Farmbrarian

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The Carrot Seed – Written by Ruth Krauss, Illustrated by Crockett Johnson

This classic tale begins with a little boy planting a carrot seed. Ignoring the pessimistic refrain from his father, mother, and big brother that the seed will not come up, the boy resolutely cares for the seed each day, providing it with water and removing weeds. His perseverance finally pays off when the seed grows into a gigantic carrot, “just as the little boy had known it would.”

Over 60 years after its publication, Krauss’s simple story about one boy’s unwavering faith still has the power to captivate young readers. The succinct text is full of repetition, making it easy for young readers to follow. The text is matched perfectly by the minimal illustrations that capture the spirit of the story by reflecting the boy’s patience, determination, and ultimate validation. Recommended for ages 3-6.

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Winnie Finn, Worm Farmer – Written by Carol Brendler, Illustrated by Ard Hoyt

Young Winnie Finn is passionate about earthworms, going so far as to take them for rides around Quincy County in her wagon. With the Quincy County Fair approaching, Winnie hopes to win a prize for best worms. Though several of her neighbors are dismissive of her idea, Winnie remains undeterred and builds a worm farm. The fertilizer it produces is used by Mr. Abernathy to grow tall corn, which is then used by Mrs. Yamasaki-O’Sheridan to feed her Plymouth Rock hens, whose eggs are used by Mr. Peasley to make his Afghan puppies coats shine, causing all three to win first prize at the fair. Winnie is an appealing, clever heroine who uses her ecological knowledge to save the day for Quincy’s residents. The humorous, detailed illustrations depicting Winnie’s adventures are bound to elicit chuckles. An author’s note includes instructions on how to build a worm farm for budding worm enthusiasts like Winnie. Recommended for ages 5-8.

Thanks again to our friend and Children’s Librarian Cassandra for the great reviews! For many, many more suggested children’s titles about agriculture, see School Library Journal’s “Farm Fresh” report.

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Michael Pollan, author of the wildly successful The Omnivore’s Dilemma, presents readers with simple rules of eating healthfully in his new book Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual. The mantra of his last book In Defense of Food (“Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”) forms the backbone of the new book, which features a collection of sentence-long personal eating rules. For example, “If it came from a plant eat it; if it was made in a plant, don’t,” and “the whiter the bread, the sooner you’ll be dead.”

The book can be read in its entirety in less than an hour, which is certainly worth doing. Fans of Pollan’s work will not encounter new ideas, but rather a greatly abbreviated and cleverly presented reiteration of his work. The rules were either created by Pollan, submitted to him by those who read his request for food rules via a New York Times blog, or are long-standing, cultural ideas about eating.

This “eater’s manual” is an enjoyable read for all, but especially for those unfamiliar with Pollan’s work.

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Like those who went back to the land in the widespread movement of the 1970’s, more and more people are now attempting to live self-sufficient lifestyles in cities and countrysides alike. For anyone captivated by the idea of breaking with mainstream society to pursue an agrarian lifestyle, this book will greatly pique your interest.

In Back from the Land: How Young Americans Went to Nature in the 1970’s and Why They Came Back (2007), Eleanor Agnew skillfully pieces together her experiences and those of many others as they participated in the Back to the Land exodus. She tells of their aspirations, their many struggles, and the reasons why many eventually entered back into mainstream living.

For younger audiences, Agnew’s story will shed light on some of the often-ignored, more challenging aspects of homesteading; and for those that were part of the movement, the tale will likely provide a poetic avenue for reminiscing.

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The Curious Garden  – Written and Illustrated by Peter Brown

One day, in a city devoid of vegetation, a curious boy named Liam stumbles upon a smattering of dying wildflowers and plants growing along an abandoned railway. Though he knows little about gardening, Liam resolves to do what he can to save the tiny garden. As a result of Liam’s dogged determination, the plants flourish. Before long, Liam’s garden begins to spread, not just along the railway, but also throughout the entire city. As the garden grows, so does the community’s involvement in it, until Liam becomes just one of many gardeners in the city.

Inspired by the growth of a real garden along the abandoned Highline railway in Manhattan, this gentle story celebrates both the beauty of nature and the power of one individual to make a difference. The lovely acrylic and gouache illustrations, which include many wordless spreads, depict the almost magical transformation of the city from a bleak place to one full of lush greenery. In a concluding author’s note, Brown encourages his young readers to follow in Liam’s footsteps and look for nature all around them. Recommended for ages 5-8.

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Over in the Garden – Written by Jennifer Ward, Illustrated by Kenneth J. Spengler

This charming take on the traditional counting rhyme “Over in the Meadow” illuminates the roles played by different critters in a garden. The bright gouache illustrations depict ten large, cheery insects, from pouncing mantises to buzzing bees and glowing beetles. Children will practice both their counting and detective skills, as each spread contains a hidden number reflecting the number of insects on the page. Readers wishing to learn more about the creatures in this tale will find additional information about many of them presented in a “Fun Facts” section in the back. The book concludes with a musical score for those unfamiliar with the tune to Over in the Meadow. Recommended for ages 3-6.

Reviews graciously contributed by our friend Cassandra who works as a Children’s Librarian in the Boston area. If interested in submitting a guest review, contact us!

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Bill McKibben, self-proclaimed author, educator and environmentalist, encourages a new way of conceptualizing community in his book Deep Economy: the Wealth of Communities and Durable Future (2007). Aside from being truly inspirational, the book is pragmatic, logical and well written. He encourages us to reintroduce ourselves “to each other and to the possibility that we need to think about something other than More” (173).

The word more, as used by McKibben, refers simply to our seemingly insatiable thirst for things. Few would disagree that our culture is fixated on things—cheap, abundant and attention-grabbing things. But the affect those desires have on our communities is often overlooked.

In today’s global economy, the only concern seems to be the growth of companies and economies. The point of this of course is to grow our bank accounts, so that, surprise, we can acquire more things! Companies are working harder than ever to produce more for less, “and in the process making everyone’s lives…as efficiently miserable as possible” (210). In the long run, what good is owning another flat screen television if your neighbor’s job at Samsung is sent to India in an effort to produce that TV as cheaply as possible?

For McKibben however, along with an ever-growing number of concerned individuals, the happiness of your neighbor does matter. This book attempts to show us how we can work together to make the world a better place just one neighborhood at a time.

Those interested in supporting local food systems will enjoy the chapter on his year of eating locally, as well as the larger scope of this book. For further reading, pick up Slow Money by Woody Tasch, which applies the principles of the Slow Food movement to our local communities and our overall economy.

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Nonfiction titles about ecology abound, but books that blend fictional characters with ecological truths are rare. Barbara Kingsolver’s Prodigal Summer (2000) is one such rarity.

Three stories sprout, flourish and eventually intertwine during the course of an Appalachian summer. Deanna Wolfe is the sole protector of a national forest who revels in the solitude of the woods; Lusa Maluf Landowski is an educated city-girl who marries into a farming family and struggles for acceptance; and the story’s third plot features feuding neighbors Nannie and Garnett–one prefers organic the other chemical control.

Each story blends heartwarming fiction with science. Kingsolver succeeds in fusing her talent as a storyteller, her formal education in biology, and her personal agricultural interests in this wonderful tale. Readers will fall in love with the characters and increase their understanding of predatory patterns, farming, and other topics simultaneously.

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Sustainable Food: How to Buy Right and Spend Less (2009) by Elise McDonough is one of a series of Chelsea Green Guides, which are designed “for individuals and businesses looking to green-up their knowledge.” This 67-page book is a quick reference on eating sustainably that will easily fit in a purse or jacket pocket.

The book offers concise explanations of food label buzz words like organic, genetically modified organisms (GMO), Fair Trade and free-range, among others. A focus is placed on helping consumers make eco and health friendly food choices without breaking the bank. For example, “Consider reducing your budget for meat and dairy…and put the money you save toward healthier organic fruits and veggies” (46). Wise advice indeed.

Sustainable Food is a useful resource for anyone but will be especially helpful to those with an interest in, but not much knowledge of eating ethically.

Chelsea Green Publishing kindly provided a review copy of this book.

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Every sentence of Novella Carpenter’s Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer (2009) is marinated in the perfect combination of humor, eloquence, grit and ghetto. Once you start reading, you won’t be able to stop.

The story chronicles the author’s successes and failures while farming an abandoned plot of land in a crime-ridden part of Oakland, California. She first tells of adventures raising turkeys, including a hilarious scene in which she chases an escaped bird down a main Oakland thoroughfare. The second portion of the book recounts Carpenter’s experiences raising rabbits on the deck of her second-story apartment. And the final section features two 4-H bred pigs that quickly become neighborhood menaces. Stories of colorful characters encountered along the way are juxtaposed between stories of the ever-growing garden.

Urban farming has been widely discussed as a potential solution to food security and a way to satisfy the growing desire for local food. Carpenter proves that urban farming can do this, and more. She feeds her flocks and pigs with dumpster waste from nearby restaurants; brings unlikely community members together in her squatter space; mingles with culinary stars; and shares her bounty with many.

Novella Carpenter shows us the way of micro-farming in this wonderful book that will leave you with the urge to find your own slab of deserted concrete and begin growing.

Publisher’s Weekly also wildly praised Farm City, calling the book “utterly enchanting.” Read the full review here.

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Richard Wiswall’s The Organic Farmer’s Business Handbook: A Complete Guide to Managing Finances, Crops and Staff – and Making a Profit (2009), is an excellent resource for any farmer. Given the recent trend of abandoning a day job to start a small farm, this book should certainly be a success.

The book aims to teach readers how to run a profitable farm, and the focus is distinctly financial. Wiswall successfully explains how to treat your farm as a business and then how to run it profitably, like any good entrepreneur would. “Farm for profit, not production,” (15) he implores. Wiswall provides a step-by-step approach to reaching a target income, including exactly what to grow and how much, along with where to sell.  Also addressed are the often scary topics of writing a business plan, managing staff, marketing, and other concerns. Very little information is given on farming and growing practices, which was an appropriate choice by the author, given the plethora of existing material on such topics.

A successful farm truly is much more than growing and selling food. Richard Wiswall has provided a great asset–especially for farmers looking to improve profitability or get up and running.

This book was kindly provided by Chelsea Green Publishing–thanks for the resource!

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Leslie Marmon Silko, a well-known Native American author, delivers rich prose and a captivating plot in Gardens in the Dunes (1999). The book is a rare work of fiction that fuses imaginary stories with historical and horticultural facts that will pique the interest of many.

Set at the turn of the 19^th century, Indigo and her older sister are the last members of a little-known tribe living in a desert garden oasis. The story follows the young girls as they struggle to survive persecution by American authorities.

Eventually ‘Indian police’ capture the pair and Indigo is sent to an Indian boarding school, while her sister is forced to move to a reservation. As the two displaced sisters try to reunite, the plot thickens. Silko includes a diverse character set and discusses a great number of historical issues, but the gardens in the dunes remain at the heart of the novel.

An intricate fictional storyline and reoccurring themes of botany, horticulture, and respect for the natural world will keep readers turning the pages. For a more thorough summary, see a brief synopsis in Time magazine or a longer review by the San Francisco Chronicle.

The great majority of our reviews will focus on nonfiction. But occasionally we all need a good fictional tale. Finding fiction that incorporates themes of agriculture, ecology, or other related subjects has proven difficult. If you have any suggestions, please share!