Acknowledgements

A book like this is only possible because we are fortunate to operate at the intersection of a diverse and wonderful community, each member with their own influence, both subtle and profound, and each as important as the other.

As we have argued repeatedly, while there isn’t really a beginning or an end when it comes to food production, consumption and responsibility, for us it all starts at the farm, and this book (and our business) is made possible by those who believe their farm can be a riot of productive capacity and are willing to share a small, but crucial, part with us. We’ve lost count, but over the years we’ve been hosted at more than a hundred farms scattered over many thousands of kilometres across five states. To all those people who have put us up and/or put up with us, either singly, or as a roaming staff or family pack, and who have trusted and befriended and taught us, we can’t thank you enough. We can only hope we have faithfully reflected your passion, conveyed a small fragment of your knowledge and done your fine produce justice.

It may start on the farm but it finishes on the table. It was our customers’ insistent curiosity and inspiring determination to take greater control over their food choices that first got us thinking that writing a book that answered their daily questions might be a useful thing to do.

One of the joys of our work (and a source of constant delight) is how many of our community have become our friends. From farmers and customers whose children we’ve watched grow up through to those who’ve moved on, to chefs ordering every other day for their restaurants through to our once-a-year Christmas-ham customer; their ideas, support, feedback and friendship has made our work worthwhile. Everyone wants an appreciative audience. We are astounded how powerful that appreciation can be.

Of course, a business like ours is nothing without its staff. What started as a one-man band has expanded and over the years we have been blessed to work with many talented and wonderful people who have each made important contributions to Feather and Bone. To all of you, past and present, we give a huge thank you.

Then there are the unsung heroes behind the scenes that make this whole shebang function: the stock handlers, abattoir workers, meat carters and delivery drivers whose work is demanding and sometimes dangerous and exacts a physical and emotional toll that is mostly overlooked. They deserve our acknowledgement and gratitude.

Thanks to the team at Murdoch for skilfully navigating us through and trusting that this slightly awkward hybrid of polemic, exposition, photographs and recipes might find an audience. To Jane Morrow, thank you for keeping the faith and the door open for the four years it took us to finally commit to writing this book. To Justin Wolfers, we’re so grateful for your skill, good humour and saintly patience in wrangling us and this project to conclusion. Huge thanks to photographer, Alan Benson, for the beautiful images, the endless support and more favours than we deserve, and for not fainting at the abattoir.

This book is the product of the trust and generosity of hundreds of producers, thousands of customers and millions of microbes. We can only hope that it adequately reflects those gifts, and truly demonstrates the power of food to connect people, plants and animals across space and time.

Finally, we thank our three beautiful sons — Gilbert, Ambrose and Louis. Our work is for your future.