Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
I just finished reading a fabulous book that I think some of you might enjoy. It's called Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.Barbara and her family made the decision to try to survive for a year only on produce they either grew themselves or were able to buy locally. The family describe their experiences as well as their reasons for, and the rewards of doing it. The way Barbara lays it out for us it becomes an amazing discovery.
Why do such a thing though? Leafy greens that haven't been frozen and shipped a thousand miles and actually taste green; (I swear I know what green tastes like after eating fresh lettuce just grown in my backyard one year); wax and green beans that are so crisp they snap like kindling when you chew them; tomatoes that are so juicy and sweet that you just want to eat slabs of them forever; and corn that tempts you to eat it uncooked.
This is a well-written, fun, entertaining, depressing and optimistic book all at once. It's depressing to realize that while the government on one hand is telling us to eat a balanced diet they are propping up an industry that grows only two crops, both of which make up the lion's share of all pre-packaged food sold, The optimism comes from knowing that we can make a difference in our own lives and that we don't have to play by their rules.
Labels: book review
