Has anybody read...

[banana shake]

Plant Animal Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver? I know it's not a raw food book, but I thought it was very relevant anyway. She and her family ate locally for one year, and they grew, harvested, canned, & froze much of their own produce (in addition to eggs, poultry and other meat).

It really made me realize how much more I could be doing in my own (small, city lot) backyard next summer. I should be planting fruit trees and bushes , which will take a few years to get established, but can you imagine the payoff? And I could easily increase the amount of "regular" garden produce (tomatoes, peppers, squash, etc.) I plant. So many possibilities.

And I don't know about you guys, but here in northern Illinois, we'll start getting garden and seed catalogues in the mail next month, just as we're in the middle of winter. I'm a sucker for those catalogues- they hold so much promise!

Anyway... the book was really great, very thought-provoking, and I just wondered if anyone else had read it. Thanks... Jen

[Frugal Raw]

I haven't read it, but I do organic garden, and have already started receiving my seed catalogs!!! I got "Totally Tomatoes" last week - I can hardly wait for Spring to get here!!!!!!!!!

[Hannah]

You are the second person to reccomend that book to me since i began this voyage into the land of 100%. I am definitely going to check it out, I love Barbara Kingsolver's other works and her aesthetic - thanks for the suggestion!

[Bananapie]

I have not read her book but it is on the list.
As far as local and being north. We always have at least eight kale plants for winter use and arugala and spinach under cold frames. That is with only one raw foodie in the house one vegetarian and two little ones. I also freeze basil and other herbs for winter as well as dry them. I have a hard time letting go of lemons, coconuts, bananas and avocados but it is so cold right now, I am gong to challenge myself to do it in the summer. A raw friend of mine brought over a home grown red tomato in late late November!! She said she picked it green at the end of the seasion and wrapped it in newspaper and stored it in a cool dry place. I couldn't believe it, it tasted great sweet and summery. Her and her husband have also planted some rhubarb to take the sour place of lemons and lot of nut trees on their property to take the place of fatty avocados and coconuts.

[banana shake]

Amber... I especially love the tomato catalogues too. The descriptions of some of them are amazing, especially the heirlooms.

Hannah... if you've liked her past stuff, you'll definitely love this. Happy reading!

Bananapie... It sounds like you're already doing a lot. I really like the idea of cold frames. I have a couple of ornamental kales that are still going strong, right through the snow. Think they're edible? They're awfully pretty, in any case.

I made about forty batches of basil pesto (not all raw) at the end of the season & froze them flat in baggies.

One variety of tomato that Kingsolver talks about in her book is called (I think) longkeeper. It's an heirloom that was bred for the purpose you described, bananapie. You pick them at the end of the season, green because they won't ripen on the vine, wrap them in newspaper, and store them through December. That's how they ripen- wrapped & tucked away. I'll be looking for those next year! Can you imagine eating perfectly ripe, heirloom tomatoes tonight for dinner?! And my house was built in 1928, complete with a root cellar, which I've not used for anything but storage up until now, but... I'm imagining a reclaimed space, bursting with piles of winter squash, ropes of garlic and onions, baskets of carefully wrapped tomatoes. Yummmm!

[Azura Skye]

I haven't read it.

that's what I love about the raw lifestlye though, it instantly takes you to a place where you are much more connected to nature.

I now grow my own veg, and have ordered some fruit trees. It just makes sense to grow my own.

I've also now got a pond in my garden - no fish, because I want to attract wildlife. It's a much better diet for yourself and for the natural world around you.

[Lavendula]

Do you just post bumping, or what? I was talking with on of our local Heritage CSA farmers today, and he mentioned this book. Since I am headed to NW Georgia, I'm going to get it asap. It should be helpful for a raw foodie in Georgia. Anybody there use it for reference?

[banana shake]

you just bumped, which is so weird because this is a thread I started a long time ago. I did end up putting in berries and some other edibles, and I still have plans for lots of expansion is the food production realm. Also, since I started the post, I've bought & read a ton of other really helpful books on the subject. The Kingsolver book has a lot of recipes (cooked), but not a ton of gardening advice; it's more of a narrative of her experience. Can't write anymore right now, but I'll post some more helpful titles soon.

But, yes, the Kingsolver book was a really good read, even if it wasn't a practical, how-to sort of book.

[Lavendula]

I'm in McHenry, I went to Walkup Farms yesterday for some greens. He was saying it would be a helpful reference to know what's in season in that area. I am headed South to GA on Sunday. My garden here has been tired, fighting the Canadian thistle. I struggled just to get a few cukes, squash and some herbs, just now have a little chard too small to eat. Gardening the last two years has been a loss for me.

[Dena Marie]

ya I read it and then gave it to my mom to read. She was completely inspired. She dug up all of our grass in our back yard and turned it into a garden. It's been amazing how she has transformed our yard into something useful. plus our neighbor has an avocado tree. Which comes in super handy. =-)

[garden granny]

I loved that book and have read several other books of hers, she's one of my favs.

[fuenteselaine]

Hi seed,
I have read this for the first time. I am definitely going to check it out - thanks for the suggestion!