Library
The group has a number of books available for members to borrow. Some of them are owned by individual members, while others were kindly made available through a grant from Sustainable Frome. Contact Chris Smaje for further details. Likewise if you have books or other resources that you’d be willing to make available to the group. Currently available resources are:
Carol Deppe Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties
The must-read bible for anyone starting out with amateur plant-breeding. Detailed and quite technical in places, but also witty and engagingly written. An inspiration!
Jeremy Cherfas & Michel & Jude Fanton The Seed Savers’ Handbook
A great primer on seed-saving techniques, with detailed instructions on a vegetable-by-vegetable basis, and an interesting section on the politics of seed-saving and biodiversity. This book is now out of print & must be returned promptly to Chris Smaje on pain of the terminator gene being unleashed in your garden!
Sue Stickland Back Garden Seed Saving
Another good introduction to seed-saving techniques, with detailed instructions on a vegetable-by-vegetable basis, sections on the history & politics of seed-saving, and information on heirloom varieties.
Ken Fern Plants For A Future
A weird and wonderful compendium of unusual and mostly perennial plants to inspire those who want to venture into the final frontier - breeding edible perennials.
Colin Tudge In Mendel’s Footsteps
This book is a lucid history of the science of genetics. Or at least that’s what it says on the back cover – I haven’t read it yet. But when I have, you can borrow it from me. |
