THANKFUL HARVEST

Available locally at Moonraker and the commons in langley, and Kingfisher bookstore in coupeville.

available online at our publisher Bookbaby, and on Amazon.com and Bookshop.org!

Through lyrical prose and gorgeous illustrations, Thankful Harvest gently introduces young readers to the practices of regenerative farming and ethical harvesting, as well as to the concept that life is a circular exchange of energy among plants, humans, and animals.

The story follows a young girl as she cares for baby turkeys, moves the growing birds around the pasture with her papa, and helps family and friends as they come together to respectfully harvest the turkeys for their community.

The book does not shy away from the realities of harvesting an animal for food, but we have created it with the deepest respect and gratitude for the animals and the process. We believe that raising animals using regenerative practices is an integral part of the health of the earth and its people. Though it is a complex subject, we also believe that children should know how their food is grown (including animals) and how all food is harvested. Most kids are fascinated by the process and end up asking questions about life and death, which is a great thing! We would love to see this kind of conversation normalized, especially when it comes to talking about how we as humans survive and thrive.

We have thoroughly researched the market for children's books that talk about where meat comes from and have not found any that address the realities of the process. There are, however, quite a few books out there that talk against eating meat and say it is harmful to our health and the environment, a viewpoint with which we respectfully and vehemently disagree (when the animals are raised with care and respect). This book is unique and could inspire a whole generation to think more about the where, why, and how's of their food.

Author Jenny Goff is a writer, chef, and Nutritional Therapy Practitioner who farms with her husband and two daughters in the Pacific Northwest.

Illustrator Heather Talley is trained in graphic design and animation. In addition to making art and doing design work for local businesses, she is the lead farmer at Sweet Water Farm where she grows produce, raises livestock, and respectfully harvests all that she’s cared for.

Why we created this book

We are farmers. We believe in the power of the land, the soil, the animals and plants that live and die and nourish us and the earth. We believe in the healing power of animals, for the nutrients that they impart to the earth in their manure as well as the nourishment that they give us in their meat (or eggs or milk).

We want to honor the process of raising these animals in a kind, loving, and ethical way, a way that also honors the transfer of energy that occurs when we harvest them to feed ourselves and our community. Heather and I live this life with our families and are grateful that we know the animals that eventually nourish our bodies and support our community in health.

We want to share our stories with you in hopes that we can all deepen our connection with the food we eat, be it animals or plants. We want future generations to know more about where their food comes from and how it is harvested. We want to share the experience that all food requires sacrifice and transfers of energy, even a leaf of kale. We also want children and adults to know that there are different ways to raise animals and some are measurably better (for the animals, for the earth, for people) than others.

We acknowledge that our farms are located on the unceded Indigenous lands of the Coast Salish Peoples who have reserved treaty rights to this land- specifically the Lower Skagit, Swinomish, Suqamish, and Snohomish tribes. We thank these stewards who have lived, and continue to live, on this land since time immemorial. Our hope is that by continuing to steward the land in respectful ways and support Indigenous voices being heard, we can continue our quest to be in Right Relationship with all beings on and in this Earth.

To contact Jenny and Heather about Thankful Harvest: thankfulharvestbook@gmail.com