GrotonREADS 2009! is a community-wide reading program presented by the Groton Public Library that invites all local adults and students to read the same book and participate in a series of special book-related events. Now in its fifth successful year, GrotonREADS runs from January through the first week in April.

The 2009 book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver, humorously chronicles the year she and her family ate only locally produced food, much of which they grew or raised themselves. There is much ‘food for thought’ to ponder in Kingsolver’s amusing yearlong adventure. Why support local farmers? Who cares if an apple comes from New Zealand instead of Groton? Does it matter what happens to our food before it reaches our table?

 

How many of us still know how to grow, raise and prepare food? Do our elders hold knowledge that is slipping away from current generations? How many children know that carrots come from the ground – not the grocery store?

Groton is fortunate to have so much of its community and organizations already linked into farming and locally produced food, such as Groton Local Food & Agriculture Group, the Williams Barn Committee and Farmers Market, Groton Agricultural Commission, Groton Grange, local farmers, Groton Garden Club, and more. Representatives of many of these groups have worked with staff members of the Groton Public Library and Nancy Turkle, coordinator, to design a series of events appealing to every age and interest.

 

Topics, listed here and at www.gpl.org, include book discussion groups; seed selecting; making cold frames; maple sugaring; animal, vegetable tours; teen/parent cooking class; Eat Local Expo; getting food from local farms into schools; chicken chat and chicken film; an animal, vegetable art show; and more.

Sponsored by the GPL Endowment Fund, GrotonREADS distributed 150 free copies of Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, which flew off the shelves in less than a week! The book is also available to borrow on audiocassette, CD, and in large print, and the library borrowed additional copies from other libraries. To receive more information, you may register at the library, visit gpl.org or call 978-448-8000.

 

Groton Local Food & Ag Group and the Community Farm will continue to have classes, workshops, films, and speakers on organic gardening, canning and many other local food related topics. Watch for them at this site, and on the upcoming events list.