Garden Alchemy: The Lost Art of Potato Breeding

**Tom Wagner** · January 30, 2014

I am happy to announce that I have a copy of Rebsie Fairholm's new book on potatoes. It mentions me by name on several pages.

http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Potato-Br.../dp/190801119X
I ordered mine some time ago and it finally got here.

Seems I am the first to review the book at the above link...glad to do it.

Pappi · January 30, 2014

Just added it to my reading list. Although I do hesitate as I have the feeling it might make me as crazy about potatoes as I am about tomatoes

But at least there will be less people to enable an potato obsession.

Pappi

Jayc · January 30, 2014

I have one ordered and am waiting for it to be delivered. Very excited now after reading your great review

**Tom Wagner** · January 30, 2014

JayC....you liked my review? Thanks.

Here it is.....

Quote:

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

Once was lost, but now am found
January 29, 2014
Amazon Verified Purchase

I am truly excited to add this book to my personal library. Rebsie Fairholm wrote the book I wish I had written. It was one of greatest pleasures to know that she grew some of the potatoes I have been breeding for the last 61 years. My hope is that this book will excite others to do their own potato breeding experiments. As a life long collector of potato varieties...my efforts were concentrated on converting the tuber lines into true potato seed (TPS) and anything done by this "Tater Mater" (a cutesy way of saying "Potato Breeder") was done to preserve as much diversity as possible and make it available sustainably as TPS which will stay viable for many years. After making rare kinds of TPS easy to purchase for over 30 years, maybe many enthusiasts will join this rather exclusive club of private potato breeders. Great job, Rebsie!

Tom Wagner
Everett, WA

The title of my review was a play on words about the potato and me personally to some extent. Don't misjudge me...potatoes are a near religious experience for me and what's not to love about "Amazing Grace" when one is always stirred by such poetry?

Jayc · January 30, 2014

Amazing Grace is one of the first songs I remember learning at school.

luigiwu · January 30, 2014

This looks great!!! but I would be lying if I wasn't worried about a potato obsession getting out of control like with tomatoes... and I simply can't handle that with the little grow space I have!!

wmontanez · January 30, 2014

Oh wow, this is fantastic! I am happy she did it!
I am afraid of getting a copy because it might open the gates of non-stop breeding experiments! I can't call "it" obsession because that already happened.... but wait....since when I am afraid of new things?

**Lee** · February 10, 2014

My copy came in the mail today.... along with the SSE catalog and the possiblity of us being snowed in for the next couple of days... so I'm set!

I'm looking forward to reading this and learning more about the subject!

Lee

Keen101 · March 1, 2017

Finally got my copy this past week!

January 30, 2014	#1
Tom Wagner Crosstalk™ Forum Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: 8407 18th Ave West 7-203 Everett, Washington 98204 Posts: 1,157	Garden Alchemy: The Lost Art of Potato Breeding I am happy to announce that I have a copy of Rebsie Fairholm's new book on potatoes. It mentions me by name on several pages. http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Potato-Br.../dp/190801119X I ordered mine some time ago and it finally got here. Seems I am the first to review the book at the above link...glad to do it.

January 30, 2014	#7
wmontanez Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: MA Posts: 776	Oh wow, this is fantastic! I am happy she did it! I am afraid of getting a copy because it might open the gates of non-stop breeding experiments! I can't call "it" obsession because that already happened.... but wait....since when I am afraid of new things? __________________ Wendy

February 10, 2014	#8
Lee Tomatopalooza™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NC-Zone 7 Posts: 2,188	My copy came in the mail today.... along with the SSE catalog and the possiblity of us being snowed in for the next couple of days... so I'm set! I'm looking forward to reading this and learning more about the subject! Lee __________________ Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put one in a fruit salad. Cuostralee - The best thing on sliced bread.

January 30, 2014	#2
Pappi Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Pineland Posts: 126	Just added it to my reading list. Although I do hesitate as I have the feeling it might make me as crazy about potatoes as I am about tomatoes But at least there will be less people to enable an potato obsession. Pappi

January 30, 2014	#3
Jayc Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: UK Posts: 319	I have one ordered and am waiting for it to be delivered. Very excited now after reading your great review

January 30, 2014	#6
luigiwu Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: ny Posts: 1,219	This looks great!!! but I would be lying if I wasn't worried about a potato obsession getting out of control like with tomatoes... and I simply can't handle that with the little grow space I have!!

March 1, 2017	#9
Keen101 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Colorado Posts: 134	Finally got my copy this past week!