Deborah Madison Explores Vegetable Literacy: Uniting Cooking with Botany

The speaker shares their journey with vegetarianism, influenced by living in a Buddhist community and starting Greens restaurant. They discuss the inspiration behind 'Vegetable Literacy,' which stemmed from a deep interest in plants and gardening. The speaker explores plant families, emphasizing morphology and the significance of flowers in identifying related plants. They highlight the Umbellifer family, noting its beauty and diversity. The garden serves as a source of inspiration, teaching the speaker about plant growth and observation, which they connect to cooking and writing a cookbook.

What influenced the speaker's initial engagement with vegetarianism?

• A personal health choice

• Living in a Buddhist community

• A dietary restriction

• A family tradition

What did the speaker find intriguing about plants during their gardening journey?

• The taste of different vegetables

• The ease of growing them

• The variety of colors

• The principles that unite them into families

How does the speaker relate human familial traits to plants?

• Through their growth patterns

• Through their seasonal changes

• By their nutritional value

• By their morphological features

Which plant family does the speaker express a particular fondness for?

• Solanaceae

• Umbellifer

• Asteraceae

• Cruciferous

What does the speaker hope their book will encourage?

• A shift to a vegetarian diet

• Observation and curiosity about plants

• Mastery of gardening techniques

• A deeper understanding of plant biology

What is the primary focus of the speaker's book?

• Teaching advanced gardening skills

• Exploring the culinary uses of plants

• Documenting the history of vegetarianism

• Encouraging plant observation and literacy

What does the speaker say about their gardening skills?

• They are a professional botanist

• They have no interest in gardening

• They are a beginner and mediocre gardener

• They are an expert gardener