Edible Landscaping with Rosalind Creasy » Seed Saver’s

Seed Savers 2010 Annual Campout

Rosalind Creasy — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 05:57:23 +0000

The Seed Savers Exchange in Decorah, Iowa has been a part of my life since the late 70s when I, and a lot of other worried American gardeners, became aware that many of the old time vegetable and fruit varieties were rapidly disappearing. At that time, most of the major seed companies were offering more and more modern hybrids and fewer heirloom, open-pollinated varieties. (Hybrid varieties are created by crossing two proprietary varieties, thus creating a new variety with selected characteristics. Gardeners cannot save the seeds of this new variety because the offspring will not be the same as the parent. In contrast, open-pollinated varieties, can reproduce themselves and under most circumstances the gardener can save the seeds from year to year. ) To help preserve these old varieties, in 1975 Kent and Diane Whealy founded the Seed Savers Exchange, and a few years later were inspired to have a campout for other seed enthusiasts to gather and share seeds and information.

In late July, I and about a thousand other heirloom seed enthusiasts, attended the Seed Savers Annual Campout to celebrate their35 years. We gathered to swap old varieties of seeds, attend seminars on seed saving and fruit tree pruning, and learn how to cook favorite heirlooms. In the last few years, saving heritage breeds of chickens, geese, turkeys, and ducks has been added to the organization’s goals, and courses on raising poultry were added to the agenda. And because a significant anniversary is a great time to reflect, the group sessions celebrated the early seed savers that collected so many hundreds of old varieties and the founding members that started a movement that has influenced seed savers around the world.

The Seed Savers anniversary cake was enjoyed by hundreds of campout attendees. It was primarily a carrot cake, which seemed very fitting, plus a chocolate layer for good measure.

My grandson Alex Chavarin, assisted me as I gave a number of presentations on raising chickens in the home garden. The hen I’m holding is an unusal White Crested Black Polish.

Five of the speakers at the Seed Saver’s Campout gathered to sign their books and greet their fans. From left to right: Maria Rodale, chairman of Rodale Press; yours truly, Ethne Clarke, editor-in-chief of Organic Gardening magazine; Amy Goldman, author and chairman of the Seed Savers Board of Directors; and Deborah Madison, member of the Seed Savers Board and vegetarian cookbook author extraordinaire.

To learn more about the Seed Savers Exchange, join the organization, and/or purchase seeds of heirloom varieties visit www.seedsavers.org

The New York Botanical Garden Seed Savers Garden

Rosalind Creasy — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:10:12 +0000

The last weekend in June I was at The New York Botanical Garden’s opening of The Edible Garden, their summer long exhibition. Saturday morning I gave a lecture on heirloom vegetables and antique flowers and how to incorporate them into your edible landscape. Then, I was in the Seed Savers Garden for the rest of the day, answering questions and teaching people how to save their own seeds. The New York Botanical Garden will offer many more events featuring edible plants throughout the summer, such as their Edible Evenings: A Celebration of Wine, Beer, and Food featuring well-known chefs, demonstrations, and food and wine samplings. You also may want to check the progress of my Seed Savers Garden and attend some of the other edible landscaping presentations like the Home Gardening Center Demonstrations on Saturdays and Sundays. If you are particularly interested in seed saving make sure you visit the Seed Savers’ website and if you want to get started right away, the gift shop at The New York Botanical Garden has a large selection of Seed Saver seeds.

The following photos show the initial planting of the garden I designed in March and how it looked on opening day. I will update you with photos of the same garden as it grows throughout the season.

Signing books on Saturday afternoon - © TalismanPHOTO, The NYBG

Laying out the chives in a geometric pattern to add some edible landscaping style - © Ivo M. Vermeulen, The NYBG

Three raised beds with curly kale, young basil, Bull's Blood beets, new teepees for cucumbers and tomatoes - © Ivo M. Vermeulen, The NYBG

The raised beds on the opposite side include the chive diamonds, triangles of basil, Bull's Blood beets, and tomatoes - © Ivo M. Vermeulen, The NYBG

Sign describing the Seed Savers Garden - © Ivo M. Vermeulen, The NYBG

Come see me at The New York Botanical Garden June 27th & 28th

Rosalind Creasy — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:27:07 +0000

On both days, Saturday and Sunday, I’ll be giving a lecture at 11AM on Heirloom Vegetables and Flowers. Following the lecture, I will be at the Seed Saver’s Vegetable Garden in the Home Gardening Center from 12:30 – 1:30PM. I would love to meet you, show you around, and answer any questions you may have about saving seeds. After that, I’ll be signing books in the Perennial Garden with author Amy Goldman. If you aren’t already familiar with her work, you can check out her fabulous books and recipes HERE.

Here’s a break down of my schedule:

Saturday, June 27th and Sunday, June 28th:

11AM – Lecture Hall Presentation “Heirloom Vegetables and Flowers”

12:30-1:30 – Q&A in the Home Gardening Center

1:30 – 2:30 – Booksigning in the Perennial Garden with Amy Goldman

**And, as a special discount for my readers, follow this LINK for 50% off of a second adult ticket. Enter EGDIG09 when asked for the promotional code.**