Hope and Practice: Christina Wenger

In the first third of the 20th century, the agricultural valleys of California were full of sweet peas grown for seed.

Discover Rare Apples at Seed Savers Exchange’s Historic Orchard

Explore the rare and historic apple varieties growing at Seed Savers Exchange’s Heritage Farm orchard, including Gano, Golden Russet, and Virginia Greening. Learn about their rich history, unique flavors, and how you can help preserve these 19th-century apples for future generations.

Quintessentially British: The Unjustifiably Shunned Runner Bean

In the United States, runner beans are undervalued as an edible crop and usually grown as ornamentals for their large, showy, often scarlet-colored flowers. American horticulturalist Fearing Burr recognized their eating qualities in his 1863 book Field and Garden Vegetables of North America, stating “its value as an esculent has not been generally appreciated.” This remains true today.

heirloom varieties