norynor's review
4.0
A really quick and thoughtful read, not at all what I’d expected! This book manages to talk about our crazy (and depressing) food system without actually making me depressed. There were a few things that I wasn’t a fan of but overall I enjoyed it! The statistics and scientific background of local eating and global food systems were things I was familiar with, but it was interesting to read about it from a more personal perspective, with the facts being a part of a personal experience rather than an academic text.
kickpleat's review
4.0
I really liked this story of a couple who eat within a 100 mile radius for one year. I love that they also live in my city and I'm excited to visit some of the farms that James and Alisa have been too. Right now in my own cupboards I've got local honey from the Westham Island apiary and herbs, vegetables and berries from a local farm nearby. While eating completely local for a year is something I couldn't imagine doing, this is an inspiring read and I think the rise in CSA programs and farmer's markets is just the start to how many of us should be eating.
womojong's review
3.0
3.5, thoughtful and inspiring, especially in sharing the same 100 mile radius as the authors.
sharolyn's review
3.0
I read this when newly moved to Vancouver from Brisbane so it was cool to read something local. I found the authors to be slightly annoying in some of their tone and the way they related as a couple but perhaps that's not really fair as it's not the main point of the book. I like the idea of eating locally and this made a contribution to my thinking more on the topic.
dreesreads's review
3.0
This book is an entertaining and fast read about a couple who decide to spend a year eating a 100-mile diet in Vancouver, BC.
Co-authored in alternating chapters, the book turns out to be largely a series of anecdotes about hunting for 100-mile wheat, the dearth of local seafood despite being on the ocean, a potato-and-kale diet, rotting onions, local characters, and home canning. It could have been so much more, as they finally find local wheat and learn that wheat had been a common crop in the area. And as they bemoan the loss of the local fisheries, as they learn about the huge variety of fruits and vegetables that grow incredibly well in their area--but are not grown on any commercial scale any longer.
But rather than preach to the choir, they stick with the anecdotes and hint at the larger issues.
Co-authored in alternating chapters, the book turns out to be largely a series of anecdotes about hunting for 100-mile wheat, the dearth of local seafood despite being on the ocean, a potato-and-kale diet, rotting onions, local characters, and home canning. It could have been so much more, as they finally find local wheat and learn that wheat had been a common crop in the area. And as they bemoan the loss of the local fisheries, as they learn about the huge variety of fruits and vegetables that grow incredibly well in their area--but are not grown on any commercial scale any longer.
But rather than preach to the choir, they stick with the anecdotes and hint at the larger issues.
sarahkb's review
4.0
A great, easy, quick read. This is more than just a diary of the couple's quest to eat locally - it's also a story of their relationship.
thecozybookshelf's review
3.0
I found this book randomly on the shelves at my library, and enjoyed it immensely - I think this would be a good one for fans of Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and anyone who enjoys learning about the locavore movement.
The title of this book pretty much speaks for itself; a couple in Vancouver make a goal to eat only food grown/caught within 100-mile radius of their home for an entire year. It was a well-written book (I believe the authors are journalists), and really makes you stop and think about the way in which you choose what to eat and where to buy it from.
The title of this book pretty much speaks for itself; a couple in Vancouver make a goal to eat only food grown/caught within 100-mile radius of their home for an entire year. It was a well-written book (I believe the authors are journalists), and really makes you stop and think about the way in which you choose what to eat and where to buy it from.
laurenho's review
3.0
wanted to learn more about local farming, instead learnt about james and alisa's marital problems.
jayme's review
4.0
The book that started the local eating diet craze. This is the first book that got me thinking about buying more local foods. Smith and Mackinnon give a great description of their adventure with local eating for a year in Vancouver. Also being from Vancouver I found this book doubly interesting. I don't think I would have had the same experience if they were talking about the local food culture of a different area.
The one problem I had with this book was the extreme approach the authors took. They decided that absolutely nothing they ate during the year would come from more than 100 miles away. However, prior to this book they were both supposedly vegetarian. Not being able to find a suitable source of protein in the lower mainland, they just gave it up and started eating meat. Considering the idea of a local diet is to be more environmentally aware, I thought it was pretty disturbing that they advocated eating meat. The amount of environmental damage done by raising food animals is huge. I can't imagine it would be better for the planet to eat meat, than to make an exception and fly over a few beans to chow down on.
The one problem I had with this book was the extreme approach the authors took. They decided that absolutely nothing they ate during the year would come from more than 100 miles away. However, prior to this book they were both supposedly vegetarian. Not being able to find a suitable source of protein in the lower mainland, they just gave it up and started eating meat. Considering the idea of a local diet is to be more environmentally aware, I thought it was pretty disturbing that they advocated eating meat. The amount of environmental damage done by raising food animals is huge. I can't imagine it would be better for the planet to eat meat, than to make an exception and fly over a few beans to chow down on.