84-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 2, 1993 Seeds From Grandma’s Garden LOU ANN GOOD Lancaster Fanning Staff LANDISVILLE (Lancaster Co.) If you are searching for beans like Grandma used to grow in her garden, but can’t find them, check with the Heirloom Seed Program at Landis Valley Museum. Chances are that they will have the bean seed although it may be called a different name than Grandma called it. That’s because many of the seeds handed down through the generations are referred to by fam ily names such as Alma’s Limas or Jacob’s Cattle beans. As years pass/ many seeds that were commonly available in previ ous years disappear. In fact, Nancy Pippart, coordinator of the Heir loom Seed Project and historical gardens at Landis Valley, said, “Less than three percent of the seeds available in 1903 are avail able today. And of the 7,000 apple varieties available in the states in 1900, more than 5,000 are lost.” Many seeds have been lost because of hybridization and the requirements of large-scale growers. That does not mean that the pro duce from the seeds did not taste as good as those that that did survive or that they are less disease resis tant. Through time, the seeds have been lost Pippart and about 20 volunteers at Landis Valley want to change that. For the past eight years, they have been planting several acres with heirloom seeds passed on through family generations. These seeds are available by ordering through the Museum’s catalogue and at the Museum’s annual Harvest Days, helld this year on October 9 to 10. During Harvest Days, visitors may observe the fenced-in gar dens, typical of 200 years ago, and purchase heirloom seeds and a lim ited quantity of produce grown in the gardens. Volunteers work year-round in the gardens. Pippart said, “They do everything plant, weed, hoc, water, harvest, process, fill seed packets, and ship catalogue orders. Most of the volunteers are back yard gardeners themselves whose nostalgic for the past often invokes interest in heirloom seeds. Parti cipants in the heirloom seed prog ram strive to preserve the varieties that their own families use. Pippart said the program began when Lee Stoltzfus from Lititz presented the idea to the museum board. Stoltzfus had contacts and many seeds that he had been pre serving over the years. With his and donations from many other families, the museum has been able to offer numerous traditional strains of non-hybrid varieties of plants grown by Pennsylvania Germans before 1940, which have an oral or written history extending back into the early 1800 s. Ida Risser, columnist for Lan caster Farming, is one of the per sons who has donated heirloom seeds. The Risser Early Sugar Pea and Risser Sickle Pea arc family favorites which have been passed through the generations and are now available for other gardeners to purchase through the Heirloom Seed catalogue or at Harvest Days. Prices for the seed packets range between $1.25 to S 3. Since some seeds are in short supply, custom ers can purchase only one packet per each variety. The heirloom seed project is only a small part of the Harvest Days celebration. More than 75 craft and living history demonstra tions from the 1750-1900 era will show-how to make items such as apple cider, gingerbread, bricks, Battenberg lace, dry a house, rye straw roof thatching, dyeing, scherenschnitte, and many early crafts.' Story telling, folk and fiddler music, angling, clock repairing and presentations about Menno nite life and religion will be held. Horse-drawn wagon and car riage rides with the Museum’s horse are available to visitors. Landis Valley is the largest out door museum of Pennsylvania German rural heritage that is a vil- (Turn to Pago B 5) Johann McKee Is one of the volunteers who will be working In costume In the farms tead garden at Landis Valley during Harvest Days on October 9 and 10. The raised bed gardens are recreations based on the 4-square desr leal of their isthcentt Volunteers sort heirloom seeds for packaging in preparation of the upcoming Harvest Day celebration that highlights Pennsylvania Dutch history. GOOD FOOD OUTLET STORES See Our Original Line Of Golden Barrel Products Phis All Kinds Of Beans, Candies, Dried Fruit, Snack Mixes, Etc. At Reduced Prices * BAKING MOLASSES * MAPLE SYRUP * BARBADOS MOLASSES * PANCAKE * WAFFLE . * BLACKSTRAP SYRUPS i^ TnA .MpjB * SORGHUM SYRUP A a 5 A CORN SYRUPS * LIQUID * DRY SUGARS v I# HIGH FRUCTOSE * PANCAKE ft WAFFLE SYRUPS SYRUPS fcfiL ■ '- .p ' , JW. * CANOLA OIL V * ", ~ -‘-I \ S ■ * COCONUT on. 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Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers