I'm trying to bring people back to tasting, to be conscious of the flavors of vegetables in their pure form. Lois Burpee in an interview for the Tampa Bay Times, April 24, 1983

{HISTORY}

From the very beginning, Lois Burpee (1912-1984) led a fascinating life.

The daughter of a medical missionary, Lois was born and raised in the Middle East and Scotland, where, from a young age, she was exposed to the natural world via the cultural traditions and appreciations of the countries she lived in. An inherent love and curiosity surrounding all things wild led her to pursue a botany degree at Wellesley College before she met and married David Burpee, son of W. Atlee Burpee, who started the Burpee Seed Company that we all know today.

Lois didn't continue on a traditional college-fueled botanist career path, but when she and her husband took up residence at Fordhook, the Burpee family farm in Bucks County, PA, just after they were married, Lois immersed herself in all aspects of gardening, cooking, and plant rearing. Her playground was the 500 acres that surrounded the farm and all the test gardens that were in constant flux for the seed company's trials and experiments.

When garden writers came to the farm to preview new varietals debuting each year, Lois oftentimes cooked for them, and her food wound up becoming just as much of a treat to experience as seeing the new flowers and vegetables that would be coming to market.

A close friend to the author Pearl. S. Buck, Lois, in addition to gardening and cooking, was a diligent philanthropist in her community throughout her entire life. When friends encouraged her to write a book, Lois Burpee's Gardener's Companion and Cookbook emerged in 1983, the same year that she turned 70.

A memoir, a recipe collection, and a compendium of gardening wisdom and advice all wrapped up in one her, Companion and Cookbook shares all sorts of interesting information about growing food to eat, ways to both prepare and present it, agricultural fun facts, and helpful tips and techniques in both the garden and the kitchen. When the cookbook launched, Lois became a mini celebrity with articles about her life's work appearing in dozens of newspapers across the country. Taking it all in stride, and thankful that her writing endeavor was met with such enthusiasm, Lois the royalties from her book to the YMCA. Tragically, a year after the publication of her cookbook, Lois died of a heart attack at the airport after returning home from a visit to her sister in England.

Lois' untimely death makes us all the more thankful for this wonderful book which not only introduces us to a lovely spirit but also a wealth of hands-on culinary and gardening knowledge gathered across seventy years of life.

Broken down by fruits and vegetables according to the growing season in which they thrive, Lois tackles gardening and cooking information, food by food, making this book both a handy reference guide and an enjoyable read from start to finish. From suggestions on how to use a surplus of hot peppers to how best to prepare the giant zucchini that escapes notice until its doubled in size to how to comab slugs in the asparagus field, Lois' shares information that is thoughtful and practical alongside recipes that focus on bringing out the best flavor of every vegetable in the garden.

Interesting recipes include Zucchini Squash Salad, Rhubarb Chard Fritters, Sherried Spaghetti Squash, Poor Man's Saffron Rice, Aunt Myrtle's Doylestown Dressing, Beets with Orange Sauce, Garlic Sauce, Golden Zucchini Tea Cake, Sauteed Sprouts with Ginger, Candied Parsnips, Frozen Cranberry Relish, Chicken Broth, and Pureed Green Peas. Rhubarb Marmalade, Blueberry Crumb Pudding, and Creamed Vegetable Casserole.

Photo of Lois Burpee courtesy of the Scrantonian-Tribune, February 13th, 1983

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

1983 First Edition
248 pages
Contains mostly, but not all, vegetarian recipes
Illustrated throughout by Parker Leighton

{CONDITION}

In beautiful vintage condition, this book is clean and bright throughout with no cooking spots or stains. The dust jacket contains a few small rips along the top and bottom edge. There's a Christmas gift inscription written in pen on the front endpaper. The spine is tight and all pages are intact.

{SIZE}

Measures 9.25" inches (length) x 6.25" inches (width) x 1" inch (thickness) and weighs 1.4 lbs

TRY A RECIPE!

To highlight the wonderful recipes in this book, we made Lois' mom's family pickle recipe and featured it in our summer shop email. It was absolutely delicious. If you are a bread and butter pickle fan, you'll love these! Find the recipe in the photo section.

COOKBOOKS

Lois Burpee's Gardener's Companion and Cookbook - 1983 First Edition