The unassuming title and presentation of this book belie a wealth of resources within. The opening chapters comprising an economic analysis on the loss of capital and income for rural areas in the United States over the past 100 years is deeply researched and clearly, and simply, presented. 

This analysis sets the scene for a series of case studies in diverse communities in several U.S. states, presenting different ecological, political, and economic histories. These case studies represent the lived experience of Meter as a consultant being engaged as an individual, but most often as part of multi-stakeholder teams, and the processes that are explored in developing and protecting localized, healthy food production and agricultural communities. In so doing, the long-term intension of building community cohesion and dynamism around food and agricultural practices could be useful for other places and domains.

While the focus of the book remains on "community food webs" the political social dynamics explored take center stage in forming these webs, always with challenges and often with complications. Meter does not shy away from acknowledging these challenges, but rather presents them for reader to draw their own lessons. 

Lest the reader be daunted, Meter presents numerous examples and resources that are practical and action oriented along with the context in which many of them were tried.

By Ken Meter, Crossroads Resource Center

Published by Island Press