Kevin West: Author and Journalist

Kevin West is an author and journalist dividing his time between the Berkshires and Los Angeles. Growing up on a farm Kevin appreciates the traditions of food as a social link to family, friends, and cultures. Kevin authored Saving the Season: A Cook’s Guide to Home Canning, Pickling, and Preserving, which is available from most major book sellers including Amazon. Kevin is a great watch for gardeners and foodies alike and provides insight for preserving and canning fresh foods.  

Preserving, according to Kevin, is not just about preserving  food, it is about preserving traditions, community, and cultural identity. Kevin reflects on his own family foodways, “The West’s like to talk about food…when the West’s talk about food they’re not just talking about food they are talking about a particular way of living in. Particular place with a care for the land and the people on the land and the traditions of the community.” There is a long history of food traditions and culture and this is mirrored in Ken’s discussion on foodways. 

Kevin further talks about how he came back to his family tradition of canning and preserving, “My interest in canning began as a memory…my family is from east Tennessee originally on birth sides one side of of my family are farmers and the other side are hillbillies and both of them, both grandmothers were preservers,” says Kevin. Childhood memories are great sources of inspiration as the viewer will experience in Kevin’s conversation. 

For more information about Kevin West follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

Videography and Editing by Laura Christian and artwork by Matthew Gillan