Barbara Kingsolver is a well-known author of both fiction and nonfiction books. She has won numerous awards. And yet, for the longest time, I had avoided reading any of her writing. When I saw this CD set in a local library, I decided that it was finally time to give her a chance. I liked the premise here. In 2004, Barbara and her family aimed to spend a whole year eating nothing but food that had been grown locally. In other words: either they would grow it themselves, on their farm in southwestern Virginia, or they would find someone else in their region who grew it. In a way, this project sounds as if it could be an easy one to undertake, especially on a farm. After all, enough of our ancestors survived with this kind of arrangement, didn't they? How did we get so distanced from the practice?

Barbara's family had just moved back to Appalachia from Arizona. When they decided to embark on this year-long project, they had to make a number of decisions. What did they want to eat? What did they want to raise? Where else could they go for locally grown produce and meats? With much planning, they began to grow their own greens, fruits and vegetables. They raised chickens and turkeys. They learned how to preserve surplus food so that it could feed them during the following winter. They reached out to other growers in the area. Plan ahead, plant the seeds, back off and see what happens.

I am not a gardener, and I am not a cook. On most days, I tend toward vegetarianism. And yet, I learned a lot here. Barbara uses her family's stories to get us thinking deeply about our own food choices and sources. People used to eat only those fruits and vegetables that were in season, in their neighborhoods. Now, both "fresh produce" and packaged foods can be imported from just about anywhere. Think about it. How important is it for us to be able to eat bananas or oranges, any time we choose? Or snacks trucked in from the other side of the country? And the issue is not just that these items have spent time being imported to our grocery stores. We should also consider how much fossil fuel is wasted to bring this food to us. Is eating such stuff worth jeopardizing not only our good health, but also that of the planet? This is literally, food for thought and for focused contemplation.

As I mentioned, I listened to the CD edition of this book during my daily commute. Barbara's comfortable voice quickly reminded me of Frances Mayes, notable author of Under the Tuscan Sun and other titles. Both women have lilting Southern accents. As a matter of fact, while I was listening to Barbara's book, I also happened to be reading a print copy of Frances Mayes' latest, A Place in the World: Finding the Meaning of Home. These two books and authors complement each other well. Frances often equates the concept of "home" with cooking and sharing local food with friends and relatives, in the various places where she has lived. I recommend bundling these two books together, if you can.

In the printed copy of Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, informational sidebars were written by the other family members. On the CD edition, Barbara's husband Steven and her older daughter Camille narrate their own sidebars. Younger daughter Lily makes contributions as well, although not vocally. This project is indeed a family affair, right down to the furred and feathered residents of the farm. Each CD begins and ends with a variety of sounds recorded from the barnyard.

This book was first released in 2007. A 10th anniversary edition came out in 2017, complete with "a new epilogue by the authors." What had been a year-long project ended up having lasting effects for these folks.

The stories and the lessons in Animal, Vegetable, Miracle should probably be devoured by anyone who eats. After reading about this family's experiences, you may find that the idea of being a "locovore" is an appealing one. You'll read product labels, you'll ask restaurant waitstaff where their ingredients came from, and you'll wonder why you never before thought of questioning your food origins. You'll search for a nearby farmer's market. And here is an absolute fact: You will NEVER look at turkeys the same way again.