The Heirloom Collard Project

[chrysanthemum]

As I was driving home a medical appointment this afternoon, I was listening to the news on NPR and heard a great story about the Heirloom Collard Project.  It talked about Ira Wallace as well as a professor at Emory & Henry University who has driven something like 12,000 miles to collect collard seeds.  It was a great story and made me happy while I was driving.  I thought folks here would definitely enjoy it.

www.npr.org/2022/04/24/1093167996/gardening-collard-greens-seed-savers-heirloom-collard-project-food-recipes

I was also happy because we had another rain storm earlier, and I could see puddles on the road.  There was still a light rain coming down, and the trees were looking refreshed.

[woodeye]

Interesting article, chrysanthemum. I've never tried to grow Collards, and this is somewhat embarrassing, I've never ate Collards either, that I know of. I'm sure I would like them though, that's the first key element for any crop around here. If they are anything like cabbage, they'd be a shoo-in for likes. I've only tried growing cabbage one time, FAIL. Maybe Collards would grow better here?

[hmoosek]

From a very young age, I have loved spinach, cabbage, collards, mustard, turnip and beet greens. A few years ago, I was introduced to Semposai and Komatsuna and now I love those too. Every single one are good cooked with a smoked ham hock, salt pork, or plain old bacon. The pot liquor poured over a hunk of cornbread is…just wonderful!

[woodeye]

moose, of the items on your list, I've tried all but the collards, Semposai, and Komatsuna. I'm sure I'd like them too and should try to grow some.

And of course cornbread made from the Cherokee Squaw corn I grow & grind next year...

[hmoosek]

Pm sent

[chrysanthemum]

I grew up with collards, but my kids haven’t. The one time I cooked them, they didn’t love them, so I haven’t actually tried to grow them. I figure if I know there are some greens they like pretty well, I should concentrate on those as long as they’ll grow here. I would like to find a good one for summertime, though, that they enjoy.

Have y’all greens eaters ever heard of Upland cress or creasy greens? My mom has a friend who grows that and gives her bunches. I love it as a cooked green, but I’ve never grown it.

[hmoosek]

I’ve heard of cress, but haven’t tried it. I would probably like it as I’m a green lover.

[woodeye]

Same here, I have heard of cress, but have no experience with it. As for the Upland cress or creasy greens, I've never heard of those.
But I bet I would like 'em all...

[amyinowasso]

I think I have virtually every collard seed Southern Exposure Seed Exchange offers and my first thought was oh, my, MORE varieties. My favorite is Yellow Cabbage Collard. My first experience with collard was a Georgia collard from Lowes. It was a mild winter and it grew all winter and then bolted. It was about 4' tall and I cut the buds off and ate them like broccoli. The more I cut off, the more it made. I like a plant that keeps on giving.

[Deleted]

Sept 9, 2022 10:43:02 GMT -6 amyinowasso said:

I think I have virtually every collard seed Southern Exposure Seed Exchange offers and my first thought was oh, my, MORE varieties. My favorite is Yellow Cabbage Collard. My first experience with collard was a Georgia collard from Lowes. It was a mild winter and it grew all winter and then bolted. It was about 4' tall and I cut the buds off and ate them like broccoli. The more I cut off, the more it made. I like a plant that keeps on giving.

Thats cool, Amyinowasso. I've also been collecting collard varieties. This year I grew two collards. One called "Ellen Felton Dark Collard" and the other "Miss Annie Pearl Counselman Collard". Both did good.