Wolf Peaches, Poisoned Peas, and Madame Pompadour's Underwear: The Surprising History of Common Garden Vegetables.

Common garden vegetables have long and fascinating histories. Science and history writer Rebecca Rupp will discuss the stories behind many of our favorites, among them the much maligned tomato and potato, the (mostly) popular pumpkin, and Vermont’s dynamic duo of kale and Gilfeather turnip. Find out why a lot of us don’t like beets, how a 17th century pirate names the bell pepper, how carrots won the Trojan War, and how George Washington was nearly assassinated with a plate of poisoned peas.

This is a Vermont Humanities Council event hosted by the Chelsea Public Library. It is free, accessible to people with disabilities, and open to the public. For more information, contact the Chelsea Public Library at 685-2188.

Under grant from the National Endowment for Humanities (NEH). Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the NEH or the Vermont Humanities Council.