The History of the Pumpkin Plant

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The pumpkin plant didn't even make to asia until post columbian times. But this folklore has been passed down through enough oral and written tradition that it stuck. There are old stories from southern communities, in african american communities, about wriding pumpkin vines into new lands since they grow so fast. And also stories about convincing europeans that pumpkins are donkey eggs.

HERE IS SOME SAFE, COZY COMFORT: a platter of pumpkins. We have a new episode up this week: Desairology (MORTUARY MAKE-UP) but if that's toooo spooky: This 2019 Cucurbitology episode is an Ologies all-time favorite. Also? It helped launch sweet, sweet Anne Copeland’s book to the top of the seasonal cookbook charts last year.

“Pumpkin, Pumpkin!” is not only a thing to scream while passing a patch, but also the name of author and human delight Anne Copeland's gourd opus. Yes, she's so charmed by pumpkins that she dedicated a whole book to exploring their folklore, history, planting protocol, care, and cooking. On a lark, Alie stops by her house in the rural hamlet of Yucaipa, California to chat about everything from creation myths surrounding pumpkins to Anne's favorite recipes, how to make a pumpkin last longer on your porch, the secret medicinal properties of pipitas, why humans might need to go bananas on Halloween, how to propose via pumpkin, and the big flimflam Anne needs the world to know about the pumpkin origin story. Also: who is Jack and why does he have a lantern?

Anne Copeland's book "Pumpkin, Pumpkin: Folklore, History, Planting Hints and Good Eating" is available via Amazon

And on Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/books/pumpkin-pumpkin-folklore-history-planting-hints-and-good-eating/9781719980982

A donation went to Shriners Hospitals for Children

More links up at alieward.com/ologies/cucurbitology

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Sound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media & Steven Ray Morris

Theme song by Nick Thorburn

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