Here's to a little encouragement

Thanks to an encouraging e-mail from spain - here are some updated thoughts...

Whole Organic Food Book: A Guide for Growers and Eaters
By Dan Jason, a dedicated gardener, seed saver, and vegetarian. Jason owns Salt Springs Seeds, in B.C..

This is an interesting mix of narrative, activism, gardening, and cooking. With sections on organic growing, commonly (and uncommonly) grown backyard food crops, and the whole and organic foods community. It's a bit of gentle crusading... maybe that's the wrong word, but you definitely come out of the book knowing exactly what Jason thinks of industrial agriculture, big seed companies, and genetically modified organisms, and what he thinks should be done about it. Thankfully, I agree with him on all counts.

The Whole Organic Food Book begins with a 40 page discussion of organic growing methods. It has an especially good section on cover crops. In the food section Jason focuses on beans and grains, he covers wheat, barley, oats, quinoa and amaranth, and a bunch of different beans: cool weather and warm weather. For each, you’ll get everything you need to sow, grow, harvest, store and cook the crop, including recipes. He closes by discussing seed saving, threats to genetic diversity and GMOs, and other topics related to industrial agriculture. This is an easy to read and informative book for anyone, but it’s vegetarian back yard gardeners who are trying to move toward food self sufficiency will especially benefit. Jason’s focus on protein rich plants and his demystifying descriptions of grain growing, harvesting, threshing and storing will be extremely useful to those of us who have been intimidated by grains. There are also detailed descriptions of growing, drying, harvesting and storing dried beans.

Bottom line:
Especially recommended for intermediate to advanced back yard gardeners who are interested in organically growing more of their own food. Cover crops, plant rotations, green manure, the depth of coverage of grains and dried beans, and seed saving takes the gardener beyond beginner stage.
It is easily accessible, and would also be excellent for beginners who are ready to take their back yard gardening to the next level.
Finally, there’s a lot of information and informed opinion about seed saving, genetic diversity, GMOs organic growing and industrial agriculture. Gardeners who are interested in having more information about these issues will find some great substance in the book. I’m often asked about books that will help introduce others to these topics, so if there’s a gardener in your life who you want to gently introduce to sustainable agriculture, vegetarian eating or organic gardening, this would be a great gift book.

I hope you like it!
Jill