Tom Wagner to speak at SSE's Convention

**Mischka** · June 18, 2007

http://www.seedsavers.org/campout.asp

Congratulations, Tom!

If by chance they tape the event, I'd love to buy a copy, too. I'm certain that your talk will be both educational and informative.

dokutaaguriin · June 18, 2007

THey should make his talk a podcast for everyone to enjoy.

feldon30 · June 18, 2007

SSE eschews technology.

**carolyn137** · June 19, 2007

If by chance they tape the event

*****

They tape most of the featured speakers, as opposed to the workshops speakers. Which I know from when I was a speaker there a few years back.

So I'm sure Tom's talk will be taped and I didn't check the link to see if he was the featured speaker, but if so, then his talk will also be in one of the SSE publications that members get.

Grub · June 19, 2007

Go Tom,
You deserve the stage.
Share your expertise.
With thanks.
Best, Grubs.

**carolyn137** · June 20, 2007

I got my SSE e-mail newsletter yesterday and there are two featured speakers; Rosalind Creasy and Tom.

Lots of other speakers but they always ID one or two featured ones.

Douglas14 · June 21, 2007

I don't think I'll make it down there this year, unfortunately. I look forward to the reading the transcript, in the SSE publication, that Carolyn alluded to.

**Tom Wagner** · June 23, 2007

Thanks Mischka, for alerting me to this thread.

Being invited to the SSE convention was Amy Goldman's idea mostly. She is putting together a great book on tomatoes this summer, full of photos and interesting comments. Amy must like some of my tomato creations as she has a bunch of them at her garden area in New York State a few miles from the Hudson River Valley.

When Amy and Dianne Whealy talked with me via the phone, I said I would be delighted to speak before the SSE group. It will also be great to share the stage with Rosalind Creasy. Rosalind was one of the very few people to visit my tomato research fields back in 1989 near Wasco, California. I remember Rosalind being fascinated with the tomato flavors she encountered, remarking that one tasted like SWEET CORN!

I will be showcasing quite a few odd potato varieties along with a few tomato fruits out of my breeding work. I should be talking about seed saving history, breeding efforts, and the future for plant breeders. I will conduct a workshop also for tomato/potato breeding. It is possible that I will release a few new varieties there for seed collectors!

I kinda hope Rosalind and I will have our speeches recorded audibly. Amy Goldman wants me to speak for a while in the Manx accented English of my maternal grandfather. This accent was frozen in time when my grandfather came to this country in 1906. The native Manx speakers learned English from Lancastshire brogues from across the Irish Sea. Simply said, the accent is a microcosm of yesteryear. No one speaks this way anymore. I sure enjoyed hearing the Manx words for everything that grew. Jiarg for red. Buigh for yellow. Schimmeig for stiped. I used these and other words in naming tomato varieties.

I hope many folks from TomatoVille will be at the Decorah, Iowa event.

If anyone wants to see a goofy picture of what happens to somebody when they cross tomatoes for over 50 years.....go to this site below.

http://www.seedsavers.org/images/TomWagner.jpg

obispo45 · June 28, 2007

I'm a fairly new member of SSE...this is my first year as a listed member. Being only about a 2.5hr scenic drive away from Decorah, IA I'll be happily attending. Went last July, my first visit and first convention and had a blast. Years from now...maybe months or days(LOL!!!), when my memory starts fading and my thoughts are scattered I'll always remember the incredible abundance of fireflies that were out and about especially the first night camping there. One of those all too infrequent but sublime moments. Truly special!!

That being said, I'll be looking forward to meeting you Tom!! Believe it or not, but I may have a question or six for you. Hopefully the Weather Gods have considered my request and will keep the temp in the barn under the thermonuclear heat threshold. Also a fan of Rosalind Creasy, several of her books, especially the "Edible Mexican Garden" have inspired me numerous times in my rather short time as a "gardener". Kind of using paranthesis there due to the fact that I'm rather unsure as to what I have become. No matter.... thats a good thing. Looking forward. Take it easy. Cheers!

**Tom Wagner** · June 30, 2007

Quote:

That being said, I'll be looking forward to meeting you Tom!! Believe it or not, but I may have a question or six for you.

Only six???

Since I will be there Fri. night 'til late Sun. afternoon, I should be able to answer hundreds more. I was going to bring lots of tomatoes for show and tell, but my plants won't be ready 'til August thru December. I planted just yesterday about 175 varieties in a greenhouse I helped build. That with 46 degree nights just a week ago keep the outdoor plants from jumping ahead.

I will have lots of potatoes with taste samples and chances to name a few at the convention. As much as I know about tomatoes, potatoes have been my favorite crop to breed and have given me a slight amount of money these past 11 years. Tomatoes have made me about 100 dollars total in the last 11 years.

I am hoping somebody brings some fruits of my varieties to show and talk about.

Tom

**Patrina_Pepperina** · June 30, 2007

Wish I could be there too! I'm sending another Aussie instead, Clive Blazey from Diggers

Patrina

June 18, 2007	#1
Mischka Tomatoville® Administrator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Bay State Posts: 3,207	Tom Wagner to speak at SSE's Convention http://www.seedsavers.org/campout.asp Congratulations, Tom! If by chance they tape the event, I'd love to buy a copy, too. I'm certain that your talk will be both educational and informative. __________________ Mischka One last word of farewell, Dear Master and Mistress. Whenever you visit my grave, say to yourselves with regret but also with happiness in your hearts at the remembrance of my long happy life with you: "Here lies one who loved us and whom we loved." No matter how deep my sleep I shall hear you, and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail.

June 19, 2007	#4
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	If by chance they tape the event ***** They tape most of the featured speakers, as opposed to the workshops speakers. Which I know from when I was a speaker there a few years back. So I'm sure Tom's talk will be taped and I didn't check the link to see if he was the featured speaker, but if so, then his talk will also be in one of the SSE publications that members get. __________________ Carolyn

June 20, 2007	#6
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	I got my SSE e-mail newsletter yesterday and there are two featured speakers; Rosalind Creasy and Tom. Lots of other speakers but they always ID one or two featured ones. __________________ Carolyn

June 30, 2007	#11
Patrina_Pepperina Cross Hemisphere Dwarf Project™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New South Wales, Australia Posts: 3,094	Wish I could be there too! I'm sending another Aussie instead, Clive Blazey from Diggers Patrina __________________ Truth is colourful, not just black and white. PP: 2005

June 18, 2007	#2
dokutaaguriin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Alberta, Canada Z3a Posts: 905	THey should make his talk a podcast for everyone to enjoy.

June 18, 2007	#3
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	SSE eschews technology.

June 19, 2007	#5
Grub Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,722	Go Tom, You deserve the stage. Share your expertise. With thanks. Best, Grubs.

June 21, 2007	#7
Douglas14 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 602	I don't think I'll make it down there this year, unfortunately. I look forward to the reading the transcript, in the SSE publication, that Carolyn alluded to.

June 23, 2007	#8
Tom Wagner Crosstalk™ Forum Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: 8407 18th Ave West 7-203 Everett, Washington 98204 Posts: 1,157	Thanks Mischka, for alerting me to this thread. Being invited to the SSE convention was Amy Goldman's idea mostly. She is putting together a great book on tomatoes this summer, full of photos and interesting comments. Amy must like some of my tomato creations as she has a bunch of them at her garden area in New York State a few miles from the Hudson River Valley. When Amy and Dianne Whealy talked with me via the phone, I said I would be delighted to speak before the SSE group. It will also be great to share the stage with Rosalind Creasy. Rosalind was one of the very few people to visit my tomato research fields back in 1989 near Wasco, California. I remember Rosalind being fascinated with the tomato flavors she encountered, remarking that one tasted like SWEET CORN! I will be showcasing quite a few odd potato varieties along with a few tomato fruits out of my breeding work. I should be talking about seed saving history, breeding efforts, and the future for plant breeders. I will conduct a workshop also for tomato/potato breeding. It is possible that I will release a few new varieties there for seed collectors! I kinda hope Rosalind and I will have our speeches recorded audibly. Amy Goldman wants me to speak for a while in the Manx accented English of my maternal grandfather. This accent was frozen in time when my grandfather came to this country in 1906. The native Manx speakers learned English from Lancastshire brogues from across the Irish Sea. Simply said, the accent is a microcosm of yesteryear. No one speaks this way anymore. I sure enjoyed hearing the Manx words for everything that grew. Jiarg for red. Buigh for yellow. Schimmeig for stiped. I used these and other words in naming tomato varieties. I hope many folks from TomatoVille will be at the Decorah, Iowa event. If anyone wants to see a goofy picture of what happens to somebody when they cross tomatoes for over 50 years.....go to this site below. http://www.seedsavers.org/images/TomWagner.jpg

June 28, 2007	#9
obispo45 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: SE Minnesota Zone 4.51a Posts: 139	I'm a fairly new member of SSE...this is my first year as a listed member. Being only about a 2.5hr scenic drive away from Decorah, IA I'll be happily attending. Went last July, my first visit and first convention and had a blast. Years from now...maybe months or days(LOL!!!), when my memory starts fading and my thoughts are scattered I'll always remember the incredible abundance of fireflies that were out and about especially the first night camping there. One of those all too infrequent but sublime moments. Truly special!! That being said, I'll be looking forward to meeting you Tom!! Believe it or not, but I may have a question or six for you. Hopefully the Weather Gods have considered my request and will keep the temp in the barn under the thermonuclear heat threshold. Also a fan of Rosalind Creasy, several of her books, especially the "Edible Mexican Garden" have inspired me numerous times in my rather short time as a "gardener". Kind of using paranthesis there due to the fact that I'm rather unsure as to what I have become. No matter.... thats a good thing. Looking forward. Take it easy. Cheers!