Kristin Graves
The Garlic Companion
(Cooking and Home & Garden, September, Storey Publishing)
“Recipes, crafts, preservation techniques, and simple ways to grow your own garlic!”
Alberta, Canada. I am a farmer with a vegetable subscription program that includes weekly newsletters and garden recipes. … Over time, I began to write articles for magazines with a wide range of topics from growing garlic to promoting women in agriculture. When I started writing my book, I was able to look back over eight years’ worth of my own content for inspiration. It took me four months to finish the first draft; it was the perfect winter project! My summers on the farm are quite busy and chaotic, but the winter season is enjoyed at a slower pace. I spent many snowstorms and cold nights cozied up with my I received a message on Instagram from an acquisitions editor inquiring whether I would be interested in writing a book about garlic. It is a moment I will never forget! Writing a book has been a lifelong dream of mine so I jumped at the opportunity. I didn’t know it at the time, but there are so many things that happen behind the scenes that lead up to publication. I am so grateful for the team I get to work with at Storey who have helped guide me through the process. I think success is best achieved by being authentic to your true self. Whether it is in the pages of this book or out in the garlic field, I always try to show up as a version of myself that I am proud of. In a perfect world I would never again schedule so many photoshoots during my busiest time of year, however, the timing was so critical to be able to photograph an entire growing season. It happened exactly the way it was meant to, but the process was quite tiring. Surround yourself with people who support you and cheer you on. It’s easy to get lost in the writing or be overwhelmed by it. You’ll appreciate having them there with you and to be able to celebrate your milestones together! My dream is to host a garlic farm-to-table dinner on our farm! In terms of writing, I always have new ideas cooking—I hope someday there will be another cookbook!
