Post by loamlump on Mar 19, 2006 18:46:13 GMT -5
In 1842, an unmarked package made its way from Glasgow, Scotland to David Fife, a pioneer settler on what is now the Fife Line of Otonabee Township near Peterborough, Ontario.
In the unmarked package that took one year to find him, David Fife unwrapped 5 wheat seeds. Two had been destroyed by some small varmit on its long journey, 3 seeds remained viable.
Jane Fife, David's long -suffering wife, planted these three seeds and tended to them carefully from her one room log cabin tucked in the middle of forest and newly cleared fields. The two harvested a handful of grain from her efforts, not enough to keep them fed, but more than enough to re-seed a small field. The open-pollinated variety adapted to the harsh Canadian climate and they re-named this cultivar Fife Wheat.
Fife Wheat, aka Red Fife Wheat or Red Wheat, went on to become the dominant wheat variety of Canada, making its way with immigrants across the country. It not only survived harsh weather, early and late frosts, but it flourished, making Canada become the bread basket of the Commonwealth, and had proven it's value to northern American farmers as well.
The Fife's lives went on, David developing other hardy strains of wheat and Jane delivering 12 babies that saw 10 of them survive to adulthood.
The farm that they made their lives on is still farmed today. Last September marked the first harvest of Red Fife Wheat in 52 years. The bushels were quickly bought by heirloomists, the local micro-brewery, and a bakery that recreated the bread recipes that Red Fife was made into.
The variety has taken a back seat to new hybrids, but is still the most popular strain across northern countries such as Russia. Who knows what unique qualities this wheat may still hold within it's genetics. The new caretakers of the Fife farm are curious to investigate.
This goes to show us that the old things are perhaps the best of things. Old standbys are still viable and needed if we are to maintain the genetic gene pool of our food crops.
Red Fife Wheat is not available to purchase from any seed company in North America, as far as I know. However, it is an offering in both the Seeds of Diversity Canada and the United State's Seed Savers Exchange.
In the unmarked package that took one year to find him, David Fife unwrapped 5 wheat seeds. Two had been destroyed by some small varmit on its long journey, 3 seeds remained viable.
Jane Fife, David's long -suffering wife, planted these three seeds and tended to them carefully from her one room log cabin tucked in the middle of forest and newly cleared fields. The two harvested a handful of grain from her efforts, not enough to keep them fed, but more than enough to re-seed a small field. The open-pollinated variety adapted to the harsh Canadian climate and they re-named this cultivar Fife Wheat.
Fife Wheat, aka Red Fife Wheat or Red Wheat, went on to become the dominant wheat variety of Canada, making its way with immigrants across the country. It not only survived harsh weather, early and late frosts, but it flourished, making Canada become the bread basket of the Commonwealth, and had proven it's value to northern American farmers as well.
The Fife's lives went on, David developing other hardy strains of wheat and Jane delivering 12 babies that saw 10 of them survive to adulthood.
The farm that they made their lives on is still farmed today. Last September marked the first harvest of Red Fife Wheat in 52 years. The bushels were quickly bought by heirloomists, the local micro-brewery, and a bakery that recreated the bread recipes that Red Fife was made into.
The variety has taken a back seat to new hybrids, but is still the most popular strain across northern countries such as Russia. Who knows what unique qualities this wheat may still hold within it's genetics. The new caretakers of the Fife farm are curious to investigate.
This goes to show us that the old things are perhaps the best of things. Old standbys are still viable and needed if we are to maintain the genetic gene pool of our food crops.
Red Fife Wheat is not available to purchase from any seed company in North America, as far as I know. However, it is an offering in both the Seeds of Diversity Canada and the United State's Seed Savers Exchange.
