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5th Annual Summer Read: Lessons from the Farm

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Read Daphne Miller’s Farmacology:

Total Health from the Ground Up

For the fifth year in a row WITF’s Transforming Health teams up with Aligning Forces for Quality – South Central PA and the Central PA library systems to present the “Summer Read”. The goal is to engage readers across Central PA in a conversation about the surprising connections between what we eat, how it’s grown and our personal wellness.

Through September, the public is invited to participate in “A Summer Read”, a unique program encouraging residents to visit local libraries to borrow Farmacology: Total Health from the Ground Up written by Family Physician and Associate clinical professor at the University of California Daphne Miller M.D. and hold discussions with their book clubs, friends, family and colleagues.

In Farmacology Dr. Daphne Miller set out to learn about human health by studying cutting-edge farming practices. A Berkeley, California based family physician, Miller visited poultry farms, cattle ranches, urban gardens and more to answer the questions: How can our food systems make us healthier?

Each chapter takes place on a different kind of farm in a different part of the country and offers new lessons on health and healing. A vegetable farmer teaches about the links between rejuvenating depleted soil and rejuvenating ourselves. A cow/calf farmer shows how his grazing methods can be applied to raising resilient kids. A laying hen farmer gives insight into stress management. A vineyard’s pest management strategy offers a new take on cancer care. An urban farm in the Bronx lays out a novel approach to boosting community health. And an aromatic herb farmer helps unlock the secret to sustainable beauty.

Throughout the book Miller seeks out the perspective of noted scientists ad weaves their insight into the story. The result is a whole new approach to health and healing combined with practical advice for how to treat disease and maintain wellness.

Visit these libraries to borrow the book:

 “Summer Read”  is also supported by Capital Blue Cross, WellSpan Health and Penn State Health.