I read Second Nature: a gardener’s education by Michael Pollan (who has been getting lots of press lately for The Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food) for the February-March 2008 selection of the Garden Blogger’s Bookclub, hosted by Carol of May Dreams Gardens.
I thoroughly enjoyed Pollan’s writing – so much so that I deleted my name off the library wait list for The Omnivore’s Dilemma (number 157) and shelled out the coin for my own copy.
Second Nature is, on one hand, the tale of Pollan’s trials and successes as he tries to put his stamp on his new property – an old Connecticut dairy farm. But in doing so, he educates himself – and the reader – in a collection of essays meditating on the sociological constructs that define a “garden.”
At first, Pollan vacillates between a romantic, Emersonian take on gardening – believing that “natural” is always superior to “artificial” – and a slightly more aggressive approach, particularly in regards to the woodchuck that is devouring his carefully-planting vegetable garden. It is this tension between naturalist (“who gazes benignly on all of nature’s operations”) and if not developer, at least an experienced gardener with “a somewhat less sentimental view” that is at the heart of this book.
At first, Pollan takes the naturalist’s route, planting a wildflower garden and adopting a laisse-faire attitude toward weeds, which he approaches as “not a category of nature but a human construct, a defect of our perception.” But after a year battling bindweed, pigweed, burdock and other assorted thugs in his wildflower bed, Pollan realizes that his “idealized wildflower meadow now looked like a roadside tangle and, if I let it go another year, would probably pass for a vacant lot.”
On the other end of the spectrum, the hungry woodchuck incites Pollan to try everything from attempting to firebomb the woodchuck’s burrow to “an act of terrorism” – bringing home roadkill and shoving into the hole. His fury at the woodchuck makes him realize some of our “darker attitudes toward nature: the way her intransigence can make us crazy, and how willing we are to poison her in the single-minded pursuit of some short-term objective.”
Pollan’s exploration of how we confront the natural landscape is ultimately the theme of this book – and like most things, it doesn’t fall neatly into some predetermined category: “Domination or acquiescence? As developers or naturalists? I no longer think the choice is so obvious.”
Second Nature is full of insightful gems like this, and any gardener is sure to recognize him or herself in Pollan’s musings.
I’ll end with one of my favourite paragraphs from the book:
Domination, translated into suburban or rural terms, means lawn. A few acres of Kentucky bluegrass arranged in a buffer zone between house and landscape, a no-man’s-land patrolled weekly with a rotary blade. The lawn holds great appeal, especially to Americans. It looks sort of natural – it’s green; it grows – but in fact it represents a subjugation of the forest as utter and complete as a parking lot. Every species is forcibly excluded from the landscape but one, and this is forbidden to grow longer than the owner’s little finger. A lawn is nature under totalitarian rule.
Sarah O says
I wasn’t aware this was the book club selection, but I read it in February just because. I particularly liked the line “Writing and gardening, these two ways of rendering the world in rows, have a great deal in common.” It’s perfect for any gardener-writer or gardener-blogger.
(Did this submit more than once? I’m having trouble with your word verification)
kate says
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Michael Pollan has such a wonderful writing style. I just picked up ‘In Defense of Food’ off the reserve shelf at the library yesterday. It is as engaging a read as ‘Second Nature’ and ‘Omnivore’s Dilemma’. I also liked ‘Botany of Desire’ – over late-night feedings, you’ll be able to get some good reading in. (I have many fond memories of being awake in the quiet of the night, reading and rocking a wakeful baby asleep). What a thought that was – he’s now in driver ed classes.
Benjamin says
This is a FANTASTIC and AMAZING book, isn’t it? I read it a year or two ago and it blew my socks off. Can’t say I enjoy his other books nearly as much, but this book–in concert, with say Tallamy’s Bringing Nature Home (ala yer quote above)–really creates a moving and air tight argument for rethinking our landscapes. See how excited I get about good books? Thanks for posting this review.
Andrea Bellamy says
Benjamin – It is an amazing read. I’ll have to check out Bringing Nature Home now. Thanks for visiting!
Kate – Really? You had the wherewithal to read during late-night feedings? Impressive! I’ve heard great things about the Botany of Desire, and of course his more recent works.
Sarah O – nope, I just got one comment – sorry you had trouble. Yes, this is a great book for garden writer types to read!
Jenn says
I have yet to add this one to my library, but it’s definitely on the list.
If The Omnivore’s Dilemma leaves you sad – it’s a disturbing thing to read, you should follow it up with The Botany of Desire. Pollen’s work is so readable!
Ottawa Gardener says
Fantastic quote and enough to make me go out and reserve the copy from my own library. Thanks.
Carol, May Dreams Gardens says
Andrea, Thanks for posting a review for the Garden Bloggers’ Book Club. I’m still reading and enjoying the book.
Andrea Bellamy says
Jenn – okay, I’ll definitely follow it up with The Botany of Desire. I keep hearing great things about it.
Ottawa Gardener – do so! You’ll enjoy it.
Carol – thanks for starting the Garden Blogger’s Book Club and prompting me to read this wonderful book!
Ricki Grady says
The very best of his books, in my opinion. I read it several years ago, and your wonderful review brought it back to life for me. In a similar vein, Crazy About Gardening by Des Kennedy had me giggling to myself. He brings a wicked sense of humor to his grappling with the natural world. Try it…you’ll like it!
kate says
Just wanted to let you know that I ordered a Bokashi bin and Al told me he has met you. I’ve taken to worm composting and decided to try the Bokashi bin as well. It’ll be interesting to see the two side by side. I haven’t blogged much because I’m reading everything I can get my hands on about earthworms.
I hope all’s well – reading while breastfeeding was perfect. I always had a stack of books beside me and remember listening to the weather network (for some odd reason).
Good luck!!
Lori W. says
Michael Pollen is one of my favorite writers and if you liked this book you should read “Cultivating Delight: A Natural History of My Garden” by Diane Ackerman. It takes you on a journey of her garden through the seasons and she is inspiring.
I enjoy Pollen’s view of acknowledging the history of the site he gardens on, rather than trying to create a garden as if no other gardener had worked the land before him. I think that’s an important part of ecology–the cultural aspect. We all bring the seeds of our culture and history with us when we garden–it’s part of the process of diaspora. We need to acknowledge the human as part of natural evolution. At the same time, he has made the point that we nurture ourselves by taking from the land and we need to acknowledge that process and deal with it. It’s part of the omnivore’s dilemma.
Banno says
Sounds like a good read. Have just acquired a garden, and the debate between naturalist and developer sounds interesting.
Andrea Bellamy says
Ricki – Des does have a way with words, doesn’t he? I haven’t read Crazy about Gardening, but I read The Garden Club, which, in your words, had me “giggling to myself”.
Kate – oh, I’m so glad! Definitely keep us posted on how it goes… I’d love to try the Bokashi thing myself.
Lore – another book to add to my list. There seems to be no shortage of great gardening books. I agree – Pollan has a terrific approach to the land he stewards. This book made a lasting impression!
Banno – do. I highly recommend it!
Daisy says
I skipped to the musings on compost, but I’m going to have to go through the entire thing now. I like the excerpt on lawns and totalitarianism… inspiring isn’t it? I’m currently dreaming of ways I can rip up all my lawn and never start the mower again. My dogs might revolt, but I hate that mower… and want something much more interesting than the expansive monoculture…
commonweeder says
My full review is on my blog, but I have to say that although I have enjoyed some of Pollan’s other books, especially The Botany of Desire, I found his sweeping generalizations and judgements in this book annoying.
Dee/reddirtramblings says
I thought some of it was good. I liked the part about the history of trees, but the beginning wasn’t that great. I’m glad you enjoyed it so much.~~Dee
Andrea Bellamy says
Daisy – yeah, I can see how your dogs might not appreciate that!
Commonweeder – I can see what you’re trying to get at. In your review, however, you say, “He makes very sweeping statements about groups of people that I just don’t buy. For instance, “Like most Americans out-of-doors, I was a child of Thoreau.” He may be a child of Thoreau, and I love Thoreau myself (Simplify! Simplify! Simplify!) but I don’t think ‘most Americans’ think a lot about Thoreau outdoors, or in.” I agree that very few people think about Thoreau, but it’s more about his influence on our collective psyche – his philosophies have been morphed into ours. I think that applies to the lawn thing too.
Dee – yeah, I know what you mean. The memoir part isn’t as strong as the chapters that could have stood alone as essays… I did enjoy the memoirs, too, however, perhaps because I’m not all that experienced as a gardener – and not at all experienced in dealing with a large property. I could also relate to having noble intentions crushed!
Crafty green poet says
I’m just posting a mini review of this book on my blog, it’s such an excellent book. I’ll link to this post in mine, cos I think you’ve written a really good review here!
Caroline S says
I am currently working on a project for school on Second Nature in which I have to report the messages from the book. I am having trouble with this, so if anyone can help, it would be greatly appreciated!