Revolutionary Gardener: The Many Lives of Edward Hyams

September 30, 1910

Today we celebrate the birth of Edward Solomon Hyams, that fascinating polymath whose life embodied the rare intersection of revolutionary politics, practical horticulture, and scholarly dedication.

As we shall see, his journey from gardener to wine pioneer to political philosopher would leave an indelible mark on British gardening literature.

Picture, if you will, the scene at Nut Tree Cottages in Molash, Kent, where from 1946 to 1960 Hyams embarked upon what would become his most influential horticultural experiment.

Here, amid the post-war austerity, he transformed a derelict property into a thriving example of self-sufficiency that would capture the imagination of readers across Britain.

Consider this refreshingly candid confession from The Gardener's Bedside Book:

I have never been interested in and am incapable of writing about the great hybrid garden tulips.

I do not mean to condemn them or anything foolish like that; but one cannot be interested in every kind of garden plant, and that particular kind has never made any real appeal to me whatsoever.

But the botanical species tulips are quite another matter.

This same authenticity characterized his pioneering work in English viticulture.

Collaborating with scientist Ray Barrington Brock, Hyams meticulously tested grape varieties suitable for the British climate. His successes with Muller Thurgau, Madeleine Sylvaner, Seyval Blanc, Baco No1, and Tere Dore would revolutionize English wine growing, leading to his influential work The Grape Vine in England (1949).

As gardening correspondent for both the Illustrated London News and The Spectator, Hyams brought his unique blend of practical experience and political consciousness to a wide audience.

His writing career would eventually encompass more than 120 books, ranging from practical gardening guides to political treatises.

The depth of his political convictions emerged powerfully in English Cottage Gardens, where he fearlessly condemned the appropriation of common land: "Between 1760 and 1867, the English ruling class stole seven million acres of common land, the property and livelihood of the common people of England" - a theft he described as "a gigantic crime, by far the grandest larceny in England's history."

His masterwork From the Waste Land (1950) serves as both a practical guide and philosophical testament, describing not only the transformation of his three acres but also capturing the character of village life in Molash. Here we find the true marriage of his political and horticultural ideals - the belief that self-sufficiency and careful cultivation could offer a path to both personal and social transformation.

After leaving Molash, Hyams created another remarkable garden at Hill House Nursery in Landscove, Devon. This garden, now beautifully restored and open to the public, continues to inspire visitors with its original vision, helped by Hyams' own books and paintings.

Hyams' influence extended far beyond conventional gardening circles.

As noted by Colin Ward, editor of Anarchy, Hyams stood as a rare figure among gardening writers for his leftist political stance.

His expertise ranged remarkably wide - from translating French works to writing about assassination as a political tool, from cataloging great botanical gardens to analyzing soil civilization.

When he died in Besançon, France, in 1975, Hyams left behind not just gardens and vineyards, but a body of work that challenged readers to see the connections between cultivation and revolution, between practical horticulture and social justice.

His posthumously published biography of Proudhon further cemented his place as a unique voice in both gardening and political literature.