As native grasses such as little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium and cvs., Zones 3–9) and prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis and cvs., Zones 3–9) increasingly gain traction in gardens, exotics such as miscanthus (Miscanthus sinensis and cvs., Zones 4–9) are losing favor because of their invasive tendencies. But not all exotic grasses are troublesome and need to be avoided. Feather reed grass (Calamagrostis × acutiflora and cvs., Zones 5–9) is a natural hybrid of C. arundinacea and C. epigejos, which are both nonnatives and prolific self-sowers, but the hybrid rarely sets fertile seed—a major plus for an exotic grass, right? So why are other reed grasses—‘Karl Foerster’ aside—so underused? To answer that question is to understand the phenomenon of ‘Karl Foerster’ feather reed grass (C. × acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’).
growing wholeness at turtle tree seed
21.07.2023 - 22:58 / awaytogarden.com
ONE SQUASH SLEPT ON THE WINDOWSILL, another in the cabinet beneath the sink. Both stayed firm (and presumably delicious) all winter long, and then some—far into the next year. Lia Babitch and Ian Robb, co-managers of Turtle Tree Seed in Copake, New York, may store their ‘Butternut’ differently, but the greater mission they’re part of is the same: to offer biodynamic, open-pollinated seed to gardeners and farmers that’s been selected to be the very best it can…which if you’re a winter squash means sticking around a good long while. Meet these gifted gardeners and more of their very special seed varieties.
a treasure in my backyardThere’s an expression about finding a treasure right in your own backyard, and for me, Turtle Tree is just that. Operated as part of the oldest Camphill Village community in the United States, it’s just “across town” from my place (if you can apply that expression to a drive on winding roads across six miles of fields and hillsides).
At Turtle Tree, as in all the other aspects of life and work at Camphill, adults with special needs are part of the team that harvested, dried, cleaned, germination-tested, packed and shipped more than 42,000 packs of seed to more than 40 farms and 4,000 home gardeners in the last year. Turtle Tree, founded in the early 1990s, is the only exclusively biodynamic seed catalog in the country (more on biodynamics—a type of organic farming or gardening that incorporates awareness of dynamic, subtle forces in nature—is below).
“Camphill Village is a community of people, some with special needs, who live and work together caring for each other and the Earth,” the village’s website explains. The principles behind the community, and behind the biodynamic practices of the
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