Farmbrarian

I know there is still someone left on your list, so here are a few book suggestions that you can order from Amazon and still get it under the tree on time. You might have to rush the shipping, but that’s better than being late!

Send gift straight from Amazon!

How about Joel Salatin’s newest work? He’s the face of sustainable agriculture and his books are always worth a read! Better yet, they are perfect gifts to introduce someone to sustainable agriculture without being overwhelming.

In case you forgot, Salatin was featured by Michael Pollan in his wonderful book The Omnivore’s Dilemma. In this book he takes a look at modern life as compared to our simpler, agrarian roots. He has a strong opinion, but I always find myself interested in what he has to say.

Speaking of Michael Pollan, what could be a better gift than his original and inspiring book, or the brand new young reader’s edition. I picked this out as a perfect gift for my young niece.

In the book, Pollan traces four different meals from farm (or factory) to plate. He includes meals from McDonald’s, conventional farms, large-scale organic farms and the aforementioned Joel Salatin’s sustainable farm in Virginia.

Its the perfect starting point for your friend who’s just getting interested in her food and it is a great reminder for your CSA-subscribing friend. This book should be required reading for everyone.

And for your history-buff, food-loving friend, a copy of Twain’s Feast is the perfect stocking stuffer. In one of my favorite books I’ve reviewed, Beahrs follows Twain along his life’s journey and tells of the foods he would have encountered. Its a far cry from today where we can eat anything at any season and encounter tens of thousands of packaged, processed foods each time we visit the grocery store. Here’s my full review.

If I didn’t include that perfect gift, just keep digging though our archives. I promise you’ll find it!
What books are you giving for Christmas?

So many books on beekeeping exist, I can’t possibly put together a comprehensive list of the best. But here are few that have recently sparked my interest. I never tire of reading about these fascinating insects who play such a pivotal role in our food system.

The Beekeeper’s Bible by Richard Jones and Sharon Sweeney-Lynch

Honeybee Democracy by Thomas D. Seeley

Beekeeping: A Seasonal Guide by Ron Brown

The Beekeeper’s Lament by Hannah Nordhaus

Homemade Living: Keeping Bees with Ashley English

Also find these books at your local library.

Want more suggestions? Check out this great list on GoodReads.

Those of us who honor sustainable practices and eat meat know that sourcing cuts of local, humanely raised meats can be very challenging. The butchering process is another key part of the process that many are concerned with. Luckily, there has been a steady growth of producers working to meet this demand–so much so that butchering classes are easier to find than ever and nose-to-tail cooking is all the rage is restaurants around the country. Great cookbooks have also been published on the subject of sustainable meats. Here are four, fabulous cookbooks that will pique any carnivore’s interest!

Basic Butchering of Livestock and Game by John J. Mettler

The River Cottage Meat Book by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall

Primal Cuts: Cooking with America’s Best Butchers by Marissa Guggiana

Good Meat: The Complete Guide to Souring and Cooking Sustainable Meat by Deborah Krasner

Vintage cookbooks are precious resources. They allow us a glimpse back in history when food, cooking and  culture were very different than today.

The White House Cookbook was originally published in 1887. The contents of the book will surely take you back in time with discussions on etiquette and dinner parties. So many classic cooking tips fill this book. (Want an ebook version? Access the text for free through Project Gutenberg.)

The Curiosities of Food is another vintage title, originally published in 1859, but the scope of the book is very different than that of The White House Cookbook. Rodents, fowl, insects and other odd edibles are covered. The full title reads, The Curiosities of Food: Or the Dainties and Delicacies of Different Nations Obtained from the Animal Kingdom. Those interested in anthropology or the Travel Channel’s show Bizarre Foods will likely enjoy this book.

The American Heritage Cookbook is worth a look simply for the 40 historical menus included. A wealth of recipes are also included in this text originally published in the 1960′s.

Yearning for more vintage reads? Check out Omnivore Books on Food’s antiquarian inventory here.

Foraging offers us an unparalleled way to connect with nature and our hunter-gatherer past. Nowadays, very few of us have the skills and knowledge to identify wild foods, but luckily we have texts like these to guide us.

In 1962, Euell Gibbons published Stalking the Wild Asparagus, a manifesto on foraging that is still widely popular today. Connie Green and Sarah Scott’s The Wild Table (2010) is a beautiful cookbook that discusses locating ingredients and preparing delicious dishes with the loot. And Chanterelle Dreams, Amanita Nightmares (2010) by Greg A. Marley focuses solely on the often-feared but widely revered mushroom.

Explore one of these books and discover what’s growing wild in your neck of the woods!

Here are four books that will appeal to those of us who are anxiously awaiting warmer months and the bounty that will surely follow!

Heirloom: Notes from an Accidental Tomato Farmer by Tim Stark

If you drool over the exotic tomato varieties of heirloom seed catalogs, then you’ll likely enjoy this tale of a New Yorker who abandons his corporate life for the country. Publisher’s Weekly explains that “[Stark] illustrates the unlikely bond between the tomato-laden farm and the urban table.”

Blithe Tomato by Mike Madison

Farmer Mike Madison, brother of the well-known cookbook author Deborah Madison, writes about the joys and perils of running a small farm through vignettes on “gophers,” “foraging,” “figs” and other topics.

It’s a Long Road to a Tomato by Keith Stewart

Another widely praised tale of a New Yorker transplanted to the rural countryside. Keith Stewart shares a wealth of knowledge gained from more than twenty years on his farm in upstate New York.

The $64 Tomato by William Alexander

Through his book, “[Alexander] explores the true costs — and joys — of working one’s own soil,” says NPR. A story any home gardener will likely connect with.