Wayne County Reads makes selection; book focuses on sustainable lifestyle
By Dennis Hill
Published in News on December 4, 2014 1:47 PM
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The book selected for this year's Wayne County Reads program should generate much enthusiasm among readers who are interested in how and where their food comes from.
"Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" is a non-fiction narrative of how one family decided to forgo the conventional modern lifestyle and return to the land and should generate interest in readers familiar -- and not so familiar -- with the art and science of farming.
The book is by Barbara Kingsolver, whose family turned their back on modern modes of food gathering, i.e., the grocery store, and chose instead to eat only food they grew themselves or were able to buy from neighbors. One reviewer for the Los Angeles Times said of it: "It's a lovely book. One wants with all one's heart to sit with Kingsolver on the porch at the end of the day and shell peas."
Mrs. Kingsolver is a well-known novelist, with a dozen accomplished works. But she and her family took a deep look at their lifestyle and decided to turn their back on the modern industrial food pipeline and make their own way. It is a fresh look at an old subject.
"We knew we haven't given enough attention to how important agriculture is to our community," said Tara Humphries of Wayne Community College, one of the members of the board of Wayne County Reads. "We wanted to do something with food because Wayne County is so highly agricultural."
"It's harvesting our history," said Donna Phillips, the director of the Wayne County Library. "We think this subject will resonate with people who care about where their food comes from."
Mrs. Kingsolver was named one the most important writers of the 20th century by Writers Digest. She has received the National Humanities Medal, the nation's highest honor for service through the arts.
She grew up in rural Kentucky and earned a degree in biology. After years of travel and writing, she and her family settled in rural southwestern Virginia in an attempt to simplify their lifestyle. Their first year on the farm was the genesis of the book.
The selection and this year's program, which will feature lectures and forums on sustainable agriculture, is being co-sponsored by Wayne Community College's cultural diversity and global education task force. Other partners in the campaign include the state Center for Environmental Farming Systems at Cherry Farms and the University of Mount Olive's agribusiness program.
The Arts Council of Wayne County also is involved and will sponsor art shows in connection with the subject. Other groups who will be involved include the county Cooperative Extension Service and the Master Gardeners program.
"We believe it will be a catalyst for discussion," Mrs. Phillips said.
Activities surrounding the book will begin in January and continue through February. People interested in the program are encouraged to either check the book out of the library or purchase it at Books-A-Million on Berkeley Boulevard or at the WCC bookstore.