Foodtopia, Margot Anne Kelley
Foodtopia, Margot Anne Kelley
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Foodtopia
Communities in Pursuit of Peace, Love, & Homegrown Food

Author: Margot Anne Kelley

Narrator: Nicol Zanzarella

Unabridged: 11 hr 8 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 12/13/2022

Synopsis

Throughout America's history as an industrial nation, sizable countercultural movements have chosen to forgo modern comforts in pursuit of a simpler life. In this illuminating alternative American history, Margot Anne Kelley details the evolution of food-centric utopian movements that were fueled by deep yearnings for unpolluted water and air, racial and gender equality, for peace, for a less consumerist lifestyle, for a sense of authenticity, for simplicity, for a healthy diet, and for a sustaining connection to the natural world.

Millennials who jettisoned cities for rural life form the core of America's current back-to-the-land movement. These young farmers helped meet surges in supplies for food when COVID-19 ravaged lives and economies, and laid bare limitations in America's industrial food supply chain.

Today, food has become an important element of the social justice movement. Food is no longer just about what we eat, but about how our food is raised and who profits along the way. Kelley looks closely at the efforts of young farmers now growing heirloom pigs, culturally appropriate foods, and newly bred vegetables, along with others working in coalitions, advocacy groups, and educational programs to extend the reach of this era's Good Food Movement.

About Margot Anne Kelley

Margot Anne Kelley has a PhD in American literature and an MFA in media and performing arts; for nearly twenty-five years, she taught at the college level. She is the author of two books for general audiences focused on people in relationship to the natural world, Local Treasures: Geocaching Across America and A Field Guide to Other People's Trees. Since leaving academia, she served as the editor of the Maine Review and co-founded a community development corporation which runs a food pantry and community garden, among other programs. Ms. Kelley lives in Port Clyde, Maine.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Brianna Hart on February 13, 2023

This book was SUPER fascinating to me. As someone who enjoys growing their own food, it helped foster my love of gardening. It was full of stories and facts that helped me understand more of the food world. It gave me a lot of background on people growing their own food and also on different ways fo......more

Goodreads review by Wendy on October 12, 2022

Kelley describes five American back-to-the-land movements, beginning in the 1840’s and concluding with the vibrant period we are in right now. These hard-working creators of Utopian communities believed that what we eat and how we obtain our food are central to creating the kind of society we want.......more

Goodreads review by Eileen on April 18, 2024

The beginning was a bit slow for me but when it became more contemporary (Scott & Helen Nearing) it became much more interesting and I understood why she went into some of the early pieces for context.......more

Goodreads review by Janine on December 13, 2022

I thought this book was absolutely fascinating. It was a real eye opener on how food security is impacted by society, economy, climate change, etc. They are all entwined layers, and a common utopia seemed to be creating your own homestead and living off the land. It was also fascinating to see the ev......more

Goodreads review by Steve on December 13, 2022

Interesting book, as it delves into the history of growing your food over the last couple of hundred years. Plus, the changes in the way food is grown and modified, and the health challenges that can cause. It highlights how locally grown, non-GMO, and organic food is important. I was hoping it woul......more

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