"Seed quality means maintaining the genetic diversity necessary for adapting to a constantly changing ecosystem." —Micaela Colley, from the Opening Address of the 2006 Organic Seed Growers Conference

Dear Organic Gardeners,

We hope that you have all received our 2006 catalog by now and have had plenty of time to peruse its pages, and hopefully have found plenty of inspiration for your spring garden plans. (Click here to request a free copy if you haven't yet received one.) This year's theme, "Seed to Plate," begins on the cover, showing a sequence beginning with the sowing of beet seeds, and culminating with a mouthwatering display of roasted beets with goat cheese and pine nuts (a favorite dish around here last year). The theme continues inside with our photo essay, which starts in the fields of the Seeds of Change Research Farm and culminates with our annual harvest party, where we were honored to have Chef Karen Todd from Taos, New Mexico's Dragonfly Café join us for a celebratory day of harvesting, cooking, and feasting.

To further inspire your culinary endeavors you'll find recipes from Deborah Madison's Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone, as well as plenty of new collections of seeds and seedlings. Try our Mediterranean, Salsa, and Culinary Herb Seedlings to add flavor and spice to your cooking, or explore our new Asian and European Greens to diversify and enrich your diet. Our Edible Patio Gardening collection is perfect for the space challenged who crave the joys of fresh-from-the-garden dining. Of course, there are plenty of new introductions, hundreds of vegetable, herb and flower varieties, farm-tested tools, books, soils amendments and plenty more for the organic gardener. We hope you enjoy the catalog and would love to hear any comments you have on how we can improve it in the future.

	Fermentation and Tempeh Jay Bost shares the history of this Asian staple and gives culinary instructions... Read More >
	Asian Vegetables Emily Skelton's primer on Seeds of Change's Asian vegetables complete with a printable variety chart and recipes... Read More >
	Report from the Conference Scott Vlaun fills us in on the collaborative state of organics.... Read More >

This month's eNewsletter might also inspire some culinary creativity and provide a nutritional boost as well. Jay Bost, the latest addition to our Research Farm staff, has written a fascinating article on the benefits of fermented foods; the article focuses specifically on tempeh, a staple in many Asian diets. Recently, Jay has been culturing soybeans and other legumes and seeds; he shares his experience and enthusiasm for this healthful and flavorful food. Complementing Jay's piece, Emily Skelton, Seed Cleaning and Quality Coordinator, makes a case for Asian vegetables, especially mustard greens, and has developed a useful chart to help you integrate these easy-to-grow and nutritious vegetables into your garden plans.

While Seeds of Change has been promoting the benefits of organic seeds for organic growers and for the environment for seventeen years now, the movement really seems to be picking up steam. I recently attended the Organic Seed Growers Conference in Troutville, Oregon, where seed growers, seed companies, and researchers convened to share their knowledge. I share my experience in my Report from the Conference. In addition, Erica Renaud, Research and Farm Manager, provides a winter update from the Research Farm, and our News and Events section covers some interesting happenings in the world of sustainability.

Whether you're already starting seeds in the greenhouse or still planning your gardening endeavors, I hope that winter is treating you well and that your garden dreams are coming alive.

Scott Vlaun, Editor


Photo caption: Roasted beets over greens with goat cheese and pine nuts from the cover of our 2006 catalog.

Printable PDF Version:
eNewsletter #53
Text only, 199.3kb, 18 pages.

Unable to open it?
You may need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader.