Gathering is the memoir of diane ott whealy, one of the two original founders of the seed savers exchange sse, the largest private, notforprofit seed bank in the united states. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Jul 06, 2011 diane ott whealy is the cofounder of seed savers exchange and presently serves as vice president of education. The garden that seeds itself seed savers exchange blog. Diane ott whealy is cofounder of seed savers exchange, a nonprofit that has been dedicated to saving and sharing americas heirloom seeds since 1975. Grandpa otts morning glory flower seed savers exchange. How to select and grow the best varieties of all time paperback december 30, 2014 by craig lehoullier author visit amazons craig lehoullier page. Diane ott whealy s memoir, which reads like a story shed tell you if you sat next to her at a big iowa family reunion, is frank about what it took to build an institution that both she and her thenhusband believed in, to the point of going without health insurance for themselves. Jack chambers, president, terravesco before reading this book, i made a mental note of topics that i felt would be included, such as history, howto, underlying science, pitfalls and benefits, and. Books by diane ott whealy all formats hardcover sort by. Diane ott whealy of seed savers exchange, a nonprofit organization that preserves thousands of heirloom fruit, vegetable and other plant seeds, gave talks and held book signings march and last. Episode 125 interviews joel salatin, cheryl long, diane ott. Managing a living collection of over 20,000 varieties, seed savers exchange distributes openpollinated seeds, coordinates a membertomember seed swap of homegrown seeds and teaches the time. Carolyn male, 100 heirloom tomatoes for the american garden.
Each spring i am reminded of this tale when my garden is bare, completely void of any life on the surface, with a tremendous plant source lying beneaththe. Diane s grandfather entrusted to them the seeds of two garden plants, grandpa ott s morning glory and german pink tomato. Daughter of iowa farmers, missouri homesteader, and mother of five, diane ott whealy never anticipated that one day she would become a leader in a grassroots movement to preserve our agricultural biodiversity. Ott whealy chronicles the beginnings, struggles, and successes of what becomes the worldrenowned nonprofit seed savers exchange, cofounded with kent whealy.
Diane ott whealy cofounded seed savers exchange sse with kent whealy in 1975. Daughter of iowa farmers, missouri homesteader, and mother of five, diane ott whealy never anticipated that one day she would become a leader in a grassroots. But from the getgo, other individuals were equally keen to save and share heirloom seeds to preserve genetic diversity. One of two plants that inspired the creation of seed savers exchange, grandpa ott s morning glory bears beautiful deeppurple flowers with red stars at their center. Seed savers exchange, the nations premier nonprofit seedsaving organization, began humbly as a simple exchange of seeds among passionate gardeners who sought to preserve the rich gardening heritage their ancestors had brought to this. The worm farmers handbook can help that revolution go forward, and i heartily recommend this book to anyone interested in vermiculture. In 1987, not long after seed savers exchange bought heritage farmarguably one of the most beautiful farms in iowakent whealy and diane ott whealy, founders of the organization, learned that the homemade laminated bows that supported the barns roof were weakening. Craig lehoullier is the author of growing vegetables in straw bales and epic tomatoes and the tomato adviser for seed savers exchange. Diane ott whealy, cofounder and vice president of seed savers exchange. Diane ott had a family heritage of farming the oldfashioned way. Mar 11, 2012 for example, the german pink tomato has grown over 100 years in northeast iowa, said diane ott whealy, cofounder of seed savers exchange. The worm farmers handbook chelsea green publishing.
Books for those who love heirloom plants book blog. Ott whealy s downtoearth narrative traces her fascinating journey from oregon to. This week on rootstock radio, were speaking with diane ott whealy, cofounder and vice president of seed savers exchange. The first true seed exchange newsletter printed a note from lina sisco of winona, missouri, one of the original listed members. This selfsowing annualgiven to sse cofounder diane ott whealy by her grandpa ott who lived on a 40acre farm in st. Diane ott whealy will read from her new book, gathering. By telling her adventurous story about the places where she lived, gardened, raised five children,and came to know fellow gardeners, many of them old timers, diane ott whealy has done an important service to our country and to the world, and in a natural voice that makes this book charming not preachy. She is shown with corn and popcorn seed varieties, listing off fun names like pretty. Daughter of iowa farmers, missouri homesteader and mother of five, diane ott whealy never anticipated that one day she would become a leader in a. The medicinal forest garden handbook chelsea green publishing. Daughter of iowa farmers, missouri homesteader, and mother of five, diane ott whealy is a leader in a grassroots movement to preserve our agricultural biodiversity. Join facebook to connect with diane ott and others you may know. The young gardener had just inherited some flower and tomato seeds and wanted to connect with others who shared her appreciation for heirloom plants.
This book is the memoir of diane ott whealy, one half of the husband and wife team that brought sse to. In the beginning of seed savers exchange, it was a stash of morning glory and tomato seeds that diane ott whealys grandfather brought over from germany that started. Come out for a memorable evening celebrating escape to creates 25th performance season in seaside, florida. Diane ott whealy presents the biography of the conservationist who began the seed savers exchange with her exhusband in order to save seeds passed down through generations and maintain horticultural diversity. Today sse is regarded as the nations leading nonprofit seedsaving organization. Diane ott whealy is cofounder and vice president of seed savers exchange, the nations leading nonprofit seed saving organization. Seed savers cofounder diane ott whealy of decorah has authored a book gathering. June 14, 20 diane ott whealy, seed savers exchange. Books media contact diane ott whealy has been a national leader in the heirloom seed movement and a strong advocate for the protection of the earths rare genetic food stocks for over 36 years.
The first person i interviewed at the fair was diane ott whealy. Kent whealy april 27, 1946 march 23, 2018 was an american activist, journalist and philanthropist who cofounded seed savers exchange and promoted organic agriculture and the saving of heirloom seeds. Friday, february 17 architectural historian judith dupre and heritage seed pioneer, diane ott whealy seaside rep theatre 7. Gathering by diane ott whealy, 9780615457741, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. For more than 35 years, diane has been a national leader in the heirloom seed movement and a strong advocate for the protection of the earths rare genetic food stocks. For more than 35 years, diane has been a national leader in the heirloom seed movement and a strong advocate for the.
Seed savers exchange, the nations premier nonprofit seedsaving organization, began humbly as a simple exchange of seeds among passionate gardeners who sought to preserve the rich gardening heritage their ancestors had. Seeds have become a hot button topic, from seed sovereignty the right of farmers to save, use, exchange and sell their own seeds to the availability of nongmo and organically raised seeds. Diane ott whealy came to illinois promoting her new book gathering which is a historical memoir of the founding and work that went into creating seed savers exchange. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world. Raised in wellington, kansas he was inspired by the works of agricultural geneticists jack harlan and h. Craig lehoullier has been on a marathon journey with this fruit for 35 years, growing and evaluating thousands of tomatoes. Seed savers exchange was founded in missouri in 1975 by diane ott whealy and kent whealy. Many seed savers exchange supporters know that the organization was founded in 1975 by kent whealy and diane ott whealy with seeds from two beloved family heirloomsthe german pink tomato and the grandpa ott s morning glory. Her grandpa ott s deeppurple morning glories were locally famous in a. Her grandpa otts deeppurple morning glories were locally famous in a tiny place near festina, iowa, and he shared the seed. Decorah, ia back in 1975, diane ott whealy and her partner kent whealy sent a letter to mother earth news asking if anyone was. Today the seed savers exchange maintains a collection of almost 30,000 heirloom seeds. Daughter of iowa farmers, missouri homesteader and mother of five, diane ott whealy never anticipated that one day she would become a leader in a grassroots movement to preserve our agricultural biodiversity. Diane cofounded seed savers exchange with kent whealy in 1975.
The love for the land and the respect for heirloom seeds that diane shared with her husband, kent whealy, led to their starting seed savers exchange in 1975. Daughter of iowa farmers, missouri homesteader, and mother of five, diane. The story begins in diane s childhood, and weaves its way through her marriage, children, and homesteading in several states, and explains how sse finally landed in. Diane ott whealy is the cofounder of seed savers exchange and presently serves as vice president of education. Diane cofounded seed savers exchange, a nonprofit organization near decorah, iowa, that preserves heirloom plant varieties through regeneration. The organization evolved into a private seed bank, collecting and saving heirloom varieties of vegetable, fruit and grain seeds. Cofounder of seed savers exchange now retired, but still an active advisor to the organizations board, author of gathering. Diane ott whealy, cofounder and vp of seed savers exchange. She has been a national leader in the heirloom seed movement and a strong advocate for the protection of the earths rare genetic food stocks for over 36 years. It is one of about 1500 seed banks in the world, and hosts 15,000 to 20,000 people from all over north america each year in the visitor center, which is set on an 898acre farm in decorah, iowa. This book is the memoir of diane ott whealy, one half of the husband and wife team that brought sse to life. In 1987, not long after seed savers exchange bought heritage farmarguably one of the most beautiful farms in iowakent whealy and diane ott whealy, founders of the organization, learned that the homemade laminated bows that supported the barns roof were weakening, and. She has been a national leader in the heirloom seed movement and a strong advocate for the protection of. Memoir of a seed saver, is a reminder that good things arent built in a day, and it is sometimes unclear where passions and persistence will lead.
She is one of the cofounders of seed savers exchange. Diane whealys seed savers exchange cultivates new connections. Diane ott whealy prairie lights iowa city bookstore. The love for the land and the respect for heirloom seeds that ott whealy shared with her husband, kent, led to their starting seed. The second person i interview was cheryl long, editorinchief at mother earth news magazine. Jun 14, 2019 back in 1975, diane ott whealy and her partner kent whealy sent a letter to mother earth news asking if anyone was interested in seed saving. Memoir of a seed saver to chronicle the organizations humble beginnings and growth into a respected leader in the grassroots movement to preserve our agricultural heritage. These seeds, brought by grandpa ott s parents from bavaria when they immigrated to iowa in 1884, became the first two varieties in the collection. Nov 04, 2011 diane ott whealys memoir, which reads like a story shed tell you if you sat next to her at a big iowa family reunion, is frank about what it took to build an institution that both she and her thenhusband believed in, to the point of going without health insurance for themselves.
About diane events books media contact powered by create your own unique website with customizable templates. Publishers weeklynabhan, an ethnobotanist, cofounder of native seedssearch, and prolific author, draws on his longtime relationships with the land and people of the southwest u. Growing food in a hotter, drier land by gary paul nabhan. In the last 30 years, he has trialed more than 1,200 tomato varieties and has introduced more than 100 varieties to the trade. Join facebook to connect with diane ott whealy and others you may know. In the late 1980s, just like today, the historic barn at heritage farm was in need of helplots of help. She spoke with me before the public program about how there is a new movement to return to nonhybrid seed and avoid genetically modified seeds which has spawned many companies. Lucas, iowacan climb to 15 feet tall, if given a support to grow on. Jul 11, 2012 diane ott had a family heritage of farming the oldfashioned way.