Book Reviews

For brothers David and Dan Podoll, one of the solutions to the economic stresses of operating their North Dakota farm turned out to be heirloom seeds. The brothers' farm has been in their family since 1953, with wheat and turkeys providing their main revenue stream. But their … [Read more...] about Farmers Seeking Economic Stability While Protecting Deep Roots In Land They Love

Like most everyone, I know how important pollinators are to the food chain. What I didn’t realize, until I read this book, was how artisanal honeys, like fine wines or single source coffees, have distinctive flavors rooted in terroir. To find a spot on my shelf these days a … [Read more...] about 84 Recipes From Beekeeper Laurey Masterton’s Kitchen

 That's Not Fair! Emma Tenayuca's struggle for justice/ No Es Justo! La lucha de Emma Tenayuca por la justicia (Wings Press, San Antonio, Texas, 2008) by Carmen Tafolla and Sheryl Teneyuca (illustrated by Terry Ybañez) and Amelia’s Road (Lee & Low Books, Inc., New York, NY, … [Read more...] about Two Inspiring & Timely Children’s Books Shining Light On The Children Of Migrant Farmworkers & Laborers

For half a century or so, our informal but most effective agricultural policy has been to eat as much, as effortlessly, as thoughtlessly, and as cheaply as we can, and to hell with whatever else may be involved. That’s from Wendell Berry’s 2009 essay The Necessity of … [Read more...] about Potent Insights On Food Humans Consume

Chef Ana Sortun graduated from La Varenne in Paris, but her interest in Middle Eastern food has taken her beyond that classical French foundation. She opened her first restaurant, Oleana, in Cambridge, Mass., in 2001; she now also owns Sarma, a Turkish-style tavern, and Sofra … [Read more...] about A Cookbook That Celebrates Flavorful & Vibrant Middle Eastern Recipes