I have been on the wait list so long at the library for this book that when my friendly librarian who knows me by name (see previous posts) pointed out that it was in, it was like Christmas. I was especially happy to have an entire long weekend of pool time available to read it (yes, I AM a spinster!) to make sure I got it read before I had to return it.
Several friends from college had been discussing the idea of local eating with me, and when I saw one of my more favorite authors came out with a new book on that very topic, I was intrigued. Kingsolver and her family live on a large farm in rural Virginia. As a part of healthier living, and the lessening of their family's own carbon footprint, the Kingsolvers resolve to become "locavores" for a year. It entails either growing your own, or only purchasing foods grown/made in your county. Several other books on the same subject advocate a 100 mile rule, or a 250 mile rule, depending on your proximity to areas realistically able to grow a complete diet. Each Kingsolver, including the littlest, who in my opinion steals the book, chooses a "luxury" item to eat despite its origins outside the radius. Items chosen include coffee, spices, chocolate, and dried fruit.
The Kingsolver family dives into this project with more gusto than the average apartment dweller would be able to muster. They buy chickens and turkeys for meat, as well as a hoarde of chickens for fresh eggs. On top of the foray into animal husbandry, they also become full blown farmers, growing so many vegetables that I hadn't even heard of them all. The harvest and maintenance on a garden of this size seems to stretch the abilities of a family of 4 who still maintain regular jobs. They learn to plan for the lean months by canning, freezing, and maintaining as much of the earth's bounty as they possibly are able. They also made homemade cheese, and bread, once they were able to find a local flour source. They did survive the entire year without any starvation. While reading I wondered if Kingsolver edited out the complaints for McDonalds' fries or a good old fashioned Coke....but then again they live somewhere rural, so they probably couldn't have acquired it rapidly anyway.
I must admit that I found this whole idea very interesting. Eating fresher, healthier food that I know the origins of definitely sounds good. I would love to be able to have a garden here, but my apartment does not permit....although there are times when my living room full of afternoon sun feels like a hothouse. The idea just does not seem sustainable for the average non-landowner.
As a part of my reading, and thinking about this topic, I explored several farmers markets in my local area. To be honest, I was not quite sure what produce even grew in this area, nor at which times a year. I was well versed in the produce from the town I was raised in. Mom used to take us to pick strewberries, apples, and.....the dreaded snowpeas.....dreaded not for their taste, which we loved, but the fact that it took hours to pick a bushel. Think of how flat those things are! At any rate, this area does not seem as blessed with produce as my home town. Most importantly, like the daughter in Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, I was frightened by the dearth of local fruit. Granted, it is mostly past summer's most bountiful time, but all I was able to find were some local early apples. I would have to have fruit as my "luxury" item....or move to Hawaii.
I definitely give the book a thumbs up for making me think more about where my food comes from. I cannot say that I am going to make a pact as serious as their family to follow it to the letter, but lessening one's carbon footprint on a world with slowly dwindling resources is a good idea. I am going to try to buy local vegetables when possible, as well as fresh meat. I also am going to try my hand at cheesemaking once the weather gets a little cooler. I don't think I could cook without real sugar, or olive oil, and I have yet to find any sugar canes or olive groves near the Ohio River. I'm just not ready to give up pineapples.....and I haven't found a homemade gatorade plant here yet......
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