A century of industrialization has left the food system riddled with problems, yet for solutions people look to nutritionists and government agenci...
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reviews
Mar 12, 2010
Kate
rated it: 
Beautifully written. I think it's worth picking up for the craftsmanship alone. But it's also a fascinating, clear-eyed and yet emotional look at how farming has changed in the United States, and how some family farms are still trying to find a place within this new landscape.
Hamilton takes us to meet a dairy farmer who believes that letting his cows out to pasture is not just an environmental good, but a spiritual necessity. We meet a New Mexico rancher struggling to preserve his f More...
Hamilton takes us to meet a dairy farmer who believes that letting his cows out to pasture is not just an environmental good, but a spiritual necessity. We meet a New Mexico rancher struggling to preserve his f More...
Nov 01, 2009
Mateo
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Three cheers for this superb book, which combines close-up portraiture with first-rate reportage. Presenting the nearly heroic--no, not nearly, just heroic--struggles of three small farmers (an African-American dairy farmer in Texas, a Hispanic cattle rancher in New Mexico, and two families preaching and living the organic life in North Dakota) to swim against the tide of big-farm agribusiness, the book manages to be both intimate in its descriptions and sweeping in its subject matter. I learn
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Feb 24, 2011
Karima
rated it: 
The book is basically a glimpse in the lives of three farmers trying to farm their land in ecologically supportive fashion.
The author writes very well, and I am particularly enjoying the artistic descriptions of place (east texas, new mexico, north dakota). I appreciate that the author didn't just run with three profiles of young, idealistic eco-farmers now getting much of the press. Instead we get Harry, an African-American dairyman, Virgil, a native New Mexican, and the Podolls, a " More...
The author writes very well, and I am particularly enjoying the artistic descriptions of place (east texas, new mexico, north dakota). I appreciate that the author didn't just run with three profiles of young, idealistic eco-farmers now getting much of the press. Instead we get Harry, an African-American dairyman, Virgil, a native New Mexican, and the Podolls, a " More...
Oct 31, 2010
Stacy
rated it:
This is the story of 3 different farmers. Each of them very different in their focus, methodology and region, but all of them with the same basic principles of loving the land and the food it produces.
If you enjoyed The Omnivore's Dilemma, this should go next on your to be read pile. Now that you know why you should support local farms that grow food sustainably, and now that you know why that food is better for you than a box of something off the grocery store shelf, this book can More...
If you enjoyed The Omnivore's Dilemma, this should go next on your to be read pile. Now that you know why you should support local farms that grow food sustainably, and now that you know why that food is better for you than a box of something off the grocery store shelf, this book can More...
Jan 03, 2011
Karen
rated it: 
Readable and interesting, but the purpose of the book was vague. It describes three farmers from three industries (dairy, beef, seeds) and how their lives and attitudes are different from most farmers in their industry. The weakest chapter was the one on beef, as what made the rancher distinctive was not his farming style, and also his life was closely tied to some slightly confusing history of Native American land rights. The book would've held together better and felt more purposeful if she
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Dec 01, 2009
Mary
rated it:
Three long profiles of three unconventional farmers. One in Texas, one in New Mexico, and a household in North Dakota. Very inspiring. It is hard to be a farmer in this day and age, and these farmers are bucking that system, which makes it even harder. If you have to choose which milk to buy, and you buy organic, choose Organic Valley because it's a coop.
Oh, and to borrow from another Goodreads reviewer: most dairy farming in the US takes place not on those picturesque, green-hilled past More...
Oh, and to borrow from another Goodreads reviewer: most dairy farming in the US takes place not on those picturesque, green-hilled past More...
Jan 31, 2010
Tabatha
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I enojyed this book and how 3 families are working to produce a product to fit their niche markets. However, I disagree that they are working outside the confines of traditional agriculture. I think this is the heart of traditional agriculture. These families are all producing a commodity consistent with what the believe is right based on their values and for a specific sector of the population who wants what they produce. Big or small agriculture is doing the same, trying to stay afloat as
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Nov 04, 2010
Beth
rated it:
Maybe not as hard-hitting as "Omnivore's Dilemma," "Fast Food Nation," or "Eating Animals"; but, this was still an interesting read. I felt a little like some of the more artistic flourishes presented in some of the passages seemed a little out of place.
There are three stories in the book: those of a dairy farmer, a rancher, and a organic farmer. My aunt gave me this book because we share an interest in the importance of food and how it's grown and b More...
There are three stories in the book: those of a dairy farmer, a rancher, and a organic farmer. My aunt gave me this book because we share an interest in the importance of food and how it's grown and b More...
Dec 01, 2011
TSStechAngel
rated it:
This book had really great stories about the past and how farming used to be versus what it is now. Lisa did such a great job at explaining everything she was going through while talking to all of these folks, you felt like you were there right along side her. If you ever want to explore the difference in how agriculture was back then versus now. This book is worth a read. You really get a sense of where you food comes from, that in itself is quite valuable to know. Give this book a read.
Jun 17, 2011
Juliana
rated it:
I found this book difficult to read at times, and found myself putting it dow for several days at a time. Overall, I think it was well-written, and it reveals to us facts that most of us have forgotten or perhaps never knew. Yet, I found it depressing. The book features three different farmers/ranchers, and gives excellent insight into how agribusiness came to be and why it persists. What I found hopeful in the book was how there are those out there working the land who have held onto (or redisc
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Nov 16, 2009
Tuck
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not what i thought this would be, a back to the lander's book, but rather a spotlight on 3 families who never left, and how they are dealing with and what they think about the industrial ag of 21st century. very enlightening and hopeful for folks who are concerned about agriculture and food.
Sep 05, 2010
Jen
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Well written portraits of three farmers interwoven with plenty of the author's background research. I liked that her subjects each come from a long line of farmers - it's interesting to see how they came to align themselves with such unconventional farming practices.
Oct 06, 2009
Sarah
rated it:
Fans of Omnivore's Dilemma might enjoy the author's fairly in depth look at two ranchers and a farmer, each in different climates and situations, trying to do what's right-- restoring the land, working pesticide-free, renewing long-unused crops and more. I really, really liked this book.
Jul 28, 2011
Fascinated by this book and the family stories. Continued my learning about modern agriculture with its major terrors along with its "benefits". In hopes for more farmers like the ones in Deeply Rooted!
Jan 29, 2011
Rebecca
rated it: 
Beautifully descriptive, but that was pretty much it for me. I didn't get much of a takeaway from this one - I like my food lit to have a thesis or a recommendation or both. I don't feel like this offered either.
Apr 11, 2010
AJ
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I love the narrative in this story. Hamilton writes about three fascinating farmers and makes it a delight to read. It's definitely one of those books I didn't want to put down.
Aug 03, 2009
Elena
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I am in the middle of this incredible read. The author spends time with several "salt of the earth" farmers who share their heroic accounts of trying to maintain their integrity and the health of the land in the middle of the rise of Agribusiness.
Truly these are American Heroes.
Truly these are American Heroes.
May 22, 2011
Katie
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Excellent writing, characters that shine in real life, and issues I hadn't even considered (African American farming communities in Texas, for example).
Jul 20, 2009
Clare
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Excellent book. I highly recommend it for the light it shines on the philosophy of organic farmers today. Great read.
Jul 10, 2010
Linda
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Deeply moving. A very readable and enlightening mix of participant observer and essay.
Jan 10, 2012
Ayla
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Profiles of three farmers from across America who are trying to do things differently than their neighbors. I nearly returned the book to the library without finishing, finding that my interest petered out two thirds of the way through, but am happy that I persisted and finished the book; the final section, about the Podol family of North Dakota, was my favourite in the end. A good profile of men and women doing good work in the world.
Nov 14, 2010
Wow. The title sounds a bit dry; Hamilton's writing, however, is superb. What a gem.
Apr 05, 2010
Looking to be inspired by progressive farmers creating positive change to benefit us all.
Nov 04, 2010
Laura
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Journalist Lisa Hamilton tells the story of three different farming families bucking "conventional" agribusiness farming trends: a dairy farmer in Texas, a cattle rancher in New Mexico, and a wheat-and-many-other-things farm in North Dakota. Each family's story is engaging and forms the central focus of the book. Enjoyable, well-written, and informative.
Feb 09, 2012
Meghan
rated it:
I'm giving up on this. It's a nice tip of the hat to folks who are keeping rural farming traditions alive, but it is overall lacking in an opinion or climax. The book consist of three well written sections that are more suitable for the "local" section of the Sunday newspaper than a hardcover book.
Apr 01, 2010
I can't honestly rate this book because I didn't read it. I kept trying to get into it, but it was clearly more about the politics of farming in the U.S. than about the nitty gritty hands on stuff I enjoy.
