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Food Security for the Faint of Heart: Keeping Your Larder Full in Lean Times
Simple techniques for securing your food supply in an insecure world. There are books you merely read. There are books you read, recommend to others and pass along. Then there are those books you read, lay aside, jump to your feet, throw your hands in the air, and holler, "Yes!!" Food Security for the Faint of Heart is one of the latter. Robin Wheeler has managed to extract logic from hysteria, package it with a strong environmental perspective, an abundance of practical suggestions and enough good humour to make this a must-have for every soul interested in surviving whatever natural disaster comes along. Wheeler wastes no time in addressing the central theme of her Anything can happen so you better be prepared--and here's how. In her impressive list of "Good Things to Have in an Emergency", she catalogues essential items, including lesser touted items such as cooking oil and salt. If Wheeler has done anything by writing this book, she's pulled thr proverbial rug from under our feet when it ocmes to excuses for not eating well through any disaster.
― Reviewed by Linda Wegner, Country LIfe in BC Where would you find your groceries if your supermarket’s shelves were suddenly empty? The threat of earthquakes, trucker strikes, power outages, or a global market collapse makes us vulnerable like never before. With spiraling fuel prices and unstable world economies, individuals and communities are demanding more control over their food supply. Food Security for the Faint of Heart is designed to gently ease readers into a more empowered place so that shocks to our food supply can be handled confidently. As well as acquiring new skills and ideas, there are other compelling reasons to get better prepared. The local economy gains support and encouragement to expand, in turn boosting food’s taste and nutritional value, along with the health of people and ecosystems. Community support helps low-income families eat higher quality food, and the preparation provides a psychological edge in an emergency. Chapters are devoted to useful, transferable skills, A humorous treatment of a sometimes threatening topic, this book will appeal to both long-time food security advocates and newcomers to the topic who are wary of it all and would prefer to avoid it. Robin Wheeler teaches traditional skills, sustenance gardening, and medicinals at Edible Landscapes (www.ediblelandscapes.ca), a nursery and teaching garden in Roberts Creek, British Columbia. She is also the author of Gardening for the Faint of Heart (New Catalyst Books).
― Reviewed by Linda Wegner, Country LIfe in BC Where would you find your groceries if your supermarket’s shelves were suddenly empty? The threat of earthquakes, trucker strikes, power outages, or a global market collapse makes us vulnerable like never before. With spiraling fuel prices and unstable world economies, individuals and communities are demanding more control over their food supply. Food Security for the Faint of Heart is designed to gently ease readers into a more empowered place so that shocks to our food supply can be handled confidently. As well as acquiring new skills and ideas, there are other compelling reasons to get better prepared. The local economy gains support and encouragement to expand, in turn boosting food’s taste and nutritional value, along with the health of people and ecosystems. Community support helps low-income families eat higher quality food, and the preparation provides a psychological edge in an emergency. Chapters are devoted to useful, transferable skills, A humorous treatment of a sometimes threatening topic, this book will appeal to both long-time food security advocates and newcomers to the topic who are wary of it all and would prefer to avoid it. Robin Wheeler teaches traditional skills, sustenance gardening, and medicinals at Edible Landscapes (www.ediblelandscapes.ca), a nursery and teaching garden in Roberts Creek, British Columbia. She is also the author of Gardening for the Faint of Heart (New Catalyst Books).
192 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 30, 2010
After several years of intense armchair gardening (waiting for retaining walls, etc. to be built so I could landscape my yard!), then being inspired this month first by Square Foot Gardening and subsequently a lesson on emergency food supplies, I immediately reviewed my ultimate plans for landscaping my yard and decided that the yard had better be part of my emergency food supply. What does that mean? Basically, I decided that a few of the pretty bushes I was going to install should probably be useful instead (gooseberry, currant, lonicera berries, nanking cherry, etc.), and that I would heed the counsel of growing a garden a little more literally. Thinking of all the disasters that could befall us at a moment’s notice (potentially cutting off either myself or all deliveries of produce and food to the area), I decided that I would take steps to ensure that my little urban yard is providing my family with some sort of food sources for as many months of the year as it possibly can (I totally understand that it will take me years to achieve this… good thing I love playing in the dirt!).
Enter Robin Wheeler’s book ‘Food Security for the Faint of Heart’. Robin’s funny, simplistic style of writing and straightforward instructions were such a pleasure to read! Of course, being a local author (she lives in Robert’s Creek, BC along the Sunshine Coast) endeared me to her as well.
Robin’s book starts out encouraging everyone to try to make themselves as self-reliant and food secure as possible. Then she hits us with The Big One – there’s been an earthquake/snow-in/disaster and you are on your own with no electricity, no gas, no way to keep warm or cook… how are you going to survive? At this point, I’m thinking of course I can survive, and I’ll do just fine (I’m totally wrong). But Robin’s funny and practical advice about opening and closing the refrigerator and freezer, which foods do you eat first, how to salvage the rest (did you know you could save cheddar cheese in a jar covered with oil?), and a pile of recipes to use in a pinch are invaluable.
She moves on through stockpiling food to collecting and cooking organic and wild foods, growing your own garden and maximizing the harvest (she has a whole book dedicated to this: ‘Gardening For the Faint of Heart’ – I can’t wait to read it!). How to rotate your crops, grow foods right on top of each other to save space, how to preserve the foods you grow, edible weeds and flowers (all these chapters contain recipes by the way, like Squash Blossom Frittata and Pasta with Day Lily Buds and Mushrooms – don’t laugh, ‘cause if you were starving you’d be awfully happy to know they were edible!) , collecting water safely and/ or cleaning the water you already have. TONS of little tidbits of info in these chapters that could be essential to feeding your family during an exended crisis.
I absolutely enjoyed reading this lovely little book… it’s sure to find a place on my bookshelf as soon as possible!
Enter Robin Wheeler’s book ‘Food Security for the Faint of Heart’. Robin’s funny, simplistic style of writing and straightforward instructions were such a pleasure to read! Of course, being a local author (she lives in Robert’s Creek, BC along the Sunshine Coast) endeared me to her as well.
Robin’s book starts out encouraging everyone to try to make themselves as self-reliant and food secure as possible. Then she hits us with The Big One – there’s been an earthquake/snow-in/disaster and you are on your own with no electricity, no gas, no way to keep warm or cook… how are you going to survive? At this point, I’m thinking of course I can survive, and I’ll do just fine (I’m totally wrong). But Robin’s funny and practical advice about opening and closing the refrigerator and freezer, which foods do you eat first, how to salvage the rest (did you know you could save cheddar cheese in a jar covered with oil?), and a pile of recipes to use in a pinch are invaluable.
She moves on through stockpiling food to collecting and cooking organic and wild foods, growing your own garden and maximizing the harvest (she has a whole book dedicated to this: ‘Gardening For the Faint of Heart’ – I can’t wait to read it!). How to rotate your crops, grow foods right on top of each other to save space, how to preserve the foods you grow, edible weeds and flowers (all these chapters contain recipes by the way, like Squash Blossom Frittata and Pasta with Day Lily Buds and Mushrooms – don’t laugh, ‘cause if you were starving you’d be awfully happy to know they were edible!) , collecting water safely and/ or cleaning the water you already have. TONS of little tidbits of info in these chapters that could be essential to feeding your family during an exended crisis.
I absolutely enjoyed reading this lovely little book… it’s sure to find a place on my bookshelf as soon as possible!
November 14, 2012
This is a terrific book for the everyday family. It is a simple look at the benefits of having a personal backstock of basic foods, not relying so heavily on your freezer, getting friends and neighbors to cooperate as a group, and how simple it can be to get started.
You don't need to contact a company with 25 year cans or military rations (although, these are great options for stocking a 2-5 year backstock or having a small stash away from your home). You can start at your regular store by picking up a few extras each shopping trip.
Personally, I started using coupons again and used the savings from those to purchase extra. For example, I manage to average saving 30-50% using coupons and rebates. This allowed me to create a 3 month stock for our family of 5, 2 adult and 3 teens, in just a two months. I did contact a few emergency preparedness companies to find matches that light when wet or very windy, but I live in a small town and don't have easy access to a large camping or sports store. P.S. When I finished my one year backstock, I continued using coupons and the savings go in a large 5 gal water bottle and is used for things not otherwise needed, like a longer vacation or a big screen TV.
A word to the wise...
Many people feel that if you are backstocking food or supplies, it must mean that you are someone who believes the end-times are nearly here, however, the disasters of the past few years (hurricanes Katrina, Irene, and Sandi not to mention a 14% unemployment rate) have shown that have at least a 3 month backstock of extra foods, water, and cooking and heat source can make life easier for you and your neighbors.
Many people on the east coast are struggling, but had every person had a three month extra supply, properly stored, those who were not as badly damaged could be helping their neighbors. Some of those whose homes are damaged by mold or flooding but still have access to the stored supplies, could be much less miserable than they currently are since properly stored the supplies would be in water tight containers.
Home stockpiles have become a lost art. In the past, canning and backstocking were part of everyday life. Supermarkets on every corner and false promises from Government entities: such as FEMA, have abated our natural instincts to prepare for personal and neighborhood emergencies. This book shows you that this lost art is a lost need that has to be recovered, before more people freeze, starve, become ill, or worse die because those emergency agencies just cannot handle large disasters.
You don't need to contact a company with 25 year cans or military rations (although, these are great options for stocking a 2-5 year backstock or having a small stash away from your home). You can start at your regular store by picking up a few extras each shopping trip.
Personally, I started using coupons again and used the savings from those to purchase extra. For example, I manage to average saving 30-50% using coupons and rebates. This allowed me to create a 3 month stock for our family of 5, 2 adult and 3 teens, in just a two months. I did contact a few emergency preparedness companies to find matches that light when wet or very windy, but I live in a small town and don't have easy access to a large camping or sports store. P.S. When I finished my one year backstock, I continued using coupons and the savings go in a large 5 gal water bottle and is used for things not otherwise needed, like a longer vacation or a big screen TV.
A word to the wise...
Many people feel that if you are backstocking food or supplies, it must mean that you are someone who believes the end-times are nearly here, however, the disasters of the past few years (hurricanes Katrina, Irene, and Sandi not to mention a 14% unemployment rate) have shown that have at least a 3 month backstock of extra foods, water, and cooking and heat source can make life easier for you and your neighbors.
Many people on the east coast are struggling, but had every person had a three month extra supply, properly stored, those who were not as badly damaged could be helping their neighbors. Some of those whose homes are damaged by mold or flooding but still have access to the stored supplies, could be much less miserable than they currently are since properly stored the supplies would be in water tight containers.
Home stockpiles have become a lost art. In the past, canning and backstocking were part of everyday life. Supermarkets on every corner and false promises from Government entities: such as FEMA, have abated our natural instincts to prepare for personal and neighborhood emergencies. This book shows you that this lost art is a lost need that has to be recovered, before more people freeze, starve, become ill, or worse die because those emergency agencies just cannot handle large disasters.
November 15, 2009
I'm really not sure I'll ever get into the whole canning thing, but there are probably some useful tricks I'll glean from this book. Definitely more inspired than ever to get some rain barrels so we always have a source of water.
There is a great list of helpful, easy to grow plants that will basically grow in every garden with minimal effort. I am determined to grow each of these and learn how to use them. I also like the idea that if we each grew our own herbs for tea, we could each effectively remove one small truck from the road.
I almost didn't read this because of the title being kind of fear-based, but the book really wans't like that. There is a lot of useful info about food storage, growing plants, and even medicinal plants (which I thought was an area I just wasn't interested in broaching, but she makes it sound so simple and easy, I am definitely going to try!)
There is a great list of helpful, easy to grow plants that will basically grow in every garden with minimal effort. I am determined to grow each of these and learn how to use them. I also like the idea that if we each grew our own herbs for tea, we could each effectively remove one small truck from the road.
I almost didn't read this because of the title being kind of fear-based, but the book really wans't like that. There is a lot of useful info about food storage, growing plants, and even medicinal plants (which I thought was an area I just wasn't interested in broaching, but she makes it sound so simple and easy, I am definitely going to try!)
July 28, 2018
Robin Wheeler has written a book that inspires you to take steps to increase your food security, regardless of your current level. I want to add more edible plants to my garden, save water and make sure that I can make it a few weeks in a crisis. Wheeler mentions larger underlying problems: supporting farms abroad and losing local capability to grow food, handing control of food production completely over to large corporations, loss of skill and knowledge, and the belief that the government/someone else will solve everything in a crisis. Reading this book shows many many ways that you can improve your level of food security, you just have to pick one and slowly become more independent.
February 4, 2025
Fascinating tips on gardening and harvesting your own food and the different ways to preserve and save. Overall theme stressed that we must help each other out, get to know our neighbours and give of our own bounty.
August 15, 2012
This book was part manifesto, part how-to, and I get the sense that she's preaching to the choir here -- no one is going to read this who isn't already interested in gardening, buying local, etc. It does a pretty good job of cheering people on to find greater food security, but as a how-to, it's limited. The author is constantly referring to one thing or another about coastal British Columbia which might not translate so well to other areas. It's also limited by the fact that it's a sweeping overview of a lot of different subjects, each of which merits a book in itself (or almost). As a how-to, it's more of a how-to-get-started than anything else.
August 20, 2009
This lady seems to know what she is talking about. I aspire to live up to not letting one berry or tomato go to waste, but for now, I'm just doing the best I can. She inspired me to incorporate a few basic medicinal herbs into my herb garden (a three year old culinary garden that I am just NOW learning to utilize). She also encourages setting goals in growing your own and preserving it - something I intend to do. Lists, lists and more lists.
January 21, 2012
Good book but poorly named - this book is definitely NOT for the faint of heart. It is well written for the planner types that are willing to put in hard work and time toward growing and preserving their own food. If you already garden, this would be a fabulous resource for learning to preserve the fruits (or vegetables?) of your labor. I'm not that person but I am interested in food preservation so it was still an informative read.
July 6, 2009
This book takes home storage to a new level - gardening, preserving, harvesting wild foods, collecting rain water, etc. It's written by a local author, so all the information is particularly relevant to the West Coast.
January 25, 2014
Read/skimmed the book. This is a fairly basic book, but several good ideas included. Also a good list of further resources.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews