AVM: It’s What Our Grandmothers Knew
Leader of the discussion in the library was AAUW member Lorna Jaynes (left), seen here discussing Animal, Vegetable, Mineral. Next to her are Jeanne Delp and Shirley Gilbert (right).
Some of the participants at the April 12 discussion session at the Fremont Main Library felt that the book contained knowledge we learned in our grandmother’s kitchen.
”My grandmother,“ said Randy Fewel, ”composted waste products, canned fruits and vegetables when they were in season and tried to bake cakes with only a little sugar. And that was fifty years ago.”
About 10 people attended the book talk that took place in a section of the library that looks out on a green and glorious landscape – so perfect for a discussion of the book.
Lorna Jaynes, AAUW member, lawyer and on the board of L.E.A.F. (Local Ecology and Agriculture Fremont) led the discussion. Lorna has helped start many a local garden – including her own – and tries hard to live the message of the book every day.
Lorna asked those who read the book – almost everybody had – to describe their perspective of this book. Here are some of their responses:
- A few people felt that there wasn’t anything new in Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. ”Michael Pollan, Jamie Oliver, the movie Food, Inc. and many other books and articles on the subject have already increased our awareness about eating locally and eating fresh foods.“
- Leader Lorna talked about receiving fresh produce from a local farm on a regular basis and how deliciously different the food was from supermarket offerings.
- Genevieve Angelides reported on Oprah’s special presentation on how our food comes to our table and how important it is for all of us to ask where food comes from and how it is treated. Oprah put the spotlight on Chipotle, a Mexican food chain that serves fresh, “real” food.
- One reader felt the book really changed her life. After reading it, she started to grow her own vegetables. Another said the book had taught her to eat consciously and according to one’s values.
- Margery Leonard, co-chair of the One Book, One Community program, was intrigued by Kingsolver’s use of the word “promiscuous” when talking about how we’re raising our kids. The author believes we are raising our children promiscuously … to expect to live without any limits.
- Several readers liked the human story of the book: Lily and her love of chickens, Camille and her seasonal recipes, and Steven Hopp, Kingsolver’s husband, whose technical and scientific sidebars appealed to many men reading the book.
- Randy added that her daughter really took the book to heart and now is part of a Slow Food organization, makes her own cheese, and focuses on locally grown foods and family dinners in Victor, Ohio.
- Finally Margery said that Kingsolver herself felt her book is about choices – we need to make them wisely with an awareness of what our purchases mean to the environment and what they say about our values.