The Plant Book Club

Reading Rambunctious Garden: Saving Nature in a Post-Wild World by Emma Marris

Reading The Wardian Case: How a Simple Box Moved Plants and Changed the World by Luke Keogh

In this episode, Tegan, Ellen, Melissa, Judith and Joram take a break from the world of the chlorophylled to learn about our nearer relatives: fungi! We're lassoed into the dirt by these hunters, decomposers, delicacies and occasional bankers. If you thought a mushroom was just a little white rounded thing you can buy at the grocery store to add to fried rice, this episode is for you!

In this episode, Tegan, Ellen, Melissa and Judith talk about their favorite moments from one forensic botanist's colorful memoir. Could it have used a discerning eye to make sure the chapters didn't get cut off? Sure, but Spencer's friendships, long hours in the mud, experiences with law enforcement and dark botanical descriptions ultimately charmed us.

In this episode, Tegan, Ellen, Melissa, Judith and Joram talk about the lessons they've learned from plants. Can plants teach us humans how to approach equity and inclusion initiatives? Be more adaptive and self-reflective? The gang thinks probably not, but it's worth thinking about.

In this episode, Tegan, Ellen, Judith and Joram dive deep into the forest ecosystem. In Peter Wohlleben's book "The Hidden Life of Trees" it's all about what's going on in the woods. Do trees feel pain? How do they raise their young? And what happens to the trees when the temperatures rise? We'll try to find some answers in the book and take you along on this journey.

This month, Tegan, Joram, Ellen, Melissa and Judith read Bitter Roots: The Search for Healing Plants in Africa by Abena Dove Osseo-Asare. If you want an in-depth history of the relationships between African nations, scientists, healers and pharmaceutical companies, this is the book for you.

This month, Tegan, Joram, Ellen, Melissa and Judith read The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World by Michael Pollan. If you're curious about Johnny Appleseed and think Holland is ugly, this is your book!

This month, Tegan, Joram, Ellen, and Melissa read Plants That Kill: A Natural History of the World's Most Poisonous Plants by Elizabeth A. Dauncey and Sonny Larsson. This book taught us so much about the best ways to murder people (green potatoes!) and also how to avoid being poisoned by our weirdest fellow terrestrials.

This month, Tegan, Joram, Ellen, and new friends Judith and Melissa read Lab Girl by Hope Jahren. This book was a lot. Trigger warnings: toxic academia, disastrous road trips, and peeing in bottles.

This month, Tegan, Joram and Ellen read The Drunken Botanist: The Plants That Create the World's Great Drinks by Amy Stewart. A book about human's relationship with alcohol covers basically all of history, and Stewart picked the most interesting parts for our reading pleasure.

This month, Tegan, Joram and Ellen read Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer. We were all spellbound by this book. Come listen as we discuss ponds, United States history, mushroom-related double entendres and the texture of salamanders.

This week, Tegan, Joram and Ellen discuss The Revolutionary Genius of Plants: A New Understanding of Plant Intelligence and Behavior. If you're wondering about the science behind the claim "plants have eyes," this is the podcast episode for you.

This week, Tegan, Joram and Ellen read Fruit from the Sands: The Silk Road Origins of the Foods We Eat. We talk about watered-down wine, trial by cheesy bread, and how we learned more about millet than we thought was possible.

This week, Tegan, Joram and Ellen weigh in on Emily Dickinson's Gardening Life by Marta McDowell. Come celebrate the poet queen of self-isolation and her passion for horticulture with us.

Welcome to the Plant Book Club! You're listening to Joram and Tegan of the Plants and Pipettes podcast and Ellen from the show Plant Crimes. Together, we're going to read and discuss books about plants, starting with Emily Dickinson's Gardening Life by Marta McDowell. Thanks for joining us!