Book Review: Animal Vegetable Miracle

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle is a book aiming to raise awareness about the benefits of local consumption. It not only illustrates reasons why local food is so important, but also teaches how to buy locally, cook seasonally, and acquire a green thumb. The Kingsolver's tested the concept of growing local food by trying to live a whole year solely on food grown by themselves or nearby. Surprisingly, they succeeded. Mostly. 

Starting at the onset of the growing season, the book begins with the family living off of mainly asparagus and early greens. There is actually an entire chapter on the phenomenal, perennial plant that is asparagus. As spring progresses in the book, the Kingsolvers discuss issues such as genetic modification, the beauty of heirloom vegetables, and the patenting of seeds. Another important point made is that purchasing produce from other countries is not as helpful as it may seem; it can encourage the growth of monster farms/companies that take advantage of the local populations and ignore environmental protocol. 

By summer, the family was already preparing full meals for parties, such as Barbara's fiftieth birthday, during which the family hosted 150 people at their house, fixing exclusively local food. The family also manages to take a few vacations, including one from their home in Virginia to Canada and back and a trip to Italy. During the first, they stay at some friends' house. The couple always eat locally, run a farm, and drive a horse and buggy. The way Kingsolver describes it, you never guess that the family is Amish. It really makes a person wonder why the entire world doesn't live like the Amish, a minority that is pretty much biosphere compatible. 

Another topic discussed is the destructiveness of pesticides. As more weeds and insects become immune to the chemicals farmers spray them with, the normal reaction is to raise the dosage of spray. Not only does this harm consumers, it hurts the farmers; more pests become immune as more pesticides are used. Farmers are slowly losing. But not the organic farmers! 

The end of the book analyzes vegetarianism, suggests ways to find local/organic food, and has tips on canning and storing local food. As far as vegetarianism goes, it only makes eating locally considerably harder. It would be awfully hard to find local tofu anywhere in the western United States. 

I would recommend Animal, Vegetable, Miracle to any consumer old enough to read. It opened my eyes to the horror that is Monsanto, the importance of organic, and the problems that emerge with non local consumerism. I completely agree that people cannot be vegetarians and locavores (what local consumers call themselves) at the same time. 

If ever the time comes when the U.S. finds the need to cut back on its oil consumption, many people will find themselves fighting to find food. Becoming local consumers now would make the future much easier. Food would be less costly, people would be healthier and more neighborly, there would be a more equal job and wealth distribution around the world, and climate change would naturally become less of a problem. How can we argue with that?