Another good book

I've just been reading Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. The book is the story of her family's attempt to eat only locally grown or reared (mainly homegrown, and by default mainly seasonal) food. My wife read the book first and recommended it. Given that the author is extremely successful I feared that it would be another self-indulgent middle class feel-good book, but it's not. Clearly Kingsolver and family spend a lot of time digging, planting, picking, bottling etc. which to my mind is what validates the whole thing.

It is very american in flavour, but that doesn't detract. The most important thing for me was the overall message that with a bit of land, a bit of effort and a bit of help from your friends and neighbours (with some given in return) it is possible to do this and to enjoy doing it. I'm currently reading The Transition Handbook (peak oil and global warming and what to do about it) of which I will write more later, but which also makes a similar point, that moving away from consumerism can actually be enjoyable.