Book Review: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

image: Amazon

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I have read this book before, and it changed my perception of food and the way that I eat forever.  If you wonder why I bother going to Local Homestead Products, South Mountain Creamery, and Farm Stands on a regular basis, this book will answer your question.  We live in a world where we are far, far, far removed from the production of our food.  The distance our food travels to get to our plate is phenomenal.  The oil and water that is required to feed these crops and get them onto your plate is unbelievable.  Have you ever stopped to think about the process that is involved in getting your food to the table?

Most other countries don't rely as heavily upon the grocery store as we do.  People visit markets daily, where they pick up fresh meat, fruit, cheese, and vegetables on a daily basis - and they work with what is in season.  Have we ever wondered why there is such an obesity epidemic in our country?  It could very easily be related to the fact that we are so far removed from our food, we consider it almost an afterthought.  We pick up food that has been prepared for us by someone else, and shipped long distances long before we ever eat it.   (Chicken grown in Virgina, processed in China, and sold in Maine?  Don't laugh, it's done on a daily basis now.  It's called the "Global Economy".)

In this fascinating book, the Kingsolver family makes a pledge to eat nothing but local food for a year.  They define local to be within 100 miles of their home.  

The journey to find local food, and the repercussions of Big Business into farming are discussed in a way that makes sense, and also brings the very real politics (and money) of farming to a level which I can understand. 

Recipes and meal plans that follow the seasons are discussed as we join the Kingsolvers month by month through their challenge.  Not only did the family find food, they ate very well, and they thrived!

If you've followed my "Grocery Expenses" posts for any length of time, you know that I do tend to hit up some of the farm stands around us on a regular basis.  My dairy products are delivered by a local, family owned creamery.  Some of my meat comes from them, and some comes from Local Homestead Products - a little group of farmers that got together to see if they could cut out the middle man and sell quality, home grown meat to local consumers.  They recently expanded and are now also selling some vegetables, and started putting out bushel baskets of canning veggies last week.  I'll be back this weekend, with plans to put more stuff up.  Baugher's is another local, family owned orchard.  I hit them up in season and pick up my 50 pound bags of potatoes and onions, as well as bushels of peaches, apples, and pears.  

All of these local businesses employ local families, and some are in co-ops with other farmers in their area to provide more goods and services.  It's a win for the farmers.  The money I would pay my grocery store is going DIRECTLY to them.  They receive the full portion of what I pay, instead of some minuscule portion of that same amount.  

Think about it.  Then read the book and think about it some more.  It's worth more than one or two thoughts... there are some very deep issues here we, as people, will need to address soon.