The World Was My Garden: Travels of a Plant Explorer

by David Fairchild

The world was my Travels of a plant explorer

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Nature, History

494 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1938

About the author

David Grandison Fairchild (April 7, 1869 - August 6, 1954) was an American botanist and plant explorer. Fairchild was responsible for the introduction of more than 200,000 exotic plants and varieties of established crops into the United States, including soybeans, pistachios, mangos, nectarines, dates, bamboos, and flowering cherries. Certain varieties of wheat, cotton, and rice became especially economically important.

Reviews

[Tippy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book is taking a trip yourself. Absolutely fascinating. David Fairchild led a remarkable life, and the tone of his book really gives you an idea of how he lived. He is constantly talking about the people who inspired him, mentioning the opportunities and luck that enabled him to experience the world as only he did. The result is a memoir about an incredibly accomplished man that doesn't have even the slightest feeling of conceit. A rare combination of both pride and humility, I would have been honored to know this man.

The World Was My Garden is so much more than a story of a botanist. David Fairchild jumped at every opportunity that was presented to him, bravely embarking on mission after mission exploring the world in a time before airplanes. In fact one of my favorite parts was when he was there to witness one of the first successful flying machines. Imagine! Watching and knowing that the world was never going to be the same. After traveling one long journey after another by boat, seeing and imaging what was possible and what was surely to come. His descriptions of this time are remarkable and put you in that time and place. It also reminded me that planes are a pretty recent accomplishment. He witnessed other inventions too, and was friends with Alexander Bell. I have a new respect for Mr. Bell after reading this book and although I should have known this before hand, I wasn't really aware of how many things he invented, aside from the telephone (like the metal detector, which could be used to find bullets in people). He experiences many different cultures and has tons of cool photographs.

And the botany stuff is interesting, too. As he finds plants from all over the world and learns of their uses, he tries to figure out how they can be grown in the United States. Of course, he was slightly annoyed that the only plants that were considered of value were those with commercial value. Knowing how introduced species have caused problems now, I kind of held my breath as I thought about him sending more and more plants over here. But, it's easily forgiven, as he worked to put quarantines into place and the plants are usually grown in controlled conditions, such as botanical gardens. Many of our commercial plants in the United States are non-natives and provide ample yummyness for us-and are a direct result of David Fairchild and associates work.

This book was a rare find. I would have never found or picked up this dusty old, really long book with a solid forest green boring cover in the library. I'm certainly no botanist. I only discovered it because it was referenced by another book I read and enjoyed and it caught my attention. (I can't for the life of me remember what that book was.) At any rate, I'm glad I did and I will certainly be purchasing this book for myself to enjoy and reference over and over again. In this case, the old adage of never judge a book by its cover is completely accurate.

Also, I found this site for the Fairchild Tropic Botanic Garden and a "World Was My Garden" blog, inspired by David Fairchild's explorations. Here's the link:

http://www.fairchildgarden.org/center...

[John Sgammato · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a charming memoir of an influential tropical plant collector looking back on his adventures while musing upon the collection in his south Florida gardens. Along the way he goes on lyrical philosophical rambles and reminiscences both merry and poignant.
I liked it well enough to search out the rest of his books!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though rife with 19th century views on imperialism and race (among other things), this is truly a fascinating book. Weaving the story of the USDA's department of plant introduction with his own work as a plant explorer, Fairchild reminisces about the famous people he met along the way, the adventures he encountered, and some of the more colorful untold stories of American history. I found the history of DC's Japanese cherry blossom trees, early American aviation, the mining of the Potomac, early National Geographic endeavors and each plant introduction story really captivating. Fairchild's writing is light and clever and moves quickly through an incredibly rich and varied life.

A great read for foodies and those interested in where our food comes from. He recounts the stories of searching for new varieties of crops (avocados, almonds, persimmons, mangos, dates, apples, walnuts, wheat, hops, etc) and crops completely new to the American palate (various Japanese root vegetables, taro, mangosteens, etc).

[Evan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book chronicles some of Fairchild's extensive travels throughout the world. It is often said that the past is a foreign country, but distance and time combine to produce this account of astonishing alienness. Though the writer is accustomed to it and understates the peril, he was so surrounded by death that it is incredible he made it through the sieve while so many others were caught. I would recommend the final chapter and all chapters up to it, though perhaps some toward the end are not of the same quality as those that precede.

[John Sgammato · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, although it differed somewhat from my expectations.
The first part is about earlier in his career, and it's very much a hit-after-hit "another day, another country" travelogue through Indonesia, Finland, Iraq... everywhere, with many adventures.
The latter part of the book is when his career is more advanced, he has professional and social obligations (he meets Alexander Graham Bell and marries his daughter), and more of the book becomes focused on continuing his work without personally travelling from place to place.
I think the first part will appeal to many readers, as a memoir and a travelogue, and a record of the introduction of everything - pistachios, northern wheat, hops & six-row barley (and the state of American brewing at the time), mangoes (and meeting THAT Mr. Tata), etc.
The other part is interesting and comfortingly, bittersweetly familiar to anyone who's had to move into "management" to enable others to continue doing the work that he loves and can no longer do himself. To be sure, he has incredible connections - Bell, Glenn Curtiss, Gilbert Grosvenor, 6 presidents, the whole Washington cherry tree fiasco and triumph, and more. His descriptions of young plant explorer Frank Meyer were enough for me to order a biography of that oddball) But through it all, he seems like your old pal and colleague and you're catching up over tea at The Kampong.
This is more of a chronicle and less reflective than The World Grows Round My Doorstep and Garden Islands of the Great East, but it really helps to pull them together. I just got Exploring for Plants, his first, and I can't wait to get into it!

[Kathy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating history of plants that were introduced into the U.S. at the beginning of the 20th century and how that evolved. David Fairchild went all over the world, looking for economically valuable plants, some of which were discovered, but took quite a while to finally come into vogue. (Quinoa, for example.)

His attitude at times touches on the realities of colonialism and imperialism. However, he does have a keen sense of curiosity about the cultures and the countries he visits. And his comments regarding the world at the time brings you back to how things were changing rapidly (he bemoans the horseless carriage). Certainly a snapshot of the times. Highly recommended for those who want to know the origin of the food we eat.

And, Fairchild Tropical Garden in Coral Gables, FL, is a must-go.

[Karen Tripson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. David Fairchild was a remarkable human being. He was an indefatigable traveler who never complained about being seasick for weeks or being sore from riding donkeys, camels or rickshaws where there were no roads. He formed lifetime friendships and correspondence with many of the kindred spirits interested in plants he met traveling. His travel before and after 1900 enabled him to see the world as it used to be. I feel fortunate to have experienced so many places through him that I’ll probably never see myself due to war or closed borders or difficulty of the travel.

[David Fairchild · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book, after having done a google search of my name! What an amazing life he had, and such adventure. It is so interesting to find the origins of most of our foods, due to his explorations. I wish that I could have met him, and even better, traveled with him. I will make it a point to go to the Fairchild Botanical Gardens. I was so interested in reading it, that I bought it through abebooks, since receiving and starting it, I cannot put it down!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far and away the most interesting autobiography I've encountered. Dr. Fairchild worked for the USDA in its infancy, was one of the first to investigate germs as causes of plant disease, and traveled the world documenting agricultural practices and produce. A humorous and modest man who lead a fascinating life. If you can find it, read it.

[Pete]

If you're ever in the Miami area, then visit the wonderful Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens in Coral Gables.

http://www.fairchildgarden.org/

We've been there twice. Once in 2005 when there was a David Chihuly glass exhibition, which was fantastic. There are still some of his pieces in place throughout the gardens.

http://www.chihuly.com/home.aspx

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

An old book that gives great insight into how our food supply got so wonderfully diverse by the conscious efforts of plant explorers, researchers, agronomists... but it takes for granted attitudes of colonialism, imperialism and racism that are outdated... a good period piece, rather piecemeal

[Judy]

Recommended by Sally.

[Megelza · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books ever. The story of an interesting person, the rapidly changing world during his lifetime (1869-1954), and many of the notable people to whom he was connected.