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BANG FOR THE BITE
Fewer people are saving seeds from year to year. The further we get away from originally-intended fruits and veggies, the closer we get to a Frankenfood Nation.
COCKTAIL FACT
Tomato skins of past were never thick - they have been bred that way to make the 2000 mile commute to your table.
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home › tip library › Heirloom Plants
Planning your summer garden and want to change it up a bit this year?
The Bite
Include heirloom varieties (produce grown from seeds that haven’t been hybridized). The heirloom movement began in the 1970s as a way to preserve genetic diversity. Beyond fighting off the spread of Frankenfood, heirloom produce just tastes tons better.The Benefits
- High in nutrients and rich in aroma, color and taste. Plus you can impress your friends with cool tomato varieties like Green Zebra, Purple Calabash, and Bull’s Heart.
- Protect biodiversity. Genetically modified vegetables reduce gene diversity, which scientists agree is important to future food production. Of the 7,100 fruit varieties known to be in existence in 1800, only 1,000 varieties exist today.
- Many varietals are “open pollinated,” meaning they are fertilized naturally by wind, insects, birds and animals. You can become a “backyard breeder,” and work on adapting plants to local conditions over time.
- Heirlooms are often tastier than cultivars that have been selected for ease of shipping, uniform appearance or ability to grow well throughout the country.
Personally Speaking
Heather “went heirloom” last summer (with brandywine and pineapple tomato varietals) and she’s never going back. This, in spite of that evil squirrel who seems to think she is growing the brandywine ones just for him…Wanna Try?
We can’t lie. Hybrids are usually bred to be heartier and easier to grow, so you may not get as many tomatoes/potatoes/etc. But they are sure going to taste a lot better… try these on for size:- Seeds Trust - vegetable and tomato heirloom seeds (from $1.95/pack).
- The Heirloom Vegetable Gardener’s Assistant – handy site offers advice and guidance useful to both novice and expert heirloom gardeners.
- Seed Saver Exchange – non-profit organization of gardeners who save and share heirloom seeds.
- Pick your local farmer’s brain! Ask what types of heirlooms they suggest.
Mar 16,2006
Sponsor
As I type this, I've been in Paris for 24 hours, staying at my friends' apt in the Opera Arr. Their place is unreal - no fewer than 10 skylights and 20 windows (I promise, I am not exaggerating), and it just makes me want to be Picasso; to wake and paint and take advantage of the mad light and 6th story Parisian rooftop views.
Unlike Picasso, sadly, I have no artistic skill.
But like Picasso, I do have a great love of food and drink, so the past day has been a whirlwind of espresso, cheese, pain au chocolate, and (of course) wine. And throughout - as always when in Europe - I marvel at the perfection of the food... starting with perfect produce. I had just a regular salad yesterday, at just a regular neighborhood cafe, and even the little tomatoes were ideal. Hothouse, yes, but heirloom and stunning.
We couold all do with a heady dose of French perfectionism, I think. Something about an adherence to the old-fashioned, a praise of originality and simplicity, permeates everything from food to fashion.
I, for one, am going to try to find out what little baby tomato varietal was in my salad yesterday, and add it to my garden this year: my own little nod to bringing Paris home with me.
-Heather... off to the Pompidou... sigh...
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PHOTO ALBUMS
Posted by: Nishant | March 16, 2006 at 08:43 AM