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The Seed Detective

Uncovering the Secret Histories of Remarkable Vegetables

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About this listen

Have you ever wondered how peas, kale, asparagus, beans, squash, and corn have ended up on our plates? Well, Adam Alexander has.

Adam Alexander is The Seed Detective. His passion for vegetables was ignited when he tasted an unusual sweet pepper with a fiery heart while on a filmmaking project in Ukraine. Smitten by its flavor, Adam began to seek out local growers of endangered heritage and heirloom varieties in a mission to bring home seeds to grow, share, and return so that he could enjoy their delicious taste—and save them from being lost forever.

In The Seed Detective, Adam shares his own stories of seed hunting, with the origin stories behind many of our everyday food heroes. Taking us on a journey that began when we left the life of the hunter-gatherer to become farmers, he tells tales of globalization, political intrigue, colonization, and serendipity—describing how these vegetables and their travels have become embedded in our food cultures.

©2022 Adam Alexander (P)2023 Chelsea Green Agricultural & Food Sciences Environment Nature & Ecology Outdoors & Nature Science Sustainable Agriculture Heartfelt Gardening Detective
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Fascinating informative and something I couldn’t put down. A triumph. Will interest gardeners historians and anyone who has put a seed in the earth and witnessed the wonder of growing.

Superb

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This book is very interesting and informative, great stories and lots of passion and love for seeds and vegetables. I loved it.

excellent. highly recommend

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Excellent narrative, informative beyond belief. You can tell Adam has a passion for his subject

Excellent!

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A book that rightly places the role of small farmers and growers at the heart of our civilization and our future

Fascinating

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