Heirloom: Notes from an Accidental Tomato Farmer
Registered by 
GoryDetails
of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 4/16/2017
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
GoryDetails of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 4/16/2017 This Book is Currently in the Wild!
1 journaler for this copy...
I found this good-condition hardcover at a local thrift shop. I love heirloom tomatoes and have been happy to see more of them available on the menus at local restaurants, at farm stands, and in the form of seedlings for transplant into my own garden. (I look forward to the "tomato buffet" at Lull Farm in Hollis every year; late in the summer they offer a HUGE variety of heirloom tomatoes, including those on the cover of this book, but imagine a spread at least 40 feet long!)
This book looks at the author's attempts to grow and market heirloom produce - which, by its nature, is often fragile to transport, goes from perfectly ripe to overripe quickly, and may not all ripen at the same time. This presents challenges in selling and delivering it, but a small and growing network of restaurants with an interest in local - and good-tasting - produce gave him some options. It's still a lot of work, with the usual farmer's risks of bad weather, insect damage, or other catastrophes that can interrupt a single delivery or ruin an entire harvest. And the focus on lots of small crops rather than acres of a single variety present its own problems in care and management. (The chapter "Groundhog Days" illustrates a very specific pest and the ways the author used to try and thwart its depradations. When he reported that in his blog he got some pretty heated responses - some that he opted to kill one, others that he opted *not* to put it on the menu {wry grin}.)
Despite the cover, the book's not all about tomatoes - sweet and hot peppers get their turn, as do other things. And it presents a reminder that the good food we have access to takes a lot of effort on the part of a lot of people...
This book looks at the author's attempts to grow and market heirloom produce - which, by its nature, is often fragile to transport, goes from perfectly ripe to overripe quickly, and may not all ripen at the same time. This presents challenges in selling and delivering it, but a small and growing network of restaurants with an interest in local - and good-tasting - produce gave him some options. It's still a lot of work, with the usual farmer's risks of bad weather, insect damage, or other catastrophes that can interrupt a single delivery or ruin an entire harvest. And the focus on lots of small crops rather than acres of a single variety present its own problems in care and management. (The chapter "Groundhog Days" illustrates a very specific pest and the ways the author used to try and thwart its depradations. When he reported that in his blog he got some pretty heated responses - some that he opted to kill one, others that he opted *not* to put it on the menu {wry grin}.)
Despite the cover, the book's not all about tomatoes - sweet and hot peppers get their turn, as do other things. And it presents a reminder that the good food we have access to takes a lot of effort on the part of a lot of people...
Journal Entry 2 by GoryDetails at Railroad Square Memorial Park in Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Sunday, May 7, 2017
GoryDetails at Railroad Square Memorial Park in Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Sunday, May 7, 2017
Released 7 yrs ago (5/7/2017 UTC) at Railroad Square Memorial Park in Nashua, New Hampshire USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
I left this book on a bench in Railroad Square, near one of the art exhibits from the Comeback Kitchen Table event. Hope the finder enjoys the book![See other recent releases in NH here.]
*** Released for the 2017 April Showers/May Flowers release challenge. ***
*** Released for the 2017 Mother's Day release challenge, for the embedded "Ma" in the title. ***
