Farming: a dangerously self-sufficient act!
Pros:
An uplifting, heartwarming, humorous and yet educating book.
Cons:
If you do not enjoy gardening, nature or green living, go away.
The Bottom Line:
This would be a great book for anyone who would like to learn how to be better stewards of the earth regardless of where they live.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
Before I talk about this book, do you know that Barbara Kingsolver was listed as the 74th most dangerous person in the United States? Now if you have ever read a Barbara Kingsolver book, you are probably already laughing your pants off just as I did. A conservative media commentator Bernard Goldberg named her the 74th most dangerous person in America. Barbara Kingsolver, a novelist who writes compelling stories about different lifestyles has decided to write a real-life story about how she and her family left everything behind to move into an old farmhouse in the Applachians. Aside from the fact that I love her writing anyway, I was compelled to read what potentially dangerous and mind-blowing subject she could be writing about...
Danger #1
For one year, Barbara and her family decide that they will grow and raise all of their food to be free-range and organic. They also vow not to buy anything outside of a 100 mile radius (with the exception of coffee which they bought free-trade). Barbara lists supporting facts for why they decide to do this such as: reduces emissions when not purchasing foods that have traveled 1000's of miles, promotes a more healthy lifestyle for her family, promotes togetherness within her family and much more.
Danger #2
Barabara Kingsolver makes her own cheese. She provides a very humorous background story on her experience and goes on to provide the reader with actual recipes that are easy to use with store bought milk! She also talks about "pizza night" which she shares with her family every friday and they make their pizza from scratch and use homemade cheese. After this chapter, I was absolutely starving for homemade pizza.
Danger #3
They can their own food. There are a lot of details on what they grow and how they preserve it. Canning is not the only method they use. They also make sun-dried tomatoes, freeze their food and much more. Once again, not only does she provide personal stories that the reader can relate to, but also provides recipes the reader can use. Her daughter Camille, who helped co-write the book is the leading person to provide the recipes.
Danger #4
They kill animals. Rather than buying meat from the store that has been unfairly treated living in small quarters and eating food that is not native to them... Barbara and her family choose to raise their own organic and free-range food. The also try to choose animals that are native to the area, are free of modified genetics (aka "heritage" animals) and can provide good food.
Danger #5
Okay... are you getting it now? There is really no danger behind her book. If Bernard Goldberg thinks it dangerous for a family to become self-sustainable and provide food and money to their local community thereby reducing their carbon imprint on the world... then he needs to research the history of "Victory Garden" in the UK. Remember Victory Garden? If not, look it up. When another country cut off their supplies, the UK came up with a slogan, "Dig, dig, dig, it makes your muscles big." This campaign during a time of war saved a country from starvation and as a result, they still implement these independent practices close to home.
It might also do Bernard Goldberg some good to actually try to aspire to leave less of an imprint on the land and more of an impression in people's hearts which is really the inspiring message throughout Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.
