"Dandelion Roots Run Deep" is the true story of the author's mother, her roots, and her fight for organic agriculture and Michigan's environment from 1967 - 2009. The dandelion roots are a metaphor for the roots connecting three generations of women who "nevertheless persisted" and the tenacity of those roots. The story traces her parents' marriage, their trip across the country to Michigan, and their ultimate mission for environmentalism. Merrill Clark was a charter member of the National Organic Standards Board, and she and her husband started a farm in 1980. The dandelion metaphor and analogy work on many levels in this book: the family roots, the roots being part of the solution to climate change, and the roots that connect to other issues that underlie the lived experiences of these three women. This book is structured like a dandelion. It begins with a short article about the value of dandelions, and it ends with the issues that intertwine with the lives of these three tenacious women. "Dandelion Roots Run Deep" will appeal to lovers of Wendell Berry, Rachel Carson, and Aldo Leopold, environmentalists, women, and anyone dealing with Alzheimer's.
