History

Let us not forget, that before The Origin and natural selection there was artificial selection; in other words, plant and animal breeding, mostly in the service of agriculture.

So, Happy Birthday, Charles Darwin. There’s a whole lot of stuff going on today, which has quite a history.

One more substantive link will do, to the Biodiversity Heritage Library‘s entry for today.

Oh no! Waylaid by Wikipedia I discover that today is also the anniversary of the Battle of the Herrings, which took place in 1429. Fishy, huh?

February 10, 2008

Yet more potato salad

And part 38. “La papa es peruana.” Chileans unavailable for comment.

February 8, 2008

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Columbus not responsible for lice.

February 5, 2008February 5, 2008

New book on globalization

Vermeer’s Hat illuminates the birth of global trade, with agricultural products to the fore. Need to read.

1. The COUSIN project aims to conserve (trans situ, no less) and use crop wild relatives in Europe.
2. That “use” part can be tough.
3. But that doesn’t stop the fine people at Aardaia. At least where aardaker (Lathyrus tuberosus) is concerned.
4. From alternative potatoes in the Netherlands to alternative beans in Indonesia. All in the cause of diversification.
5. No need to find an alternative to amaranth in the American SW. Not with devoted chefs on the job.
6. The Iraqi Seed Collective is taking seeds from American genebanks to that country’s diaspora in the US, and eventually back to Iraq itself. Maybe chefs will help.
7. Good thing there are genebank backups, eh?
Published on July 9, 2025

Category: History

History of lettuce

Happy birthday, Charles

Yet more potato salad

More on Columbian Exchange

New book on globalization