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City Farmer

Adventures in Urban Food Growing
by Lorraine Johnson
City Farmer: Adventures in Urban Food Growing. Greystone: Douglas & McIntyre, dist. by PGW. Jan. 2011. 256p. index. ISBN 9781553655190. pap. $15.95. AGRI
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The local food movement and a greater awareness of industrial agriculture have prompted many to look at producing their own food. Starting with despair over the state of food production turned to delight about growing her own food, Johnson takes readers on a journey through her own past up to the present to provide context, understanding, and advice for those ready to reconnect with growing their own groceries. In a text that is full of wit and charm, she discusses a host of complexities and challenges that urban farmers face. From guerilla gardening to an inner-city school in Detroit, Johnson highlights stories of how people are reconnecting with the food they produced themselves and the lessons they're learning through those experiences.
VERDICT This timely, well-written work offers an insightful and inspiring look at gaining control of one's food and references other works that provide how-to knowledge and additional discussions of the current food movement. Although not a step-by-step planting guide, it contains sidebars full of helpful tips that may motivate black-thumbed gardeners to at least contemplate taking a trowel to dirt and begin a small garden of their own. Highly recommended.
Reviewed by Kyrille Goldbeck, Virginia Polytechnic Inst. & State Univ. Lib., Blacksburg , Jan 01, 2011
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