Garden Club and Library Bring “Wild Side” Author

Eating on the Wild Side author Jo Robinson comes to Orcas Island

 — from the Orcas Island Library —

The Orcas Island Garden Club and the Orcas Island Public Library join to bring Jo Robinson, author of the New York Times Bestseller Eating on the Wild Side: The Missing Link for Optimum Health to Orcas island on 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb 18 at Orcas Center.

Ever since humans invented agriculture, 10,000 years ago, the wild plants that our ancestors ate have lost much of their nutritional value due to hybridization and increasingly efficient farming methods. We humans have literally bred the medicine out of our food in our effort to make it easier to grow and eat.

“Man-made” fruits and vegetables are lower in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber, protein, and healthy fats — not to mention flavor — yet higher in starch and sugar. Consequently, the health advice to “eat more fruits and vegetables” is out of date. We need good advice on which fruits and vegetables to eat.

Don’t despair! Investigative journalist Jo Robinson will tell us which fruits and veggies to grow and buy, and how to store, cook, and preserve them for maximum nutrition. For example, did you know that currant and grape tomatoes are far more nutritious than beefsteaks? The smaller and redder the tomato, the better it is for you.

Robinson has appeared on NPR, CNN and CBS, and her article “Grow These Nutritious Crop Varieties” is featured in the current (Feb/March 2015) issue of Mother Earth News. Darvill’s Bookstore will have Eating on the Wild Side available for purchase and signing.