4 out of 5 stars.
I would like to thank The Experiment for allowing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an open and honest review.
This book is hard to describe. I want to say “What a great book” but feel that would be an incredibly dull understatement.
‘Growing Tomorrow’ is like a feel good true story, a snap shot of how farming SHOULD be done and a cry for help to the younger generations to ensure these practices are kept going all in one. Yeah, that didn’t make it sound any clearer, did it?
What I can say is that I loved this book. Although a non-fiction work, it was fantastic to curl up on the couch with while having a cuppa. The only “negative” (and it isn’t one) is that I wish there was a similar book done here in Australia. After reading of all the author’s travels, all the farms seen, people met and foods tasted – I’d volunteer to do the Australian one! Pick me!
I would also like to send out a huge thank you to all the farmers and producers who took part in this book. The world needs more dedicated food heroes like you and I really do hope generations to come will learn from your ethics and keep producing foods the way they should be – in season, organically and in balance with their environment. Well done!
How can I describe this book? The brief run down is it’s a book of short stories that are true, almost like blog posts. Each one focusses on a farmer or producer from around the United States and also includes some rather yummy sounding recipes. I feel the long run down is similar, but contains a lot more heart, soul and passion in it. This isn’t just a book on farmers and what they grow, it is something that highlights an opportunity we can’t let escape. A chance to encourage we, the consumers, to choose more wisely where our foods come from and to respect our farmers and producers a lot more than most do. Thank them, rather than take them for granted. They’re the people feeding you!
Would I recommend this book to others? Yes I would. Though, when recommending it to my fellow Aussies I would be lamenting that we don’t have as good a snapshot of our farmers as the ones shown in ‘Growing Tomorrow’.
Would I buy this book for myself? Bookshelf space would be tight, but I could definitely see it finding a home in amongst my gardening and animal husbandry books. If nothing else, I would turn to it when needing to be inspired as to why we try to live the way we do from our own backyard produce as well as supporting our local farmers.
In summary: ‘Growing Tomorrow’ reminds me of how blessed I am to live in one of Australia’s ‘food bowls’ where I can talk to my farmers, as well as support them. But it is also a beacon to be held out to all consumers to help them realise why these sorts of agriculture should be supported, respected and how we all farm in the future. What an inspiring and feel good book!
Until next time,
Janis. XXOO
Janis's Journal 