Broccoli & Other Love Stories

Paulette Whitney lives with her family on a pocket of land in the foothills of Kunanyi/Mount Wellington, south of Nipaluna/Hobart. With her farmer/chef husband Matt, she grows seedlings, vegetables and seed crops. They make pickles and preserves and sell their harvest at Salamanca Market. Through their work they have nurtured relationships with herbalists, gardeners, chefs and botanists who teach them every time they talk. They eat well. Not a plant passes through their hands untasted, they have the freedom of the outdoors, and they experience the world through their garden. Paulette can't abide wasting food, and she knows how to look for a dozen ways to use the produce that finds its way into her kitchen. She looks forward to a bit of silverbeet as much as she relishes a lobster.

'On our little island, Paulette is well known in the circles of people who like to grow food. We all talk about her behind her back - words full of admiration, inspiration and love. We're lucky to have her and now you too can have a part of her plant magic with this precious book.' Hannah Moloney'Not only does Paulette grow beautiful produce respectfully, she has a glorious and lyrical way with words that pulls you into the wonder of the world of vegetables. Her recipes all sound delicious and there is a lovely balance of excitement, simplicity and practicality in both the ideas and the way we should all strive to be eating.' O Tama Carey'Almost a decade ago, I was incredibly lucky to spend nearly two months traversing the vast landscapes of Australia. We covered extensive ground, from the tropical north to the far reaches of the east and west, ultimately finding ourselves in Tasmania. It was there, amid the chill of a brisk, windswept day, that we encountered Paulette's remarkable wild garden. The flavours of the ingredients I tasted there were among the best of the entire trip, a testament to Paulette's dedication to food, gardening, and enriching the earth. Broccoli & Other Love Stories allows us to immerse ourselves in the expertise and insight of an exceptional farmer and a visionary woman, sharing the fruits of her love and care for the natural world.' Rene Redzepi'This book is clearly the culmination of a lifetime's work and learning. How lucky we are to have it in the world!' Danielle Alvarez 'Paulette Whitney's gardening life as related in Broccoli & Other Love Stories is remarkable for its passion, intensity, and warmth. She writes from Lutruwita, which most of us know as Tasmania. Her book is a fascinating mix of fact and advice as well as a journey of discovery as she locates and describes the husbandry of little-known members of the vegetable world. In her discoveries she applies certain filters - will it grow here? Is it invasive?, is it delicious?, is it interesting?, is it ethical? This is food gardening on another level. The cultivation notes are interspersed with wonderfully warm and chatty personal stories. Sauerkraut made simple..the quail adventure as a real-life horror story..the garden under snow and following wallaby tracks to find a gap in the fence. Her enthusiasm is unbowed despite attacks of all manner of marauders, feathered, furred or fluttering, creeping or crawling. Every food gardener and every cook will learn from this fascinating, erudite and poetic book. (I also loved the moody photography.)' Stephanie Alexander 'A book for connecting us to nature and inspiring us to live a beautiful, wholesome, and delicious life.' Kirsha Kaechele 'Paulette Whitney is a passionate grower and researcher of culinary plants. Paulette walks the walk when it comes to living off the land, growing, propagating and sharing the love of food plants, and you can feel through her writing the deep connection and reverence she has for the natural world.' Peter Gilmore 'Broccoli & Other Love Stories reveals the deep joys to be found when you grow something from a seed, tend it, paying close attention, and then make the most of it in the kitchen. This beautiful book will have you torn between wanting to rush out into the vegetable garden to grow something, and wanting to get into the kitchen to cook something. It will ultimately have you doing both. This is a book for curious cooks and experimental gardeners alike who will find kinship, so much knowledge and real care.' Jaclyn Crupi'Once in a generation a food book comes along that transforms the way we see ingredients. This is such a book.' Matthew Evans 'We chefs love knowing and understanding where our food produce comes from. One of my most meaningful and rewarding collaborations has been with horticulturalist and kitchen gardener Paulette Whitney. Her encyclopedic food plant knowledge, contagious passion, curiosity, authenticity, integrity and practical know-how equipped my staff and me, by rehumanising the food chain, with accessible facts and rich anecdotes, which we then passed onto our diners. A natural storyteller, Paulette finally shares her formidable knowledge in this glorious book along with delicious home-style recipes.' Kylie Kwong

• Introduction1. Alliaceae: Onion family 2. Amaranthaceae: Amaranth family 3. Apiaceae: Umbel family 4. Asteraceae: Daisy family 5. Brassicaceae: Cabbage family 6. Cucurbitaceae: Squash family 7. Fabaceae: Legume family 8. Lamiaceae: Mint family 9. Roseaceae: Rose family 10. Solonaceae: Nightshade family 11. Other families Resources & further reading Acknowledgements Index