Key Messages
Why Growing Your Own Food Is Not Only Good for the Environment, but Also a Fun Way to Bond with Family and Friends
In Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, the authors remind us that growing our own food is a great way to become more self-sufficient.
Whether you live in an urban area or in the countryside, you can take advantage of the unique opportunity to grow your own fruits and vegetables.
Not only can you provide yourself with fresh produce without pesticides, but you also have the potential to stand up against big food companies that use unethical farming practices.
The book offers advice on when to sow and when to expect what to grow in order to successfully harvest a variety of types of plants.
It also discusses why some people prefer to buy foods from big companies as well as what shoppers should look for when purchasing their own ingredients, such as locally grown asparagus.
During spring months, readers are likely to find tips on which crops are easiest and most successful during these windows of time.
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle teaches all sorts of people how they can learn how to grow their own food – giving them control over what they consume and helping them stay away from unhealthy levels of corporate farming practices.
The Growing Impact of Industrial Farming: Loss of Local Farmers, Increased GM Foods, and Unchecked Consumption
It seems that the food industry has managed to make us forget all about real, wholesome food.
We’ve become so used to convenience foods with bizarre names, imported from all over the world and sold by big corporations that we often don’t even recognize them as real foods.
At first glance, it appears like the people of today prefer organic produce from local farmers – but in reality they usually settle for cheap synthetic fertilizers and pesticides coming from giant corporations.
This is because prices are still relatively low, even though those same products are rarely organic or of high quality.
There is also overwhelming evidence that most animals destined for consumption are treated extremely poorly before slaughter.
But again, as long as prices remain low, people will continue buying from big companies instead of their local farmers’ markets – and they even complain about the higher prices associated with organic meats and vegetables!
Appreciating the Beauty of Real Food: Planting a Garden and Enjoying Local Fruits of Your Labor
Spring is the perfect time to bring real food from your own garden to your plate!
If you plan ahead, you’ll be able to have fresh veggies available year round.
Start by planting seeds indoors in March and when the weather gets warmer in April, it’s time to start planting outdoors.
You can even find asparagus growing wild during this month if you go hunting for it.
In April, the climate gets warmer and everything starts to blossom in the garden.
That’s when you can expect crops like potatoes, onions, peas and Cole crops—like broccoli, kale and cabbage—to be ready for harvest season.
Spinach, kale, endive and baby lettuce will also be thriving at this time so get those dishes ready!
So don’t let the springtime pass without taking full advantage of what your own garden has to offer!
With proper planning and preparation, you won’t need to rely on your local grocery store for that special green meal.
Reap the Rewards of Homegrown Gardening and Cooking This Summer
When the summer season arrives, it’s time to get your gardening hands on!
Working hard in the garden is an activity that pays off huge dividends in the end.
As you reconnect with your farming and gardening roots, set up a small balcony garden with tomato plants, basil or any of your favorite veggies.
All this hard work you put into growing these greens can now be cooked and eaten, offering both delicious and healthy rewards throughout the summer season.
July is the month for squash (zucchini, crookneck, heirloom), eggplants and cucumbers; August is “the red month,” filled with tomatoes all ripe for your favorite dishes.
By harvesting your own ingredients and cooking them yourself, you can control both their quality as well as quantity – not only keeping yourself and family healthy but also saving some money in the process.
Additionally, reconnecting with your high-quality ingredients close up makes it therapeutic too – boosting emotional wellbeing and promoting relaxation.
So don’t yearn after a simpler time when people ‘lived off of the land’ – create one!
An effort put into a balcony garden means plenty of rewards come summertime: fantastic dishes made only with fresh local produce grown by yours truly!
Harvesting Animals the Humane Way to Enjoy Comfort Food During Fall
As the weather starts to cool and autumn arrives, our gardens start to fill with delicious and nutritious food items.
From animals to vegetables, it’s the perfect time to get creative!
Take animal harvesting for example – done in this sustainable way, it’s a reliable source of protein and energy throughout autumn.
We can ensure that animals are humanely harvested too – by turning them upside down, they fall asleep and then their necks are quickly and painlessly beheaded before they’re bled out.
October ushers in potatoes, a great carb-rich addition to any meal.
Just make sure you plant them as soon as the soil can be worked – typically around Saint Patrick’s Day – for maximum yields!
Lastly, pumpkins also make an appearance on our plates come autumn; not only are these wonderfully tasty, but they’re also one of the largest vegetables we consume!
Preparing for Winter: Stock Up on Meat and Fatty Foods and Get Creative in the Kitchen
When the winter days are long and the temperature cold, it’s time to open up your freezer for a little exploration!
By taking stock of what you have, you can make sure that your body has all the important nutrients throughout the cold months.
Your freezer should always be stocked with meats, fish and nuts.
Not only do fatty foods help keep your energy levels up throughout winter but they also help warm your body when you need it most.
Fish is especially important during wintertime as Omega-3 fatty acids found in seafood can counteract depression, which is more common in places with less sunshine.
Pasture-finished beef also contains beneficial Omega-3 fat that helps ward off seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Winter is also an excellent time to get creative in the kitchen – use fresh vegetables like broccoli or squash to make salads, pies and stews; slice apples for pies; or grate zucchini into dishes.
You can even freeze pesto to quickly add flavor to pasta dishes later on!
Wrap Up
The ultimate takeaway from Animal, Vegetable, Miracle is that even if you live in an urban environment, you can still reap the many benefits of gardening.
By growing your own food on your balcony or in a community space, you get to be familiar with how food is grown and produced.
Moreover, it’s a great way to save money and improve your diet.
This book is filled with many useful tips and suggestions on how to grow edible plants at home, so be sure to give it a read if you want to connect with nature and enjoy better-tasting meals.
