The Appalachian Heirloom Seed Conservancy's Fall Conference

[Gary]

The Appalachian Heirloom Seed Conservancy's Fall Conference is scheduled for October 6-8 at the Sustainable Mountain Agriculture Center in Berea, Kentucky.

I plan to be there all day Saturday for the presentations.
Presenters for Saturday – Paul Holloway --Growing Heirloom Corn, Merlyn Nieden’s and his wife, Mary Ann -- All About Heirloom Melons, Dr. Bill Best -- The Sustainable Mountain Agriculture Center and Tour, Market Grower’s & Buyers Roundtable Discussion, John Coykendall---Butterbeans & Limas. I'm looking forward to meeting the new attendees and sharing time with the other good folks. The one on one time with "master" growers is superb. Of course the opportunity to learn about heirloom varieties and acquire/exchange heirloom seed is the best!

It’s not too late to plan on being there. Contact me if you are interested. I can give you the schedule and directions on getting there.

[Joan]

If anyone lives nearby and can go, it would be well worth it to you. The Rodale Institute use to have something similar. They drew great crowds but stopped having it. We went every year for 5 years and always came away learning new things.

[Gary]

My day at the Sustainable Mountain Agriculture Center attending the Appalachian Heirloom Seed Conservancy Fall Conference.

My friend and neighbor, Cathy, and I left yesterday at 6:30 am for the two hour and a few mintues to Berea where the Appalachian Heirloom Seed Conservancy was being held. It was such a good meeting with outstanding presentations and seeing old friends and meeting new ones. Ira Wallace from Southern Exposure Seed, Mineral Virginia was there. They specialize in Heirloom Seed of all types. They along with Baker Creek Seeds will be listing my "Granny Cantrell's" German Tomato in their 2007 Seed Catalog this spring. She is a co-ordinator at Southern Exposure. She and Merlyn Nieden's are good friends! She and I made a real connection and I look forward to further contact with her. I was able to pick up a few new tomato varieties which are not available commercially. Several of these are being considered for commercial availablity within the next several years. What amazes me always is the willingness to share seed varieties of many different Heirloom seed/plants.
We arrived back home at 7:30. This made a long day for me as I usually get a nap in for this old 70 year old with heart problems. I feel revived though because such as experience gives me a feeling of elation! We had a late dinner and It wasn't long until I was ready for bed.
The weather has turned chilly here and it is invigorating, but I chill easy due to poor circulation.
It will take a day or two for me to get back into a normal schedule.
It is always good to visit the Sustainable Mountain Agriculture to see what is happening in their program. I am posting a Link to their web site. Enjoy!
Gary/Louisville

Sustainable Mountain Agriculture Center Inc.
Sustainable Mountain Agriculture Center Berea, Kentucky.
http://www.heirlooms.org/

[bluelacedredhead]

Gary, Sounds like you had a wonderful time. Wish I could have attended. Maybe another year..

[mrtomatoexpres]

congrats gary got to get this tomatoe :) :)

[flowerpower]

Very cool, Gary! Congrats! Can you give us a description of the tomato again?

[Gary]

"Granny Cantrell's" German Red/Pink , only tomato ever grown by Lettie
Cantrell of West Liberty, Kentucky, since the '40s. Large Beefsteak tasty
fruits, regular foliage, Indeterminate, Family Heirloom, few seeds, Vines tend to be a little 'wispy', Mid 69-80 days, OP, use fresh eating, slicer, canning. Lettie died in January 2006 at the age of 96. A top “10” in taste with many CHOPTAG tomato growers. Won “Best In Taste” Baker Creek Fall Festival 2006. Merlyn Niedens grew it this year to share with Southern Exposure and Baker Creek for their 2007 seed catalog.


CHOPTAG -- Cincinnati Heirloom Open Pollinated Tomato Associate Growers

[flowerpower]

Thanks Gary.