Farm Together Now by Amy Franceschini & Daniel Tucker
Click to buy this book!
In a recent Grist article, Michael Pollan named Farm Together Now: A Portrait of People, Places, and Ideas for a New Food Movement (2010) his “favorite book of the season.” This powerful and inspirational book deserves every bit of praise.
In the book, authors Amy Franceschini and Daniel Tucker give a voice to individuals working at the grassroots level to improve food throughout the United States. They specifically profile twenty projects of varying nature and, through interviews, highlight the diverse work being done by farmers, activists, social workers, and environmentalists.
The interview style allows you to interact with the featured individuals on an intimate level. You’ll directly learn about the hopes, fears and accomplishments of people such as the founders of Participation Park in Baltimore–where a vacant lot is now being used to grow food and revive the surrounding, impoverished community. Some of the people, like Myles Harston of AquaRanch, have created model systems or initiatives that are now being replicated. Others are working to foster the next generation of farmers through education and training. The portraits also demonstrate that although the rewards can be great, the challenges are many. Financial and policy barriers, for example, often impede efforts.
The growers also get to share their stories visually through Anne Hamersky‘s talented photojournalism. She beautifully captures the raw joy, determination and satisfaction of the people and places of Farm Together Now. The images that accompany each profile speak as loudly as the interviews.
Everyone needs to eat, and these stories illustrate how food issues permeate all aspects of society. Read Farm Together Now and get to know those who are making great strides towards improving access to clean, healthy food, achieving social and environmental justice, and preserving food and farming traditions. You’ll gain a greater understanding of the impact individual efforts can have on improving our food system. An even greater impact can be made if we work to farm together–now!
Buy this book instead of borrowing from your library, if you can. Fifty percent of the profits will help fund “new documentaries about food production in the United States” (189). Contest update: Thanks to everyone who participated and congratulations to our randomly selected winner Bonnie Schulz. Lookout for more giveaways in the future!
You might also like: Farmer Jane: Women Changing the Way We Eat by Temra Costa
I’d love to read this book! Sounds so inspiring!
Can’t wait to read it! I love being inspired by stories of fellow farmers.
I’ve been wanting to read this. I’d love to win a copy!
Sounds like a worthwhile read.
Sounds like an interesting book! Would very much like to read it!
I’d love to read this!
I would love to add this to my book shelf, in between Michael Pollan’s Omnivore’s Dilemma and Joel Salatin’s You Can Farm. Thanks!
I would love to win a copy of this book!
I would love to own this – going on my wish list right now!
Put me in the drawing! I’d love a copy of Farm Together Now : )
I would like to have a copy of this book for use in my classroom.
I would love to read this book!
Here’s my request to be entered for the book. Just found the site and have looked up some other sites on the book. Looks interesting. Farm life is great.
I always try to buy books, especially when I read the blogs of those who wrote it. I just got my copy of Chick Days by Jenna Woginrich. I feel like it helps, even just a tiny bit when you support them this way.
Please enter me in the drawing. I just found your blog and can’t wait to get reading!
I fawned over this book in the bookstore the other day…would love to own it and share with my CSA members!
I can’t wait to get the book and the stories inspire me to grow my own city farm even bigger than it is now.
I’d love to win a copy of this inspiring book! This book would be a great resource to add to my research on the role of food in urban placemaking.
I just discovered your blog through designsponge and I love it. i’ve been trying to find something similar for awhile, I’m excited to check out your suggestions. By the way, I saw that you’re reading twelve by twelve, i read it too and wrote about it here – http://bedtimemonsters.blogspot.com/2010/09/things-to-read-simple-life.html, can’t wait to read your review!
I would love to read this!!
Sounds like a great read!