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Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
Oct. 23rd, 2007 09:54 amAnimal, Vegetable, Miracle
By Barbara Kingsolver, HarperCollins, 2007.
Minneapolis Public Library owns
In many ways, this is A Year in Provence set in western Virginia, without the surly Frenchmen. I love this book, and not just because I agree with so many of the ideas. Kingsolver had discovered how much oil are involved in the food industry, both in the from of chemicals used on the land, and fuel used to transport food thousands of miles. She and her family, who co-authors of this book, decided to become "locavores" for one year, eating only what they could grow or obtain locally. They were not doctrinaire about it; it was an experiment, not a forced march. Month by month, she described her family planting a large garden, buying or swapping food with neighbors or at the farmer's market, raising chickens, and harvesting, cooking, and preserving their food, complete with recipes.
This was especially poignant for me because as I was reading this book I was harvesting and freezing tomatoes, drying herbs, and otherwise preparing for winter. I myself am a locavore, though I didn't know the word. I have been making an effect for some time to eat locally when possible. Having a farmer's market within biking distance helps, though I didn't actually bike there as often as I planned. I am fortunate to have that resource, especially since I am not a vegetarian, and the market includes two local meat producers. I have been buying organic ground mutton all summer, and have a supply in my freezer.
Kingsolver is a best-selling novelist; normally I don't read best-sellers. I am encouraged by the popularity of this book that people may be listening to and acting on her ideas. If you want a sample of this book, including recipes, go to http://www.animalvegetablemiracle.com
By Barbara Kingsolver, HarperCollins, 2007.
Minneapolis Public Library owns
In many ways, this is A Year in Provence set in western Virginia, without the surly Frenchmen. I love this book, and not just because I agree with so many of the ideas. Kingsolver had discovered how much oil are involved in the food industry, both in the from of chemicals used on the land, and fuel used to transport food thousands of miles. She and her family, who co-authors of this book, decided to become "locavores" for one year, eating only what they could grow or obtain locally. They were not doctrinaire about it; it was an experiment, not a forced march. Month by month, she described her family planting a large garden, buying or swapping food with neighbors or at the farmer's market, raising chickens, and harvesting, cooking, and preserving their food, complete with recipes.
This was especially poignant for me because as I was reading this book I was harvesting and freezing tomatoes, drying herbs, and otherwise preparing for winter. I myself am a locavore, though I didn't know the word. I have been making an effect for some time to eat locally when possible. Having a farmer's market within biking distance helps, though I didn't actually bike there as often as I planned. I am fortunate to have that resource, especially since I am not a vegetarian, and the market includes two local meat producers. I have been buying organic ground mutton all summer, and have a supply in my freezer.
Kingsolver is a best-selling novelist; normally I don't read best-sellers. I am encouraged by the popularity of this book that people may be listening to and acting on her ideas. If you want a sample of this book, including recipes, go to http://www.animalvegetablemiracle.com
