Ever wonder where tomatoes originated, or why blueberries need soil with a low pH? Botany of the Kitchen Garden includes a brief history of beloved plants including the climate and country of origin. By describing the climate of origin, one can understand why each plant thrives in certain growing conditions through the lens of evolutionary biology. This catalog of garden species is interspersed with additional gardening topics such as grafting and composting. While this book is not a manual about gardening, the information contained within would be particularly useful to teachers working in a school garden and planning teachable moments from the experience.
I am constantly looking to make content connections to students’ lives as I teach biology, and this book will help teachers do just that. It can be used as a source about knowledge on plant adaptations and other fun facts about the fruits and vegetables students eat, as well as on the growing conditions needed for different fruits and vegetables. As an example, readers will learn why beans are legumes, information about nitrogen fixation, the botanical names of the different parts of a bean pod, and the function of the string in string beans. Botanical terminology is explained and examples are provided throughout. I’m excited that the next time my students plant bean seeds I will be able to create a lesson richer in content.
University of California Press