Life, food, events, and community in Albuquerque, NM

plant's eye view

ever wonder about the way a specific plant may view survival and how it has evolved to maintain our interest and our dependence upon it? Michael Pollan wrote The Botany of Desire about four plants and how they survive by targeting human desires. This book considers the apple (sweetness), the tulip (beauty), cannibis (intoxication), and the potato (control) and each of their unique quests for survival. it's an interesting perspective for sure.

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Permalink Reply by cc on December 2, 2008 at 7:11am: Me spouse read this one and also Omnivore's Dilemma - I have been knowing I need to read them both, so thanks for the plug here. I would really enjoy knowing more about these plants - bet it's fascinating.

I did read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver this summer and enjoyed being in her world. It did inspire me to think about local products.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kelly on December 2, 2008 at 3:32pm: Kingsolver's book is not as good as Pollan's. She can get kind of preachy. If you are interested in readin gmore about eating local, try Plenty: One Man, One Woman, and a Raucous Year of Eating Locally.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by cc on December 2, 2008 at 5:46pm: Yes, soapbox. I had a hard time with her rant at the beginning on how "our" generation was not in tune with growing food, when the whole back to the land movement of the 70's - Rodale Press, Whole Earth, etc was all focused on that and many of us grew veg gardens every summer and canned and collected recipes from that GrandParent generation who was still around. We grew up on their stories of rationing and many soaked it in.
So I know what you mean.
However, her reality still was an enjoyable read for me and resonates. I will look for your recommendation after Omnivore's Dilemma. Thanks so much!; ▶ Reply to This