Hello from Cape Cod MA USA

[alongshore]

Just joined up here after reading some fantastic posts. I found the forum from Joseph's latest appearance on the OSSI podcast and am happy to be here.

I have been growing and saving seed for the past 10 years on Cape Cod starting at various Community Gardens to now a garden that I share with my wife and two rescue dogs. I was a member of the Seed Savers Exchange and sold at the Harwich Farmers Market in 2017. I focus on finding interesting varieties and seeds that work in the ever changing climate of the Cape Cod region. All of my seed is grown without pesticides, chemical fertilizers or herbicides.

I'm in the process of setting up a seed swapping coop in my region with Native seeds and hopefully developing Landrace varieties for the future of our ever changing climate here. We are surrounded by ocean and are being affected by Climate Change very quickly.

What I'm currently interested in:

Native Dry Beans, Native American Squash, Lettuce, Peppers and Tomatoes.

My philosophy:

Seed belongs in the commons and in the hands of local gardeners for the good of all. Patenting of seed is obstructing biodiversity and resilience in our local food systems and should be eradicated.

[diane]

Welcome from another coastal grower. We are fortunate to have not just regional seed companies, but also breeders, like Frank Morton at Wild Garden Seeds, who sells breeder's mixes that we can select from.

Do you have such a resource, or will you be the first?

Diane

[diane]

That's an interesting website. I've just read about the effort they put into getting cauliflower seed.

And they are still selling Little Greenseed from the Long Island Seed Project - a naked-seed pumpkin. I will have to buy some as the seeds I have are from 2010. I have not succeeded with them yet, but will continue trying.

Diane

[philagardener]

Welcome! Glad to have you on board!

I've grown an heirloom variety called the Mayflower bean reputed to have arrived on the Mayflower in 1620, although it is quite likely that rather than coming across the Atlantic this bean may have been acquired from local indigenous people. It has been recognized by the Ark of Taste (whether the pun was part of the nomination, I don't know) www.slowfoodusa.org/ark-item/mayflower-bean

Drop me your mailing address in a PM and I'd be glad to share some with you.

Have you spoken to the folks at Plimoth Plantation about what they have researched and sourced for their recreated household gardens?

[alongshore]

Feb 20, 2019 12:29:31 GMT -5 diane said:

Welcome from another coastal grower. We are fortunate to have not just regional seed companies, but also breeders, like Frank Morton at Wild Garden Seeds, who sells breeder's mixes that we can select from.

Do you have such a resource, or will you be the first?

Diane

Thanks!  I have ordered a bunch of stuff from Frank and am about to put a an order in soon for some flowers.

We have a couple of good regional seed companies around here www.fedcoseeds.com up in Maine - they have growers specifically in Maine marked by a #1 on the listing. They also have some of the most interesting heirloom apple trees out there.

Solstice Seed is another great one up in Vermont www.solsticeseeds.org/

I'm trying to put together local seed coop for specifically Cape Cod - our growing season is super unique since we are surrounded by water.

[alongshore]

Feb 20, 2019 18:17:00 GMT -5 philagardener said:

Welcome! Glad to have you on board!

I've grown an heirloom variety called the Mayflower bean reputed to have arrived on the Mayflower in 1620, although it is quite likely that rather than coming across the Atlantic this bean may have been acquired from local indigenous people. It has been recognized by the Ark of Taste (whether the pun was part of the nomination, I don't know) www.slowfoodusa.org/ark-item/mayflower-bean

Drop me your mailing address in a PM and I'd be glad to share some with you.

Have you spoken to the folks at Plimoth Plantation about what they have researched and sourced for their recreated household gardens?

Thanks so much, I'll send you a PM.  I did email Plimoth Plantation, I'm hoping there's a fellow seed nerd on staff that can point me in the right direction, I will update you guys on that.

[mskrieger]

Welcome, alongshore. We're neighbors--my garden is in SW Connecticut on the northern side of Long Island Sound. Nice work searching out native seeds. And thanks for checking in on the Long Island Seed project--I corresponded with one of the founders a few years ago about melon seed, but he was not well and I did not hear back. Happy to hear from more coastal New Englanders on the forum!

[alongshore]

Thanks mskrieger - Long Island Seed project looks really cool but they haven't updated in like 5 years, bummer.

Hope you have a great growing season!