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Reading Room:  The Last Food of England--death of the family farm  |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 01 2011 : 06:53:20 AM
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Really loving this book--http://thelastfoodofengland.com/
Bought it last night and couldn't put it down. Much the same problem in England that we suffer here in the United States. The family farms are dwindling, subsidized farming and agrobusiness reign supreme, heirloom breeds have disappeared, regional cheeses, pork, creams are gone due to the homogenization of ingredients since post WWII. All due to England's joining the European Union and the restrictions dictated by scientists who work in petrie dishes instead of fields. Beautiful book--there are old recipes, too, and the pictures of these farms, dairymen, breadmakers and local artisans still struggling to put "real" food in the mouths of their community is heartbreaking and inspiring.
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Jun 01 2011 : 5:53:21 PM
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This sounds like a good one - thanks for the recommendation Jonni!
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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prariehawk
True Blue Farmgirl
2914 Posts
Cindy
2914 Posts |
Posted - Jun 01 2011 : 7:40:17 PM
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I think it's interesting that "modern" countries are embracing agribusiness while "developing" countries, like India, are fighting against it. I think the whole problem is that people in the "modern" countries have lost touch with the sacred. Yes, it's as much a spiritual problem as anything.
Cindy
"Vast floods can't quench love, no matter what love did/ Rivers can't drown love, no matter where love's hid"--Sinead O'Connor
"In many ways, you don't just live in the country, it lives inside you"--Ellen Eilers
Visit my blog at http://www.farmerinthebelle.blogspot.com/ |
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farmmilkmama
True Blue Farmgirl
2027 Posts
Amy
Central MN
USA
2027 Posts |
Posted - Jun 01 2011 : 8:09:29 PM
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Well said, Prairiehawk.
I heard some people talking the other day on Facebook about this book and it came highly recommended. I think I will have to check it out. :)
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Jun 02 2011 : 06:27:44 AM
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It's an amazing book. I'm really happy I bought it for myself! @Amy, was it me? I posted a link (on FB) to the book and a discussion ensued.
What I love most, is having lived in a small rural community in England, I know that the "possibility" is there for this food. That people for generations have been "organic" without knowing what that meant, and their successor generations farm/grow/cook/ the same ways because, well, it's what they've always known. Agricultural degrees are still popular in England, whereas they are making a sort of "come back" here in the US. The family I lived with, The James family, Phil had a degree in animal husbandry and his wife, Sarah, was an art college graduate who felted wool garments for wall hangings. Once she moved to the country, she made sweaters, but she adapted for his dream of owning a farm.
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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farmmilkmama
True Blue Farmgirl
2027 Posts
Amy
Central MN
USA
2027 Posts |
Posted - Jun 02 2011 : 06:39:36 AM
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LOL Jonni, I realized after I posted about the FB conversation that it was you! I didn't know your screen name on MJF. :)
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Jun 02 2011 : 06:43:39 AM
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That's hilarious, Amy. I wasn't sure if it was "you", either :) The Internet--still a way to be incognito!!!
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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Tea Lady
True Blue Farmgirl
645 Posts
Lorraine
Morris
IL
USA
645 Posts |
Posted - Aug 05 2011 : 5:11:52 PM
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I started reading "The Accidental Farmers" by Tim Young. Its about a young, contemporary couple who leave their very urban, career-climbing life and buy a farm. Most importantly, its about how they realized how disconnected they were with food - and where it came from. Its very well written - reads like a novel. I was hooked before I finished the prologue... Nice reviews by Sally Fallon Morell and Gene Logsdon - how could you go wrong???
I'll have to check out The Last Food of England. Thanks for the recommendation.
Lorraine
(aka Tea Lady)
Farmgirl #1819
www.birdsandteas.com |
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woolgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
901 Posts
Elizabeth
Great Lakes
IL
USA
901 Posts |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Aug 10 2011 : 08:58:52 AM
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Hey, Lorraine--the folks who wrote Accidental Farmers are going to be in my town next weekend for the Farm Fair at Roebling Point, promoting and signing this book!!! Unfortunately, we'll be in Louisville, but if I can ask my friends who go each year to pick me up a copy, I'd love to have it!
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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melody
True Blue Farmgirl
3323 Posts
Melody
The Great North Woods in the Land of Hiawatha
USA
3323 Posts |
Posted - Aug 10 2011 : 09:06:32 AM
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Thanks Jonni...I am headed to our local library to pay some over-due fines...I'll see if I can find it.
Mel |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Aug 10 2011 : 09:10:16 AM
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You and me, Mel...we're two peas in a pod. I love the library...so much that I like to keep their books, too!!!
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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Tea Lady
True Blue Farmgirl
645 Posts
Lorraine
Morris
IL
USA
645 Posts |
Posted - Aug 10 2011 : 3:54:50 PM
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Jonni - I hope you can get a signed book of The Accidental Farmers. I think you'll like it. Here's a link to their website and blog: http://www.naturesharmonyfarm.com/. This is a library book - so I hope I can finish and return it without it costing me anything. :o)
Lorraine
(aka Tea Lady)
Farmgirl #1819
www.birdsandteas.com |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Aug 11 2011 : 09:36:08 AM
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Thanks for the link! I'm going to lunch with my friend today, so I'm going to mention the farm fair and see if he will get a copy for me :)
It's terrible, but the library is a block from my office and I STILL owe fines! How ridiculous is that?
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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Tea Lady
True Blue Farmgirl
645 Posts
Lorraine
Morris
IL
USA
645 Posts |
Posted - Aug 12 2011 : 10:23:47 AM
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I drive right by the library most days and I just stopped by yesterday to drop off a book and a $0.50 fine... Oh well - beats paying for all those books that you're not sure are keepers or not. Let me know what you think of the book if you get one.
Lorraine
(aka Tea Lady)
Farmgirl #1819
www.birdsandteas.com |
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coaloha
True Blue Farmgirl
502 Posts
Pam
USA
502 Posts |
Posted - Aug 13 2011 : 10:29:25 PM
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The Last Food of England sounds good....thanks for the tip. I will be looking for it.
Pam Barnes-Palty
Phoenix, AZ
Farmgirl #1075
Be distracted by joy |
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chickenladycris
True Blue Farmgirl
77 Posts
Cris
Prairie Farm
WI
USA
77 Posts |
Posted - Aug 15 2011 : 09:55:57 AM
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Thanks for the book recommendations! I am so excited to find two new farmy books to enjoy!
I'll share one, too: The Quarter Acre Farm, by Spring Warren. Very funny, good read, she's a hoot of an essayist. I learned something new, too--planting onions from seeds vs. those little baggies of bulbs means less going to seed. Huh, no other gardening book I've read (and I've read lots!) made that obvious enough for me to read it and go "well, duh". ha ha!
"A farmgirl can never have enough chickens!"--me |
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Reading Room: The Last Food of England--death of the family farm |
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The Last Food of England--death of the family farm
