Seed Collecting in Far Away Places

This year I am dedicated to growing out a very important part of my seed collection to increase my seed stick for preservation and to pass on future generations of farmers and gardeners. Since 1986, I have spent time in Washington Parish Louisiana where I have collected food crop seeds that date back to at least 100 years ago, and in some cases, 150 years. Along with these heritage seeds, I have also recorded numerous stories and tales from farmers and old timers from around the Parish, so in a sense I am collection “living history” (seeds) and written history.

Both of these subjects are closely related. What I am doing an be referred to as “memory banking” so that the history and way of life of former times, along with the seeds that were grown in their fields will not become subject to being lost. A documentary filming of this project is planned for late August here at Blackberry Farm, which will document the story of the old seed varieties, how they were grown, all of their uses and the story of those who raised them. Here are the names of a number of the old varieties, which include The Unknown Pea of Washington Parish, Purple Hull Whippoorwill, Black Cornfield Pea, Red Ripper Cornfield Pea, Snow on the Mountain Butterbean, Purple Eye Butterbean and Pigott Field Pea, just to name a few.