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What’s it all about?
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.
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, a fifth-generation farmer on Johns Island, has a deep-rooted connection to the land, from his island childhood in the 1950s to witnessing the island’s transformation.
In his book, Field Trip, Glover takes readers on a captivating journey through Johns Island’s rich history, preserving its unique heritage and highlighting the enduring bond among its people. With firsthand experience, Glover played a role in the drastic changes that shaped the island’s landscape, from the tomato industry’s peak in the 1980s to its eventual decline by 2000.
Beyond farming, Glover extended his reach by packing, selling, and shipping his products, collaborating with farmers from Florida, Kentucky, and Belize. While no longer tending the land, Glover finds joy in his family, his church, and staying connected to long-time friends. Through his enthusiastic voice and wealth of experiences, Lee Glover brings Johns Island’s vibrant stories to life.
Field Trip is available in Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, & Audiobook
A Quick Look Inside
Table of Contents
Preface
Part One – Growing Up
- The Island
- Beginnings
- Home
- Neighbors
- Village
- Two More Islands
- Church
- Summer of ’69
- Hope
- Camping: Hope
- Camping: Seabrook
- Leroy
Part Two – Growing Crops
- Tomatoes
- Tomatoes: After the Sheds
- Harvest Workers
- Rolando
- Belize
- The Farmers
- Farming
- Other Crops
- Growing Pickles
- Selling Pickles
- By Choice
- Change
Appendix A Coastal Indians
Appendix B Tomatoes: A Brief History
References
Appendix B Tomatoes: A Brief History
References
Preface
Part One – Growing Up
- The Island
- Beginnings
- Home
- Neighbors
- Village
- Two More Islands
- Church
- Summer of ’69
- Hope
- Camping: Hope
- Camping: Seabrook
- Leroy
Part Two – Growing Crops
- Tomatoes
- Tomatoes: After the Sheds
- Harvest Workers
- Rolando
- Belize
- The Farmers
- Farming
- Other Crops
- Growing Pickles
- Selling Pickles
- By Choice
- Change
Appendix A Coastal Indians
Appendix B Tomatoes: A Brief History
References
Appendix B Tomatoes: A Brief History
References
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
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
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.
H Brady
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
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
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
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
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
Second Presbyterian Church Book Club
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