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clothes. There were a few different vegetables, but his favorite were the Every seed has a story – and the ‘Never
big, black catalonia beans brought over from Italy in the hem of his coat. Will’ tomato has a great one! In 1983,
The family established their home garden with these seeds and grower Tom Wagner first listed this
passed them down before having the chance to go back after the war tomato in the Tater Mater Seeds cata-
and visit the town where he grew up. When they arrived and celebrated log with the following description:
with their extended family, they talked about how they brought the “I invite folks who like fried green
tastes of home to their new country. To their surprise, the catalonia tomatoes to experiment with these.
beans were no longer growing in the town due to the devestation caused In jest, give a neighbor a plant or a
by the chemical warfare and many fires that took their toll on the land. fruit and watch them go crazy wait-
The gentleman told them he had some beans he would bring back with ing for it to ripen – it never will.”
him on his next visit. Now they are once again growing in his hometown. Decades later, that's still the case! “I
bred that tomato as a joke, you
know," Tom reflected in 2018. "I’ve
From the Manufactured Back to the Natural had a lot of these tomatoes [over the
GMOs, or “Genetically Modified Organisms,” is a term that applies years], but not once did the fruit
to the “corporate selective breeding” of a variety of living things done ripen!” photo and story: seedsavers.org
through genetic engineering in a lab, from animals to medicines to food
during the 20th century. While the results of this practice have been “He had nobody who took his gardening expertise and used it into
both good and bad, farming corporations capitalized on what they the future. I took all the tools that were left and still use them today.
considered the best traits of plants to improve a food’s preservation But it would have been so cool to have had his seeds.
qualities to make it across the country to feed the masses. The use of “Today I put effort into handing out my seeds with one condition:
GMOs derived by gene splicing has led to many people taking a second that if they like what the have, they hand out seeds to other people, too.
look at food that is not mass produced – by looking for “natural” food, I teach people how to grow them and how to save seeds year after year.
grass-fed beef, free-range chicken, That way they will always be around in some form or variation.
non-gmo crops, “no preservatives “Now when I have friends over for dinner, I stand up and say, ‘You
added” breads, “all natural” like this corn? I grew this corn!,’ and they keep coming back for more.”
peanut butter, and more.
As farming has continued to Collecting Heirloom Seeds
grow as a corporation-owned or Now having lived his passion for many years, Rich gives seed-saving
contracted endeavor, the small talks, works on gardens for clients, and shares his seeds with everyone
farm owner and home-garden in order to pass on his heritage. Online organizations like seedsavers.org
enthusiast have brought back the give you access to information from around the world. So, how do you
“heirloom” seed method of begin your own collection?
collecting and are growing food – Reach out to your local garden shop, feed store, grange, or garden
that is adapted to the soils and club to soak up their experience to apply what you feel would work to
weather patterns of their particular your own space. Better yet, take a class from an area organization such
part of the country. as agricultural schools or living history museum.
A plate full of Rich Giordano’s beans, While you may not be able to – Pre-plan the size of your garden. Consider what you can handle
seeds he shares and trades with students, grow some foods where you life, from starting your seeds to the harvest and preservation of your foods.
friends, and family
by doing some heavy networking – Have your soil analyzed so you know what kind you are working
and lots of learning about what makes a good seed or graft or plant you with in order to buy the best seeds and plants.
can start your own collection of heirloom seeds. - Buy local. Getting seeds or plants
Left, Steve received the seed from local farmers will help you grow
Generational Seeds from Amelia Scharlach Schini what already works in the neighborhood.
Thanks to the farmers who continued whose grandmother brought it
to save and select seeds across generations, with her when she emigrated Learn About Seeds
from Alsace-Lorraine in the
the ability buy and consume good food 1880s. It is still grown by a few This is critical to how successful your
has gained a huge following. But Rich elder members of the Apostolic collection will be. Different plants
Giordano, a gardener with no bounds, Christian Church. Small require different pollenization, different
almost did not get the chance to follow chartreuse butterhead with crisp, care and watering schedules, and different
what turned into his life’s passion: tender leaves and a mild flavor. ways to collect their seeds.
“My grandfather was a hard man who Ever see a carrot seed? Typically, you
worked hard. He worked about two and Right, Family heirloom from plant the seed, the greens sprout and
a half acres by hand and he bred his own Montrose, Iowa that was once photosynthesize to make energy. The
vegetables. He had varieties no one else thought to be lost. The result of energy swells the root of the carrott and
in the world had. When we went over for a cross between Hawksbury and then you eat it. If you don’t eat it, you
Sunday dinners, he would stand up and Dixie Queen made by Chris keep the root knowing it is a storage
loudly say, ‘You like that corn? I grew Christensen in 1950. Reliable holder for starch that the plant can live
that corn!’ But I was a teenager and I yields of 15-20 pound nearly on through the winter. In the spring,
would be thinking, ‘Shut-up old man!’ I round pale green fruits with the starch converts to sugar and spikes
was just 15 when he died. The family jagged dark green stripes. and produces a flower that will produce
took his lifetime of goods and tools and Moderately sweet. the seed. It takes two years to go from
seeds and put it all into the greenhouse. Left, Hungarian heirloom seed to seed.
It was a treasure trove that nobody took. peppers brought to Beaver Dam, Each seed has its own superpower.
“Five years later, I started getting into WI, in 1912 by the Joe Hussli Saving them from harvest to harvest,
gardening. I started talking to my cousins family. Florence Hussli recom- you continue the breed while enjoying
who lived next door to my grandfather mends adding crisp sliced rings to the taste.
and asked about what he did. ‘We saved a cheese and bologna sandwich, One method of seed
all his seeds and put them in the green- or using for stuffed peppers. Fruits collecting does not work for

house!’ They were all dead. The heat, are mildly hot when seeded. all, and the more you know,
cold, and moisture from those years in All three seeds found the better your collection,
that contained space killed all the seeds. at seedsavers.org and garden, will be.

22 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles