Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
14th out of 126 books
—
133 voters
Independence Days: A Guide to Sustainable Food Storage & Preservation
by
Sharon Astyk
Hard times aren’t just coming, they are here already. The recent economic collapse has seen millions of North Americans move from the middle class to being poor, and from poor to hungry. At the same time, the idea of eating locally is shifting from being a fringe activity for those who can afford it to an essential element of getting by. But aside from the locavores and sl...more
Paperback, 368 pages
Published
November 1st 2009
by New Society Publishers
(first published 2009)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
760)
Independence Days is a book about food security. Like Sharon Astyk's two previous books (Depletion and Abundance: Life on the New Home Front; A Nation of Farmers: Defeating the Food Crisis on American Soil), this one focuses on the need to assume personal responsibility for food self-sufficiency and for shortening the supply chain from farm/garden to table. Unlike Asktyk's previous books, this one is also a how-to, as well as a why-we-should, complete with helpful instructions for creating and m...more
I am not this book's audience. It is designed for people who have the desire to store food and little knowledge of where to start or what to take into account. I, on the other hand, have already read numerous books on alternative food sources, canning, root cellars, etc. However, in skimming the book I did find some useful information for myself.
Secondarily, the tone of this book is rather too doom-and-gloom for my taste. Though the author would probably remark that she's just taking stock of re...more
Secondarily, the tone of this book is rather too doom-and-gloom for my taste. Though the author would probably remark that she's just taking stock of re...more
I grew up on a farm. We had a large garden. We preserved food. We picked wild strawberries and made jams. Although I have traveled a good distance from my my childhood, I try to live close to the land, buy from local farmers at Farmers Markets, act frugally so that future generations can have something of life. The long and short of it is I didn't expect to learn a great deal more about sustainable food storage and preservation, but I did! Fermentation was the one method of preservation that I d...more
This book really goes into the politics of food- how we are all dependent on huge corporations for feeding ourselves, and are pretty much helpless to help ourselves. All the aspects of being able to provide food for your family- be it to save money or to be prepared should you not be able to get to a grocery store for some amount of time, or just not rely on outside sources for the health of your family.
It really inspired me to look hard at what I buy at the store, and how it got to the store,...more
It really inspired me to look hard at what I buy at the store, and how it got to the store,...more
Inspiring and contagious is the message of this book. "Living sustainably is essential to our ecology." p. 286
I have known this fact for many years. I am elated that this book, written from a mother's perspective, reminds of it's importance.
It gives many reasons why one should keep a store of food. She supports the idea by pointing out that most of our grandparents did not live 80+ years without some experience of hunger and that with modern criseses, for example Huricain Katrina, that fact is s...more
I have known this fact for many years. I am elated that this book, written from a mother's perspective, reminds of it's importance.
It gives many reasons why one should keep a store of food. She supports the idea by pointing out that most of our grandparents did not live 80+ years without some experience of hunger and that with modern criseses, for example Huricain Katrina, that fact is s...more
At first I thought this was going to be another book about how to can, and it turned out not to be, and for that I am glad. Independence Days is a book that, instead of telling you how to can or giving you tons of recipes, outlines why you should preserve food, how you can do it, and gives other tips for emergency preparedness.
Astyk argues that it's not about preparing for the end days or the rapture (unless that's what you're worried about, in which case go for it). Stocking up on food, water,...more
Astyk argues that it's not about preparing for the end days or the rapture (unless that's what you're worried about, in which case go for it). Stocking up on food, water,...more
The thing I really liked about this book was that it takes a very practical approach to problem solving. Many other books that deal with things like Climate Change and Peak Oil are all about problems and just make us anxious. Independence Days lays out a set of concrete actions that you can take to make positive change. Peak Oil, etc. are lurking in the background, but the foreground is filled with real things that we can do right now.
Sep 28, 2010
Marjanne
added it
This book really has me thinking about gardening, livestock, food storage and preservation. Ms. Astyk is truly inspiring in the way she and her family have chosen to live their lives. There is a ton of advice and information on the need to be more 'food independent' and how to do it. I really appreciated that so much of what she says makes sense, on a community level, on a personal level, and even with my religious beliefs. If everyone read this book and started to make some of the changes in th...more
This wasn't what I was expecting (which is what I get for picking up a book at the library and not even reading through it first) but it was a super-informative read that I may end up purchasing for our home library. How and why to preserve, using many different methods and not just canning. Highly recommend for anyone who realizes that our food supply chain is on the wrong track.
This book mostly tries to convince its audience why we should have and maintain a food storage system, which is a noble thing. I agree with many (but not all) of Astyk's points. I also enjoyed the large bibliography at the end of the book with additional books to read and I liked a few of the recipes Astyk provides within her book.
However, when it comes to the information on actually building a food storage and becoming more self-reliant, I feel that this book loses much of its steam. A far bett...more
However, when it comes to the information on actually building a food storage and becoming more self-reliant, I feel that this book loses much of its steam. A far bett...more
I bought this book thinking that it was going to be more of a how-to manual for preserving than a guide to survivng the end of days. I realized halfway through the book that the Sharon is crazy and no rational human being calculates how much tomatoes and water they would need in their home to survive for a month. With that being said, the book was entertaining and if you have a fear of not being prepared for a natural disaster without access to food or water and stranded in your home, this book...more
Great book on canning, preserving, pantry stocking and sustainable food preservation. Good resource.
She is an accomplished writer. This book is not just lists, but a dialog of information presented in a concise and easy to read format. Recipes are interspersed with useful information in each chapter.
She is an accomplished writer. This book is not just lists, but a dialog of information presented in a concise and easy to read format. Recipes are interspersed with useful information in each chapter.
I liked this book a lot because it made me think more of how I spend my money and the food I have wasted over the years. The book provides thoughtful, frugal ways to preserve food and ideas to be more self sufficient. Which allows you to have more resources to share with others in time of need.
As usual, I enjoyed this book, but it wasn't quite what I needed. I had this book on pre-order and devoured it in a few days. I expected a bit more from this book and felt that it was a bit vague about actual food storage and preservation, which is strange, since it is supposed to be about that very thing. I came away from some sections needing to research other sources to answer questions that were left unanswered. I get the feeling that because this topic comes so naturally to the author, that...more
Because of this book, I am expanding my garden today. It explores the idea that the food system that we are all used to cannot support itself for much longer. Astyk tells how the best way to be ready for the change is to use the same methods of storage people used for thousands of years before grocery stores were around. I realize that I am the perfect audience for this book: a gardener who cares about these issues, but has never really preserved food. I will need to explore the specifics of som...more
Adore this book and Sharon Astyk. She is forthright but reassuring at the same time.
This is one of the best books on this topic I've ever read. The author is intelligent, thoughtful, and caring. While the thrust of the book is about storing food in anticipation for hard times, she's not a survivalist nut which I frankly wouldn't haven the patience for.
I recommend this book for anyone wanting to find ways to incorporate more local foods into their diets.
I recommend this book for anyone wanting to find ways to incorporate more local foods into their diets.
I don't know why it has taken me so long to start to read this book. I love Sharon Astyk. She makes me feel better. And ready to start doing what i should be doing anyway.
Overall, I found this book to be too preachy and not enough practical. The author encourages us to store fifty pound bags of rice and tomatoes in our guest room closets. Really. For this woman not living on a farm or in a large house, I think there is better, more practical advice out there.
I wanted a book on food preservation techniques. This book was not it.
I wanted a book on food preservation techniques. This book was not it.
Another life-changing book. Halfway through this fascinating book, I had my pantry organized--actually had my husband do it because all the junk in there was his. The shelves are now ready for those glass jars and bins full of food to sustain us over come-what-may.
I urge everyone to read this book. Know the fact about the world's food situation and do what you can to take care of your family.
I urge everyone to read this book. Know the fact about the world's food situation and do what you can to take care of your family.
more than a recipe book. It's a nice offering, small solution so far to providing for yourself. It gives great insight into why you should prepare yourself from the crumbling food system. Not as gloomy as Omnivores dilemma because of her solutions.
This is an incredible book! I was persuaded by Susan Wittig-Albert's insightful review to buy this book and every few lines I hear myself saying, "Yes! You're right; I need to mark this passage to share with others!". Well, if I marked all the passages I wanted to share I would be underlining the whole book.
Not much that I didn't already know but great in refreshing memories of doing things! I did learn about how messed up our food system is, as in how our grocery stores work!
Not much new here, although the quantities required were a little startling. When the apocalypse comes, the survivors will be eating oatmeal.
I wanted to rush out and buy this one for everyone I know - a must read!!
May 22, 2013
Cristina Hutchinson
marked it as to-read
May 22, 2013
Melanie Ullrich
marked it as to-read
May 21, 2013
Laura
marked it as to-read
May 21, 2013
Veronica
marked it as to-read
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Sharon Astyk is a writer, teacher, blogger, and farmer who raises vegetables, poultry and dairy goats with her family in upstate New York. She and her family use 80% less energy and resources than the average American household. Sharon is a member of the Board of Directors of ASPO-USA and the award-winning author of three previous books including Depletion and Abundance and Independence Days.
from...more
More about Sharon Astyk...
from...more
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
Jun 03, 2011 06:25pm