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Restoring Eden: Unearthing the Agribusiness Secret That Poisoned My Farming Community
"A beautifully descriptive, lyrical immersion in the natural world that’s coupled with a detective story, reminiscent of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring ." — Library Journal
All spring, Dr. Elizabeth Hilborn watched as her family fruit farm of many years became increasingly diminished, suffering from a lack of bees.
The plentiful wildlife, so abundant just weeks before, was gone. Everything was still, silent.
As an environmental scientist trained to investigate disease outbreaks, she rose to the challenge. Step by step, day by day, despite facing headwinds from skeptical neighbors, environmental experts, and agricultural consultants, she’d assembled information. Her observations provided a framework, a timeline to explain the evidence she’d collected.
The chemicals found in her water samples showed beyond any doubt that not only her farm, but her greater farming community, was at risk from toxic chemicals that travelled with rain water over the land, into water, and deep within the soil. Hilborn was given a front row seat to the insect apocalypse.
Even as a scientist, she’d been unaware of the risks to life from some common agricultural chemicals. Her goal was to protect her farm and the animals who lived there.
But first she had to convince her rural neighbors of the risk to their way of life, too.
A lyrical celebration of nature by a passionate citizen scientist who felt called to advocate for the land, earth, and creatures who don’t have a voice, Restoring Eden ultimately offers hope that citizens can create change, that reform is possible.
All spring, Dr. Elizabeth Hilborn watched as her family fruit farm of many years became increasingly diminished, suffering from a lack of bees.
The plentiful wildlife, so abundant just weeks before, was gone. Everything was still, silent.
As an environmental scientist trained to investigate disease outbreaks, she rose to the challenge. Step by step, day by day, despite facing headwinds from skeptical neighbors, environmental experts, and agricultural consultants, she’d assembled information. Her observations provided a framework, a timeline to explain the evidence she’d collected.
The chemicals found in her water samples showed beyond any doubt that not only her farm, but her greater farming community, was at risk from toxic chemicals that travelled with rain water over the land, into water, and deep within the soil. Hilborn was given a front row seat to the insect apocalypse.
Even as a scientist, she’d been unaware of the risks to life from some common agricultural chemicals. Her goal was to protect her farm and the animals who lived there.
But first she had to convince her rural neighbors of the risk to their way of life, too.
A lyrical celebration of nature by a passionate citizen scientist who felt called to advocate for the land, earth, and creatures who don’t have a voice, Restoring Eden ultimately offers hope that citizens can create change, that reform is possible.
- GenresNonfictionMemoir
236 pages, Paperback
First published August 8, 2023
5 people are currently reading
1635 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 1, 2023
A poignant yet inspiring memior-type of book with beautiful descriptions of nature and passion for loving nature. The author, although a scientist herself, writes this book as a citizen of the world. I could feel her passion through her words and see the amazing natural beauty she sees everywhere. But even a scientist doesn't know it all. Her journey to solve the mystery of why animals and insects died and didn't recover on her land was incredible. If it's one competency this author has in abundance it is tenacity. No matter what roadblocks she ran into, she managed to find a way around them or right through them to keep going. Personally, I'm not sure I would have stayed on her land like she did to fight for her way of life. It's also a lesson on how to be tactful enough to persuade others to your side. Absolutely inspiring.
December 16, 2023
This book changed my way of looking at the world around me. I'm more aware of my neighborhood's plants, bees, insects, trees, and animals. I'm grateful to this book for sparking curiosity in my life. The topic of agricultural chemicals is not something I would usually seek out to read - but I knew I was hooked from the moment I started reading! I love the way Elizabeth Hilborn told this story through a personal and relatable lens. I felt like I was listening to a friend tell me a story over a cup of coffee. I stayed up late reading at night because I couldn't put it down. The author's mission to solve the mystery of what was happening in her community became my mission and I couldn't wait to find out what each new chapter would bring. It reads as a memoir, mystery novel, and scientific observation, all rolled into one. I hope to read more by the author!
September 4, 2023
This is a must read. It terrified me and encouraged me. I was happy to learn that farming can be a sustainable life choice for a family. I am grateful to the author for stubbornly researching until she found answers.
July 8, 2025
Rounding up to 4 stars (audiobook narrator was great). I’ve read a handful of environmental exposé style books, but not from someone who was personally affected as opposed to a journalist or lawyer. On one hand, it gives a good first person perspective on how hard it is for someone, once they have noticed a problem, to be taken seriously. On the other hand, the meandering path to solve that problem or even figure out that there is a problem doesn’t make a very clear “story arc.” For instance, a large part of this book is Betsy’s struggle to find someone who can even test her water samples, and once she does, they ghost her, so she looks again, and she finds someone, but they actually can’t, etc. While the author gives really nice descriptions of her home, her land, and the relevant parts of her childhood and adulthood, the thrust of the book feels a little back-burner-y, somehow.
All this to say that I actually did not know about coated corn seed and its effects on the environment. And while I have never touched, nor will ever touch, Roundup, I also did not know about some of the specific harms it causes, particularly in how long lasting it can be so I did come away from this book with expanded knowledge about these two pervasive agricultural harms.
All this to say that I actually did not know about coated corn seed and its effects on the environment. And while I have never touched, nor will ever touch, Roundup, I also did not know about some of the specific harms it causes, particularly in how long lasting it can be so I did come away from this book with expanded knowledge about these two pervasive agricultural harms.
April 22, 2024
beautifully written yet unhelpful to academic writing :(
September 2, 2023
Brave!
October 18, 2023
So first off, this book is a memoir, not the exposé the subtitles and Hilborn's creds led me to believe it is, which was very disappointing. It is dry and boring with lots of repetitive "I felt so sad because everything died" and filler where she describes gardening and horse care mundanities. From an environmental scientist/ veterinarian I expected a better look at what was actually going on and what can be done about it. Instead, we get told repeatedly that there is no life in the wetlands and when she first finds it she feels lost and doesn't know what to do. JFC you're an environmental scientist! Take water samples (which she did do the next day) and formal observations!
On the "what to do about it" front, this book is also extremely light. She mentions organic farming and regenerative agriculture several times, but fails to do more than mention them. Organic farming has its own issues because it doesn't mean no chemicals like everyone thinks. It means "naturally derived" chemicals, which doesn't mean they're not harmful to you or the environment. Digging into that would have been more interesting, as well as an explanation of regenerative agriculture. In the book, Hilborn talks about spending countless hours doing research...but then shares very little of it with the reader. Very very little.
Three stars because I did learn something and I think it is important to get the word out about coated seeds. But the bottom line is that this book had a lot of potential and it just didn't live up to it.
On the "what to do about it" front, this book is also extremely light. She mentions organic farming and regenerative agriculture several times, but fails to do more than mention them. Organic farming has its own issues because it doesn't mean no chemicals like everyone thinks. It means "naturally derived" chemicals, which doesn't mean they're not harmful to you or the environment. Digging into that would have been more interesting, as well as an explanation of regenerative agriculture. In the book, Hilborn talks about spending countless hours doing research...but then shares very little of it with the reader. Very very little.
Three stars because I did learn something and I think it is important to get the word out about coated seeds. But the bottom line is that this book had a lot of potential and it just didn't live up to it.
July 1, 2023
"Restoring Eden: Unearthing the Agribusiness Secret that Poisoned my farming community" byElizabeth Hilborn, delves into the heart-wrenching mystery behind the rapid decline of insects, birds, and wildlife in her rural community. Elizabeth, a veterinarian and environmental health scientist shares the emotional toll this experience has taken on her and her community. I am a fruit tree care educator who promotes organic and regenerative practices, and I understand the detrimental effects of toxic pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides. But this book offers an intimate, behind-the-scenes perspective, making the problem personal and enabling readers to comprehend the true impact on communities.
August 8, 2023
Restoring Eden, written by veterinarian and environmental scientist Dr. Elizabeth Hilborn, follows Hilborn’s personal quest to get answers when an unknown contaminant wipes out insect and amphibian life in the wetland below her North Carolina home.
As birds and bats then vanish with the absence of insects, and garden crops needing pollination fail, the author struggles with increasing panic and grief. Yet she meets with indifference and even hostility as she pushes to identify the agricultural chemicals that have flooded her wetland and raise awareness about their dangers. Few people seem willing to help, and few regulations are in place to protect wildlife from increasingly common, yet poorly understood agricultural chemicals.
As an animal lover whose affection for living things goes far beyond just cute, fuzzy creatures and whose daily routines bring her into contact with the ecological rhythms of her land, Hilborn finds herself asking whether simply leaving it all behind is the only answer to an intolerable situation.
This beautifully written story pulls you in. We move with Hilborn as she sets out to solve a mystery, educating herself on the ins and outs of environmental contamination and sampling, and doing whatever she needs to in order to get answers. The book is by turns both sad and hopeful. Hilborn explains the science clearly and simply, but also takes the time to slow down and show us the wonder of the plant and animal life she’s seeking to protect.
Above all, this is an important book. As Hilborn’s journey into the science and politics of agricultural chemicals revealed, startlingly few people are aware of the present and future consequences of recent pesticides that have quickly become ubiquitous.
As birds and bats then vanish with the absence of insects, and garden crops needing pollination fail, the author struggles with increasing panic and grief. Yet she meets with indifference and even hostility as she pushes to identify the agricultural chemicals that have flooded her wetland and raise awareness about their dangers. Few people seem willing to help, and few regulations are in place to protect wildlife from increasingly common, yet poorly understood agricultural chemicals.
As an animal lover whose affection for living things goes far beyond just cute, fuzzy creatures and whose daily routines bring her into contact with the ecological rhythms of her land, Hilborn finds herself asking whether simply leaving it all behind is the only answer to an intolerable situation.
This beautifully written story pulls you in. We move with Hilborn as she sets out to solve a mystery, educating herself on the ins and outs of environmental contamination and sampling, and doing whatever she needs to in order to get answers. The book is by turns both sad and hopeful. Hilborn explains the science clearly and simply, but also takes the time to slow down and show us the wonder of the plant and animal life she’s seeking to protect.
Above all, this is an important book. As Hilborn’s journey into the science and politics of agricultural chemicals revealed, startlingly few people are aware of the present and future consequences of recent pesticides that have quickly become ubiquitous.
September 20, 2024
I didn’t expect to be so moved by a story about agricultural issues, but Hilborn’s deep connection to the earth completely drew me in. Her love for her land and its delicate ecosystem is so heartfelt and genuine, and her willingness to fight for it, despite overwhelming odds, is nothing short of inspiring. For me, Elizabeth Hilborn is like a grown-up Laura Ingalls who never lost the fight in her. Her passion shines through every page as she shares her struggle. You can feel every emotional high and low, every moment of frustration, and every small victory along the way. It’s impossible not to root for her!
The unraveling of the devastating impact of glyphosate poisoning is both eye-opening and heart-wrenching. Agricultural chemicals are a double-edged sword: while they help control diseases, they also cause significant harm. Many of us don’t realize the extent of our daily exposure or that alternatives exist. This book's message is clear—there are small actions we can all take to make a difference.If you care about the environment, or simply want to be inspired by a woman who refused to give up, this book is a must-read.
The unraveling of the devastating impact of glyphosate poisoning is both eye-opening and heart-wrenching. Agricultural chemicals are a double-edged sword: while they help control diseases, they also cause significant harm. Many of us don’t realize the extent of our daily exposure or that alternatives exist. This book's message is clear—there are small actions we can all take to make a difference.If you care about the environment, or simply want to be inspired by a woman who refused to give up, this book is a must-read.
July 1, 2023
As if Thoreau, Rachel Carson, and Agatha Christie teamed up to write a modern-day environmental mystery…
Veterinarian and environmental scientist Dr. Elizabeth Hilborn notices and appreciates every type of bird, insect, turtle, and tadpole on her small family farm. When they disappear without warning one spring, her once-vibrant vegetable garden fails, and she realizes the pivotal role each animal plays in the rhythm and fabric of farm life and ultimately, human health. Inviting the reader along with mesmerizing, graceful prose, the author embarks on an unforgettable quest to discover the cause of the devastation on her land, restore the environment to balance, and prevent such disasters from happening again – not just on her farm, but anywhere.
This book was an enjoyable, beautiful read and I highly recommend it!
Veterinarian and environmental scientist Dr. Elizabeth Hilborn notices and appreciates every type of bird, insect, turtle, and tadpole on her small family farm. When they disappear without warning one spring, her once-vibrant vegetable garden fails, and she realizes the pivotal role each animal plays in the rhythm and fabric of farm life and ultimately, human health. Inviting the reader along with mesmerizing, graceful prose, the author embarks on an unforgettable quest to discover the cause of the devastation on her land, restore the environment to balance, and prevent such disasters from happening again – not just on her farm, but anywhere.
This book was an enjoyable, beautiful read and I highly recommend it!
August 16, 2023
I loved reading this captivating, poignant yet hopeful story. Elizabeth Hilborn leads the reader through her challenges diagnosing poisoned water and soil on her farm, exposing the rift between agricultural efficiencies and very real ecological and public health hazards. What impressed me most was the author's ability to weave a fairly arcane topic - agricultural chemicals - into an understandable storyline. Her story conveys a compelling emotional attachment to the living fabric of the farm and a resolute intention to understand and remedy the underlying causes. I appreciated the wider implications for my own area's water and animal health from these chemicals.
March 26, 2024
This is an important book. Dr. Hilborn's nature writing blends seamlessly with storytelling akin to a mystery novel. Restoring Eden provides an education in the dangers of poorly regulated pesticide use, and yet still offers hope for moving toward a more sustainable future. Recommended reading for any nature lover, whether their interests are focused in environmental contaminants or not. Dr. Hilborn offers her true story in a way that is lyrical and comforting, rather than alarmist or doomist. She beautifully gives voice to the species who have none.
September 12, 2025
The exposition of this book was truly remarkable. I was on the edge of my seat. however, in the end it turned out to be less than I expected. not quite the dark waters-esque story I thought it would be. I agree with so much of the author's philosophy surrounding nature and farming, but the book became washed out in generalizations as it went along
September 11, 2025
All about the enlightenment! This woman was a force.
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March 17, 2024
A riveting, must-read environmental mystery. The author is a regular Erin Brockovich when it comes to figuring out why all the frogs and insects are dying around her farm. And I may never again use weed-killer in my yard.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews