The Homegrown Paleo Cookbook: Over 100 Delicious, Gluten-Free, Farm-to-Table Recipes, and a Complete Guide to Growing Your Own Food

...about homesteading. What an extremely informative, beautiful book! Especially for a layperson. Thank you

I honestly do not know where to begin in describing the monumental impact this book has had on me. Anyone who has followed Diana Rogers, her blog, her Instagram, her work, etc, will know that this book was heavily marketed as one of the most visually beautiful books of its kind (as if this book has a "kind," which, I can assure you, it does not. It is on a level entirely of its own). And this is not untrue. This book captures a raw and unimaginable beauty through its design and photography that is unmatched by anything else I have ever seen. That being said, it would be a crying shame to reduce this book and Diana's hard work to the joy of looking solely at the photos on its pages. No, the beauty of this book came not from the photos, but from Diana's words. Diana writes with an expertise and a passion that was, to put it no other way, life-altering. How Diana emphases responsible stewardship of our earth and advocates unwavering morale character in the face of a broken social system was nothing short of inspirational, emotional, and profound. I was moved to tears on several different occasions, and I am a more well-rounded (and enthusiastic) person after finishing this book.I can't recommend this book enough. It will change you. Whether in a big way or small way. It will change you. Whether you totally geek out on the chemistry of tomatoes, sport a Keep Portland Weird bumper sticker and always ask if your chicken was locally sourced, struggle just to make ends meet and have never set foot in a farmer's market, or live on the 20th floor in a bustling metropolis with not a farm animal in sight, this book will leave you understanding not what you CAN'T do, but what you CAN do. We all have the power to leave this world a little more beautiful than we found it, and Diana shows us exactly how to do that - in a kind, gentle, and patient way.

I bought this book after listening to Diana on some podcasts. She sounds very practical and I like that she has a nutrition practice and is studying to be a registered dietitian. This book exceeded my expectations. It is beautiful. There are lots of pictures and they are high quality pictures. There is a lot of detail as well, so you are getting a lot more than a cookbook.There is a lot of information on homesteading. I will get to use what she has written on gardening in my backyard. However, living in Dallas, TX, I will not be raising chickens, etc. However, I will be a better consumer after reading her book.The recipes in her book are not what I expected. I was thinking this would be another "how to go paleo" cookbook. Instead, she has very interesting recipes that could be fed to anyone. They just happen to be paleo. The recipes look very "fancy" at first glance. She uses some vegetables, that I may not be able to find. However, she always gives substitutes and explains what the difference in taste will be. The lists of ingredients are not that long and directions are not very complicated. I made two recipes today, Spring Egg Drop Soup with Lemon Ginger Meatballs and Spring Turnip, Beet and Carrot Gratin. Both were easy and very tasty. The Gratin was a stretch for me because I don't eat a lot of root vegetables, but I ended up really liking it. I think these recipes will help keep my menus interesting and encourage me to add some variety. I believe eating a wide variety of real foods contributes to getting all your daily nutrients in.Overall, I would highly recommend this book.

Homegrown Paleo is one of the most aesthetically pleasing books that I own. The pictures are fabulous, the pages glossy, and the heavy feel of the book gives a nod to well-bound books of times past. I love that it contains a comprehensive overview of homesteading and growing your own food in very nicely divided sections. I have been growing my own food for most of my life so I didn't learn a lot. However, I felt like it was a very accurate guide for anyone looking to dip their toes into homesteading. An inspiring book it is indeed!That being said, I didn't fall nearly as in love with the recipe section. Quite a few of the recipes have a definitive northern/New England slant to them. I'm fully aware that this is where the author lives so it was to be expected to a degree. However, I find myself lacking certain essential ingredients in the landlocked south (scallops, clams, rhubarb, etc) making it difficult to incorporate a lot of the recipes into our lives on anything more than a special occasion due to the lengths it would take to obtain these ingredients. Additionally, I just didn't find a lot of the recipes that new or interesting. They seemed to be very basic (Simple Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Chives) or overly fancy and impractical (Stinging Nettle Soup with Lemon-Chive Creme Fraiche). Perhaps I just have a different cooking/eating style than the author. On the other hand, the section of the book presenting ideas on making your own broth, kraut, etc is nice and again, would be helpful for anyone looking for a jumping off point to making or preserving more of your own food at home.Overall a solid read, particularly for those not already overly familiar with homesteading/grow your own food basics.

If you're looking to branche out and grown or raise your own food, this is the book for you. Or if you'd just like to dabble in a bit of natural DIY fun, then this is the book for you. Or if you just want to cook delicious meals using wholesome ingredients, this is the book for you. Or if you just like to look at beautiful photography, then this is the book for you. I recommend this book to any and everyone, paleo or not.