I don't think I would ever have the gumption of Barbara Gowdy and her family... they packed up their whole lives and relocated to Virginia where they vowed to grow and raise most of their own food for an entire year (supplementing their own endeavours with other locally available fare). The result? A very entertaining and enlightening read that makes you think about where your food comes from.

Most of us have only the vaguest of ideas of where our groceries comes from before they reach the brightly lit, overly packaged and carefully merchandised aisles of their local grocery store. We have become so distant from the processes that feed us with potentially catastrophic results.

From the fossil fuel cost of California grapes to CAFOs (Confined Animal Feeding Operations) and mad Cow disease, this book will enlighten you to the overall cost of our eating habits (both physically and environmentally). This book provides tons of information for further study and activism, as well as recipes for the bounty of the kitchen garden.

What a fabulous book. I never thought the story of a turkey could make me teary, but I guess that just goes to show how interconnected our lives and our food supply really are.

The information in this book did not come as a huge shock for me. I've long been an organic food advocate, and my "from scratch" mentality dates back to early exposure to Martha Stewart Living. I have actually canned peaches and made my own strawberry jam. I own a yogurt maker that got a lot of use for the first month. We haven't eaten red meat in two years and our fish choices aren't endangering the posterity any species. We order from a natural food co-op (www.onfc.ca) each month and there are very rarely any convenience foods in my freezer or processed foods in my pantry. What I'm getting at is that this book has inspired me to take it even further. I think wherever we are in our choices about food, there's always something else we can do (and feel good about).

We're eating a free-range turkey for Thanksgiving tomorrow. I started supporting my local bakery, and was saddened when in the second week of my new bread-buying routine the bakery announced it was closing, due to a lack of local support. So I yanked the bread machine out of the yard sale pile and was amazed at how simple and easy it was to make your own bread. I can't wait to start going to our farmer's market. Though the fields are resting, our farmer's market is open year-round. I was particularly inspired by Ricki 'The Cheese Queen' and can't wait for the arrival of my '30-Minute Mozzarrella and Ricotta Kit.' Yes, I actually ordered this...

I too would love to give this book to everyone I know, but one thing that I did admire about Kingsolver's book was the gentleness of it. She wasn't pushing her views on anyone, she was just telling a story and letting you come to your own conclusions. I hope I can eventually strike that same balance in talking about my own food convictions.

THIS IS A BOOK EVERYONE SHOULD READ. KINGSOLVER CAN TURN WHAT MAY SEEM LIKE "MORE OF THE SAME" INTO A WONDERFUL MIRACLE. IT'S INSPIRING AND DELICIOUS.