The dog days of summer are currently in full swing. While that means that we at Green City Growers have had our hands full (and I mean that literally; I've picked plenty of zucchini over the last few weeks that are the length of my forearm), it's that time of the year when folks travel to new places, hit the beach, or maybe have a little stay-cation at home. If you've already read your share of Michael Pollan and want some other good food-related books, you can read...
Tomatoland: How Modern Industrial Agriculture Destroyed Our Most Alluring Fruit (Barry Estabrook)
Okay, so maybe the title and the topic aren't exactly cheerful, and maybe you don't want to read about something so morose when you're trying to enjoy some extended downtime. But this book was featured on NPR a few weeks ago and has been getting rave reviews from publications like the New York Times and prominent foodies like Jacques Pepin, so clearly there's something about this book that's resonating with someone out there. Estabrook explores the production of the tomato that you could find in your average American supermarket, and looks at the nutritional, environmental, and social problems that the tomato industry has created. Taking extra special care of those tricky heirlooms in your backyard might look like a mighty fine option after reading this book.
Weeds: In Defense of Nature's Most Unloved Plants (Richard Mabey)
Not to be confused with the popular Showtime series, Weeds is all about the roles weeds have played in our histories around the world and how they continue to affect us today. While Mabey isn't claiming that weeds are pure rainbows and sunshine that can do no wrong, he explores how weeds work and how they've impacted our lives from a variety of angles, including the ways they've actually helped us and how we need them. (But please don't hate us for pulling weeds out of your garden when they get to be overwhelming.)
Plan Bee: Everything You Wanted to Know about the Hardest-Working Creatures on the Planet (Susan Brackney)
Most of us at GCG are not expert beekeepers, but we're big fans of bees and how their work makes our job easier and more productive. Plan Bee is great because it accessibly discusses how bee colonies are structured, the work that bees do, the basics of beekeeping, and some of the problems bees are facing nowadays. And it talks about how bees are important for fruit and vegetable production!
Are there any foodie books out there that you like in particular? We love book suggestions, so hit us up at our Facebook page and feel free to post a food-related book that you've been digging recently.
