The Library Vault

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life  
By Barbara Kingsolver 

Throughout our existence, humans have created environments to fit our needs. We are the most adaptable species. In some ways, some may think that we mastered Mother Earth, they could not be more wrong. By creating an environment to fit our needs, we are distracted by the white noise of society telling us to live a certain way. It has made everything so accessible without any effort. One of those accessible products is the food we eat. 

It was not that long ago when families relied on their own farms to provide them with the nutrients to survive. They would grow with the seasons, use alternative crops, and feed the soil the nutrients it needs. Mother Nature works in both ways: we master the environment to provide nutrients to us and by us doing so, we provide nutrients to all other living creatures. A little thing called the Circle of Life. In modern day society, specifically in western civilizations, many of us have forgotten how to grow our food and feed the soil. Many people can’t name species of plants or trees, including myself. It now requires a specialized degree in biology rather than common knowledge. Technology has made that knowledge more accessible with minimal effort. I digress, let’s talk books and how one family of living off the food they nurtured, with their own hands, has brought a new conversation to the table. Maybe even pair a nice local wine to enjoy while flipping through its pages. 

Barbara Kingsolver moves from Arizona to Virginia with her husband and two daughters. Kingsolver nonfiction tale, is the depiction of her family’s year of growing their own food naturally and the procurement of local products from friends and townspeople alike. The book was was published in 2007 and received raving reviews. Barbara is able to depict another way of living — a familiar way of living. Compare it to our industrial lifestyle in modern western society. Barbara entices the reader with comfort and warmth that does not portray a soapbox, but lends an ear to a compelling voice. 

Many readers may know her other works like The Poisonwood Bible and Demon Copperhead, but this piece of nonfiction is a serious discussion that grounds the reader to feel at home. Kingsolver’s genuine language holds a gravitational pull to look at the environment we inhabit and what little things that we can do to make the world a better place. So this Wine & Words is not your typical pairing. It is looking at local wineries that exist in your surrounding area. It is practicing what Barbara and her family strive and accomplish in this book adaptation of their life. 

Consider the slogan “Shop Local.” It not only helps small businesses in your surrounding area, but also lessens your carbon footprint. I am not sure a pairing is necessary for this post, but a list of local wineries that reside here in Connecticut. Connecticut does something fun, if you are not familiar it, and that is the CT Wine Trail. It is a Wine Passport to visit all the wineries in Connecticut. They also have something similar for breweries and are establishing one for pizza. Something a little fun to do this summer is grab a passport and visit your local wineries, instead of going to the local packy. 

Now, dear reader, you are practicing the local ways of Barbara and her family. The year 2007 was not that long ago, but the strive that has been to purchase local has been a path forward. I understand that Amazon and these delivery services are making it so much more accessible and easy to consume, but by slowing down and visiting your local places creates not only business for these places, but also a story, an encounter, and place to return to. I encourage you to check out some local wineries or brewery or distillery, they have some pretty great things that are getting missed.