Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life

Barbara Kingsolver moves her family from Arizona to a farm in southern Appalachia to live as locavores for one year. The family commits to eating only food raised on their own land or sourced from neighbors within their county. The narrative tracks the botanical realities of gardening, the biological ethics of raising slaughter poultry, and the logistical challenges of preserving a seasonal harvest for winter. Along with scientific sidebars on genetic biodiversity and the petroleum costs of industrial agriculture, the book provides specific recipes for seasonal staples like zucchini and sourdough bread.

This book serves gardeners, home cooks, and environmentalists interested in the mechanics of local food systems. Readers look to this text for a practical defense of small-scale agriculture and a guide to opting out of the globalized supermarket supply chain. It provides a blueprint for seasonal eating and agricultural awareness. Anyone curious about the nutritional and ecological difference between industrial produce and heirloom varieties will find concrete data and methods for regaining control over their kitchen and grocery budget.

Outward-looking and clear-cut; an easy read.

Best for readers like The Evidence Seeker. Which reader are you?