Reaching Beyond Our Boundaries

I was researching “locavore” movement and stumbled across Jackson Lander’s blog, The Locavore Hunter. I met Jackson at OWAA’s conference in Utah in July and was impressed by his mix of political astuteness and outdoor sensibility. That, and he actually wrote a book Hunting Deer for Food for those foodies who are “okay” with harvesting an animal as long as they eat the whole thing.

Whatever gets them outside, I say.

Jackson was on a panel with Hank Shaw, author of Hunt, Gather, Cook. They were discussing their respective books, the locavore movement and how writers can capitalize on it.

So there were two authors, one actually touring the country as we speak, who have successfully reached out to a WHOLE different audience with their books. Jackson even recently spoke at Mother Earth News Fair in Pennsylvania about how to quarter venison. WHAT??!! He was someplace I would think “our kind” would never be welcomed and THEY ASKED HIM TO BE THERE.

Why didn’t we think of this sooner?

prepping venison taco meat at a shelter in Milwauke for Sportsman Channel's Hunt.Fish.Feed.

And then there’s Tovar Cerulli. Another great blogger and someone I’ve grown to respect immensely. He is a vegan-turned-hunter. How much more contradictive is that? He’s also writing a book about his adventures and how others can follow suit. I’m currently reading his thesis, which is the basis for the book. Good stuff so far.

So that’s three books reaching out to communities we never touched before: foodies, people who like to eat locally (locavores), organic lovers and those who just like to know where the heck their food is coming from.

I think the foodies category is poised to really grow. CBS just started a show “The Chew” to replace “All My Children” and it’s all about preparing food, loving food, sitting around food and displaying food. How about getting Chef Mario Batali prepping and cooking venison on national TV? Before I would say that would never happen, but you should never say never.