Mignonette Bronze Lettuce

We process all our seeds by hand, and one of the seeds we processed this year was Mignonette Bronze Lettuce (Lactuca sativa). These are the steps we go through to process our lettuce seeds:

Once the flowers turn into little puff balls, the lettuce seed is ready to harvest. The flower head is then cut from the rest of the plant. The flower heads are put into a labeled brown paper bag to keep each lettuce variety separate. The labeled bag is then put into our seed room to dry carefully. Once the seed head is dried out, we begin the process of separating the seeds. Separating the seed from the plant is done outdoors because of the puffy feather-like material surrounding the seeds. We do not want this material flying about in our seed room and causing contamination and intermingling with other lettuces.

The white material (the so-called “feathers”) begins to fly about as we grasp the plant between our fingers and begin to rub them together. The idea is to create friction and vibration, effectively initiating separation. The seeds, heavier than the surrounding fluff, fall to the bottom of the bag. The next step is to put these through a sieve to ensure further that what is left are only seeds. This sifting is usually done several times until all visible non-seed material is eliminated. Only then do we winnow. Following the winnowing of the seeds, the seeds are then put into labeled envelopes, one for our seed stock storage and one for sale.

Now you know how we process the lettuce seeds we grow and sell in the store.
Purchase some of these seeds for your garden, and enjoy the slightly sweet taste of this distinctively colored lettuce on your table.

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Maxatawny (Bear Path) Squash

1770 watercolor

by French Botanist Antoine Duchesne

Maxatawny (Bear Path) Squash

2023

Photo by William Woys Weaver

Robert Reves and the Bear Path Squash

Our dedicated grower and historical reenactor, Robert Reves, of Olsburg, Kansas, has managed to stabilize the super-rare Maxatawny (Bear Path) Squash over the past few seasons. This highly variable landrace was discovered in a naturalized state in Southern Berks County, Pennsylvania, and is one of the few documented squashes tracing to the Lenape and Shawnee Nations of Colonial Pennsylvania. We do not know how Native Americans prepared it, but we have learned that it makes an excellent summer stuffing squash. The Roughwood Center For Heritage Seedways is presently the only collection processing seed of this heirloom treasure. Look for this seed in our online store later this year.

1770s Esopus Spitzenberg

Roughwood experienced a super-crop of heirloom apples this year, and our 1770s Esopus Spitzenberg was the big producer. Dr. William Woys Weaver developed this Pennsylvania Dutch-style pie, which melds apple pie with quiche. Happy Thanksgiving from The Roughwood Center For Heritage Seedways. This recipe will make a great side dish for your feast.

Onion Pie with Apples

Give From Your IRA

Suppose you are 70 ½ years old or older. In that case, you can give up to $100,000 annually from your individual IRA directly to a qualified organization such as The Roughwood Center For Heritage Seedways without paying income taxes on the distribution. This popular option is commonly called the IRA charitable rollover, a qualified charitable distribution, or QCD.

To complete the gift, contact your IRA administrator. Please request that they include your name and address on the check and notify us of your gift so we may thank you for your generosity and ensure your distribution is received. Checks should be payable to

The Roughwood Center For Heritage Seedways. EIN 87-1666074. Our principal business address is P.O. Box 75, Devon, PA 19333

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PO BOX 75
107 Old Lancaster Road
Devon
PA
19333
United States of America