Temra Costa

This book is composed of vignettes about female farmers and other women in related endeavors. I could wish the vignettes were longer, but greatly appreciate the breadth of voices included. In truth, I have skimmed some of the sections, but not all, and I don't know that I'll read it through because it just doesn't hold my attention, for all that the subject matter is interesting. I have, however used it as a reference book when I hear of someone that seems like they ought to have been discussed in the book and often they are there. Sorry forgot the specific examples, but ah, well.

A good and useful addition to the bookshelf even though it's not much of a page-turner for me.… (mais)

I received this book as part of LibraryThing's Early Revieres program. It was an interesting read!
The book looks at food and agriculture from a woman's perspective and each chapter covers a different area. Within the chapters there's stories about women who have made a difference and are part of the food movement. Their stories are diverse, even within the individual chapters.
This book was created with what seems to be a lot of research and love as it's packed with information. If you are a woman looking to make change within the food production system, this book will provide you with inspiration and tools. If you are just wanting to be more informed, this book will also helpnyou understand the breadth of problems being faced in the US food systems. It is focused on the US, but if you live elsewhere in the world you will still come away inspired and informed.
To me, this book felt like going to a conference where each of the women stood up and gave a speech on what she's doing, the problems she's facing or faced and how she's addressing them. There's not a lots of in-depth information here as the stories aren't very long but it certainly gives a sense of the women and what they are doing.
It might be interesting to visit these same women I. 10 years to see their progress and the lessons they have learned and what they are doing.
An enjoyable book that can be read in snippets if need be.… (mais)

This book is an interesting and inspiring exploration of food production trends from a feminist perspective.

Covering six areas (farm-to-eater connections, advocating for social change, local/seasonal food, networking for food production, the urban female farmer and the next generation of farmers), each section has individual profile of female farmers highlighting the issues according to the category. Food production/delivery trends such as Slow Food, CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), biodynamics, Food Not Bombs and the locavore movement are introduced and explained. The author is to be commended for drawing her profiles from a very diverse group of women and from all areas of the US (the profiles are somewhat skewed to California - not surprising as the author is based out of the San Francisco area).

I enjoyed the book immensely. The women profiled showed a great deal of passion for bringing good, healthy food (for people AND the planet) to market. I learned something from each woman profiled and it made me realize what an intensely political issue food production/delivery is. But the greatest strength of this book is not in what others are doing but in how each of us can be part of the solution against big, impersonal agribusinesses. At the end of each section is a "recipes for action" segment which contains recommendations specifically targeted to whether you are an eater, a farmer or a food business. These recommendation range from the simple (buy local) to the highly involved (sponsoring an internship program) and gives everyone the felling that they can make a difference. Add to this a very extensive appendix and resources section (including contact information on the women profiled if you wished to get further information) and the book becomes a catalyst to allow you to be your own agent for change.

Highly recommended for anyone who eats.… (mais)