"The battle we are waging to defend the biodiversity of the planet— from vegetable species to animal breeds—is a battle for civilization. The right to own land and seeds is a sacrosanct right for all the world's vegetable growers." - Carlo Petrini, founder of Slow Food International

Dear Organic Gardeners,

As the mud dries up and the gardening season shifts into high gear across the continent, here at Seeds of Change we're looking ahead as we empty the greenhouses and get ready to sow the spring's last tender annuals. While we've been busy working up beds, planting potatoes, carrots, onions, and beets, tending the spring salad beds, and transplanting starts of onions and broccoli, we are also planning for next year and beyond.

A couple of us recently had the nearly schizophrenic experience of attending the massive lawn and garden tradeshow in Las Vegas, then on the very next day attending a seed-growing workshop held on the Permaculture-inspired farm of seed growers Don and Kimberly Tipping in southern Oregon's stunningly beautiful Applegate Valley. While we were impressed by the number of new products at the hardware show that were directed toward organic gardeners, and identified several items to test at our Research Farm for possible inclusion in future Seeds of Change catalogs, arriving at the Tipping's Seven Seeds Farm less than twenty-four hours after leaving Las Vegas was (literally) a breath of fresh air.

	Culinary Herbs An aromatic handful of torn sweet basil leaves, a cup of chopped Italian parsley, a few sprigs of thyme... Read More
	Hang It Up! Emily Skelton encourgaes us to grow vertically with hanging pots and baskets... Read More
	Stories from Terra Madre Micaela Colley shares the experiences of those who participated in the Slow Food event in Turin Italy... Read More

The Tipping's small farm is a fine example of what a sustainable food future might look like. Nearly ten acres of cultivated fields of various sizes supported a wide diversity of both seed and food crops, orchards of fruits, nuts and berries, as well as chickens, ducks, geese, and sheep. The riparian area bordering the stream that divides their property was in the process of being restored with hundreds of recently planted trees, echoing the surrounding forest. The workshop, sponsored by the Organic Seed Alliance and led by plant breeder and seedsman John Navazio Ph.D., was attended by over twenty seed growers interested in maintaining and improving the varieties of the seeds that they save. With hands-on work in the field, the growers examined large populations of radish varieties, including some from Seeds of Change. Based on a wide range of criteria, the growers selected for the finest roots for replanting as a seed crop there at Seven Seeds Farm, as well as at other area farms dispersed widely enough to prevent cross-pollination.

Our eNewsletter this month is dedicated to this kind of locally based, diverse, small-scale agriculture. Steve Peters profiles Bill Reynolds, one of Seeds of Change's most experienced seed growers, while Micaela Colley reports on the recent "Terra Madre" event held in Italy by Slow Food International in celebration of locally based artisan foods from around the world. I've reviewed Farming with the Wild, a recent book examining many aspects of a new approach to agriculture that seeks to work in harmony with nature, and interviewed its author, Daniel Imhoff. I've also written a short piece on growing culinary herbs in your own backyard, our favorite kind of locally based "agriculture." In that vein, Emily Skelton shares tips and techniques for growing vertically in hanging pots and baskets. To top it all off, Research Manager Erica Renaud updates us on events at our New Mexico Research Farm.

Wherever you are, we hope you find some inspiration to diversify your garden this year, contemplate the wonder of your food and its sources, and enjoy the richness of your own local cuisine.

May your dream garden grow true,
Scott Vlaun, Editor

Photo caption: John Navazio compares French Breakfast radishes at a seed growing workshop in Oregon as host Don Tipping (center) scans the beds of more than 10,000 other radishes ready to be selected for the next day by the group.

Printable PDF Version:
eNewsletter #47
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