We are what we eat: a Slow Food manifesto
A former champion of the Slow movement of food, renowned chef Alice Waters addresses how food defines us. In her new book, Waters looks at how food has negatively impacted people and the environment, but also how it can help you heal and replenish. As he writes in the introduction to the book, “How we eat is how we live.” Through his own lived experiences, Waters traces America’s diverse food eras, from the Victory Gardens of World War II to frozen dinners and fast food, as well as recent farm-to-table efforts. and the virtues of biodiversity and sustainability. Above all, the book is a meditation on how what we eat impacts not only us, but also the planet and what can be done to create deep and lasting change.
(Penguin Press, June 1)
What is good? A memory in twelve ingredients
Chef Peter Hoffman, whose Savoy restaurant in New York City helped pave the way for farm-to-table cooking, explores the cultural, historical and botanical backstories of the food we eat. The book is structured around his visits to Union Square Greenmarket, where he begins the ingredients and history tour with leeks and potatoes, travels through the strawberry and garlic season, and then ends with late-season vegetables like cabbage. curly and chicory. Share personal stories and follow the progress of these crops, as well as the stories of the farmers and vendors who grow and defend them. At the end of each ingredient chapter, Hoffman offers a recipe for home cooks to prepare.
(Abrams Press, June 8)
The economics of sustainable food
This book explores the reasons why economists and policy makers ignore the negative effects of the world’s industrial food system, including malnutrition, economic loss, and environmental degradation. Editor Nicoletta Batini argues that macroeconomic policy has largely bypassed food systems and puts together a collection of essays with possible solutions for making food more sustainable. Several authors explore topics such as taxing food with a high carbon footprint, subsidizing terrestrial and marine agriculture, and providing schools with matching funds to purchase local organic produce.
(Island Press, June 8)
The Heirloom Gardener: Traditional Plants and Skills for the Modern World
Historical horticulturist and ethnobotanist John Forti celebrates the importance of gardens, past, present and future. Part of the essay collection, part of the gardening guide, The Relic Gardener encourages readers to embrace the relic’s seeds and traditions, serving as a much-needed reminder to slow down and reconnect with nature.
(Timber Press, June 22)
Organic Gardening for Beginners: An Green Guide to Growing Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs
Do you want to start an organic garden at home but are not sure where to start? This book is an excellent starting guide. Farm Manager Lisa Lombardo explains how to plant and grow dozens of fruits, vegetables, and herbs using sustainable, pesticide-free, and eco-friendly methods. It also offers a helpful summary of the most common insects you can expect to find, both the good and the bad, with practical advice on how to help the beneficials thrive and how to safely remove pests from your garden.
(Rockridge Press, June 29)
Toxic Legacy: How Herbicidal Glyphosate Is Destroying Our Health And The Environment
MIT scientist Stephanie Seneff is sounding the alarm about the dangers of the herbicidal agent glyphosate. The active ingredient in Roundup, glyphosate, was first patented in 1961 and then re-patented by Monsanto as a herbicide in 1968. Seneff considers the role of glyphosate in agriculture and cites studies that have linked the chemical to cancer, kidney failure, birth defects and infertility. and other disorders. The book has been compared to Rachel Carson. Silent spring, which documented the environmental effects caused by the use of pesticides.
(Chelsea Green Publishing Company, July 1)
Urban farmers: the now (and how) of growing food in the city
According to some estimates, 80 percent of all food will be consumed in cities by 2050. Urban farmers will play an important role in feeding future generations. In this book, photographer Valery Rizzo and journalist Mónica R. Goya highlight a variety of models of urban agriculture such as rooftop gardens and vineyards, community gardens, and underground mushroom farms. It also includes practical advice for any city dweller interested in small space growing, beekeeping, composting, natural dyes, and more.
(Gestalten, July 13)
The Living Soil Handbook: The No-till Grower’s Guide to Organic Market Gardening
Kentucky organic farmer Jesse Frost wants to help others discover the secrets of no-till farming. In this manual, he provides a guide to growing healthy, productive soil by following the three basic principles of no-tillage: disturb the soil as little as possible; keep it covered as much as possible; and keep it planted as much as possible. In it, you’ll find tips for cover growing, compost, planting diversification, and more.
(Chelsea Green Publishing Company, July 20)
Pastoral Song: A Farmer’s Journey
Posted as English pastoral in the United Kingdom, Pastoral song is Pastor James Rebanks’ elegy to traditional farmers and farming methods. He recounts his family’s farm in England’s Lake District, recounting fond memories of his grandfather teaching him how to farm and picking blackberries with his grandmother. It is also a story about inheritance: what is gained and what is lost in the process. When Rebanks inherited the farm, it was very different from his childhood memories, modified by the industrialization of farms and modern technologies. These memoirs chart his journey trying to save the farm, bringing the land back to life, and restoring its place in the future.
(Custom House, August 3)
Build Your Own Farming Tools – Small Farm & Garden Equipment & Systems
Need a ring bender, germination chamber, drip irrigation system, or wheelbarrow trowel, but don’t have the cash to buy a new one? Oregon farmer Josh Volk offers DIY guides for small farmers to build their own customizable tools. With 19 different affordable and accessible projects that have been tried and tested, Volk highlights efficient equipment and systems that will help smaller growers compete with larger growers. Each includes a list of necessary materials and step-by-step instructions for assembly. It also provides notes on how to modify tools to better meet the needs of your farm.
(Storey Publishing, August 3)