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 role did the speaker's family background play in their understanding of botany?

How does the speaker describe the relationship between flowers and their plant families?

What insights did the speaker gain from observing plants in their garden?