is the author of the international best selling book Field Trip. As the fifth generation of his family to farm on Johns Island, Glover has a deep-rooted connection to the land. From walking through fields of crops as a child, to witnessing the transformation of the island over decades, Glover has developed a passion for Johns Island and it’s people.

In his book, The Largest Sea Island, Glover takes readers on a captivating journey through the storied history of Johns Island, preserving its unique heritage and culture, while highlighting its remarkable perseverance through challenging times. Beginning with the earliest settlers in the 1670s to the plethora of developments today, Glover reveals events involved in the drastic changes that shaped the island’s landscape. As the farming industry waned, tourism and development grew, providing Glover with a firsthand account of some of the island’s evolution. Now retired from his farming endeavors, Glover finds joy in spending time with his family, including his children and grandchildren.

With an enthusiastic voice and a wealth of information, Lee Glover captures the essence of Johns Island’s history, relaying a vibrant account that brings the island’s unique past to life.

Books are available in Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, & Audiobook

I have had the pleasure to visit this beautiful, peaceful and interesting part of SC. as friends of mine prepared to relocate from NYC. After reading “Field Trip ” by Lee Glover it has brought to light so many of the reasons why this little slice of delight had come to be. In my mind it is now a place to escape when I need to recharge. Field Trip is easy and interesting reading into the history and personal experiences of a man born and bread in the Low Country of South Carolina.
Deborah Ventura
★★★★★
I have had the pleasure to visit this beautiful, peaceful and interesting part of SC. as friends of mine prepared to relocate from NYC. After reading “Field Trip” by Lee Glover it has brought to light so many of the reasons why this little slice of delight had come to be. In my mind it is now a place to escape when I need to recharge. Field Trip is easy and interesting reading into the history and personal experiences of a man born and bread in the Low Country of South Carolina.
Deborah Ventura
Deborah Ventura
As a new resident of John’s Island, having lived in New York City my whole life until seven months ago, Lee’s book is an amazing historical depiction of my new home. His writing is fantastic and made me unable to put this book down. A top recommendation!
Charles A. Grappone
★★★★★
As a new resident of John’s Island, having lived in New York City my whole life until seven months ago, Lee’s book is an amazing historical depiction of my new home. His writing is fantastic and made me unable to put this book down. A top recommendation!
Charles A. Grappone
Charles A. Grappone
What a wonderful read! I learned so much about agriculture but also about relationships during a time when the world was embattled in racial conflict. The author had an amazing childhood filled with adventure. He built friendships that have lasted the test of time. This book was a very informative and was an interesting peek into the Lowcountry’s storied past.
Casey Hurst
★★★★★
What a wonderful read! I learned so much about agriculture but also about relationships during a time when the world was embattled in racial conflict. The author had an amazing childhood filled with adventure. He built friendships that have lasted the test of time. This book was a very informative and was an interesting peek into the Lowcountry’s storied past.
Casey Hurst
Casey Hurst
A captivating account of Johns Island's transformation, rife with colorful characters and rich stories that will transport you back into a singular place and time. Glover's words instill a deep appreciation for the work of farmers and the role that his community has played in shaping Johns Island, Kiawah and Charleston, both in its past and present. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the people and history behind this sea island connecting two of the country's most sought-after vacation destinations.
A Sholtes
★★★★★
A captivating account of Johns Island's transformation, rife with colorful characters and rich stories that will transport you back into a singular place and time. Glover's words instill a deep appreciation for the work of farmers and the role that his community has played in shaping Johns Island, Kiawah and Charleston, both in its past and present. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the people and history behind this sea island connecting two of the country's most sought-after vacation destinations.
A Sholtes
A Sholtes
Field Trip will enable readers to see crops and fresh food with significantly more appreciation. Author Lee Glover provides his audience with first-hand experiences that span decades, revealing Johns Island’s evolution from a rural agrarian setting to a rapidly changing sea island of the Low Country. Glover brings the reader into his circle of diverse friends and co-workers who know the land and love it. Portraying these people with humor and dignity, Glover preserves their stories, as well as his own, about a time that is rapidly slipping into history.
Virginia Bartels
Author of Saint James Church: Worshipping in the Presence of the Past 1720-2020
☆☆☆☆☆
Field Trip will enable readers to see crops and fresh food with significantly more appreciation. Author Lee Glover provides his audience with first-hand experiences that span decades, revealing Johns Island’s evolution from a rural agrarian setting to a rapidly changing sea island of the Low Country. Glover brings the reader into his circle of diverse friends and co-workers who know the land and love it. Portraying these people with humor and dignity, Glover preserves their stories, as well as his own, about a time that is rapidly slipping into history.
Virginia Bartels
Virginia Bartels
Author of Saint James Church: Worshipping in the Presence of the Past 1720-2020
Real characters in a real place are brought to life in Glover’s telling of a period in time when much of the country was divided by racial segregation. I really enjoyed this book and the sense of community, along with the beautiful location that was a separate character. I finished the book and I absolutely loved it! I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed reading it. I love the maps and references to what was and is there now. I feel as if you unlocked a Time Capsule for me and it was inspiring and educational.
Holly Brady
☆☆☆☆☆
Real characters in a real place are brought to life in Glover’s telling of a period in time when much of the country was divided by racial segregation. I really enjoyed this book and the sense of community, along with the beautiful location that was a separate character. I finished the book and I absolutely loved it! I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed reading it. I love the maps and references to what was and is there now. I feel as if you unlocked a Time Capsule for me and it was inspiring and educational.
Holly Brady
Holly Brady

A Visual Tour

Photos From ‘Field Trip’
Edna, Ethel, and Ruth going to a party in 1981.
Under the canopy of leaves is a world of activity – bees and blooms, little pickles and ones ready to be picked.
Celebrating Commodore’s 82nd birthday
“Miss Helen” planting tomatoes
Some of the fields at Hope before it became Kiawah River Estates.
Just over two weeks old.
Tommy Campbell of Stonoca Farms, invented the T.A.B. wire crate for shipping tomatoes. Picture from The Charleston News and Courier June 1963.
Henry Rast – one of The Farmers
Rosebank
Egrets and Herons landing for the night at one of the rookeries on Hope.
Bernard and I have been friends for over fifty years.
One of my cucumber fields in the 1980s. At the corner of River Road and present day Betsy Kerrison Parkway.
Field Trip book launch at Buxton Books
Picking some of those delicious island tomatoes.
Catching crabs along the bank of the Kiawah River.
From the 1940s – 1970s, boxes, like these were filled with tomatoes, loaded onto trucks, and taken to the packing sheds.
William and James at an oyster roast
LG-071524-2nd-pres-book-club
Second Presbyterian Church Book Club
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Field Trip Cover
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