Animal, Vegetable, Miracle is a Must-Read for Locavores

"Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" by Barbara Kingsolver was highly recommended on a website I frequent, so I sought it out at my local library. I found this book to be a very interesting and informative read. I love to garden. I have always dreamed of having acres to garden, producing enough food for my family to survive on. Some part of me has always pondered raising my own chickens and cows, providing eggs and milk for my family's nourishment (my husband swears I am Laura Ingalls Wilder trapped in a 20th century woman's body). Therefore, I connected immediately with the author's goals and ideals. I deeply envy this family's courageous experiment.

Author Barbara Kingsolver and her family decided to take an entire year and eat only those foods that were either grown or produced by their own hands. A very noble goal in my humble opinion. After years of growing concern about the environment as well as the effects their food choices were having on their health, the Kingsolver-Hopp family sets out for a farm in Appalachia to set up their experiment. Mr. Hopp states, "Americans put almost as much fossil fuel into our refrigerators as our cars...The lion's share is consumed during the trip from the farm to your plate." This family's desire to become more responsible consumers leads them to attempt to reduce the distance their food must travel.

Their first declaration is that they will eat only foods grown in their backyard or neighboring farms and those foods will be eaten in-season as much as possible. Could they grow enough produce to keep them fed through the cold winter? How would they survive in Appalachia without Peruvian bananas? Would they starve or have to give in and purchase food at the grocery store?

The book is a good mix of journal, recipe book and educational essays. Ms. Kingsolver's journals of their daily trials and tribulations are the basis of her story. Her teenage daughter, Camille, provides recipes and side notes, which provide a great perspective on the experiment. Steve Hopp, husband of Ms. Kingsolver, provides essays on the environmental effects of our food choices. Also reported in the book are the trials and tribulations of younger daughter, Lily, as she raises chickens and begins her egg business.

While Ms. Kingsolver clearly states that this book is not meant to be a guide in any way, it is laid out in an easy-to-follow format that one could use to attempt a similar experiment. Chapters are aligned by month, chronicling a year through the garden seasons. Spring planting gives way to summer weeding which leads to fall harvest and finally winter consumption. Recipes are interspersed throughout the seasons, focusing on the foods harvested. Ms. Kingsolver and family also maintain a practical website (www.animalvegetablemiracle.com) where you can find additional resources as well as the recipes presented in the book.

I enjoyed the recipes presented in the book. The seasonal meal plans were especially enlightening because too often I find great recipes, but wonder how to incorporate that one dish into a meal. The essays by Mr. Hopp are thought-provoking without being preachy. They provide additional scientific data that further supports this family's plans. I am very interesting in growing organically and eating locally (in other words, becoming a "locavore"). This book was a great starting point for delving more deeply into these ideas.

This informative tale chronicles one family's journey to become more responsible food consumers. Their expedition is presented in an entertaining, easy-to-read format. I consider it a must-read for concerned citizens.