This book is based on scientific research about which vegetables are best to eat for keeping you healthy. Jo Robinson is a journalist that has read through the research for the past 10-15 yrs. I am using this book to redesign my urban potager this next year. I am looking at the types of food I am growing, and why I need to concentrate on those that best build a healthy immune system. I use to say I am developing an “immunity garden” on my city lot to help keep those healthy around me.
In America, we are faced with THE “health care dilemma.” I have been thinking about how we can’t do anything about the rising cost of health care today, tomorrow, or in the future, but we can grow some of our own immune strengthening food right out our door, and it is very easy.No talent required but the desire to learn and grow!
I started out a few years ago trying to figure out what I can produce, in my yard to strengthen my immune system. I have incurable cancer, so I needed to learn how to fight after attaining a successful partial remission in 2003. Too often doctors only pay attention to symptoms(they treat the symptom) but ignore the cause or reasons behind a person getting ill. Now we have research to support eating closer to home, it has higher antioxidants. Finally, a book that is based on research! My goal this next growing season is to pick those vegetables + herbs that contain the highest nutrient content, for example, how she talks about the development of the tomato and which ones are better for your health. I had no idea the cherry tomato has more disease-fighting nutrients than the large beef stakes-wow…I have a lot to learn.
Here, is a website devoted to her research!
Immunity Gardens 
Great post Robbie! I agree with you 100% … we can’t always control the cost of health care, but we can control what food goes into our bodies. Interestingly, I never liked cherry tomatoes until I actually started growing my own. The ones at the store always tasted strange to me, and I just sort of assumed that because of that I simply didn’t like them. It wasn’t until a friend gave me one of her many volunteer seedlings that I took home and planted in my garden last summer that made me realize just how delicious cherry toms could be. Now I can’t live without them! I find myself munching on them all day long – a much better alternative than store bought “snack foods” for sure! Anyhow, I’ll be sure to check out that website and I too will be growing more nutrient-dense foods next summer. Thanks again for sharing.
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I found her information fascinating. I know what you mean about cherry tomatoes from the store, they are horrible. I grew Black cherry again this summer, and I just snacked on them all summer. They were like candy. Check out her chapter on Tomatoes and how the industry has changed them from the early times. They use to be the size of a marble! She also said that this science is in the “infant” stage. I have been slowly “only growing” those foods that are “nutrient-dense” as you said on my lot. I try things out to see what works here too in our climate. I am so glad she wrote this book, we now have support for what we all do:-)
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What an interesting post and great for you for taking charge of your health! I cant wait to explore this when i have more time!
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I know it is an interesting book, but I still like my Large tomatoes for BLT’s in the summer! I have always felt there IS something to eating closer to home, and since we all are tearing up our lawns in the city we have proof our efforts are not in vain!:-)
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Hi Robbie, When I first started my roof garden I planted some radishes, mainly because they grow fast. I had never really liked radishes , but when I tasted the ones I had grown they were delicious! Radishes also have a lot of health benefits.
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I know what you mean! I have found that I can’t eat vegetables from the grocery store (after growing my own) they just taste blah. I love munching on radishes:-)
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