Fields of Plenty: A Farmer's Journey in Search of Real Food and the People Who Grow It

I recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding the culture around organic food. The writing is lucid, clear and the result is an easy read that's hard to put down. The book is worth the photographs alone, but Michael takes the reader on a worthwhile journey across North America, explaining the people and reasons why organic food is such a passion for a growing part of our society. His writing style results in vivid images of people and places and an understanding of why organic food is much more than just a yuppie phase. His passion for food, taste, farming and the quality associated with doing it right is infectious. And if that isn't enough, scattered throughout the book are recipes reflecting the different cultures of the people being profiled. This book is outstanding and the author is obviously a gifted writer / photographer. Would make a great gift for anyone even remotely interested in food, gardening or farming.

The book's gorgeous photography and sensitive appreciation of farming life make it a real winner for anyone with an interest in regional food, its proponents, and the beauty of small-scale agriculture.

American agriculture is being re-created and re-defined by farmers and the people who grow our food, and Michael Ableman's journey to different farms blends a memoir of a farmer and photographer with a travelogue of his survey of others who are making a difference in the food world from across America. The different visions and experiences of farmers blend with discussions of politics, growing, and even with recipes for using fresh produce, making Fields Of Plenty an abundant gathering of crop wisdom and agricultural insights. Scholarly enough for college-level collections on agricultural studies yet accessible enough for public library holdings, Field Of Plenty: A Farmer's Journey In Search Of Real Food And The People Who Grow It is an excellent pick.

This superbly written book, with its poetic descriptions and fascinating stories of the different farmers the author visited and interviewed throughout the country, had me dreaming about owning my own organic farm one day! Also, the wonderful recipes are definately a plus! What a wonderful read! Writing this book from an organic farmer's point of view, Ableman gives one a sense of respect for the earth, the intricacies involved in its cultivation, the many different varieties of fruits and vegetables that exist and can be grown on small organic farms (as compared to conventional/commercial growers who use very few varieties), and the tender care involved by these family farmers. One learns about the different herbal concoctions that some of these farmers use to feed their crops, comparable to the attention given when feeding a child. The nutrients in these soils are uncomparable to the conventional corporate farming, and organic farms do not use pesticides and chemical fertilizers. One can taste the difference in the organic produce. They are bursting with flavor. One learns about sustainability and organic farming, about the many flavors, the exotic colors, and how the different animals cohabitate with the farmers, so that nothing is wasted. I particularly liked the descriptions of the sections on the melons that emitted intoxicating musky smells, and blackberries that were so irresistible, the author went and gorged himself eating them in the patch. Yumm! We went and bought organic blackberries after reading that section! One also learns that eating is an intimate relationship, and establishing a relationship with the local farmers in our communities is a wonderful way to learn where our food is coming from. These great farmers are feeding us, and what better way to eat food, then to establish a relationship with the persons who are growing it for us. One way to do that is visit a local farmer's market and sign up with a local farm that is a member of CSA (community shared agriculture). We did, and we love it! Also, eating seasonal foods is a new concept for me. We're so used to finding any fruit and vegetable in any season in the supermarket, that the idea of something not being available at a given time is foreign to us. But once we start asking - where did these fruits and vegetables come from - and we see Brazil, or Argentina, etc. then things start changing in our minds. The transportation, the distance, the regulations... Hmmm. Canning and freezing fruits and vegetables when in season has become a pleasant option. After reading this book, I'm also keen on working on my garden with my family next summer, of watching the different vegetables grow, and of tasting the fruits of my labor. I can't wait! I recommend this highly to everyone!!

I had the privilege of spending Thanksgiving with the author and after a great meal we coaxed him into reading from his new book. He told a story about going back to his great grandfather's farm and general store in Delaware. A journey he made with his Father and son. He unfolds the story with vivid detail that draws you in and makes you care. He tells about the loss of our agricutural heritage and the impact that urbanization has had on our diet. This great book with wonderful illustrations. Read it and buy copies for your friends.