The evaporation of time continues. It’s been nearly a month since my last blog - and just about a month since we moved into our Hendersonville house. We’ve had two lovely snow “storms” (aesthetic snow!) that quickly melted but was beautiful to watch fall or walk in. We’ve mostly unpacked, with just the downstairs room and garage remaining. Being here feels like home, a sensation that began from the second we walked into the door. Below are current pics of my office and Sue’s sewing room.

I just returned from a pretty incredible trip to Oregon, due to an invitation to the 2020 Organic Seed Growers Conference (and a chance to present on the Dwarf Tomato Project), along with a day spent with Denise and Mike Dunton at their farm/house/seed company (Victory) in Molalla. It would take weeks to consider the richness and value and enjoyment of the conference, rubbing shoulders with hundreds of bright, talented seed people (farmers, companies, gardeners, growers, historians, educators and more) from all over the world. My time with Mike and Denise were simply priceless. Mike and I have met exactly three times, but we truly are nearly the same people on different coasts (we do catch up on the phone with occasional marathon sessions!). Below are a pic of Mike and I, a shot of the seed swap at the conference, and a view from the plane flying home - lots of snow!

Tomorrow takes me to Hartford Connecticut to provide four workshops at the Connecticut Flower and Garden Show - two on Thursday, two on Friday. I am so pleased to be adding my garden history talk along side my information on growing and enjoying tomatoes. All of the information on the event can be found here. If you do manage to attend, please be sure to say hello!

Now onto veggie seeds. After finally getting seeds unpacked and my office ready for business, seed requests are in the process of being satisfied. Although I’ve made good progress, there is still a long way to go. If you asked for seeds, you will get them, though I don’t expect completing the requests until late February (sorry if I messed up your seed starting, but the seeds will be fine for many years).

Getting down to the seed request fulfillment business

With just a few exceptions to continue to send out Dwarf Tomato Project seed to long time members, I can accept no more requests until late in the year, after the gardening season is complete. I’ve yet to even consider what my own gardening adventures will look like, as speaking-related travel is sprinkled throughout the spring and summer (I’ve been adding events - the list can be found here). I also have completion of the book on the DTP as highest priority to complete this year.

Come back again soon - there will be information and pics from my trips, updates on my book and gardening adventures, and general sharing of impressions from our new life out here in Hendersonville, NC.