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plainviewfarmer's review against another edition
5.0
Not even sure why I decided to read this, but it was really fascinating. Loved it.
That said, avoid the audio version. The narrator sounds like a bot.
That said, avoid the audio version. The narrator sounds like a bot.
cmcarr's review against another edition
4.0
Read this book! This was a suggestion from my wife, who thought it would help me understand some of the challenges with our food system today in a simple way. It did. You likely have some knowledge about how our tax payer dollars go to support a big agriculture and agri-chemical industry that is poisoning our food, air and soil while stripping our food of nutrients. This book provides an on-the-ground analysis of what it means for our small farmers who are trying to grow healthy crops, regenerate the soil, improve food nutrition, and improve human health.
It's not a book that tries to lecture about the evils of today's big farming. It is about Quinn's journey as a farmer and a scientist to do the things he wanted to do that were good for our world. I was struck by how Quinn simply asked questions and pushed for better answers throughout his career. I have been a slow convert to things like organic food because I thought of it as a luxury item. But that's not accurate. We have a system that systematically advantages the corporate entities who are growing mass produced crops with increasing amounts of pesticides. And as tax payers, we not only subsidize those businesses but we pay for all the negative externalities--the environmental cleanup, the decline in health and increase in disease. It's clear we need to overhaul the system, but until then, those of us who have the means should pay more to get local, organic food. It's critical to our future.
It's not a book that tries to lecture about the evils of today's big farming. It is about Quinn's journey as a farmer and a scientist to do the things he wanted to do that were good for our world. I was struck by how Quinn simply asked questions and pushed for better answers throughout his career. I have been a slow convert to things like organic food because I thought of it as a luxury item. But that's not accurate. We have a system that systematically advantages the corporate entities who are growing mass produced crops with increasing amounts of pesticides. And as tax payers, we not only subsidize those businesses but we pay for all the negative externalities--the environmental cleanup, the decline in health and increase in disease. It's clear we need to overhaul the system, but until then, those of us who have the means should pay more to get local, organic food. It's critical to our future.
nancyinoregon's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
I heard Bob Quinn speak at a webinar and had to go listen to the book he mentioned he'd written. It turned out to be one of the best books I've ever read. Mr. Quinn is an inspiring pioneer and independent thinker who went from an upbringing and education in traditional farming practices to being one of the first organic wheat growers in Montana through experimental trial. But he didn't stop there. He went on to explore planting an ancient grain someone gave him and went on to develop the Kamut brand of wheat, with innovative farming practices to protect the brand yet make it economically easy for other farmers to plant at scale. And finding and developing global markets for his organic and kamut products.
After he semi-retired from wheat farming, he turned his attention to experimenting with growing fruit trees in Montana where the climate was supposedly too cold for them to grow, then with dryland farming, which came about as an unexpected result of using that method as an experimental control. Finally he has teamed with biochemists to study why kamut wheat didn't seem to bother gluten-intolerant folks and also why it seemed to improve other health issues. The results of those studies are also very promising. If we spend more on healthy food, there's a good chance we'll spend less on health care.
The fact that a large-scale traditional farmer found a more lucrative career in large-scale organic farming, and his path to get there, is very encouraging for the trend towards local, healthier food. Bob Quinn did not pursue his activities because he wanted to make a profit, and yet he seemed to fall into success in nearly every endeavor through trial and error. He shows a path to break the cycle of chemical farming, in which farmers cannot afford to get started and cannot afford to have a bad year. I hope that he keeps writing and speaking so that I can continue to learn and be inspired.
After he semi-retired from wheat farming, he turned his attention to experimenting with growing fruit trees in Montana where the climate was supposedly too cold for them to grow, then with dryland farming, which came about as an unexpected result of using that method as an experimental control. Finally he has teamed with biochemists to study why kamut wheat didn't seem to bother gluten-intolerant folks and also why it seemed to improve other health issues. The results of those studies are also very promising. If we spend more on healthy food, there's a good chance we'll spend less on health care.
The fact that a large-scale traditional farmer found a more lucrative career in large-scale organic farming, and his path to get there, is very encouraging for the trend towards local, healthier food. Bob Quinn did not pursue his activities because he wanted to make a profit, and yet he seemed to fall into success in nearly every endeavor through trial and error. He shows a path to break the cycle of chemical farming, in which farmers cannot afford to get started and cannot afford to have a bad year. I hope that he keeps writing and speaking so that I can continue to learn and be inspired.
jamibalmet's review against another edition
5.0
Holy cow! I was utterly blown away by this book. I had little expectation for what this book would be (many health related books end up very dry and hard to follow). Not this one! It’s written in a very intriguing way and blends stories, his personal experiences, science, and the history of the modern food system into a very compelling book!
I am not new to this subject but I learned a ton! If you want to know why grains are NOT evil and what’s wrong with our modern food system, this is a terrific place to start! I listened to the audio book and it was excellent!
I am not new to this subject but I learned a ton! If you want to know why grains are NOT evil and what’s wrong with our modern food system, this is a terrific place to start! I listened to the audio book and it was excellent!
jbalmet's review against another edition
5.0
I found this book fascinating. It is a great look at agriculture in rural America, and organic farming, and the industrial food complex as a whole. Highly recommend.
sydboll's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed reading this. The story of Quinn's farm and the way he grew his business by focusing on organic production and ancient grains, serves as an example to better understand how we can alter our food system.
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