Foreword / Ted Kooser

Chasing ghosts / Michael Forsberg

Me and Mike / Dan O'Brien

Settling an unsettled land: introduction

Ocean of grass: The northern plains

Life among potholes

Water

Field journal: Black-footed ferrets

Wind

Next year country: The southern plains

Field journal: Blue creek

Lion

The ocean below the grass

Field journal: Lesser prairie-chickens

Tallgrass remains: Tallgrass prairies

Field journal: Illinois creek

Buffalo in the tallgrass

Cemetery

Inheriting the land

Photographer's notes.