A Year in the Valley: Seasons of Content

by Jackie French

Inspired stories from the garden of one of Australia's best... 'Here in the valley, food is part of our lives ... When I eat a peach I remember the smell of the soil as I planted the tree ...' Jackie French brings vividly to life her wonderful experiences living in the Araluen Valley, an extraordinary part of the NSW Southern tablelands. Sprinkled in between her stories are natural remedies and tips for the home, and over eighty wonderful recipes Jackie has derived from the valley's four seasons. During spring you can try asparagus omelette, artichokes Araluen, or orange-blossom jam. In summer, there's mulberry crush, peach sorbet and the classic Aussie tomato sandwich. From autumn comes harvest tart, verjuice veal and a basil aphrodisiac! And in winter you can choose from hearth cakes, duck stuffed with dried peaches and Jackie's favourite carrot soup. though the valley has changed over the years, its remarkable smells and tastes, the unique rhythm of days and nights are still engaging, and captured so deliciously in A YEAR IN tHE VALLEY.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Food

326 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Jackie is an award-winning writer, wombat negotiator and the Australian Children’s Laureate for 2014-2015. She is regarded as one of Australia’s most popular children’s authors, and writes across all genres - from picture books, history, fantasy, ecology and sci-fi to her much loved historical fiction. In her capacity as Australian Children’s Laureate, ‘Share a Story’ will be the primary philosophy behind Jackie’s two-year term.

Reviews

[Karen]

A quiet peaceful read. Makes you feel grounded and one with life.
A wonderful book written with powerful phrases. An insight into living a sustainable life.

[Julie]

I always enjoy Jackie French's writing, and this is a delight. I can envision her pottering amongst her fruit trees and vegie garden, accompanied by various wild things.
I don't know how I would deal with being woken by a wombat at 2am, but the idea of (almost) self-sufficiency and eating seasonally is very appealing.

[Sharon]

Wow, how had I not read this sooner! A great memoir about living with and caring for the land on which we grow our food and share with other creatures. Sustainability, wildlife, food, nature in all its splendid glory. A wonderful read.

[Michelle Hickey]

An interesting take on a memoir...we spend a year in Jackie French's home. Dictated by the seasons and the fruits/veg produced in her garden and throughout the valley she lives in. Littered with recipes it has given me a desire to try some of French's suggestions.

[Chris Cousins]

A beautiful diary of a year on a wonderful Australian property. Both funny and insightful - an impetus to ready some more book by Jackie.

[Very Casual]

I enjoyed this book: she has such a great way of describing scenes and sensations! And such a wacky sense of humour, you can understand why she is such a successful children's author!
In parts I found this book a bit 'preachy' if I'm honest, and I think it's a bit long. There was a point where I thought it was drawing to an end, but it still had another chapter to go!
Can't wait to try some of the recipes though... :)

[Fiona]

I can feel the peach juice running down my chin and if I half look can imagine a wombat disappearing into a burrow,I can hear the birds chomping in the veggie patch and smell the food being prepared in the kitchen on a cold wet day.
Jackie French has taken us to her beloved home and shared her irreverent loving poetic soul.
If someone needs some soul food this is it
A year of life in country Australia.

[Helen]

Even if you couldn't care less about food, gardening, self sufficiency or other people's lives, read this for the glorious descriptions of ordinary things. Jackie is now on my list of people I'd like to have dinner with. But she'd have to cook. In her kitchen. With her produce. I'd just eat and listen.

[Marie]

One of the best books I have ever read. I savoured this book, reading it only a few words at a time. Every sentence was perfect and complete.

[Kim]

I kept having to bookmark pages because of all the great how-tos and simple recipes.

[Marion Crowther]

My most favourite book ever! Loved everything about it!

[ShanLandis]

Kindle Edition