Acknowledgments
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Every list of gratitudes should begin with the hands that feed us: Anthony
and Laurel Flaccavento, Tom and Deni Peterson, Charlie Foster and fam-
ily, Mike Hubbard, Paul Rizzo, Kirsty Zahnke, Kate Richardson, the Kling
family, Will and Charlie Clark, David King, and everyone else at the
Abingdon market. People always say, “I couldn’t have survived without
you,” but in our case that’s literally true.
Many mentors helped shape this project: Wendell and Tanya Berry
were there all along; everything we’ve said here, Wendell said first, in a
quiet voice that makes the mountains tremble. Joan Gussow also did it all
ahead of us, and is the kind of friend who’ll help with anything, whether
it’s scholarship or pulling weeds. Gary Nabhan, fellow chile- roaster from
the early days, still keeps us smiling from a distance. Wendy Peskin and
the Peruvian staff of Heifer International opened extraordinary doors to
help us understand sustainable development. Marikler Giron truly saved
us. Our debts to other colleagues and writers are as numerous as the
books in our library: especially Vandana Shiva, Michael Pollan, Wes Jack-
son, and Brian Halweil. And the kitchen bookshelf: Alice Waters, Debo-
rah Madison, Mary Beth Lind, and Cathleen Hockman- Wert.
Friendship with a writer—or in this case, a whole family of them—
means you may sometimes fall into the pages when you’re weren’t look-
ing. We’re grateful to all those who opened their lives this way: most
courageously, David and Elsie Kline, and the Worth- Jones family. Also
Ricki Carroll, Tod Murphy, Pam Van Deursen, Anne Waddell and our
postal pals, Amy Klippenstein, Paul Lacinski, Wendell and Ginny King-
solver, Joann Hopp, and the Hopp- Ostiguys. Neta and Joe Findley are not
just neighbors but family, and tell the best stories. Bill, Sanford, and Eliz-
abeth are forever with us. Kate Forbes has earned a lifetime pass as our
official extra farm kid, along with Abby Worth- Jones, who provided the