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Turn Here Sweet Corn: Organic Farming Works (2012)

by Atina Diffley(Favorite Author)

4.15 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

0816677719 (ISBN13: 9780816677719)

languge

English

genre

Memoir & Autobiography

publisher

Univ Of Minnesota Press

review 1: I started this book thinking it would be a 2 star or, at best, a 3 star book. Although the first bit about Atina's first bad marriage might have fit those expectations, as the book went along, my appreciation of it rose. Atina has a wonderful way with words that rivals excellent novel writers. The descriptions of the beautiful produce touched my soul. I also learned so much from this novel. My son-in-law had organic wheat, and I knew he had to grow lentils first and plow them under for green manure and that he wasn't allowed to have poisonous pest control on his farm, but all the work and science that goes into building soil for a truck garden is amazing. The balance of microbes, fungi, earthworms and other parts of a soil's make up that create great natural soil is ... moredelicate and needs tending. I also realized that it wasn't just the crops but the waterways and wild brush and woods areas that were important. Hard work and endurance were just paying off when their farm ended up on a proposed oil pipeline route of a company owned by the powerful Koch Brothers. This little David fought the Goliath and eventually won. I am even more enthused about organic and local produce and am inspired to make improvements to my small organic garden.
review 2: A must read memoir blended beautifully with advocacy. I feel like I lived the 50 years along with Atina; grateful to have access to the wonderfully-crafted insight and wisdom inside her head. It will make you scream: Fuck SPRAWL?! Later, groan: fuck oil. Your days will be darker while you live through the middle of the book. But, the ending is satisfying.There were many inspiring passages that I stopped frequently to write down -- life's lessons, work and purpose and our responsibilities as stewards. I will only quote two that have shifted my perception: "Gardeners have relationship with nature, land and people." and "Everything we do has consequences in nature; all of life is connected; only our relationships redeem us." less

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