One of her tips that helps me grasp the issue best is making your own salad dressing (which I do a lot of in the summer, thanks to this shaker). Think about how much work and fuel is required to bring all those little contents from around the world and into a $3 jar, when you could have just mixed it up quickly at home.

I’m already very eager for our own gardening this year! I want to make sure I track down the right seeds since six companies – Monsanto, Syngenta, DuPont, Mitsui, Aventis and Dow – now control 98 percent of the world’s seed sales. Oh, and the chemicals that go along with them.

A couple of great resources mentioned in the book:

• Barbara Kingsolver’s own Animal, Vegetable, Miracle website, where she shares tips, resources and recipes mentioned in the book
  
• Seed Savers Exchange: A non-profit organization of gardeners dedicated to saving and sharing heirloom seeds passed down for generations.
• Slow Food International: A global, grassroots movement that links the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment.
• Local Harvest: Helps you find a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program near you, typically involving a membership fee and then access to weekly or monthly basket of produce.

Stay tuned for more as our garden grows!