Seeds of Discent

Seeds of Discent is a novel about four West Philadelphia urban farmers who are trying to build a garden on a vacant lot near their house while trying to find a place in the world. The story is centered around Dan Varano, a young activist in his mid twenties who returns to Philadelphia after exploring many different paths while traveling the US. He returns to his native Philadelphia aimless, but with an urgency to act. Although he thinks he found what he was looking for, he soon finds that growing food in a city comes with a price.

Soon after breaking ground, the city repossesses the lot and serves a notice for Dan and his housemates to stay out. The events that ensue not only show how they take this land back, but how they navigate this era in our history of such great economic and societal transformation. It's a story not just about urban farming, but about the movement of young people who are trying to reshape our society, from the roots on up.