Books

Novelist, essayist and poet, Kingsolver chronicles her family's move from Tucson to a family farm in Virginia, where they commit to growing and raising their own food and supporting local farmers for one year. Her biologist husband Steven comments on the politics of sustainable agriculture, while daughter Camille supplies simple nutritious recipes. Entertaining and informative, this book encourages us to reconnect with our food's source.

Waters founded the Edible Schoolyard in Berkeley, CA, integrating academics with growing, cooking and sharing healthy food. This book details the history of the program and includes recipes and food related writings from some of the children.

Carpenter chronicles her experiences as an urban farmer in Oakland, CA, taking on a vegetable garden, bees, chickens, goats and even pigs, along with drug dealers, homeless people and a collection of colorful neighbors.

Ableman is an author, photographer and farmer who, with his son, embarks on a 3 month journey visiting farms across the U.S. "From the poblano chilies that rise out of the New Mexican desert to an urban oasis of tomato plants bordering on Chicago's Cabrini-Green housing project to greenhouses brimming with lettuces along the rocky coastlines of Maine, the farms that he visits paint a vibrant portrait of the American landscape."

A companion to the film Food, Inc., this is a compilation of 13 essays by food experts, including Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser, which dig even deeper into the issues surrounding the quality of the food we eat, the impact of agribusiness and most importantly how we can feed ourselves healthy food affordably.

Free downloadable e-book created by the California Department of Education and the Center For Ecoliteracy.

Architect, lecturer and writer, Carolyn Steel, "examines the way in which modern food production has damaged the balance of human existence, and reveals a centuries-old dilemma that holds the key to a host of current problems". Steel also offers suggestions for a healthier future. Also, check out Steel at TED.

Pollan continues his discussion of food and health, here he discusses the shocking absence of food in our food and makes suggestions for navigating the aisles at our local supermarkets while answering the question 'what do we eat'?

Newspaper columnist and child advocacy expert, Louv, writes that boys and girls now live a "denatured childhood". His research with urban planners, educators, naturalists and psychologists link a child's lack of exposure to nature with ADD, obesity, depression, stress and anxiety. Louv not only issues a call to action, but also provides ideas for change.

This book introduces the concept of transition towns, where individuals within a community come together with a shared concern. Using this idea, Tanzin and Hopkins present a plan for establishing local food guides, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) arrangements, community gardens and more. A terrific resource for launching a community effort.

Ableman chronicles his effort to save Fairview Gardens, the 103 year old farm in Goleta, CA that he has managed since 1981. A passionate story about a man dedicated to protecting what was once part of thousands of acres of farmland from the suburban sprawl that surrounded it.

Rodale is CEO and Chairman of Rodale Inc., the world's leading multimedia company with a focus on health, wellness, and the environment, and the largest independent book publisher in the United States. She is also founding editor of the company's newest online venture, Rodale.com, which features the latest news and information about healthy living on a healthy planet, as well as her blog, Maria's Farm Country Kitchen. In Organic Manifesto, Rodale sheds new light on the state of 21st century farming. She examines the unholy alliances that have formed between the chemical companies that produce fertilizer and genetically altered seeds, the agricultural educational system that is virtually subsidized by those same companies, and the government agencies in thrall to powerful lobbyists, all of which perpetuate dangerous farming practices and deliberate misconceptions about organic farming and foods. Interviews with government officials, doctors, scientists, and farmers from coast to coast bolster her position that chemical-free farming may be the single most effective tool we have to protect our environment and, even more important, our health.

Children's book based on a successful school garden. It covers how to grow your own food responsibly, healthy eating habits and learning where your food comes from while integrating math, science and practical arts. Includes easy to read text and lots of photos.

City Planner Darrin Nordahl discusses utilizing all available urban land, including parkways, curbsides, vacant lots and parks to grow food. He suggests innovative ways of feeding a community while helping "build revenue and community pride", and cites the example of UC Davis turning their olive trees, which were once a sidewalk hazard, into a profitable olive oil label. Nordahl offers a practical approach to urban agriculture.

A comprehensive step-by-step guide for teachers wanting to use the outdoors as an extended classroom. Offers "practical suggestions and teacher-tested activities.

Petrini discusses a plan for a change in global food systems based on three principles: food must be healthy and delicious, sustainably produced and those involved in food production must be treated fairly. Petrini explores how indigenous peoples are feeding themselves sustainably and proposes that we learn from these methods.

Based on the adult version of the same title, this adapted version encourages kids to consider the personal and global health implications of their food choices. Includes updated facts and lots of visuals.

A practical handbook full of step-by-step projects on everything from growing vegetables to raising chicken to cooking with solar energy. Urban farmers Coyne and Knutzen have written a terrific guide for anyone wanting to grow their own food.