review by Jack Kittredge
This has been the go-to book for plant breeders in the organic and small farming world for a generation now. Like many plant breeders, Deppe feels it is fundamental to good farming to manage the biological as well as the agricultural systems involved. She has herself developed new varieties appropriate to her farming situation and believes it is a responsibility of any craftsperson to understand and control the materials of the craft. On top of that good reason, she also points out that no seed company, given the small level of seed sales involved, can devote resources to developing seed for gardeners and small growers. So if anyone is going to, we must.
Carol is an engaging writer. She brings you into her life as a farmer right away, introducing you to others – from the very young to the very old — who have developed important varieties, as well as into her own work. The principles she stresses – patience, respect for detail, judgment about traits and how they will impact the final product – are basic to any craft and she brings their importance home in her stories.
[Read more…] about Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties: The Gardener’s and Farmer’s Guide to Plant Breeding and Seed Saving