Seeds of Change: The Living Treasure

Ausubel, who produces the Seeds of Change organic seed catalogue and who founded the company of the same name with his wife, Nina Simons, observes, ``Variety is not only the spice of life, but the very staff of life.'' Arguing in favor of biodiversity and against the dangers posed to it--and to ourselves--by agribusiness, his book is part creed, part survey and part personal history as he seeks out like-minded organic gardeners, scientists, scholars and chefs (e.g., Alice Waters, who also contributes recipes) for testimonials in pursuit of large-scale change in the way food is grown and used. It is hard not to credit his basic points, but Ausubel's style is messianic in a way that may not convince, and his attentiveness to the virtues of his own business will strike some as self-serving. His tone is hopped-up, and his words are profuse: ``Life is a living, pulsing, vibrating, plasmic mystery, a spontaneous improvisation linked through time by memory.'' Photos not seen by PW. $100,000 ad/promo; author tour. (Feb.)