The Accidental Seed Heroes
Growing a Delicious Food Future for All of Us
by Adam Alexander
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Pub Date Sep 02 2025 | Archive Date Mar 13 2025
Chelsea Green Publishing | Chelsea Green Publishing UK
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Description
"After reading Adam’s book, I won’t look at a handful of seed the same way again!"—Joe Swift, garden designer; writer; presenter, BBC’s Gardeners’ World
Across the world, chefs, farmers, plant scientists and backyard growers are doing something extraordinary: creating new generations of fruit, vegetables and cereals, all bred specifically to flourish locally, taste delicious, and contribute to our food future.
In The Accidental Seed Heroes, Adam Alexander dons his seed detective homburg to meet these twenty-first century seed heroes, who are not only championing traditional varieties but also breeding delicious new ones that will help create a sustainable future for our planet.
We don’t all need to become backyard breeders or even, like Adam, accidental ones. We don’t even need to eschew, as growers, the modern hybrid cultivars our seed catalogues are stuffed with or, as consumers, boycott those same uninspiring specimens that populate our supermarket shelves. Adam just wants that choice to be better informed and infinitely more diverse and enjoyable.
This story is a celebration of the locally and sustainably grown produce, whether traditional or innovative, that is at the heart of all our food cultures and empowers our rural communities and farmers. Adam believes these new varieties of fruits, vegetables and even grains will not just offer us all nutritious and delicious food but also be part of the solution to combating climate change and returning fertility to our soils and biodiversity to our land.
Advance Praise
‘If you’re a fan of growing your own food or just curious about where your veggies come from, The Accidental Seed Heroes is a cracking read. Adam weaves together engaging stories about traditional farmers (the real unsung heroes) who’ve helped preserve the diversity of crops we often take for granted. It’s a reminder of how vital this diversity is, especially as we face the challenges of a changing climate.
What I love most is how it bridges the past and present. Alongside the tales of heritage farming, Adam highlights modern plant breeding innovations that focus on sustainability and flavour, without relying on a cocktail of chemicals. It feels incredibly relevant for gardeners today, whether you’re pottering about in a small urban patch or tending an allotment like mine.
This isn’t just a book about seeds or food systems; it’s an inspiring nudge to get stuck into the joys of gardening while understanding the bigger picture. A proper gem for anyone keen to connect their love of growing with the wider world of growing.’
Rob Smith, author of Grow to Eat
‘What a timely and fascinating book this is. Adam Alexander has created an extremely important work that adds to the library of not only plant breeders, but all gardeners and farmers. In truth, everyone should seek a deeper understanding of the origins of the foods we eat and the challenges to be faced in the future, and this book perfectly serves that purpose.’
Craig LeHoullier, author of Epic Tomatoes and co-lead of the Dwarf Tomato Breeding Project
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781915294432 |
| PRICE | $29.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 304 |
