[1]

My introduction to hard cider was through a local farmer who had let a plastic jug of apple cider ferment in his shed. Before letting me taste it, he checked to make sure that I would be driving home directly after. I’d appreciated fresh apple cider well enough but hard cider was another thing altogether — it was surprisingly fizzy, crisp and, of course, alcoholic — a delightful expression of the season. He also recommended that I read the chapter on apples in Michael Pollan’s book, “The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s-Eye View of the World”.

The upcoming PBS television special, ”[2] The Botany of Desire“, adapted from Pollan’s book, explores the evolution of apples, tulips, cannabis and potatoes. The website also contains a bonus [3] video featuring [4] Farnum Hill Ciders in Lebanon, NH. If that’s not enough for fans of Pollan, there’s also the TED [5] video, “Michael Pollan gives a plant’s eye view”.

The Botany of Desire

PBS (check for local [6] station)

Wednsday, October 28 at 8 p.m

Featuring Michael Pollan and based on his best-selling book, this special takes viewers on an eye-opening exploration of the human relationship with the plant world, seen from the plants’ point of view. Narrated by Frances McDormand, the program shows how four familiar species – the apple, the tulip, cannabis and the potato – evolved to satisfy our yearnings for sweetness, beauty, intoxication and control.