The sun peaked through the cloud when we drove up to theSeed Savers Exchangeheadquarters in Decorah , Iowa , this summer . Just like going from sinister and white to technicolor , the garden erupt to life with vivid hues of the varied heirloom seed Seed Savers works indefatigably to preserve . Diane Ott Whealy and Kent Whealy started the organization in 1975 , inspired by some heirloom love apple seed Diane ’s German grandfather brought from the native land when he immigrated to Iowa in the seventies . Today , Seeds Savers Exchange has bloom into a nonprofit that champions , preserves and share the heritage and report behind our heirloom seed , promoting diversity in our increasingly monoculture humanity .
Take a look at our trip behind the scenes at Seed Savers Exchange , and scroll to the death for a fabulous fall recipe they share with us : Roasted Beets with Mint Yogurt .
Open March through December , the Lillian Goldman Visitors Center is the entry full stop to Heritage Farm , the Seed Savers Exchange central office , nestled in the beautiful rolling hill of northeast Iowa outside Decorah .
We tour the amazing gardens , including Diane ’s Garden , created every year by Seed Savers ’ atomic number 27 - father , Diane Ott Whealy , focusing on garden pattern ideas that anyone could implement in their own home gardens .
The Diversity Garden showcases various annual base championing the workplace and pastime of Seed Savers ’ more than 13,000 member . Seed Savers annually make a “ yearbook ” that contains more than 20,000 itemization of seeds various members have preserved for interchange .
“ multitude come out to our gardens and they see tomato plant in every shape and color , flowers they have never view before , and they start in truth understanding diversity , ” enunciate Steve Carlson , communications manager at Seed Savers Exchange . “ It ’s the expert classroom we could ever inquire for . ”
Seed Savers Exchange is home to thousands of various heirloom seeds , stand for what they mention to as “ a portrait of the agrarian heritage of the United States . ”
“ Every flora has a purpose , ” Ott Whealy says . “ Even if you ca n’t eat it , the plant answer as a pollinator for other fruits and vegetables . ”
Diane ’s Garden highlights a change of seeds with historic meaning , include ego - seedng blossom varietals . These old - fashioned , heirloom flowers often have a much more vivacious , substantial scent than commercially bred flowers today , which increases attractiveness of bees and pollinator . “ We take to protect our flowers as much as our vegetables , ” Ott Whealy says .
“ Every seed has a history and that ’s what we celebrate here in the gardens , ” Ott Whealy says .
“ I do have a wad of thoughts when I ’m down here in the garden , ” Ott Whealy portion as we ourselves reap breathing in from the beauty of the spot .
The diverseness of Diane ’s Garden shows how plants of unlike sizes work together ; magniloquent plant like to have small plants grow under them for shade or apply the bigger plant as a trellis for financial backing .
The visitant ’s center offers a eye - catching regalia of heirloom ejaculate to take to your home garden .
In addition to their public pedagogy body of work and outreach , Seeds Savers Exchange also does open up research on heirloom come .
Seed Savers Exchange keeps gravid stock list of heirloom seeds , both for public sales event through their catalog .
If you think all Beta vulgaris are maroon and only good for pickling , flip through the beet division of the Seed Savers catalogue and try the Seed Savers Exchange formula below for Roasted Beets with Mint Yogurt . The folks at Seed Savers advocate trying this with the Chioggia Beta vulgaris , which might look like a advanced designer - style beet but was in reality introduced to American gardeners from Italy back in the previous 1840s . We love growing Chioggia beets on our farm in Wisconsin , as they ’re not only tasty but quite the surprisal package : They reckon like most dark purplish beet from the exterior , but the inside alternates red and bloodless rings like a bull - eye . Seed Savers recommends any common beet for this recipe , but for more involvement you could use a combination of golden , white and Chioggia beets .
Seed Savers append that the colour of these Beta vulgaris is continue and the flavor is intensified when roast .
Recipe: Roasted Beets with Mint Yogurt
Courtesy of Seed Savers Exchange
Ingredients
Preparation
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
blend all ingredients besides beets and set aside . This is the yoghourt dressing .
Wash beets , and trim tops and solution . fray each common beet with olive oil and topographic point in shallow roasting pan . Cover with foil and roast beet for about 1 hour or until well pierced with a knife .
When beets are cool enough to treat , remove skins and slew into slice . Arrange beet on plate and mizzle yogurt dressing over . Garnish with overbold mint leaves . service warm or chill .
