Farmbrarian

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The Locavore Way: Discover and Enjoy the Pleasures of Locally Grown Food (2009) by Amy Cotler is a comprehensive, easy-to-read guide on how to find, buy, and cook locally grown food. She covers every aspect of eating locally: from the basics, like what to look for at farmer’s markets, to the more complex, like how to buy meat and poultry in areas where local food is not available in stores. Recipes and tips for preparing many vegetables and fruits help those of us less experienced with creating meals with fresh food. The author also stresses the importance of consumer expectations of the companies, restaurants, and schools linked to our meals and how to effectively advocate for change. The Locavore Way includes a great resource section to get you started, and my favorite – testimonials from farmers, chefs, and families who make local food a part of their lives.

Thanks to Storey Publishing for the review copy and to one of Reno’s own locavores Shelley of Local Food Northern Nevada for the review! Shelley’s site is a great resource for area residents, check it out!

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Jonah Raskin’s Field Days: A Year of Farming, Eating and Drinking Wine in California (2009) is a poetic love letter to Sonoma County. Readers will most definitely fall hard for the area’s agricultural history, idyllic landscape, hard-working people and fresh food as described by Raskin.

The memoir recounts a year’s worth of experiences traveling throughout Sonoma working on sustainable farms, most notably Oak Hill Farm in Glen Ellen, California. Raskin meets an array of people who are passionate about growing food that is healthy for us and the planet, and he eloquently shares each of their stories. The strongest aspect of the text is the focus on immigrant workers and the role they play in supporting our food system.

Raskin captures the romantic notions and realities of small-scale sustainable farming in a book the San Francisco Chronicle named one of the “50 notable Bay Area books of 2009.” Anyone who has felt a tug to escape a conventional lifestyle and connect with the land that sustains us will appreciate Raskin’s journey.

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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.