All in the family

Every year we compile an annual Yearbook – a book of over 13,000 heirloom varieties made available for exchange, by and among, Seed Savers Exchange members.  The 2010 Yearbook is also available online as an added benefit of membership.

The Yearbook is the “exchange” part of Seed Savers Exchange.  It is where seeds that have been handed down from generation to generation are distributed by members.  And many of those family heirlooms bear the names of people near and dear to us; Grandma Brown’s Bean, Uncle Charlie’s Giant Italian Pear, Aunt Swarlo’s Polish Plum and, of course, Grandpa  Ott’s Morning Glory – one of the two seed varieties that gave rise to Seed Savers Exchange in 1975.

ABOVE: A photo of Grandpa Ott surround by his morning glories.  This flower has been passed down 4 generations since he immigrated to the United States from Germany in the late 1800's.

Our Listed Members save seeds because they know that the tastes and textures of heirlooms are unrivaled by hybrids; they know that replanting saved seeds is the most affordable way to garden; they know that growing rare and endangered heirloom seeds helps maintain plant diversity; and they know that seeds grown in a certain region for decades may have adapted to weather and soil conditions, as well as acquired tolerance to diseases or pests.  

And they know that exchanging seeds is another way to pass on memories, knowledge and traditions that have been kept for generations within a family.  Sharing and exchanging these seeds allows members to ensure that their beloved seeds do not become extinct.

The Seed Savers 2010 Yearbook is all about keeping that grand tradition alive.   We challenge you to adopt at least one of the following into your family tree:

• Grandpa's Minnesota Hardy Cherry Tomato
• Grandpa Admire's Lettuce
• Grandpa Charlie Tomato
  
• Grandpa Ludolph German Tomato
• Grandpa Willie Tomato
  
• Grandpa's Bean
  
• Grandpa's Cock's Plume Tomato
  
• Grandpa's Home Pepper
  
• Grandpa's Minnesota Tomato
• Grandpa Achor's Potato Onion
• Grandfather Ashlock Tomato
• Grandfather Barnini's Oxheart Tomato
• Grandma Glady's Yellow Belgian Tomato
• Grandma Baker's Tomato
  
• Grandma Brown's Bean
• Grandma Dalton's Yellow Pole Bean
• Grandma Featherston Six Week Bean
• Grandma Freida's Tomato
  
• Grandma Glady's Belgian Tomato
• Grandma Greuel's Crabapple
  
• Grandma Josie Tomato
• Grandma Mary's Tomato
  
• Grandma Nellie Chernoff’s Yellow Mushroom Bean
• Grandma Nespeca's Bean
  
• Grandma Oliver's Green Tomato
• Grandma Pfeifer Winter Onion
• Grandma Storrt's Speckled Lima
• Grandma Turck's Swirl Pole Bean
  
• Grandma Turner's Bean
  
• Grandma Vadas' Onion
  
• Grandma Viney's Yellow And Pink Tomato
  
• Grandma Walker Bean
• Aunt Ada's Italian Bean
  
• Aunt Amelia Lima Bean
• Aunt Anna Tomato
  
• Aunt Astrida's Latvian Oxheart Tomato
  
• Aunt Ginny's Orange Tomato
  
• Aunt Ginny's Purple Tomato
  
• Aunt Katherine's Bean
  
• Aunt Lou's Underground Railroad Tomato
  
• Aunt Lucy Apple
• Aunt Madge's Tomato
  
• Aunt Mary's Sweet Corn
• Aunt Molly’s Ground Cherry
  
• Aunt Ruby's German Green Tomato
  
• Aunt Swarlo's Polish Plum Tomato
  
• Aunt Swarlo's Red Currant Tomato
  
• Aunt Medge's Cherry Tomato
• Uncle Walt's, Vermont Pole Cranberry Bean
• Uncle Don's White Tomato
• Uncle Blaine's Pink Beef Tomato
  
• Uncle Charlie's Giant Italian Pear Tomato
  
• Uncle David's Dakota Dessert Squash
  
• Uncle E Muskmelon
  
• Uncle Ike's Big Red Tomato
• Uncle Leon's Bean
• Uncle Mark Bagby's Tomato
• Uncle Mart's Oxheart Tomato
• Uncle Steve's Italian Pole Bean
  
• Uncle Steve's Oxheart Tomato
  
• Uncle Stevie Tomato

BELOW: Russian Heirlooms, tomato seeds & matruschkas, or stacking dolls.