This Organic Life or Spoonbread and Strawberry Wine

This Organic Life: Confessions of a Suburban Homesteader

Author: Joan Dye Gussow

"Joan Dye Gussow brings the heart of a pioneer to the suburbs in New York. By taking at face value the basic assumption that we are what we eat, she presents a delightful new version of The Good Life within the grasp of all of us."--BOOK JACKET.

Library Journal

Two decades ago, when nutritionist Gussow was giving fiery speeches about the importance of eating locally and seasonally, she realized that it was time to put her convictions into practice. In this combination memoir, polemic, and gardening manual, she discusses the joys and challenges of growing organic produce in her own New York garden. Initially, Gussow had planned to write about her misadventures in buying a 150-year-old house on a Hudson River floodplain. That story was incorporated into this book, but many of the boring remodeling details should have been omitted. Interesting points include a description of establishing her new garden, tips on making compost and on growing fruits and vegetables successfully in a northern climate, and various recipes using the garden bounty. Throughout, Gussow stresses the need to live responsibly "in a society where thoughtless consumption is the norm." Her constant reminders that industrial agriculture produces tasteless, environmentally destructive food well intentioned though they may be start sounding like a litany after a while. Yet, despite its flaws and self-righteous tone, this work offers encouragement to urban and suburban gardeners who want to grow at least some of their own produce. A suitable addition to gardening collections in public libraries. Ilse Heidmann, San Marcos, TX Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Booknews

Dye's memoir of leaving New York City to create a new life in a town on the Hudson River will appeal to other, similar folks who are craving a change from their urban lifestyle, do-it-yourselfers who have bought dilapidated old houses, and gardeners who will empathize with her battle tales of varmints and weeds. Dye draws on journal entries to fill out the emotional aspect of this personal history and includes a number of recipes featuring produce from the vegetable garden. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Table of Contents:

	List of Recipes
	Preface
1	How It All Began	3
2	A New Place	16
3	Garden and House	28
4	A Riverside Garden	42
5	Building It	59
6	Giving Things Up	77
7	Put It in the Cellar	94
8	Gooseberries and the FBI	109
9	Friends Next Door	128
10	Gaining Ground	141
11	Varmints	153
12	Eating My Yard	170
13	Lessons from the Tomato	184
14	Is It Worth It?	200
15	What a Sacrifice?	215
16	Heat, Rats, and Despair	233
17	California and the Rest of Us	247
	Bibliography	262
	Index	265

Interesting book:

Spoonbread and Strawberry Wine: Recipes & Reminiscences of a Family

Author: Norma Jean Darden

Spanning over a century of African-American life and culture, this classic oral history celebrates one remarkable family's heritage as told through photos, reminiscences, and recipes—now back in print after six years.

B & W photographs throughout