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Page 12 The Clarington/Courtice Independent, Bowmanvillc, Saturday, March 29, 1997 Agricultural Calendar Mar. 27 Ontario County Holstein Club Sale, Phoenix Sales Barn, Uxbridge. Mar. 27 s7:30 p.m. "Organization Excellence" Workshop, OMAFRA, Lindsay (pre-registration only 1- 800-461-0329). Mar. 31 8:00 p.m. Durham Region DHI Annual Meeting, OMAFRA Boardroom, Port Perry. Apr. 8 7:00 p.m. Durham Farm and Rural Family Resources, Board Meeting, at Kiezcbrink's. Apr. 9 8:30 a.m. Agricultural Lenders Seminar, OMAFRA, Port Perry. Apr. 12 6:00 p.m. 4-H Night With The Toronto Raptors, SkyDome,Toronto. Apr. 16 10:00 a.m. Ontario Spring Jersey Show, Markham Fairgrounds. by Laura J. Richards Staff Writer Have you ever seen, much less eaten, blue potatoes? Pat Windatt of Starkville has half a basket full of these really different-looking spuds in her home's coldroom. There were a lot more at harvest harvest time last September. Unlike the tiny to mediumsized mediumsized red-skinned potatoes, which are only red on the exterior, Pat says blue potatoes potatoes are blue throughout. "When they are cooked, they're kind of mauve," Pat explained. They are among the many heirloom varieties of seeds being preserved through a group known as Seeds of Diversity. In the Seeds of Diversity listing for 1997, blue potatoes can be found from Quebec to British Columbia. One listing offers the following following description of blue potatoes: "A large potato that prefers some shade and rich soil. Excellent baking potato. Do NOT boil, as colour bleeds. Stores well." Another listing for the same type states: "Seems resistant to potato beetle. Good baked and mashed." Blue potatoes aren't the only ones Pat grows. She has also had success with sweet potatoes, normally a southern United States delicacy. At her kitchen counter on a warm morning in early February, Pat showed that her sweet potatoes, which are actually root knots or knobs, grow in all sizes -- from miniatures to gargantuan proportions. proportions. Pat's interest in growing this almost tropical tuber was HUNCO FARM SUPPLIES LIMITED Hunco Farm Supplies Limited R.R. #4, Cobourg, Ont. K9A 4J7 Hwy. #2 between Port Hope and Cobourg Phone: 905-885-7203 or 1-800-263-4836 • Custom Application of Fertilizer • "New for 1997 Air Flow Terra-gator" • Complete line of SHUR-GAIN Feeds and Pet Food • Supplier for all your Crop Inputs and Farm Supplies • Forward Grain Contracting We look forward to being of service to you with our competitive pricing and service ©j.p. DURHAM FARMERS COUNTY CO-OP Grafton Hwy. #2 (905) 349-2411 Orono Hwy. 115 and Taunton Rd. (905) 983-9134 FEED AND CROP PRODUCTS CONSUMER GOODS A t Aft"' Everyone is invited to shop COUNTY CO-OP "for Value Added Service" ©j.p. piqued when, she read an article article in Harrowsmith magazine about sweet potatoes. " "I thought I might like to try growing them," she recalls. Her technique for growing what some people refer to as 'sweets' is to have a layer of . topsoil, mixed with manure and peat moss. Her last batch came from a pile her husband had left over from his nursery business. This will not guarantee a plentiful crop, but it worked for her. She noted that she always sends growing information information with her seed potatoes. potatoes. In the 1997 listing, there are four growers of sweet potatoes offering tubers from across Ontario. A Kingston resident is offering a white- skinned sweet potato with an irregular surface that is "an old variety, very popular in the South until 1930," states one listing. In fact, three of the four listings for sweet potatoes in Canada are from the same collector. He has B-18s, Georgia Jet(s), and Nancy Hall(s). The fourth is Pat with Georgia Jet(s). So, what is "Seeds of Diversity?" The mission statement of the organization's newsletter/magazine newsletter/magazine states the role of the group is: "to assist and promote conservation, preservation, preservation, and enhancement of the diversity of open-pollinated open-pollinated plants. We are a living gene bank." The objectives of Seeds of Diversity Canada include finding, preserving, studying and encouraging the cultivation cultivation of heirloom and endangered endangered varieties of food crops. The group is especially interested interested in Canadian varieties to ensure that they continue the be available for the backyard gardener and farmer. The organization also sends speakers to schools, clubs, museums and other community settings to provide provide information on the proper proper methods of seed saving to maintain the genetic integrity of crop varieties. A number of people in Clarington are involved in the organization through cultivation cultivation and by being involved in the production of the seed listing catalogue. From this area are: Evylin Stroud, Jean-Michel Komarnicki and Rick Hurvid. Seeds of Diversity mem- bership How does Seeds of Diversity work? Pat noted the 1,400 members members of the organization pay a membership fee of $25 per year, while those who are on fixed incomes pay $20 and those outside of Canada pay $35. It started when Heather Apple, a resident of Uxbridge, decided it was time to start thinking about the future of heritage or heirloom seeds. These are the seeds our grandparents and their parents used in their gardens. Pat agrees with the concept. concept. "I like the idea of saving the older seeds." She likes to experiment with different seed crops too, like cotton. Pat noted she grew some cotton two years ago, but it didn't meet her expectations. She laughed and adds that there wouldn't be a cottonpicking cottonpicking taking place in her garden any time soon! Seed Listings In examining the seed catalogue, catalogue, one will be astonished by the number of different Turn to page 9 SEEDS OF DIVERSITY -- Organic grower Pat Windatt, of Starkville, has always been interested in saving seeds of yesteryear. She is a member of a group of growers who are trying to save old-fashioned or unique seeds that have been proven by the test of time. She is seen here with some of the beans she has grown in her garden, along with blue potatoes and sweet potatoes. tiomecare BUILDING CENTRE Serving the area for over 30 Years Quality and Service has been the secret to our success. 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