Poems from the Land, the Farm, & the Generations that Came Before Us
Heart Soil is a collection of poems rooted in farming life — the quiet labor, inherited pressure, tenderness, grief, and devotion that shape both land and people. Written from within the chaotic season of a working farm, these poems explore generational legacy, economic strain, emotional labor, and the unseen weight carried by those who steward the soil.
Heart Soil was written inside the daily rhythms of Z&N Farm — between greenhouse mornings, harvest days, and the emotional rollercoaster that is farming. These poems are not separate from the work; they grew from it. Each piece carries the same intention we bring to our farming: care, honesty, and respect for what sustains us.
This book is for anyone who has loved the land, grown up inside family expectation, or learned that nourishment often comes at a cost that isn’t visible.
Heart Soil Explores
Farming as inheritance and identity
Generational legacy and expectation
Invisible labor and emotional resilience
Grief, hope, and persistence
Living soil as both metaphor and truth
“Your poems make my heart weep, sing, and dance.”
— Wanda J.
About the Author
Nicole Mezeske is a farmer, writer, mother, and co-steward of Z&N Farm in Northern Michigan. Her work centers on food, land, family, and the emotional landscapes that exist beneath daily labor. Heart Soil is her first published poetry collection.