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16th out of 31 books
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Fields of Plenty: A Farmer's Journey in Search of Real Food and the People Who Grow It
In the face of supersizing and a fast-food nation, a growing community of organic farmers and food artisans are producing sustainable nourishment that is respectful to the land and rich in heritage, flavor, and passion. In Fields of Plenty, respected farmer, teacher, and ecology advocate Michael Ableman seeks out these innovative and committed farmers to reveal how the fru...more
Hardcover, 256 pages
Published
October 13th 2005
by Chronicle Books
(first published September 29th 2005)
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What a gorgeous book! The pictures of the crops and the farmers are breathtaking, but better still are the descriptions of the many ways to approach farming while taking care of the land and being in control of how the crops are planted, grown and harvested. Only a fellow farmer could travel the country with appreciation and respect for his compatriots who fill the farmers markets with food.
"In the quiet and repetition of field work, the mind has a chance to expand, the imagin...more
"In the quiet and repetition of field work, the mind has a chance to expand, the imagin...more
Eric
rated it
Recommends it for:
People interested in food, agriculture, beauty, photography, care of the earth.
This is a travel account of Ableman's trip to discover innovative and successful small farmers in Canada and the United States. Ableman was a very successful farmer on 50 acres near Santa Barbara California that was swallowed by encroaching development. Recently he moved to British Colombia and started farming there. In an unusual move he took a summer off for this road trip with his son.
Through beautiful photos and well written text he provides insights into the mindsets of farmers...more
Through beautiful photos and well written text he provides insights into the mindsets of farmers...more
My father gave me this book. He got it from a church member whose brother is one of the subjects of this book. It is a perfect book for me because it has a journey, recipes, personal stories and contemplation on our relationship with food and our environment.
The author has a farm on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia and decides to spend three months visiting 25 farmers spread out from B.C. to Maine. He drives a Volkswagen van and takes along his camera and his eldest son and does...more
The author has a farm on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia and decides to spend three months visiting 25 farmers spread out from B.C. to Maine. He drives a Volkswagen van and takes along his camera and his eldest son and does...more
I loved this book about a farmer's journey back and forth across the US talking to a variety of organic farmers. It was nice to see such a wide variety of farming covered, from large to small, grain to cheese to vegetables to meat. It made me feel hopeful that we can regain control of our food supply and its safety. It also had some really great recipes sprinkled in to help you feel like you were traveling right along with the author.
Excellent book. Great taste of sustainable agriculture from across the country. If you want to farm and want to get inspired read this book! Farmers of different cultures, styles, sizes and types. Highlights are the sheep chapter and the elliot coleman chapter. Big yes!
fantastic food/farm ideas, stories and recipes.
delicious pear cake -check.
delicious pear cake -check.
REally gorgeous, part travelogue, part interview and farming manifesto
Wonderful vignettes told with flair of an anthropologist, beautiful photographs and crazy recipes you'll copy into a new collection. Makes you believe small-scale local agriculture may have a future in North America, as the author (a farmer himself) travels to the ~50 different farms and families and takes a close look at a wide range of farming philosophies, farmed products and cultural backdrops that comprise today's small farms. I've kept this book on my bedside table (despite its huge size)...more
I completely enjoyed reading about Michael Ableman's journey from farm to farm. I loved hearing about the different approaches to farming as well as each farmer's history. Even more, it was easy to feel and hear Ableman's love of land and farming in each word he wrote. I checked it out at the library thinking it wasn't a book I would "need" to have, but now I'm wondering if that was such a wise choice.
I loved this book. I want to buy a copy for my father, a former farmer/dairyman who taught organic farming in 1938. Michael Ableman is a photographer turned organic farmer whose trip across America interviewing organic farmers is a beautiful tribute to the creative nurture involved in growing a diverse crop and feeding a community. The photos are lovely, the life tales enthralling, and the recipes - yum!
if you're interested in food politics and the local food industry, this book is a must read. michael ableman is a farmer, activist, writer and photographer that decides it's time to go out and meet some other farmers. this book is a document of all the small farmers working their magic. makes you want to run to your nearest farmer's market and meet all the people that grow the food you eat (or should eat).
I enjoyed this book but felt that as the book went along it lost a little momentum. The first couple of farms that the author visits are talked about very patiently and with great detail as he goes along there is less and less detail. I still loved all the farms he talked about and it made me even more excited to grow my own food and buy local!
In this book Michael Ableman shares the story of the journey he and his son took across the United States visiting various farms in Washington, Oregon, California, Wisconsin, Illinois, Vermont, Maine, New York, Delaware, Polyface Farm in Virginia, etc. I enjoyed his words and the beautiful pictures of beautiful food.
The Omnivore's Dilemma (OD)"light" but not a "light" version of The OD.
This book pre-dates The Omnivore's Dilemma by about two years. If you enjoyed that book or at least found the subject matter interesting you should like this one; it stands on its own and is well worth the read.
This book pre-dates The Omnivore's Dilemma by about two years. If you enjoyed that book or at least found the subject matter interesting you should like this one; it stands on its own and is well worth the read.
I do enjoy Michael Ableman's books. He provides great insight into the perspective and philosophy of the most important people in our society: the farmers.
Three stars because I find it rather foolish that he perpetuates the myth that meat can ever be sustainable (it can't).
Three stars because I find it rather foolish that he perpetuates the myth that meat can ever be sustainable (it can't).
Beautiful book! This farmer/artist takes wonderful pictures of the people he visits and writes so movingly about the family farm it almost makes you want to give you your real job to farm. A tad on the political side, but much less so than the Kingsolver book. Yummy recipes too.
Ethicurean Reads
added it
The memoir of farmer, writer, and photographer Michael Ableman about traveling with his son from his own farm in British Columbia across the United States in search of innovative and passionate farmers who are making a difference in what we eat and how we experience food.
I started this book a while ago, but had to return it to the library. I'd like to finish it one of these days. A wonderful tale, and some yummy recipes too!
Beautiful book. A travel narrative following the harvest of sustainable farming across the country. Fantastic recipes are an added bonus!
A good read. A little bourgy on the analysis/presentation, but definitely worth reading. A diverse array of characters.
Written by a farmer with beautiful pictures and interviews with sustainable farmers. A must see for all food lovers.
Beautifully written book with equally beautiful photography. Makes you want to be an organic farmer.
A fantastic showcase of the variety of ways we feed ourselves. or rather how others feed us.
kelly
marked it as on-hold
i saw the author speak at UAA and thought i would find out what else he has to say...
Beautiful photographs and writing about real food and real farmers.
Tyler
is currently reading it
Hannah
marked it as to-read
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