The Accidental Seed Heroes: Growing a Delicious Food Future For All of Us - Adam Alexander

Across the world, farmers, plant scientists, gardeners and chefs are doing something extraordinary: they are creating a wonderful new future for our fruits, vegetables and grains. By championing heritage varieties and breeding ingenious new ones, these seed heroes are giving us food that is delicious, considerate of our environment and resilient in the face of our changing climate. 

In The Accidental Seed Heroes, Adam Alexander dons his seed-detective homburg to discover these twenty-first-century pioneers. He meets growers and scientists from Rajasthan who are growing tomato varieties in the extremes of heat and cold, a Danish gardener breeding an aubergine for cooler climates, a young orchardist in Massachusetts making beautiful cider from wild apples and British trials to grow a native baked bean.

In telling these inspiring stories, Adam reveals a quiet counterrevolution focused on local varieties and plant breeding that puts people, place and planet first: an existential stand against the commodification of food and the consequent loss of flavour and nutrition. 

We all become accidental seed heroes when we choose to sow locally cultivated seeds and eat locally grown crops. Together, we become part of a bright and delicious food future for us all. 

Reviews: 

'A fascinating insight into the world of breeding, growing and the preservation of endangered fruit, vegetables and cereals... I loved this book' - Advolly Richmond, plant and garden historian; author of A Short History of Flowers

'An inspiring nudge to get stuck into the joys of gardening while understanding the bigger picture. A proper gem for anyone keen to connect their love of growing with the wider world of growing' - Rob Smith, author of Grow to Eat

'After reading Adam's book, I won't look at a handful of seeds the same way again' - Joe Swift, garden designer; writer; presenter; BBC's Gardeners' World

'A spellbinding journey around the globe... If you're someone who has never considered saving seeds before, Adam will undoubtedly change your perspective' - August Bernstein, head tutor, Raymond Blanc Gardening School

'In this delicious travelogue you will encounter memorable varieties with engaging names, like Big Gogozhare sweet pepper and Honest Ærling's Genuine Eating Pea... Those interested in enriching their cuisine will draw inspiration from Alexander's journeys and discoveries. Those drawn to the seed arts... will be fascinated' - C.R. Lawn, founder, Fedco Seeds

'A timely and fascinating book... Everyone should seek a deeper understanding of the origins of the foods we eat and the challenges to be faced in the future' - Craig LeHoullier, author of Epic Tomatoes; co-lead, Dwarf Tomato Project.

'A hymn of the joys of planting and developing seeds for the common good. You'll look at seed packets differently after reading this book' - Tim Lang, professor emeritus of food policy, City St George's, University of London 

Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing UK

ISBN: 9781915294432

Pages: 304

Weight: 486g

Dimensions: 162 x 27 x 237 mm