About Me:
Sylvia has been an active seed saver for over 25 years, with a focus on heritage and ancient grains in her garden. She is interested in rare varieties with potential for adaptation to our changing climate as well as excellent flavor and baking qualities. In addition to cereal grain, she also grows amaranth, corn, sorghum, and upland rice varieties suited to our region.
Website: Northern Grain Growers
USDA Growing Zone: 5a
| Grain | Variety Name | Detailed Description of Grain Variety | File |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amaranth | Hopi Red Dye | Matures in 50 days to edible leaves, 120 days to seed. Entire plant is a deep burgundy red. Plants reach 6' and branch copiously if spaced widely. Seeds are glossy and deep burgundy in color. Used as a dye plant by Hopi Indians. | |
| Amaranth | Hopi Red Dye | Matures in 50 days to edible leaves, 120 days to seed. Entire plant is a deep burgundy red. Plants reach 6' and branch copiously if spaced widely. Seeds are glossy and deep burgundy in color. Used as a dye plant by Hopi Indians. | |
| Wheat | Breisgauer Begrannter Roter Land | Landrace from the southwestern region of Germany. Awnless, despite translation of "begrannt" as bearded. Upright, 50" tall, with big, heavy heads, very sturdy stems, and no tendency to lodge. Seems to have tolerance for both dry and very wet/humid conditions. Very easy to thresh but does not shatter. | |
| Wheat | Automne Rouge Barbu | Described in Vilmorin's 1880 book The Best Wheats as having blond straw, tall, strong, very straight, well-filled heads. This variety originates along the borders of the Rhine, where it has been cultivated over a long time. A beautiful, rustic variety, very productive and resistant to all sorts of diseases, even in humid seasons. The only disadvantage of the variety is that it has a tendency to shatter at maturity. The remedy for this is to harvest the grain a bit before it is completely dry, and finish drying in a shed. This variety can thrive in sandy soils as long as it is well irrigated. | |
| Grain | Variety Name | Detailed Description of Grain Variety | File |