Top Locavore and Gardening Books

by Becky Elmuccio on February 4, 2013

Today’s Locavore Challenge with Longview Farm Market is to choose some great books to read to learn more about how to eat locally, how to eat seasonally and how to grow your own foods. Longview has some great suggested books and I am including some of my own picks. I also included some food and living on the land memoirs. My picks are currently residing on my nightstand, but I hope to be able to meet my reading resolution this year and make my way through them in 2013.

My suggestions include:

Diet for a Small Planet by Francis Lappe

Talking Dirt: The Dirt Diva’s Down-to-Earth Guide to Organic Gardening by Annie Spiegelman

Woodswoman: Living Alone in the Adirondack Wilderness by Anne Labastille

Comfort Me with Apples: More Adventures at the Table (Random House Reader’s Circle) by Ruth Reichl

The Egg and I by Betty MacDonald

Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Shaping of the American Nation (Vintage) by Andrea Wulf

Hope’s Edge: The Next Diet for a Small Planet by Frances Moore Lappe

The Heirloom Life Gardener: The Baker Creek Way of Growing Your Own Food Easily and Naturally by Jere Gettle

Delia’s Kitchen Garden: A Beginner’s Guide to Growing and Cooking Fruit and Vegetables by Delia Smith

Some of my All Time Favorites from Longviews’s Suggestions:

The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan

In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto by Michael Pollan 

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver

Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal by Eric Schlosser

Longview’s full list can be found here. What are some of your favorite books on eating locally, organically and sustainably? Which would you pick to choose for the challenge today?

Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links to help us maintain and further Crafty Garden Mama.

Today I am sharing on: Homestead Barn Hop, Homestead Hop, Natural Living Monday, My Green Living Monday, Tuesday Garden Party, Garden Party, Living Green Tuesday, Country Homemaker Hop, Gathering Spot, Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways, Outdoor Wednesday, Seasonal Celebration Wednesday, Homemaking Blog Hop, Down Home Hop, Home and Garden Thursday, Live Renewed Blog Hop, Simple Living Link Up, Homeacre Hop, Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop, Simply Natural Saturday, Motivation Monday.

{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }

Krystyna @ Spring Mountain Living February 4, 2013 at 7:13 am

Thank you SO much for sharing the books you use. Reading real books is one of my biggest New Year’s goals. It’s so helpful knowing where some of your info comes from! And makes you more credible, in my eyes. THANKS!!

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Becky Elmuccio February 4, 2013 at 7:41 pm

Thanks, Krystyna. I need to do some more reviews for the ones that I have read in the past and really enjoy.

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Clancy Harrison February 4, 2013 at 7:51 am

I love some of the books you listed. The ones I have not heard of I plan to get/read. Thanks for the list- great taste!!

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Becky Elmuccio February 4, 2013 at 7:42 pm

Thanks, Clancy! Enjoy!

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Brooke Smith February 4, 2013 at 8:40 am

Thanks for sharing this list along with the link to Longwood’s suggestions! Definitely going to be checking some of these titles out. I LOVE Michael Pollan. Saw him on Oprah three years ago and it changed my life forever!

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Becky Elmuccio February 4, 2013 at 7:42 pm

They have some great picks today, Brooke! Enjoy them!

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EcoDad @ GLC February 4, 2013 at 10:09 am

I’m a bit scared to read the Omnivore’s Dilemma – several friends have read it and recommend it too.

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Becky Elmuccio February 4, 2013 at 7:43 pm

I think In Defense of Food is my favorite of his. He is a powerful writer and is so insightful.

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Motherhood on the Rocks February 4, 2013 at 11:04 am

I’ve been wanting to start a garden. Hopefully this year!

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Becky Elmuccio February 4, 2013 at 7:44 pm

Start with what you like and start small! It makes you more likely to be successful.

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Heather Johnson February 4, 2013 at 11:20 am

Great list of books. I will have to check some out come spring.

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Becky Elmuccio February 4, 2013 at 7:44 pm

Be sure to stop back and let me know what you read and like.

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Heather M February 4, 2013 at 11:36 am

Can’t wait to hear what you think of Woodswoman. The name grabs my attention.

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Becky Elmuccio February 4, 2013 at 7:46 pm

She has at least one more like that. I will let you know what I think.

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Elizabeth February 4, 2013 at 11:43 am

Wow, what a great list. January is the time I start picking up our food and gardening books. I can’t wait to add a bunch of these to my list:
http://www.themessyorganicmum.com/2013/01/january-reading.html

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Becky Elmuccio February 4, 2013 at 7:47 pm

Love your list too!

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Colorful Canary February 4, 2013 at 11:59 am

Great list – Thanks!

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Becky Elmuccio February 4, 2013 at 7:48 pm

My pleasure! Hope you find them to be helpful.

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Gina B February 4, 2013 at 12:06 pm

I’m such a newbie to this stuff. Thanks for posting, and I’m really excited to see a Barbara Kingsolver book on here. She’s one of my favorite authors!

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Becky Elmuccio February 4, 2013 at 7:48 pm

It is a fantastic read! It is one of the books that has spurred me on to eat organic and local.

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Xandra February 4, 2013 at 12:35 pm

I’m adding two of my favorite books to the list:
Plenty: Eating Locally on the 100 Mile Diet by Alisa Smith and J.B. Mackinnon
Epitaph for a Peach: Four Seasons on my Family Farm by David Mas Masumoto

Great post 🙂

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Becky Elmuccio February 4, 2013 at 7:49 pm

I loved Plenty! I will have to put the Epitaph for a Peach on my list. Thanks for the suggestion, Xandra!

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Barb @ A Life in Balance February 4, 2013 at 2:10 pm

Love the list! I’ve read most of the Longview ones you mentioned, none of the ones on your list. Time to hunt them down at the library!

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Becky Elmuccio February 4, 2013 at 7:50 pm

I got a bunch from Paperbackswap too, Barb! I am really excited about the Founding Gardeners one.

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Lisa Lynn February 4, 2013 at 2:45 pm

Great list of winter reading! I found this on the Barn Hop and I would love to have you join the fun on my Creative HomeAcre Hop!
http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/02/the-creative-homeacre-hop.html

Hope to see you there!

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Becky Elmuccio February 11, 2013 at 6:16 am

Lisa, thanks for the heads up on your linky. I will certainly swing by to pick up a button and add it to my list.

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Lauryn February 4, 2013 at 9:20 pm

I LOVE that you posted this! I have Heirloom by Tim Stark sitting on my nightstand. That is first on my list. Then I am going to dive into this list!

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Becky Elmuccio February 11, 2013 at 6:17 am

I haven’t read that one yet, Lauryn. Let me know how it is!

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pam February 6, 2013 at 12:51 pm

Thanks for linking up and thanks for the book recommendations!

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Becky Elmuccio February 11, 2013 at 6:17 am

My pleasure, Pam!

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