In the remote wilderness of Northern Minnesota, just 90 miles from the Canadian border, Jackie and Will Atkinson are doing more than just gardening; they are preserving history. Living totally off-grid, this couple has dedicated their lives to rescuing ancient heirloom seeds from extinction.
From the Hopi Pale Gray squash that survived a warehouse fire to 1,500-year-old beans recovered from a sealed clay pot in a New Mexico ruin, every plant in their garden has a story. Join us for a tour of their homestead as Jackie and Will explain why they believe heirloom seeds are the key to food security, and how they’ve turned a passion for “growing history” into a thriving, cold-hardy seed business.
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This episode of Making It Up North from PBS North is made possible by support from the following:
Grow Your Own Garden Supply
https://www.growyourowngardensupply.com
Minnesota Power Employees Credit Union
Timestamps:
0:00 – Intro: Life 90 miles south of Canada
0:34 – “Growing History”: Every seed has a story
1:04 – The Hopi Pale Gray squash: A 2-year shelf life
1:38 – Saving a variety from extinction after a tragedy
2:18 – From free seeds to a full-scale seed catalog
3:12 – Northern-hardy seeds: Security for cold-climate growers
3:46 – The Bill Bean Tomato: Smuggled in a sock from Italy
4:32 – Managing 100 varieties of tomatoes by hand
5:08 – Singing to the crops: An Ojibwe tradition
5:36 – The 1,500-year-old bean found in a clay pot
6:35 – The “Full Circle” philosophy: Cows, compost, and seeds
7:18 – Why store-bought food is a “dead end”
7:44 – Living a blessed life after surviving cancer
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