Each issue, we’ll bring you some of the books, publications and articles that have our attention.
Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades: The Complete Guide to Organic Gardening by Steve Solomon: This is one of those books that sits on the kitchen table throughout the growing season. A good manual for your large vegetable garden this side of the North Cascades.
Lettuce Introduce You: Poems About Food by Laura Purdie Salas: Like poetry, like food, and have a sense of humor? You’ll like this collection of poetry and photographs – all about food. Your kids will love it too! Great bedtime reading and introductory book about the basics of poetic style.
Field Guide to the Cascades & Olympics by Stephen R. Whitney and Ron Sandelin: A good resource for any time of year, this book comes particularly in handy during the summer season when we are out and about, enjoying the beautiful summer in the Pacific Northwest. Take it in the yard, to a park, on a hike or to the lake, and find the correct name of what you’re looking at, be it plants or animals.
The Vegetarian Myth: Food, Justice and Sustainability by Leirre Keith. No matter your eating habits or opinions of others’ eating styles, this is an interesting read. The book comes across as part memoir, with opinion about communities and local eating, politics and history of agriculture. The author, who practiced veganism for 20 years, explores health choices, and moral issues related to industrial farming and raising/eating animals using humane methods.
Twain’s Feast: Searching for America’s Lost Foods in the Footsteps of Samuel Clemens by Andrew Beahrs. This book is a mix of eating and farming on the local level, past and present. The author takes you back and forth on a storytelling journey, to discover American foods loved by Twain, complete with old food and recipes, and where we are today.

Want to share what you’re reading? E-mail editor@grownorthwest.com.