Locally Grown: Portraits of Artisanal Farms from America's Heartland

Thisbeautifulnewbookby30yearoldwriterandphotographerAnnaH.Blessingintroducesreaderstothestoryofthemodernheartlandfarm.Thebookexploreshowsustainablepracticesandclosetiestohighprofilechefsandrestauranteurshavepropelledthe"locallygrown"culinarymovementintoacentralfeatureoflifeinmajorcitieslikeChicago.Blessinglaysouttherichhistoriesof25midwesternfarmsthroughbeautifulphotography,fascinatinganecdotesfromfarmersandchefs,andupcloselooksatwhatmakeseachfarmsounique.Interestinsustainablefarminghasbeengrowingrapidlyacrossthecountryandaroundtheworld,emphasizinglocallyproducedandgrownfoodsinplaceofthemassmarketedofferingsfromcorporateconsortia.Wheninhabitantsofmajorcitieschoosetopurchasefoodraisedinnearbyfarms,theynotonlysupportvitalsatelliteeconomies,butalsoimprovethesocialandecologicalqualityoflifealongwiththeenvironmentalsustainabilityoftheworldaroundthem.Nowtherearealsoinnumerabletoptierdiningestablishments,ledbyesteemedchefslikeCharlieTrotterandPaulKahan,whoscourfarmersmarketsfornaturalingredientsanddeveloppersonalbusinessrelationshipswithsmalltimefarmerstosupplytheirrestaurantswiththebestandmostsustainablefoods.LocallyGrownshowshowbothlongstandingandnewlyfoundedfarms,alongwithurbanfarmsandmetropolitannonprofitorganizationslikeGrowingPowerandCityProvisions,areboostingthesustainablefoodmovementthroughoutChicagoanditsneighborhoods.Eachchapterprofilesadifferentfarm,outlininglocale,scale,production,andinnerworkingswhilealsorevealingthecaptivatingbackgroundsofeachfarmer.Blessingshowshoweachfarmandfarmeraremakingeffortstoimprovesustainability,anddescribesthebehindthescenespracticesthathavemadelocallygrownfoodanincreasinglyimportantpartofAmerica'sfoodculture.Contributionsfromeachfarmer,andfromchefstheyworkwith,areincludedineverychapter,lendinganintimatefeeltoLocallyGrownrecipes,howto'sandQ&Asthattogethercreatearivetingaccountoftherapidlychangingworldofmodernfarming.BeyondprofilingtheseMidwestfarms,LocallyGrownpointsoutthebestplacestofind,buy,andeatsustainablygrownfoods,aswellasdetailsonvisitingthefarms.