– **Early Life and Career:**
– Born on September 8, 1911, in Clarksville, Texas.
– Spent youth in northwestern New Mexico.
– Father moved the family frequently for work.
– Began foraging for plants and berries to supplement family diet.
– Worked various jobs like dairyman, carpenter, trapper, and cowboy.
– Spent most of World War II in Hawaii building and repairing boats for the Navy.
– Settled in Seattle, served in the Army, and worked various jobs.
– **Political and Personal Evolution:**
– Wrote Communist Party leaflets during the Dust Bowl era.
– Renounced Communism after the Soviet Union invaded Poland in 1939.
– Joined the Society of Friends (Quakers) in 1948.
– **Literary Achievements and Recognition:**
– Published ‘Stalking the Wild Asparagus’ in 1962.
– Followed up with cookbooks like ‘Stalking the Blue-Eyed Scallop.’
– Wrote for National Geographic and won creative-writing prizes.
– Made guest appearances on popular TV shows like The Tonight Show.
– Received an honorary doctorate from Susquehanna University.
– **Culinary Philosophy and Practices:**
– Advocated for nutritious but neglected plants.
– Prepared wild plants in the kitchen with spices and garnishes.
– Hosted ‘wild parties’ serving dishes made from wild plants.
– Recommended plants like lambs quarters, rose hips, and stinging nettle.
– Highlighted the health benefits of weeds like purslane and amaranth.
– **Legacy and Influence:**
– Considered a saint by the fictional Gods Gardeners sect.
– Novelty hit ‘Junk Food Junkie’ referenced Gibbons’ healthy lifestyle.
– Known for promoting wild foods, not survivalism.
– Emphasized the tastiness and healthfulness of wild plants.
– Remembered for his unique approach to cooking and advocacy for wild foods.
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Euell Theophilus Gibbons (September 8, 1911 – December 29, 1975) was an outdoorsman and early health food advocate, promoting eating wild foods during the 1960s.
Euell Theophilus Gibbons | |
|---|---|
 Gibbons circa 1960 | |
| Born | September 8, 1911 Clarksville, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | December 29, 1975 (aged 64) |
| Other names | Ewell Gibbons |
| Spouse | Freda Fryer |