An Olive Grove at the Edge of the World: How two American city boys built a new life in rural New Zealand

Book Synopsis: The heartwarming and hilarious true tale of two American city boys learning to live in rural New Zealand. Kind neighbors, charming animals, and one incredible olive grove.

For Jared Gulian, leaving the United States and coming to tiny Wellington, New Zealand, was a big enough switch from the bright lights of big cities. So when his partner CJ decided they just had to buy a rundown olive grove in the Wairarapa Valley, it was almost too much to cope with.

First they'd have to drive over the dangerous Remutaka ranges to get there, and Jared was terrified of heights. Then they'd have to figure out what on earth you do with 500 olive trees that hadn't been pruned for years, a geriatric rooster, warring hens, an obese kunekune pig, cast sheep, marauding cattle, and understanding your neighbors when they said "yiece" but meant "yes".

In this delightful memoir, Jared Gulian describes the first four years of their new life in the country, its disasters and small triumphs, its surprises and pleasures. But most of all he describes the warmth of the local community that welcomed them, saved them from certain peril, taught them how to cook, how to care for animals, and how to understand and love the land.

If you love Peter Mayle, David Sedaris, Frances Mayes, or James Herriot, this charming adventure is for you.

Buy now for a story that will feed your heart and make you smile.

What readers are saying about An Olive Grove at the Edge of the World:

"LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book." - Amazon reviewer, 5 stars

"Fantastically charming" - Amazon reviewer, 5 stars

"A rollercoaster of emotions from laughter to tears and back again. Very easy to read, very hard to put down." - Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

"Hugely entertaining and whimsical, a great yarn about following one's dream and changing one's life for the better!" - Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

"Has a gutsy 'lets give it a go' attitude that warms our hearts and cheers up our day." - Amazon reviewer, 5 stars

This is a full-length memoir composed of multiple, stand-alone stories. Although largely uplifting, it is a memoir about living close to nature, and it contains brief scenes of animal death that some readers may find triggering.

Previously published in New Zealand under the title Moon Over Martinborough, where it became a national bestseller. (Nielsen BookScan NZ, June & July 2013) Read more