Enduring Seeds: Native American Agriculture and Wild Plant Conservation

by Gary Paul Nabhan, Wendell Berry (Foreword), Miguel Altieri (Foreword)

As biological diversity continues to shrink at an alarming rate, the loss of plant species poses a threat seemingly less visible than the loss of animals but in many ways more critical. In this book, one of America's leading ethnobotanists warns about our loss of natural vegetation and plant diversity while providing insights into traditional Native agricultural practices in the Americas.

Gary Paul Nabhan here reveals the rich diversity of plants found in tropical forests and their contribution to modern crops, then tells how this diversity is being lost to agriculture and lumbering. He then relates "local parables" of Native American agriculture—from wild rice in the Great Lakes region to wild gourds in Florida—that convey the urgency of this situation and demonstrate the need for saving the seeds of endangered plants. Nabhan stresses the need for maintaining a wide gene pool, not only for the survival of these species but also for the preservation of genetic strains that can help scientists breed more resilient varieties of other plants.

Enduring Seeds is a book that no one concerned with our environment can afford to ignore. It clearly shows us that, as agribusiness increasingly limits the food on our table, a richer harvest can be had by preserving ancient ways.

This edition features a new foreword by Miguel Altieri, one of today's leading spokesmen for sustainable agriculture and the preservation of indigenous farming methods.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Gardening, Food, Agriculture, Indigenous, Science

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Gary Paul Nabhan is an internationally-celebrated nature writer, seed saver, conservation biologist and sustainable agriculture activist who has been called "the father of the local food movement" by Utne Reader, Mother Earth News, Carleton College and Unity College. Gary is also an orchard-keeper, wild forager and Ecumenical Franciscan brother in his hometown of Patagonia, Arizona near the Mexican border. For his writing and collaborative conservation work, he has been honored with a MacArthur "genius" award, a Southwest Book Award, the John Burroughs Medal for nature writing, the Vavilov Medal, and lifetime achievement awards from the Quivira Coalition and Society for Ethnobiology.

--from the author's website

Reviews

[Audrey C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly it wasn’t that bad but i’m so ready to be finished after having to do summaries of every chapter for botany

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the first books I read about the importance of heritage seeds, and locally grown food. Nabhan is a poetic science writer, and an excellent interviewer, he underscores that the problems faced by Native people in preserving their health and heritage is a problem we will all face.

[Thomas Gregg · Rating 4 out of 5]

"...the remaining riches of the living world..."

[Abby]

Every time I read a Gary Paul Nabhan book, I feel like I’ve been scooped. He always seems to have written the thing I wanted to write, and come to find out it’s been out there for decades. As science writing published in 1989, this book is both incredibly dated and incredibly enduring. I kept having moments of, “Oh yeah, they did used to think that, huh.” Followed by moments of amazement at the continued relevance of this distillation of scientific papers, chats with farmers, environmental writing, and the idea that Native people’s long-standing relationships with plants and animals are so, so valuable. Some sentences are definitely cringier than they intend to be. But it’s still a heady mix of farming and conservation, of science and ceremony. I think there is space for updates and ongoing conversation–there is still much to be written, much work to be done–but Nabhan has always been onto something.

[anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing to know is that, regardless of Amazon’s publication date, the bulk of this book dates from the 80s. I mention that because the author is living in a world different from our current one; the AIDS epidemic was still new, for example, and the use of computers probably quite different.

But seeds, as the author points out in the beginning of the book, are not working on the same time scales as human beings.

This book taught me a new way of looking at planting my gardens and thinking about how plants work together. It gave me knowledge of southwestern plants and ecologies and cultures that are totally foreign to this Pennsylvania native. And it gave me hope that even as a part-time gardener, the choices I make can help keep my local area healthier.

[David Rudin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A top writer and ethnobotanist tells tales from the front line of indigenous peoples and their relationship with plants. Some of the chapters were mesmerizing where indigenous people in Mexico weave together food production with wild plants and animals.
Other chapters drag a bit, which is why I gave it three stars. Really, some chapters are 5 stars and others are 3 stars. The story of how to raise food in an ecologically sound way is one of our most important. Nabhan adds important chapters to that story. I wanted it to be more of "Healing Ground, Climate Justice, and the Deep Roots of Regenerative Farming", by Liz Carlisle. Carlisle tells equally important stories but tells them consistently better.

[Bernard Lavallée · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know it's a good book when it's still relevant more than 30 years after its publication.

For a brief summary, the author talks about the importance of food diversity, especially the multiple varieties of fruits and vegetables that have been forgotten in the last decades. However, there's an emphasis on the work of indigenous people and how their cultures have tremendous impacts on the safeguarding of the remaining food diversity.

[LiangGuolong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it initially for class. Explained indigenous ag from stories to raise awareness in genetic diversity, biodiversity preservation, and human-plant interaction.

[Benjamin Felser · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Gary Paul Nabhan. And seeds are really important. Thank you.

[Greg]

Fascinating and depressing. Made me want to try to grow some sumpweed and breed some turkeys for beautiful plumage!

[Kevin Yung Dingus Mane Holton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book filled with great stories

[Clivemichael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving journey of exploration and unfortunate loss of diversity

[Vivi]

Interesting perspective on Native American cultures from an ethnobotanist and plant collector. I started reading this book in preparation for my visit to VA later this week. Emma and I will be attending a cider tasting at a cultural venue where Nabhan is a scientist in residence, or something like that. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on sunflowers, and I'm looking forward to reading a few more of Nabhan's books. They definitely remind me of why I've chosen my career path. I look forward to collection trips of my own and learning about heirloom varieties and landraces around the world.

[Theresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I chose two stars for two reasons. One, the book was written in 1989 and back then, it hopefully raised awareness of the current issues of loosing indigenous seed stock and the cultures who kept them, but now, reading it gives a sense of hopelessness; and the second reason is it is a depressing read. There is some good information, but honestly, I couldn't finish reading the book as it brought me down too much. However, it did have a positive outcome, one probably intended by the author, it reinforced my resolve to raise as much of my own food as possible while using local and heritage seed sources and to save my seed.

[Knarc · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are interested in native American heritage with their indigenous plants and seeds and the challenges that are faced with maintaining that heritage this is a great book. I found the subject quite interesting and the author presented it in a manner that was easy to read.

[Blair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, some pieces useful for a lecture I gave on local agriculture. Cited Basso and Diamond, so I feel like I've unconciously given myself a syllabus.

[Patrick]

just read an article about this dude's new book "Renewing America's Food Traditions" but couldn't find a page for it here.

[Andrea]

the first chapter is shit.

[Liz Nutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

It started out reading like a textbook, but quickly picked up. I thought the subject was interesting, and the book very beautifully written.