Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara KingsolverMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a family memoir- a portrait, part philosphy, part urgent exhoratation and part wonderous ode to nature. Written by the author, her husband and her daugther, their journey is a labor of many years, culminating in a 12 month commitment to local eating. While this is not a command to go forth and build our own gardens forthwith, it is an urge to focus appreciation on food procurement, food enjoyment, and food quality. This begins at home- both under our individual roofs, but within our communities and states.
This book coincides for me, with not only Kingsolver's other work (of fiction- Prodigal Summer), but also with Michael Pollan's Omnivore's Dilemma. All of these books depict the struggles of farmers to prevent a food monoculture and eventual food system meltdown. These are not vegetarian manifests preaching respect for the lives of our domesticated food animals. Rather, through examples of proper land utilization, humane and healthier animal cultivation, and finally, with the true enjoyment of these animals as just that- food.
The Kinsolver family's path started with their own love of food growing and food making. The descriptions of cheese making, poultry harvesting, and heritage or heirloom seed cultivation were absolutely intriguing. The industry of her young daughter with her own egg business was inspiring. Finally, it is the story of a family and their legacy of love for each other and their animals and land which make this book such a joy to read.
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