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America's Food: What You Don't Know about What You Eat
Winning entry, General Trade Cover/Jacket Category, in the 2009 New England Book Show sponsored by Bookbuilders of Boston. We don't think much about how food gets to our tables, or what had to happen to fill our supermarket's produce section with perfectly round red tomatoes and its meat counter with slabs of beautifully marbled steak. We don't realize that the meat in one fast-food hamburger may come from many different cattle raised in several different countries. In fact, most of us have a fairly abstract understanding of what happens on a farm. In "America's Food, " Harvey Blatt gives us the specifics. He tells us, for example, that a third of the fruits and vegetables grown are discarded for purely aesthetic reasons; that the artificial fertilizers used to enrich our depleted soil contain poisonous heavy metals; that chickens who stand all day on wire in cages choose feed with pain-killing drugs over feed without them; and that the average American eats his or her body weight in food additives each year. Blatt also asks us to think about the consequences of eating food so far removed from agriculture; why unhealthy food is cheap; why there is an International Federation of Competitive Eating; what we don't want to know about how animals raised for meat live, die, and are butchered; whether people are even designed to be carnivorous; and why there is hunger when food production has increased so dramatically. "America's Food" describes the production of all types of food in the United States and the environmental and health problems associated with each. After taking us on a tour of the American food system--not only the basic food groups but soil, grain farming, organic food, genetically modified food, food processing, and diet--Blatt reminds us that we aren't powerless. Once we know the facts about food in America, we can change things by the choices we make as consumers, as voters, and as ethical human beings.
Basic Composting: All the Skills and Tools You Need to Get Started
- Each technique illustrated with color photos - Details on what and what not to compost - Suggested uses for finished compost
Coffee Is Good for You: From Vitamin C and Organic Foods to Low-Carb and Detox Diets, the Truth about Diet and Nutrition Claims
Though food is supposed to be one of life's simple pleasures, few things cause more angst and confusion. Every day we are bombarded with come-ons for the latest diet, promises for "clinically proven" miracle ingredients, and warnings about contaminants in our favorite foods. It's enough to give anybody indigestion. Packed with useful-and surprising-information, "Coffee Is Good for You" cuts through the clutter to reveal what's believable and what's not in a fun and easily digestible way. You'll find out: *Locally grown produce isn't necessarily more healthful than fruits and vegetables from across the globe *Alcohol does cause breast cancer *You don't need eight glasses of water a day for good health *Milk isn't necessary for strong bones *Oatmeal really can lower cholesterol *Sea salt isn't more healthful than regular salt *Low-fat cookies may be worse for you than high-fat cheese
Easy Green Living: The Ultimate Guide to Simple, Eco-Friendly Choices for You and Your Home
We are what we eat, but we also are what we use to clean our homes, pamper our skin, and decorate our rooms, according to Renee Loux, accomplished raw food chef, award-winning author, and host of Fine Living TV'"s Easy Being Green." In her new book, " Easy Green Living," she applies her whole-foods philosophy to home, garden, and beauty routines.Renee Loux demonstrates that being green at home is easy, affordable, and better in every sense of the word. She discusses the daily choices we face that can keep the home, personal care, and beauty routines free of toxins. She exposes the dirt on cleaning products and common hazardous ingredients and reveals her recommendations for greener options, including her "Green Thumb Guides" for choosing non-toxic, eco-smart, and human-friendly products. Peppered with compelling and inspiring facts, "Easy Green Living" is full of "5 Step" lists, products and recipes for green cleaning, helpful charts, safer choices for every room, and inspirational advice so we can save the planet--one cleaning spritz at a time. As recent special issues of "Vanity Fair," "Time," "Newsweek," and other major publications have demonstrated, going green is an idea whose time has come. Whether addressing big-picture topics like renewable energy, or offering simple suggestions for everyday living, this complete lifestyle guide shows that healthier choices don't mean a radical or complicated life change--it is, after all, easy to be green.
Emergency Food Storage & Survival Handbook: Everything You Need to Know to Keep Your Family Safe in a Crisis
Always Be Prepared What if your life was disrupted by a natural disaster, food or water supply contamination, or any other type of emergency? Do you have the essentials for you and your family? Do you have a plan in the event that your power, telephone, water and food supply are cut off for an extended amount of time? What if there were no medical or pharmaceutical services available for days, weeks, or months? How prepared are you? With this guide by your side, you and your family will learn how to plan, purchase, and store a three-month supply of all the necessities--food, water, fuel, first-aid supplies, clothing, bedding, and more--simply and economically. In other words, this book may be a lifesaver. Inside you'll find 10 steps to an affordable food storage program plus how to: -Prepare a home "grocery store" and "pharmacy" -Use what you store and store what you use -Store water safely and provide for sanitation needs -Create a first-aid kit, car kit, and 72-hour emergency kit for the whole family -And many more invaluable hints and tips "This clear, concise, step-by-step program is not only affordable and doable, it's essential in these uncertain times. Now, everyone from apartment dwellers to basement owners can store a three-month supply of the essentials, including peace of mind " -- Joni Hilton, author of "Once-a-Week Cooking Plan" and "Cooking Secrets My Mother Never Taught Me"
Get Your Goat: How to Keep Happy, Healthy Goats in Your Backyard, Wherever You Live
It's all about back to basics: consumers are rejecting "consumption "and looking for more and more ways to reconnect with the earth, the community, and their food sources. Many people who have tried keeping chickens, toyed with turkeys, or even just fantasized about converting their quarter-acre suburban yard into a pasture has no doubt wondered: What about goats? I don't live on a farm--how do these lively, intelligent creatures fit into my life? "Get Your Goat," " "is a comprehensive, engaging way to answer all your questions about keeping goats, as backyard farm animal or even as a pet. "Get Your Goat "is a complete handbook for keeping all breeds of goats on smaller acreage. It includes essential information on the nuts and bolts of goat behavior; an extensive breed guide that teaches you how to make the best choice of breed for your lifestyle; fencing and housing; health and wellness; whether to raise goats for product (milk, meat, fiber) or for companionship; and more . . . written for the new goat keeper, with all the right questions in mind
Home Freezing Handbook: All You Need to Know to Prepare and Freeze Over 200 Everyday Foods
This is Carol Bowen's sequel to her "Basic Basics Combination and Microwave Handbook," and it follows the same formula as an A to Z compendium. The reader looks up the fruit, the vegetable, the fish, the meat, the sauces, cakes or herbs, and there are quick guidelines on freezing each type of food. The author also explains how a freezer works, gives advice on choosing and siting a freezer, insurance, cleaning, maintenance, what to do in emergencies, packaging and accessories, freezing techniques and defrosting, refreezing and thawing as well as storage times.
How to Raise Chickens: Everything You Need to Know
Whichever comes first for you, the chicken or the egg, this book shows you what to do next. In this hands-on, easy-to-use guidebook, longtime chicken breeder and poultry expert Christine Heinrichs tells you everything you need to know to raise chickens in your backyard--from laying out the yard and designing a coop to choosing breeds, caring for chicks, egging, sexing, and butchering. Whether you're interested in rare breeds or the garden variety; whether you want to show your chickens or serve them, this brightly illustrated, clearly written guide will prove an indispensable resource.
How to Raise Dairy Goats: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply
Goats have been used for their dairy products for hundreds of years, providing a wide array of milk, butter, yogurt, and cheeses that provide the unique flavors that make Mediterranean cuisine so special. For those who are interested in raising their own dairy goats so they can take advantage of the milk products provided, it is important to first of all learn everything possible about dairy goats, from what they eat to how they breed and how to cultivate and harvest the milk when the time comes. This book provides every detail you could possible need to become a dedicated or hobbyist dairy goat breeder and farmer. You will learn how goats are raised for different purposes, including as dairy goats, fiber goats, and as a means to maintain property. You will learn how to select the right breed of goat and how to know what to look for in a specific goat. You will also learn about how to start the process of breeding goats, including the care for the mother, separation of the father, and the necessary care for the kid once it is born. You will learn how to properly house goats and what they require from you to remain healthy and happy, both in their feed and their space. Expert goat farmers have been interviewed and have provided their insight and expertise on the topic, building a collection of insights of tips and tricks about raising dairy goats. You will learn how to care for your dairy goats and what special treatment or care they require from you. You will also learn what you need to provide for the dairy goats to produce as much milk as possible. Finally, you will learn how to gather the milk from the dairy goats and how to both process and sell it to maintain your business. For anyone who has ever been interested in raising goats for dairy production, this guide will offer you everything you need.
How to Raise Goats: Everything You Need to Know
As pets or livestock, goats are increasingly popular animals on farms large and small. Easier and cheaper to keep than many larger animals, they will keep a pony company, pull a cart, and produce the perfect milk for many artisan cheeses or meat for some of the most up-and-coming ethnic cuisines. For anyone thinking of acquiring a goat or starting a herd--for whatever reason--this book is an essential resource. Written by an authority on goat breeding and behavior, this approachable guide covers every component of raising goats for fun or profit, meat or milk. Beginning with the basics--history and behavior, types and breeds--Carol Amundson answers all of a prospective owners questions about getting a goat, from land requirements and regulations to choosing or assessing particular animals or breeds. In a clear and engaging way, she goes into the details of housing and feeding, breeding and milking, training and showing, transporting and marketing goats of all kinds--as well as the dos and donts of keeping them healthy from birth to old age. Concise, complete, and easy-to-use, this is a reference that no goat owner should be without.
How to Solar Power Your Home: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply
Now more than ever, the question of economic and environmentally friendly energy sources has become a hot topic in almost every American home. With that in mind, more and more people are turning to alternatives such as solar power as a means of saving money and reducing their imprint on the environment. This nearly carbon neutral method comes with hefty tax rebates from the federal government and in states like California and New Jersey massive rebates from the state. More states are considering similar rebates and with a 3 to 8 year energy savings possible according to a recent report by the New York Times, it is an ideal solution for anyone looking to save money in the long term and help the planet immediately. This book will guide anyone interested in the process of installing and utilizing solar power for their home in the process of searching for, buying, or building their own solar power system. Learn how solar power and other alternative energy sources can help to save the world regardless of the cost and how you can start surveying your own energy use and efficiency. Learn how you can start making basic adjustments to become more efficient and how solar power can help you before you start any major projects. Learn what solar power requires, from cost and equipment to maintenance and preparation in certain times of the year. Learn how solar power works and how to start evaluating the potential of it for your building needs. Take the cost of installing solar power and learn how long it will take to make money back on your investment, including information on federal and state rebates that might affect you. Multiple individuals who have successfully installed solar power in their homes have been interviewed and their experiences included in this guide to help you learn what others go through and how they came out. Learn how the installation process works and how it can be done in your landscape, in small projects, for heating and purifying water, swimming pool heating, and other smaller projects. Learn about how individuals construct solar power systems on their own to save money and what is involved in a full PV system. Finally, learn how the market for green homes has made it possible to extract a huge return on investment from building or remodeling a home with solar power. For anyone who has ever considered solar power as a viable means to save money and the environment, this guide will help you get started right away.
The All You Can Eat Gardening Handbook: Easy Organic Vegetables and More Money in Your Pocket
There's never been a better time to grow your own food as we face the converging challenges of the financial crisis, climate change, water shortages, peak oil, and 6.5 billion people worldwide competing for a limited amount of food. Many gardening books are so technical that they are intimidating to the beginning gardener. This book shows how easy gardening can be while providing tips and techniques to ensure success. Whether you live in the country, the city, or the suburbs, you'll learn: How to create lots of rich compost as the basis for vigorous growth Simple techniques to safely deal with pests The most effective techniques for irrigation, including harvesting your rainwater How to store your harvest using canning, freezing, and drying techniques How to build and stock a root cellar How to choose which vegetables to grow based on their nutritional value This book is a step-by-step guide to turning your lawn into a great source of personal satisfaction and economic independence. Having an organic produce department in your backyard creates your own "one hundred-foot diet" to reduce your carbon footprint and keep more money in your pocket. Cam Mather has been gardening organically and market gardening for thirty-five years. His entertaining and informative workshops and DVD have inspired thousands of people to get out and get their hands dirty. He publishes books about renewable energy and sustainability from his off-grid solar and wind-powered home office.
The Backyard Homestead: Produce All the Food You Need on Just a Quarter Acre!
Put your backyard to work Enjoy fresher, organic, better-tasting food all the time. The solution is as close as your own backyard. Grow the vegetables and fruits your family loves; keep bees; raise chickens, goats, or even a cow. "The Backyard Homestead" shows you how it's done. And when the harvest is in, you'll learn how to cook, preserve, cure, brew, or pickle the fruits of your labor. From a quarter of an acre, you can harvest 1,400 eggs, 50 pounds of wheat, 60 pounds of fruit, 2,000 pounds of vegetables, 280 pounds of pork, 75 pounds of nuts. Praise for "The Backyard Homestead: "Bottom line is, even if you're not ready for complete self-sufficiency, in today's economic climate, it just makes sense to try to produce some of your own food. And this book is a great way to get your feet wet." - "Epicurious.com"
The Backyard Idea Book: Easy Organic Techniques and Solutions for a Landscape You'll Love
To help organic gardening novices face the daunting task of landscaping an entire backyard, professional arborist and city landscaper Kris Medic offers practical, simple advice on designing and maintaining a yard with minimal fuss. Medic, who has worked at such prestigious gardens as Callaway Gardens, Longwood Gardens and the Morris Arboretum, suggests time-saving alternatives to typical high-maintenance green lawns, including wildflower meadows or wildlife areas and the addition of decks and patios, which also increase living space. With 175 color photographs, 80 illustrations, 15 garden designs, and recommendations for all regions of the country, this book will inspire homeowners to envision their own dream landscape. Hundreds of expert tips and strategies, including "When to Call a Pro" boxes and a run-down of more than 60 easy-care landscape plants, provide them with the know-how to turn those dreams into reality.
The Chicken Whisperer's Guide to Keeping Chickens: Everything You Need to Know... and Didn't Know You Needed to Know about Backyar
Are you looking for a great way to reconnect with the earth, the community, and your food sources? Keeping backyard chickens is a fun, simple way to start making this happen, even with limited space in your backyard. Let the Chicken Whisperer (poultry personality Andy Schneider) teach you everything he knows...and everything you "need" to know...about raising a backyard flock Ditch the super-technical manuals and enjoy Andy's unique, common-sense perspective is a perfect fit for your busy lifestyle. Inside you'll learn: --The Benefits of a Backyard Chicken Flock --So You're Eggspecting: The Art of Incubation -- The Art of Brooding --Home Sweet Home: Coops & Runs --Nutrition, Health, and Wellness ...and much more
The Complete Guide to Organic Livestock Farming: Everything You Need to Know about Natural Farming on a Small Scale
Small scale farming has grown greatly in popularity during the last two decades, with a greater turn in public awareness toward locally grown, organic, grass fed products that have not been modified, chemically altered, or poorly fed. For that reason, those looking to start a small scale farm and raise livestock have a greater chance than ever before to take advantage of the new market for small scale goods. This book will show any potential small scale farmer how to start raising their livestock and marketing it to the organic, natural lifestyle community that so fervently seeks out these products. You will learn how to start the basic outline for your new small farm, including which livestock to raise, how to build their pens and habitat, and what you will be feeding them to maintain a healthy, organic farm. You will learn the basics of animal husbandry, from genetics and breeding to feeding, building locations, and proper health and reproduction care. You will learn how to find yourself in the right niche for selling your products and what legalities you must see to as well as the butchering and processing phase Hundreds of hours of in-depth interviews have been conducted for this book with top experts in farm management to provide you with details about farm planning, financial planning, and proper livestock planning. A complete appendix will detail the various breeds and needs of cattle, chickens, goats, horses, pigs, and sheep to help you select the right livestock for your farm. In addition, you will learn the basic composition of most feeds, different grasses and legumes you can use, and find a plethora of outside resources to utilize. For anyone with dreams of a small farm and raising livestock in their future, this is a book for you.
The Complete Guide to Raising Chickens: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply
Properly raised chickens can be a major boon to any household looking to save money on eggs and poultry. The average hen lays 260 eggs per year, which means that with just six chickens, your family could have 1,560, or 13 dozen, eggs a year. Not only can this save your family significant money on groceries, but you can also harvest and sell eggs at farmers markets or local supermarkets. Additionally, you can raise poultry for meat, saving you a weekly trip to your grocer's deli counter. Raising chickens is relatively inexpensive, and they are easy to maintain if you are equipped with the right knowledge. Plus, your family will love having these quirky and fun birds around. With The Complete Guide to Raising Chickens: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply, you can have a happy and healthy flock that provides your family with countless benefits. In this book, you will find comprehensive information on understanding how to raise your new flock, no matter if you live in the city or on a small farm. Starting with the basics, this book begins describing the different goals and reasons you may want to have these birds, whether for eggs, meat, breeding, selling, showing, or just to have them as pets. You will learn how to understand chickens and how to decide which breed to purchase depending on your needs, as well as where to purchase your chickens and handle them. After reading this book, you will know what your chickens will need and how to take care of them so you can meet your goals for the birds. You will learn what kind of housing your chickens need, including everything from runs and bedding to lighting, perches, and nesting boxes. Once you are an expert on chicken coops, you will explore the proper methods and forms of feed each breed needs. This book provides details on how to breed chickens for egg production and how to collect and store the eggs, while additional information is included on how to manage your breeders and hatch eggs. This book covers the entire lifespan of the chicken, including hatching, egg cultivation, mating, and slaughter. Additionally, you will rarely have to call the vet with this book's information on chicken health and anatomy. We interviewed top chicken farms and experts for this book, and their expertise and experience is compiled in this book to provide practical information on maintaining chicken health, how different seasons affect chicken care, and how to raise chickens for meat. The Complete Guide to Raising Chickens is the perfect guide for any new chicken farmer to have in hand.
The Dirt-Cheap Green Thumb: 400 Thrifty Tips for Saving Money, Time, and Resources as You Garden
More and more people are venturing into the dirt every day, inspired by the promise of fresh-from-the-backyard produce and lower grocery bills. But like any hobby, gardening has its pitfalls; without the right planning and know-how, even experienced gardeners can discover with shock that they've grown a $64 tomato Fortunately, gardeners don't have to choose between frugal and fantastic. In "The Dirt-Cheap Green Thumb," Rhonda Massingham Hart provides practical, commonsense advice that helps growers save money . . . without compromising the harvest. Using an accessible tip format, Hart offers time-tested solutions that stretch a dollar, even as they yield beautiful, bountiful plants. From starting seeds to preserving produce, and from compost to water conservation, Hart's advice ensures that readers waste neither time nor money. The book offers dozens of helpful lists, including "pennywise plants" and "best ofs," and it covers all types of gardens - including vegetables, flowers, houseplants, and landscape foliage. Sidebars offer innovative moneysaving tips and simple instructions. The book will appeal to the first-time gardener, as well as to more experienced growers who are newly budget-conscious.
