Saving the Soil: The New American Farmer

Among all the issues concerning Americans today, the quality and safety of the food we buy every day for our families is near the top of the list. We want to know where our food comes from and the identity of the people who produce it. Yet most of us feel it is impossible to find out. Who YOUR farmer really is remains a mystery. SAVING THE SOIL--THE NEW AMERICAN FARMER, a new book by Pacific Northwest writer/photographer Jerry Mader addresses these issues in a unique informative way by taking the reader on a personal tour of nine farms in the Snoqualmie Valley of western Washington State. Each chapter is a verbatim transcript of each farmer's life history describing how s/he found the path to becoming a farmer. Although most of them came to farming from non-agricultural backgrounds (many have Masters Degrees in other professions), they all share a vision. In addition to growing fresh, healthy food, they want to have a personal relationship with the community that eats it. They accomplish this through their distribution venues; Farmers Markets and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs and farm tours with educational programs for children and adults. Each farmer is also actively engaged with community programs and organizations who are involved in the promotion and support of local economics, food production and distribution. In each of these areas they offer themselves a "Your Farmer". An invitation more and more possible to accept as communities across America turn to local economics as a solution to current financial concerns. This is a beautiful 350 page coffee table book with 272 B &W fine art photographs by Jerry Mader. It offers a wealth of information and a rich pictorial view of some amazing people.