Scan barcode
suebrownreads's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book! I learned so much about lost/extinct plants and seeds. But it is not doom and gloom, it is very positive on what has been done and what is being done to save what we have left. I highly recommend this book!
nootmegz's review against another edition
4.0
Great book to begin 2020 with to really plant the seed of food sovereignty in my brain! Fascinating topic and Ray is quite a skilled writer. After reading this book, I feel invigorated and inspired to save seed and create a beautiful garden in the near future. My critique and reasoning for 4 stars is this: while the book was quite encompassing and educational, Janisse comes at the info with the experience of being white in the deep South and owning land, so I am hoping to expand my horizons and read experiences from Robin Kimmerer and similar authors to get a well rounded understanding of food sovereignty as it relates to other experiences and histories different from the ones I am familiar with. Would recommend this book though!
mikecross's review against another edition
3.0
This is not a science book, nor a history book, and I think the author wants to make it a call to action, but she does not convey that either. There is a little science, a little history, and a little call to action, but none are complete nor organized. In addition, it doesn’t appear the author did much research to write this book; it is simply a collection of her anecdotal stories around seeds, seed saving, and gardening, with jabs at industrial agriculture thrown in. The author is an excellent writer and storyteller and the book reads well if that’s what you are looking for.
Most of the observations and criticisms of industrial agriculture and industrial food production are accurate (and well known), but the author offers no alternatives other than growing your food (something entirely out of reach for 98% of Americans). Some of the criticisms, such as we have lost many varieties of vegetables and nine varieties of wheat make up 50% of production may be true (even the author admits that there are just as many vegetable varieties today as there were 100 years ago, just different ones; that many varieties may actually be the same; and that some varieties just aren’t worth keeping), but never answers the question “so what?”. If you can’t demonstrate the potential harm in the loss of a variety, don’t harp on it so much. Remember, today’s “heirloom” tomatoes were the latest new hybrid 50 years ago. And is it bad that half of the wheat production is nine varieties, how many should there be? Answering these questions, and dozens more would have taken work and research the author was not willing or able to do.
Overall, a well written, easy read that you will gain almost nothing from.
Most of the observations and criticisms of industrial agriculture and industrial food production are accurate (and well known), but the author offers no alternatives other than growing your food (something entirely out of reach for 98% of Americans). Some of the criticisms, such as we have lost many varieties of vegetables and nine varieties of wheat make up 50% of production may be true (even the author admits that there are just as many vegetable varieties today as there were 100 years ago, just different ones; that many varieties may actually be the same; and that some varieties just aren’t worth keeping), but never answers the question “so what?”. If you can’t demonstrate the potential harm in the loss of a variety, don’t harp on it so much. Remember, today’s “heirloom” tomatoes were the latest new hybrid 50 years ago. And is it bad that half of the wheat production is nine varieties, how many should there be? Answering these questions, and dozens more would have taken work and research the author was not willing or able to do.
Overall, a well written, easy read that you will gain almost nothing from.
bog_elfin's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely inspiring, and full of Vermont farmers! A beautiful mix of science, history, poetry, and manifesto. The grassroots environmental movement needs more books like this.
monicajosephine's review against another edition
4.0
This book was amazing. It totally cemented my determination to get involved in saving and growing seeds as part of ensuring the future of our food diversity and security.
lenni's review against another edition
3.0
Another beautiful book by Janisse Ray only ranked so low because I'm not really a gardener (and because the texture of the book cover gave me the willies.) Eat local! Save seeds! Diversify!
fayfaybleugh's review against another edition
2.0
I'm going to be the odd one out and say I did not enjoy the writing in this book. It felt disorganized from chapter to chapter with no thread running between them to feel connected. I generally like when informative books combine with being a memoir but this did not do it for me. A lot of great people and their work was highlighted as well but I felt that their stories were random and not comprehensive enough for me to take anything away from it. There were some good snippets that I enjoyed hence the 2/5 stars.
ckeeve's review
3.0
Accessible introduction to the world of seedsaving / seedkeeping and the politics of genetic resource conservation and agrobiodiversity. Told through a series of vignettes with various seed people in the United States, which makes it a good page-turner, but the tone feels deliberately hokey.