Alberta Farmer Publishes THE Garlic Companion

Kristin Graves is an Alberta Garlic Farmer whose ode to all things garlic, The Garlic Companion, is set for release September, 2024. I first met Kristin in 2017 when I was writing a feature piece on her for my book Food Artisans of Alberta.

In 2017, Kristin started farming part-time with a CSA market garden on her families farm near Wetaskiwin, Alberta. She was still working as an Xray technician in Edmonton but after a few years she left that decade-long career to go all-in at the farm. She said, “This farm means everything to me and I want to find a way to continue our family’s tradition. I want the slower paced life I grew up with. My Dad took over this farm from his father when I was born. I’m the fifth generation and I can’t stop wondering what will happen to this place if I’m the generation that doesn’t come back?”

Graves grew up helping her Mom with her vegetable garden but her Mom eventually gave up when the deer got to enjoy more of the crop then the family. The family still grow grains but gave up a herd of cattle that peaked at 900 animals “One day I got the brainwave that I could convert our old cattle pens to a garden. They have really high reinforced fences to keep the deer out. I thought maybe I could sell my vegetables.”

Graves started an Instagram account with great photography and had 15 to 20 customers in her first season. “It was challenging but the reward is that I know where my food comes from and It’s REAL food – not processed. I love to cook and I share my grandmother’s recipes. in each week’s delivery. I still use her pitch fork to dig my potatoes.”

From Instagram to a book deal for the Garlic Companion

It was Kristin’s @fifthgengardens Instagram account that led Storey Publishing to ask her to write The Garlic Companion book. “An editor sent me a direct message two years ago after seeing photos of me with THE gold dress and the garlic wall. I called it my garlic glam shot,” she chuckled. “They asked if I would like to write a book and I said yes I would. I feel like my authenticity led to this tremendous possibility.” 

Two years and lots of photography and writing later Kristin says, “The book is so much more beautiful than I thought it would be. It’s a love story about garlic and our farm and it made me cry.” She worked with 2 different photographers. Dong Kim of Calgary and Edmonton, looked after most of the harvest photos. “I was able to do styling and a table setting for a dinner in the garden.” Then, Storey Publishing sent Michael Piazza from Boston and they shot from 7 a.m. in the morning until 8:30 p.m. at night with another epic farm to table dinner including lights, music, and a barbecue for friends and family. All the cooking, styling, and food photography for the recipes was then done in Boston. 

What Will You Find in the Garlic Companion?

There’s depth to this book and Kristin did a lot of research. “I learn best when things don’t work out. I was able to share a lot of problem-solving and there’s lots of growing information and history like the journey of garlic from China and how it went around the world to become so popular. And, there’s finally a place for me to include all my fun facts that people didn’t know they didn’t need to know! I think it is awesome.” The book features dozens of contemporary recipes that highlight the qualities and flavors of garlic in all its delicious forms—from Garlic Scape Refrigerator Pickles to Honey Garlic Ribs to Black Garlic Chocolate Chip Cookies. It’s a reflection of the Garlic Goddess herself. 

The Garlic Goddess

Kristin is 35 years old now. “I’ve pulled back from CSA market garden this year. I’m still growing for restaurants. A lot of it can be mechanized and I still have my value-added products that help make this a year round business. I’m also doing a lot more of the hay business on our family farm now. I want people to know at the heart of this, I’ve always been focused on teaching people about seasonal eating and cooking. I love giving suggestions on eating it this way. Like if it’s June, there’s green scapes, then fresh, then dried, then preserved. I believe in the importance of local food.”

To the Graves family, the book is something to be proud of and they are touched at the nod from their daughter through photos, stories, and the family recipes she shares. “There’s a lot of love for our family in it. There’s a lot of nostalgia for sure.” 

Like the garlic she plants, Kristin works with the soil and seasons to regenerate. She’s blossomed into an artful, graceful, knowledge-keeper.  With generosity, she shares all she’s learned about garlic from planting to cooking (and eating), storing, and crafting. With fortitude and femininity, she’s made herself and her crop useful and tasteful. And now, with this ode to everything garlic, she can finally share her passion with everyone. And the future? 

Preorder the Garlic Companion

“It’s exciting. I’m open to change. Being able to add ‘published author’ and some speaking engagements adds things to my toolbox and helps me round out my Fifth Gen brand. It will help when there is extreme droughts or hail!”

Preorder The Garlic Companion here. Join Kristin and me on October 1 for a launch event at The Cookbook Co Cooks in Calgary. And, in the meantime, enjoy the recipe below and share a story in the comments below about your own experience with garlic. I’d love to hear from you.

Note: This is not a sponsored post but I will receive a cookbook from the publisher. No words were shared prior to publication here. Photo credit for all of the images is: Photography by © Michael Piazza Photography/SAINT LUCY Represents. The Garlic Companion: Recipes, Crafts, Preservation Techniques, and Simple Ways to Grow Your Own, on sale September 2024 – used with permission of Storey Publishing – an imprint of Hachette. 

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