food @ home

New Zealander Dann, a lifelong gardener holding a PhD in environmental policy, offers a beautifully-written and heartfelt account of the ways she and others have escaped from a processed food nightmare. Well-researched a full of critical observations, Dann (Cottage Gardening in New Zealand) laments the food knowledge of peasants and the indigenous Maori that is nearly lost today, while recognizing a food renaissance that is picking up momentum. Though she passionately recommends gardening, she highlights Kiwi trends paralleling those seen in the United States%E2%80%94foraging, organic restaurants, farmer's markets, "freeganism", bartering%E2%80%94as all economic classes are showing a heightened appreciation for non-processed food in the same historical moment. Dann's love for food and gardening is evident here, and she demonstrates that great food can be made available, whether through home-growing or sought out through local farm-share connections. Beautiful garden pictures from her travels and her own backyard, as well as simple, enticing vegetarian recipes accompany the text. While some of the gardening tips provided are clearly meant for Southern Hemisphere dwellers, the majority will be useful for novice green thumbs looking to start a sustainable, nutritious, and gastronomically exciting gardening adventure. (Apr.)