The solution to many of the worldB次元官网网址檚 food supply problems are in your own backyard.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 the philosophy behind Carolyn HerriotB次元官网网址檚 book The Zero Mile Diet: A Year Round Guide to Growing Organic Food.

And if reaction to the book is any indicator, itB次元官网网址檚 an idea thatB次元官网网址檚 catching on.

The Saanich resident was recently named to the shortlist for a 2011 Canadan Culinary Book Award in the special interest category for the book, which teaches readers how to feed themselves in a sustainable manner.

B次元官网网址淚 was inspired by (Vancouver couple Alisa Smith and J. B. MacKinnonB次元官网网址檚) 100-Mile Diet,B次元官网网址� Herriot said, B次元官网网址渂ut it doesnB次元官网网址檛 tell you what to do. It outlines the difficulties and the problems and the challenges.

B次元官网网址淶ero Mile is a solution guide. ItB次元官网网址檚 not just another vegetable gardening book. This is a book about how to feed yourself from your own backyard.B次元官网网址�

Herriot, who runs an organic seed business called Seeds of Victoria, says global insecurity over things like climate change, world hunger, and even the fact that Vancouver Island could be hit by a major earthquake at any time all helped inspire the book, her second.

B次元官网网址淚t seemed to me that having more self-reliance was a good way to go,B次元官网网址� she said.

Making the shift to sustainable gardening is easier than most people realize.

B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 grow our own food anymore even though gardening is the number one leisure pursuit in North America,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚t only requires a small paradigm shift. We can keep gardening but instead of growing only ornamental plants, grow edible ornamental plants.B次元官网网址�

The Zero Mile Diet takes readers through B次元官网网址渢he A to ZB次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� of vegetables and culinary herbs, Herriot said. It also teaches them how to save the seeds for future crops.

B次元官网网址淔or me, sustainability and food production has to take seed saving into account.B次元官网网址�

The Canadian Culinary Book Awards recognize excellence in food and beverage writing while promoting Canadian food culture. Gold and silver prizes are awarded in three categories. The winners will be announced on Nov. 7.

B次元官网网址淚t makes perfect sense to me to go back into the garden, grow more of your own food, get your children involved, and sit around the table together,B次元官网网址� Herriot said.

editor@oakbaynews.com