What do you think?
Rate this book
Veggie Smarts: A Doctor and Farmer Grows and Savors Eight Families of Vegetables
A nerdy farmer—and doctor with expertise in nutrition—explains how the vast majority of our vegetables come from just eight families of plants, which can guide how we eat them (“eight on my plate”), while recounting his journey of trading in city life to build a thriving organic vegetable farm.
Dr. Michael Compton shares his passionate and healthy approach to savoring vegetables daily from across eight veggie the Brassicas, the Alliums, the Legumes, the Chenopods, the Aster Greens, the Umbellifers, the Cucurbits, and the Nightshades. Trading in city life for an old stone house and a fertile field in the scenic and historic Hudson Valley of New York, Compton built a compact, organic-certified vegetable, fruit, and flower farm.
Compton shares lighthearted scientific facts, including why onions make us cry and how beets can make our pee pink, while providing nutritional information about the eight families of vegetables. As a farmer, he recounts growing a bounty of clean, delicious, and nutritious food for himself and so many others, and shares his exploration of those who farmed the land before him. You will delight in following his rewarding but sometimes frustrating efforts to reclaim old farmland for new adventures in organic farming. You might even find yourself wanting to test the greenness of your thumbs or to determine whether or not you too, are a natural-born berry picker.
This is a deeply personal celebration of growing and savoring life…and vegetables.
Dr. Michael Compton shares his passionate and healthy approach to savoring vegetables daily from across eight veggie the Brassicas, the Alliums, the Legumes, the Chenopods, the Aster Greens, the Umbellifers, the Cucurbits, and the Nightshades. Trading in city life for an old stone house and a fertile field in the scenic and historic Hudson Valley of New York, Compton built a compact, organic-certified vegetable, fruit, and flower farm.
Compton shares lighthearted scientific facts, including why onions make us cry and how beets can make our pee pink, while providing nutritional information about the eight families of vegetables. As a farmer, he recounts growing a bounty of clean, delicious, and nutritious food for himself and so many others, and shares his exploration of those who farmed the land before him. You will delight in following his rewarding but sometimes frustrating efforts to reclaim old farmland for new adventures in organic farming. You might even find yourself wanting to test the greenness of your thumbs or to determine whether or not you too, are a natural-born berry picker.
This is a deeply personal celebration of growing and savoring life…and vegetables.
- GenresNonfictionEbooks
244 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 22, 2025
2 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 7, 2025
When Author Michael T. Compton purchased a home and an adjoining plot of land in rural upstate New York, he became determined to build a garden and cultivate an assortment of organic vegetables. Similar to so many others, this author caught on quickly to a clean eating, superfood, healthy alternative lifestyle that genuinely needs to be shared with more readers. To be perfectly honest, this book was not the content that I was expecting to find, but somehow it was intrinsically so much more than I had anticipated. Michael T. Compton offers genuine narrative which details his personal encounters and reflections of beginning a small vegetable gardening and expanding to offer his home-grown vegetables to local farmer's markets and restaurants.
The author repeatedly refers to himself as a "vegetable snob" and with excellent reason-- as the reader I believe this is because he is illustrating a valuable point, he is explaining to his readers that vegetables are so much more appealing and encompassing than the limited selection that the general American population once grew tired of. When he details how many nutrients like minerals and vitamins are found in vegetables, he offers vivid examples and recipes and scenarios from his recollections of growing and sharing his own vegetables. He offers a brief history of how people have changed their eating habits by referencing genuine people who have genuine connections to his work and research.
Michael T. Compton describes himself as ""A Pescetarian Presbyterian" then proceeds to explain his own personal view of vegetables and healthy eating habits. He refers back to his knowledge of human anatomy and physiology and offers scenarios of how vegetables can cure so many human limitations and health conditions. As a M.D., he is a wonderful example of how medical professionals can look beyond the limits of pharmacology and see the person as a whole, integral organism.
I highly recommend reading the reflections and recollections found in Veggie Smarts. There are so many recipes found within the narrative that the author has taken the time to share with readers, to help impart the valuable information he has gleaned from his many encounters and research.
The author repeatedly refers to himself as a "vegetable snob" and with excellent reason-- as the reader I believe this is because he is illustrating a valuable point, he is explaining to his readers that vegetables are so much more appealing and encompassing than the limited selection that the general American population once grew tired of. When he details how many nutrients like minerals and vitamins are found in vegetables, he offers vivid examples and recipes and scenarios from his recollections of growing and sharing his own vegetables. He offers a brief history of how people have changed their eating habits by referencing genuine people who have genuine connections to his work and research.
Michael T. Compton describes himself as ""A Pescetarian Presbyterian" then proceeds to explain his own personal view of vegetables and healthy eating habits. He refers back to his knowledge of human anatomy and physiology and offers scenarios of how vegetables can cure so many human limitations and health conditions. As a M.D., he is a wonderful example of how medical professionals can look beyond the limits of pharmacology and see the person as a whole, integral organism.
I highly recommend reading the reflections and recollections found in Veggie Smarts. There are so many recipes found within the narrative that the author has taken the time to share with readers, to help impart the valuable information he has gleaned from his many encounters and research.
![Profile Image for Padmajha [PJ] Me and My Bookshelf.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1716366774i%2F12703387._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
May 13, 2025
Veggie Smarts is an engaging and insightful blend of memoir, science, and practical wisdom from Michael T. Compton—a medical doctor turned organic farmer with a deep passion for vegetables and nutrition. In this book, Compton shares his personal journey of leaving behind a bustling city life to cultivate a thriving organic vegetable farm in the Hudson Valley, weaving together reflections on health, farming, food culture, and the land’s history.
At the heart of the book is a clever framework: nearly all vegetables we eat come from just eight plant families. Compton dives into each of these families—Brassicas, Alliums, Nightshades, Cucurbits, and more—offering readers a mix of scientific facts, growing tips, nutritional insights, and delicious ways to enjoy them. This "eight on my plate" concept serves as both a nutritional guide and a practical way to understand the diversity of what we eat.
The first chapters focus heavily on Compton’s personal transformation and his deepening connection to the land, filled with humorous and heartfelt anecdotes that set the tone for the rest of the book. While the structure may not follow a traditional textbook-style layout, Compton’s conversational tone and vivid storytelling make the information accessible and enjoyable. He balances practical advice—like how vegetables grow or what makes good cooking coals—with thoughtful commentary on health, diet, and sustainability.
What sets this book apart is the way Compton connects his expertise as a physician with his passion for real, nourishing food. He uses his background in anatomy and nutrition to explain how different vegetables benefit the body, offering real-life examples and simple recipes throughout. His medical insights are framed not in a preachy or clinical way, but with warmth and practicality. He even refers to himself as a "vegetable snob"—not to intimidate, but to inspire a deeper appreciation for the variety, flavor, and healing power of fresh produce.
The book also includes a valuable section on the history of the land and those who farmed it before him, adding a thoughtful layer to the narrative. From building a solar oven to understanding soil health, readers are invited into Compton’s trial-and-error journey as a first-generation farmer reclaiming neglected farmland for a new purpose.
Compton’s writing is down-to-earth, humorous, and relatable. Whether he's explaining why onions make us cry or sharing the real reason beets can change the color of your pee, he brings curiosity and charm to each page.
The recipes are easy to follow and family-friendly, presented in a conversational style rather than a traditional cookbook format. They come with helpful tips and alternative options, making the experience more engaging and flexible.
While readers looking for a highly structured, textbook-style guide to vegetable families may find the format a bit loose, Veggie Smarts more than makes up for it with heart, humor, and wisdom. It’s a celebration of growing your own food, eating mindfully, and reconnecting with nature. For anyone curious about vegetables, healthy eating, sustainable farming, or simply seeking a more grounded lifestyle, this book is both inspiring and informative.
The only element that feels missing is the inclusion of photographs—both of the vegetables /produce, as well as the dishes made from them. Visuals like these would have added an appealing and enriching touch to the book.
In short, Veggie Smarts is part memoir, part guide, and part love letter to vegetables—and it’s a good read for anyone who wants to deepen their connection to the food they eat and the earth that grows it.
At the heart of the book is a clever framework: nearly all vegetables we eat come from just eight plant families. Compton dives into each of these families—Brassicas, Alliums, Nightshades, Cucurbits, and more—offering readers a mix of scientific facts, growing tips, nutritional insights, and delicious ways to enjoy them. This "eight on my plate" concept serves as both a nutritional guide and a practical way to understand the diversity of what we eat.
The first chapters focus heavily on Compton’s personal transformation and his deepening connection to the land, filled with humorous and heartfelt anecdotes that set the tone for the rest of the book. While the structure may not follow a traditional textbook-style layout, Compton’s conversational tone and vivid storytelling make the information accessible and enjoyable. He balances practical advice—like how vegetables grow or what makes good cooking coals—with thoughtful commentary on health, diet, and sustainability.
What sets this book apart is the way Compton connects his expertise as a physician with his passion for real, nourishing food. He uses his background in anatomy and nutrition to explain how different vegetables benefit the body, offering real-life examples and simple recipes throughout. His medical insights are framed not in a preachy or clinical way, but with warmth and practicality. He even refers to himself as a "vegetable snob"—not to intimidate, but to inspire a deeper appreciation for the variety, flavor, and healing power of fresh produce.
The book also includes a valuable section on the history of the land and those who farmed it before him, adding a thoughtful layer to the narrative. From building a solar oven to understanding soil health, readers are invited into Compton’s trial-and-error journey as a first-generation farmer reclaiming neglected farmland for a new purpose.
Compton’s writing is down-to-earth, humorous, and relatable. Whether he's explaining why onions make us cry or sharing the real reason beets can change the color of your pee, he brings curiosity and charm to each page.
The recipes are easy to follow and family-friendly, presented in a conversational style rather than a traditional cookbook format. They come with helpful tips and alternative options, making the experience more engaging and flexible.
While readers looking for a highly structured, textbook-style guide to vegetable families may find the format a bit loose, Veggie Smarts more than makes up for it with heart, humor, and wisdom. It’s a celebration of growing your own food, eating mindfully, and reconnecting with nature. For anyone curious about vegetables, healthy eating, sustainable farming, or simply seeking a more grounded lifestyle, this book is both inspiring and informative.
The only element that feels missing is the inclusion of photographs—both of the vegetables /produce, as well as the dishes made from them. Visuals like these would have added an appealing and enriching touch to the book.
In short, Veggie Smarts is part memoir, part guide, and part love letter to vegetables—and it’s a good read for anyone who wants to deepen their connection to the food they eat and the earth that grows it.
April 22, 2025
I received a free copy of Veggie Smarts via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
If you're looking for basic knowledge about vegetables and a lot of anecdotes about the author's life, Veggie Smarts might be for you. Once you get beyond the first two chapters, the book focuses more on the eight most commonly consumed families of vegetables. He talks about how things from the same family are similar and what makes them different from each other, along with broad strokes about how they grow and what you can expect them to look like along the way.
If you're hoping for a more structured presentation of vegetables, like I was, you might be a little disappointed. It's still an entertaining read but Veggie Smarts is more of a collection anecdotes about the author himself, his home, and his relationship with vegetables than a presentation of information.
If you're looking for basic knowledge about vegetables and a lot of anecdotes about the author's life, Veggie Smarts might be for you. Once you get beyond the first two chapters, the book focuses more on the eight most commonly consumed families of vegetables. He talks about how things from the same family are similar and what makes them different from each other, along with broad strokes about how they grow and what you can expect them to look like along the way.
If you're hoping for a more structured presentation of vegetables, like I was, you might be a little disappointed. It's still an entertaining read but Veggie Smarts is more of a collection anecdotes about the author himself, his home, and his relationship with vegetables than a presentation of information.
March 15, 2025
Dr. Michael T. Compton, a passionate farmer and vegetable enthusiast, has crafted a book, Veggie Smarts, that not only highlights the nutritional powerhouse of veggies but also celebrates the rich history of the land they come from. His approach is both scientific and soulful, making it a delightful read for those looking to enhance and understand their daily diet. I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this treasure of a book, one that I will return to often!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews