An invitation...

Dear Growers,

The seed harvest season is here. The spinach and peas seed crops are in, the stunning Apricot Cosmos seeds are drying down, and the Silvery Rose Strawflower seed is just beginning to fluff.  It’s the time of flowers and falling over plants, buckets, tubs and tarps covered with brown crunchy plant material everywhere and abundance around every corner. I love it.

This month I have an invitation.  I would love to hear YOUR seed and garden stories. I want to know what varieties of lettuce, zucchini and winter squash (and more of course…) you love to grow and why. What stories do you have to share about the seeds you plant and the food you grow?  What do you love to grow that you think I should know about?  Also-how does your garden reflect who you are and your values? Why is growing a garden important to you? How are you making a difference in the lives of others with your efforts in the garden?

Part of this idea is practical for me. I can’t grow every variety of every food and flower plant myself and I think it would be fun and helpful to learn about what you all love to grow. Many of my favorite crops came to me through seed shares and strolling the gardens of friends.  My mentor Lotus introduced me to the concept of dry peas and I now grow Darlain Soup Peas every year and love them in the winter.  Another dear friend and mentor Dana Illo showed me Monachine Dry Beans and wow- what a gift!   Last year Will Lockwood gave me an envelope of bean seeds he calls Yutto Beans and insisted I grow them. I did, they are amazing,  and I am now growing a seed crop to share with you all. 

Another part of this desire to reach out to you all comes from a longing to connect with growers like you around the deeper motivations and inspiration for our efforts. We are living through a moment of great tumult in the world. How and why do we continue to do the work of growing a garden? What values and world views come through in your garden? I ask myself these questions every day and I would love to hear your thoughts.

Please email me with thoughts, suggestions and seed stories.  Photos too if you are so inspired! I plan to visit several gardens and farms this August and September so please let me know via email if you’d like to have me over.  Seeds and plants create connection so let's follow their lead and get together.