THE BOTANY OF DESIRE...by Michael Pollan
The Botany of Desire
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 05:00:00PM
Station: KQED/Channel 9
Feed Common Name: KQED-HD
Channel Number: 9.1
Can't watch at this time? Check local listings to see when your PBS station airs the next episode of "" in the next two weeks at http://www.pbs.org/whatson/
OT - great PBS presentation
From Wikipedia:
The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World is a 2001 nonfiction book by journalist Michael Pollan. This work explores the nature of domesticated plants from the dual perspective of humans and the plants themselves. Pollan presents case studies that mirror four types of human desires that are reflected in the way that we selectively grow, breed, and genetically engineer our plants. The apple reflects the desire of sweetness, the tulip beauty, marijuana intoxication, and the potato control.
The Botany of Desire
Author Michael Pollan
Language English
Publisher The Penguin Press
Followed by The Omnivore's Dilemma
Pollan narrates his own experience with each of the plants, which he then intertwines with an exploration into their social history. Each section presents an element of human domestication, or the "human bumblebee" as Pollan calls us. The stories range from the true story of Johnny Appleseed to Pollan's first-hand research with sophisticated marijuana hybrids in Amsterdam to the alarming and paradigm-shifting possibilities of genetically engineered potatoes.
If you are a little bored with the same topics presented by your garden club or fave plant society, I recommend, no, I BEG, that you watch this program or record it for future viewing.
One of my buddies that works for the local PBS told me about it and I will be forever grateful to her for this tip. The program is so provocative and thought-inspiring, that I found myself pressing the "pause" button to think about the various ideas presented and facts I didn't know about. The program title may seem a little gimmicky, but the topic(s) certainly isn't. Wonderful program.
Carol above has provided a link to find local viewing times. thanks, C. I have taken the liberty of posting in Garden Talk Forum for additional exposure.
it really was FABULOUS!!! i was glued to the tv all evening.
The book is even more thought provolkative, I found. Especially about the Cannabis...
Here's the show on their website:
http://video.pbs.org/video/1283872815/