During the dreary winter months, I begin to really miss being out in my garden. It can be challenging knowing that the long wait until spring is far from being over. I like to curb these feelings with some seed catalogs and good gardening books. Looking at pictures of vegetables and beautiful plants gets me excited and keeps me motivated until the upcoming planting season begins. The Graphic Vegetable: Food and Art from America's Soil by Michael B. Emery & Irwin Richman will help quell your winter woes.
This book is a visual buffet filled with images of vintage catalogs, lithographs, seed packets, postcards and botanical illustrations. As a photographer, I really appreciate the history and vision of gardening from the past to present detailed throughout the pages. I flipped through with wonder as I observed an assortment of images and interesting facts.
If you enjoy photography, antiques and thrifty finds you will love this book. Inside takes you through a collection of stories and details surrounding the history of each vegetable from mushrooms to eggplants. They also touch on herbs, flowers, ornamental grasses and blossoming vines. The authors combine the richness of the arts with the bountiful flavor of gardening.
Heirlooms, Agriculture and Graphics
Sweet corn has been a popular harvest grown by the Native Americans. It was given to the European settlers in 1779. It became a more popular crop to grow in the nineteenth century. This was because of the introduction of open pollinated varieties. It is information like this that really makes me understand our gardening roots and how it developed and changed over time. American culture has used corn to make moonshine and bourbon whiskey. Corn oil, cornmeal and popcorn are a few other well known uses of this important vegetable. From snacks to brooms made from broom corn, I now have a new appreciation for this crop.
The images and graphics displayed on each page ignite my inner foodie. The authors touch upon the history of vegetarianism, how it influenced produce shoppers and put vegetables into the forefront. The movement can be seen through advertisements, posters, and even seed books. The history and stories are told through paintings and drawings. You can see the daily work of farmers through the eyes of different artists. Gardening designs and styles have definitely progressed and developed from generation to generation.
About The Authors
Michael B. Emery is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University. He is also the Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum's educator and volunteer coordinator. His ancestors include both Quaker and Amish farmers, and he has coauthored five books. He has deep roots in agriculture with a great grandfather who made cider and a great grandmother who enjoyed making apple butter. One of his hobbies includes baking, and he prides himself in making apple pies using ancestral redware pie plates.
Irwin Richman is the author and co-author of many books, and is a professor emeritus of Pennsylvania State University at Harrisburg. He was born in New York City and grew up taking summer trips to the Catskill Mountains. While going on shopping trips at Prospect Place in Brooklyn that included pushcarts and vegetables stands, he became familiar with the decorative labels on fruit crates. At his family's home, he tended to a small orchard filled with apple, pear, plum, cherry and peach trees. He also works with a private group dedicated to forwarding the aims of the Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum called the Landis Valley Associates.
This book belongs on the coffee tables and library shelves of nature lovers, avid gardeners, vintage hunters and collectors alike. I found myself being entertained for hours on end looking through the beautiful assortment of images as the snow fell outside. I feel a stronger connection to my own plants, and an appreciation for the history and background of America's agriculture. The authors did a wonderful job bringing together art and gardening with fascinating facts scattered in between from beginning to end. I will be continuing to pick up this book and flip through the myriad of pictures for daily inspiration. I recommend getting a copy for yourself so you can experience the joy of growing. Click the button below for more.
43 Comments
andrea
January 29, 2017 at 5:23 pmI love Vintage Home & Garden labels, Ads anything! I need to pick this book up. I was actually in my garden today and it felt great!
Amber Myers
January 29, 2017 at 3:11 pmThis book sounds wonderful. I wish I could grow things but I have a black thumb.
hal
January 29, 2017 at 2:13 pmlooks like a beautiful book – i’m totally checking it out!
Jessi
January 29, 2017 at 12:49 pmThis seems like a great read. I have always liked the idea of gardening, and I even tried it once but all of my vegetables died because I did not give them enough time. Maybe now that I am no longer working outside of the home I will give it another try.
Sylvia @ Happiness is homemade
January 29, 2017 at 12:24 pmGreat review, thank you for sharing! Some of the pictures inside would look amazing framed in the kitchen 🙂
Kim
January 29, 2017 at 11:02 amI love the artwork! It would be a great gift idea for anyone who loves gardening. The vintage look with a touch of whimsy is a nice touch.
Paula
January 29, 2017 at 9:49 amI love those old drawings you shared, like the butterfly riding the tomato and the “swheat” girl with her wheat skirt. Thank you for sharing.
Fatima
January 29, 2017 at 8:51 amIt’s so good to read about the transformation in gardening and growing crops from the olden times till date. Farmers really worked hard but now they do get some help with the advanced machinery. Your review was fabulous!
Fiona Cambouropoulos
January 29, 2017 at 8:16 amA fun way to view vegetables #MySundayPhoto
Dana
January 29, 2017 at 1:50 amI love looking at vintage illustrations! Out of the images you posted I would have to say that the one with the tomato and beetle is my favourite – very whimsical. Thank you for such a great review of this book! I just might have to get myself a copy before planting my garden this summer!
Rose
January 29, 2017 at 12:39 amI can see how this would be a great gift for a gardener. I am not a professional but would like to grow something and be able to pick it or eat it at the end of the season. I could see my mother being happy with this for Mother’s Day though! She gardens and knows what she’s doing. Thank you for the review.
ALi Rost
January 28, 2017 at 10:49 pmThank-you for such a great review. I’m so excited to get back into the garden this year .. and I think I”m going to pick up a copy. It’s so colorful and I love the old-time illustrations
Ivonne
January 28, 2017 at 9:35 pmFirst of all excellent review!!! I am very tempted to purchase this book as it appears to look very unique in style! I too am getting that itch to get my garden going (at least seeding indoors) and wishing spring comes early!
Amber Harrop
January 28, 2017 at 9:05 pmAs an Organic vegetable grower this book is right up my street and I love the illustrations in it – I love looking forward to planning the garden.
Michelle
January 27, 2017 at 12:21 amThat looks like a beautiful book! I love the charm of old advertising and illustrations. I’m also a gardener and I’m starting to look forward to, and plan, for Spring!