An Interview with Adam Kessel, the author of Zombie Gardening.
Q: How did you first come up with the idea of Zombie Gardening?
A: I had the idea to write the book while I was visiting my parents. This visit was on a Sunday evening and we were all gathered around the TV watching the Walking Dead. It was a scene when the lead actor, Rick, was leading the group into a supermarket to loot food and medicine. The excursion quickly went downhill and the group was forced to escape an all-out zombie attack. Their escape led them into the woods. As my family and I were watching I kept naming all the medicinal and edible plants they were running past and it was then that someone said “you should write a book” and here we are.
Q: How did you choose which plants to include in the book?
A: I have been working in urban environmental education initiatives in Chicago for 10 years and over that time I have developed a skill of knowing which plants have a tendency to grow in urban environments. When I started creating the plant list for the book I decided to use predominantly non-native invasive species. These are plants that have been brought to Chicago by immigrant communities throughout our history. These plants were often brought specifically for their culinary or medicinal uses. Many of the plants in the book have really interesting stories and direct connections to ethnic communities right here in Chicago. The ecological reason for including non-native species is harvesting these plants will not desecrate native species. It would be a best practice to harvest the plants in the book and then have a nice pocket full of seeds of a native species that you can reintroduce into our city.
Q: Have you ever used any of these plants before? If so, when?
A: I have used almost all of the plants in the book. I gained most of my experience of harvesting and preparing plants when I was serving my community by running a culturally based science education program at the American Indian Center of Chicago. I had amazing mentors and teachers there that shared their knowledge with me. The American Indian Center of Chicago still has one of the most amazing medicinal plant gardens in the city. It is worth a trip up north to check it out and learn about the native species of medicinal plants that call Chicago home.
Q: What do you hope people will gain from this book?
A: I hope that this book will serve as a gateway to the wilderness that is all around us in urban environments. In my work as a professional Naturalist I travel all over Chicago to educate youth and adults about the nature that is in their backyards, vacant lots, alleys, and parkways. I hope by presenting botany in this way people can start to build relationships with the environment in Chicago and reclaim some of our green spaces for community gardens or zombie gardens!
Q: Do you plan on using this book when you teach?
A: I will be using the book during book signings in the spring to help people identify the zombie gardens in their neighborhoods. So yes I will certainly work the book into my curricula.
Q: Have you ever heard of or played the game Plants vs. Zombies?
A: I have and it is quite an addictive game. There are no plants in the book that shoot but there are a few that sting!
Q: What advice would you give to someone who is trying to become a published author?
A: Patience is key! Publishing a book or article is not a sprint it is more of a long distance run and be prepared for obstacles. If you have the endurance you can certainly get published. Good luck to all of the aspiring authors out there and I hope to read your work soon!
Becki Brown
Editor in Chief
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