A Nation of Farmers: Defeating the Food Crisis on American Soil (Paperback)

~ (Author), Aaron Newton (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Astyk (Depletion and Abundance) and Newton, both farmers and activists, think it's a "Big Lie" to argue that Americans aren't ready for "real and deep and radical change in our way of living." Now, they insist, is the perfect time for a nation of producers fulfilling "real needs rather than abstracted wants." With links to global warming and coming energy shortages (they also subscribe to the Peak Oil theory), the food crisis they foresee demands a shift from industrial farming to sustainable agriculture, from a supermarket and fast-food mentality to a "locavore" approach, and from an American diet dominated by meat to one rich in whole grains, potatoes, legumes, roots and vegetables. They finger factory farming as a major source of ecological damage and global economic disparity, likening the industry to Soviet collectives. The authors' radical plan calls for 50 to 100 million Americans to become subsistence farmers working their own small plots, resulting in 200 million relying solely on organic food grown nearby, and huge savings in resources and health care. Naturally, this is a decidedly Utopian vision with long odds against it, but Astyk and Newton offer a solid, thought-provoking challenge to conventional wisdom about Americans' lifestyle and capacity for change.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Although most Americans are used to a seemingly endless supply of industrially grown and imported food, many fail to realize that this abundance is neither sustainable nor reliable. Industrial agriculture depletes the soil, poisons the environment, relies on petroleum-based fertilizers, and is controlled by a handful of large corporations. Small-scale farmer Astyk (Depletion and Abundance: Life on the New Home Front) and Newton, a sustainable systems land planner, argue that it is both possible and necessary to stop the harm caused by industrial agriculture. They show how the food crisis is tied to the energy crisis, global warming, and resource depletion and conclude that worldwide food shortages are imminent. What the authors propose is a victory farm and garden movement, one similar to the World War II undertaking in which Americans grew their own produce in home gardens. They discuss the many advantages of growing one's own food and of cooking nutritious, flavorful meals from scratch. Their book includes informative discussions of other pertinent works as well as interviews with authors like Richard Heinberg and Bill McKibben. This outstanding and well-written compendium of insights and recommendations, of fervent idealism and practical solutions, is highly recommended.—Ilse Heidmann, Washington State Lib., Olympia
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: New Society Publishers (May 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0865716234
• ISBN-13: 978-0865716230
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #91,143 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #16 in	Books > Science > Agricultural Sciences > Soil Science
  #19 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Agricultural Sciences > Sustainable Agriculture
  #19 in	Books > Science > Agricultural Sciences > Sustainable Agriculture

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Real Story, June 6, 2009

By	Joseph J. Brophy (New Rochelle, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The authors have pulled together an amazing amount of information and crafted a powerful argument about the urgency of addressing food independence and sustainable lifestyles in America now. These folks are radicals in the best sense of the word - they demonstrate forcefully that radical changes are coming and that radical solutions are needed starting at the grassroots literally and figuratively. They are not crunchy granola eco-freaks, limousine liberals or mystics, but hardheaded pragmatists who lay out a convincing blueprint for the changes that are needed and how to get there. Their vision is of an independent future that shifts power and production from large international companies to individuals, families and communities. They admit that their vision may be unachievable, but explain in convincing detail why it is a future worth struggling for because out current course is unsustainable, immoral and unhealthy for individuals, societies, and the planet. I am not only rooting for them, but I am putting my money where my mouth is and buying 10 copies of this book to give away.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An important challenge for us all, May 25, 2009

By	Bonnie Bucqueroux "crusty contrarian" (Mason, MI) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Sharon Astyk's "Depletion & Abundance" set out the themes associated with the problems we face from climate change, peak oil and industrial agriculture. This book offers the solution - creating 100 million new farmers and 200 million new cooks using sustainable practices. As publisher of Sustainable Farmer (dotcom), I am witnessing the explosion of interest among people who understand the importance of becoming more self-sufficient in raising their own food. From urban gardens to the use of passive solar hoophouses to raise food year-round in cold climates, people are exploring new ways to grow food while reducing our carbon footprint. This book is both inspirational and instructional. I expect that we will look back on it as being as important as Michael Pollan's Omnivore's Dilemma and Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent work by people who know their stuff, July 24, 2009

By	Detour - See all my reviews

It's one thing to muddle through stern dicta on food and agriculture emanating from the ivory towers and chic digs of urban America. It's quite another to find solutions crafted by actual farmers who make their living and feed their families from the land. Astyk and Newton have made their case and offer a convincing blueprint for all of us. True, much of it may be unachievable, but much more of it is easily within our grasp. A must-read!