Edges of Bounty: Adventures in the Edible Valley

by William Emery and Scott Squire

Road trips through the heart of California to find the roadside stands and the people who do things the old ways This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1597141089
• ISBN13: 9781597141086
• Release Date: November 2008
• Publisher: Heyday Books
• Length: 194 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 7.8" x 10.0"

Customer Reviews

A fine survey of local food and those who farm, fish, hunt and change it

EDGES OF BOUNTY: ADVENTURES IN THE EDIBLE VALLEY comes from photographer Scott Squire and writer William Emery's journey through the back roads of California's Central Valley in search of those producing their own food. From a jam maker advocating 'nonviolent agriculture' to roadside medicine stands, this is a fine survey of local food and those who farm, fish, hunt and change it.

Ripe and ready for devouring

This is a wonderful book that entranced me from the minute I opened it. Emery really knows how to write and Squire really knows how to take a photo--they give you the feeling that you're in their car, on their "edible" road trip with them. Yes, this is a book about food, farming/hunting/fishing, sustainability, and people who are still--thank heavens--doing things the old-fashioned way: slow, sure, by hand. Even more, it is a book that radiantly reflects the interactions between people--strangers who come to know one another and to share secrets...even forbidden sips of fresh milk. Beauty (of the earthy variety), truth, and authenticity abound within these pages.

Home

I was born and raised by a farmer of the central valley and grew up in the beautiful land. I wish I still lived there. I was glad to see this book cover the farming and social aspect of farming, the food and how it gets from these hard-working americans to mouths all over the world. The photos are amazing and the commentary is well-written and thoughtful. The only complaint that I have is I wish there was more about the San Joaquin valley (Lower half of the central valley), but that is just personal bias to my homeland speaking. The agricultural community of California is one of the most important in food production in the entire world and if you are a fan of photo books of California, or just interested in the area, I recommend this book. It is a different perspective that has not been talked about quite enough. I love it.

Hungry for Authenticity

In some ways this book feels like a visual accompaniment to a Michael Pollan tome like In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto, but with a more nuanced look at the difficulties in finding a way to ever go back to seeing food with anything like a pure eye. The book follows a writer and photographer (full disclosure: the photographer is a good friend of mine) through a series of agriculture wanderings through California's Central valley. There are many moments where the text lingers on tales of luminous kale that someone has scooped from the dirt and poppped into their mouths. But it also captures the tension between the desire to find authentic food and a visceral distaste for yuppified food porn status symbols. The writer clearly wants to celebrate food that feels real and vital, but kvetches about how only a small minority of consumers have access to it. The photographs are intriguing--alternating between portraits and set pieces of Central Valley landscape. I liked how they neither fetishized the images nor wallowed in a grimier-than-thou aesthetic. Basically, I can see this book being a fascinating addition to anyone's library who is interested in the changing way we as a culture think and interact with food and culture.