Seeds of Change: The Living Treasure : The Passionate Story of the Growing Movement to Restore Biodiversity and Revolutionize the Way We Think About [Paperback]

Ken Ausubel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1994

Laments the trend toward biosimilarity and warns of its dangers, then outlines the efforts of Seeds of Change to preserve biodiversity through providing organic seeds, and lastly offers recipes that employ these better-tasting organic foods. 75,000 first printing. $100,000 ad/promo.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Ausubel, who produces the Seeds of Change organic seed catalogue and who founded the company of the same name with his wife, Nina Simons, observes, "Variety is not only the spice of life, but the very staff of life." Arguing in favor of biodiversity and against the dangers posed to it--and to ourselves--by agribusiness, his book is part creed, part survey and part personal history as he seeks out like-minded organic gardeners, scientists, scholars and chefs (e.g., Alice Waters, who also contributes recipes) for testimonials in pursuit of large-scale change in the way food is grown and used. It is hard not to credit his basic points, but Ausubel's style is messianic in a way that may not convince, and his attentiveness to the virtues of his own business will strike some as self-serving. His tone is hopped-up, and his words are profuse: "Life is a living, pulsing, vibrating, plasmic mystery, a spontaneous improvisation linked through time by memory." Photos not seen by PW. $100,000 ad/promo; author tour.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Filmmaker, writer, and entrepreneur Ausubel has written an engaging, informative, and often quite personal account of the founding and beginning years of Seeds of Change, a new company that sells organically grown seeds to gardeners. Much more than a narrative of a seed company and its founders, this is really a story about biodiversity. Ausubel passionately believes that individual gardeners can play a vital role in saving uncommon yet meritorious varieties of fruits and vegetables, grains, flowers, and herbs. To that end, Seeds of Change offerings are traditional, nonhybrid varieties, meaning they will, unlike hybrids, breed true to the parents and can be harvested by gardeners and passed on from generation to generation. Although readers may not always agree with the author's wide-ranging views on American business and society, ecology, anthropology, nutrition, and other topics, this is a thought-provoking and timely book. Highly recommended for public and academic libraries.
- William H. Wiese, Iowa State Univ. Lib., Ames
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Harpercollins; 1st paperback ed edition (January 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062500082
• ISBN-13: 978-0062500083
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #897,775 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kenny Ausubel, founder and co-executive director of CHI, is an award-winning journalist, filmmaker and social entrepreneur. He co-founded Seeds of Change, a biodiversity organic seed company, and wrote the book Seeds of Change: The Living Treasure. He is the author of the books The Bioneers: Declarations of Interdependence (Chelsea Green Publishing), profiling the Bioneers culture, and When Healing Becomes a Crime: The Amazing Story of Hoxsey Cancer Clinics and the Return of Alternative Therapies. Mr. Ausubel's feature non-fiction film, Hoxsey: How Healing Becomes a Crime, was chosen for the "Best Censored Stories" journalism award in 1990. He founded and operates Inner Tan Productions, a feature film development company to produce visionary feature films. Most recently, he edited the first two titles in the Bioneers book series with J.P Harpignies: Ecological Medicine: Healing the Earth, Healing Ourselves, and Nature's Operating Instructions: The True Biotechnologies. He wrote the foreword to Diane Wilson's book An Unreasonable Woman: A True Story of Shrimpers, Politicos, Polluters and the Fight for Seadrift, Texas.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book can change your life, February 8, 2003

By 

annice ellington (driftwood, texas United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Seeds of Change: The Living Treasure : The Passionate Story of the Growing Movement to Restore Biodiversity and Revolutionize the Way We Think About (Paperback)

I literally stumbled upon this book while "trapped" by a snowstorm. I'm a Master Gardener and I've purchased heirloom seeds from this company many times. I thought the book was going to be about how the company grew, and it is, but it is much more! In the discussions about loss of biodiversity and the dominance of mass production agriculture, I felt like I was being presented with a call to action. I'd considered vegetarianism off and on for some time (for nutritional reasons) and this book gave me the impetus to finally follow through. The information is presented in a straightforward manner, without inflammatory prose, and the authors have created an inspiring and motivational book that I've found to be quite empowering.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Seeds of Change - the early years of reclaiming biodiversity, May 2, 2007

By 

Laurie J. Neverman "The Common Sense Woman" (Denmark, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Seeds of Change: The Living Treasure : The Passionate Story of the Growing Movement to Restore Biodiversity and Revolutionize the Way We Think About (Paperback)

This book was published in 1994, so I'd really like to see an update, as this book chronicles the motivation for founding Seeds of Change (the seed company) and the company's genesis. The company Seeds of Change has been purchased by M&M/Mars, so although their catalog remains similar, I wonder if they are still holding true to their ideals.

This book has good information on the importance of preserving/reclaiming biodiversity through heirloom and open pollinated crops. We have lost diversity in our diets, and we are paying the price with our health. Chemical monoculture negatively affects the food value of our crops, and Seeds of Change was one of the first commercial enterprises to sound the call of alarm in the US.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring meditation on food and life., May 7, 2005

By 

Bill Schaeffer (Venice, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Seeds of Change: The Living Treasure : The Passionate Story of the Growing Movement to Restore Biodiversity and Revolutionize the Way We Think About (Paperback)

Facinating book describes the author's discovery of heirloom seeds and traditional farming methods. Though the book is written about starting a heirloom seed company -- it is really about food, farming, health, philosophy, big business, bio diversity, environment, nature, history, community, and what makes life worthwhile.

Filled with stories and facts that make the topic come alive. Straightford writing style makes it easy to share the author's passion for a more honest and natural way of life.

Highly recomended for anyone of any age. Especially if you know little about heirloom seeds or traditional farming methods.