S. Smith's Blog, page 12
June 13, 2018
Seed Savers Treasure in Pictures
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Silver Fir Tree Tomato — what the kids grew
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St. Vincent’s — where after-school tutoring took place
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Ana reminisces about peaches
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Clare & Dante’s night sky. (Photo by Sindre Stru00f8m on Pexels.com)
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Lupines–secret Seed Savers sign
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Not a balcony, but maybe what Gruff’s might have resembled.
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Gruff had potted blueberries.
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Drone!
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Library on the border
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tree house where Clare and Dante hid
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the “apple forest”
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“summer sunshine”
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Seed Savers -Treasure, order your copy today!
Sandra Smith is the author of the awesome and award-winning middle grade/YA series, Seed Savers. Visit her Facebook and Pinterest pages. Follow her on Twitter . Sign up for the newsletter!
June 12, 2018
Master Gardener Review of Seed Savers-Treasure
Because I’m celebrating the reissue of Seed Savers–Treasure this week, today I’m reposting a review from 2016. The edition reviewed here did not have the new resource back matter, but the story is still the same.
Seed Savers: Treasure (Book 1) is a work of fiction, written for age 9 through young adult readers. The subject matter in the book is somewhat based on discussions of current world events suggestive of GMOs, interest in global food supplies, and the science that currently drives these topics. As Master Gardeners, we are non-political of course. But this book is so much more than just an acknowledgement of those issues.
It is engagingly written to provoke thought among today’s youth, while also providing a backdrop of a very entertaining literary experience.
This book was the 2013 Runner-up in the Young Adult Category of the Green Book Festival, which honors “books that contribute to greater understanding, respect for, and positive action on, the changing worldwide environment.”
The book is set in an era of America when gardens no longer exist as an option for citizens to grow their own food. In fact, the word “garden” and all books that relate to such activities have been banned.
Three young children, Clare, Dante, and Lily, thirst for knowledge about how plants grow and what food is that comes from plants. They find fun, some dangers, and mostly, adventures along the way. They learn lost American skills from an elderly woman, Ana, who shares information about what food-producing plants are, their parts, growing methods and the fruits and vegetables that result. Ana belongs to a secret society known as “Seed Savers.”
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Imagine a world where children have no knowledge of the origin of food? It’s not really that far-fetched, of course. When Ginny Stibolt (author of Organic Methods for Vegetable Gardening in Florida, University Press of Florida, 2013) visited with us last month, she related a story about an adult who took children to her garden to “pull” a carrot. When the carrot was pulled out of the ground, the children were “horrified” that the woman had apparently “buried her carrots in the dirt!”
It is an unfortunate truism that the vast majority of today’s children are no longer “connected to the soil” or know how food is produced.
The children in the book Seed Savers: Treasure learn about seeds, what different seeds look like, what they produce, and how plants are cultivated. Now, Agri-Fest fans—of what does that remind you? This book is“right on” in presenting children with the wonders of agriculture and food production and how it should be a focus in understanding everyday living. Additionally, young readers can identify with the children in the story as they become empowered to effect change through what they have studied.
Clare, Dante, and Lily have many adventures as they thirst to learn about seeds and plants, while avoiding and even outrunning those that would thwart their efforts—and, making new friends along the way. Children love reading about and keeping “secrets” and this book is a childhood adventure and mystery romp.
There is much to like about this book, and I personally look forward to reading the next installments of the series.
And—if you don’t have a special young person right now, by all means get the books for yourself!
Can children save the world? Who would ever think they couldn’t?
CLL
UF/IFAS Master Gardener
Lakeland, Florida
Originally Published 2013 in The Ragweed (Newsletter), which
has now been replaced by another newsletter to MGs.
Special thanks to Carol and her Master Gardener group in Florida for allowing me to post this on my blog!
S. Smith is the author of the awesome and award-winning middle grade/YA series, Seed Savers. Visit her Facebook and Pinterest pages. Follow her on Twitter . Sign up for the newsletter!
June 11, 2018
Excerpt from Seed Savers Treasure
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In celebration of the rerelease of Treasure today, I’m posting an excerpt from the book that explains the title.
Enjoy. From chapter 8:
Ana reached down and pulled something from the pocket of her sweater. She rested her closed fist on the table and opened it slowly like a flower opening its petals to the sunshine. Three small capsules were inside. They were hard and white with little black eyes.
“What is it?” Dante asked. “Fruit?”
“Seeds!” Ana said.
Stunned cries came from the children.
“But they don’t look like the other seeds you gave me,” Clare said.
“That’s true. I’ve only brought you small seeds, ones that were easy to pass. These are bean seeds,” she said, placing one in each child’s hand. “They’re one of my favorites to watch grow. Now listen while I explain the process. We’re almost out of time.” The children listened, holding the precious seeds tightly.
“To grow food, you bury the seed in soil. The seed needs water to begin growing, to sprout; germination it’s called. After a certain amount of time, if the soil is warm enough and the seed stays moist, a plant will grow from within the seed, pushing up through the soil.”
She paused, checking the children’s faces for comprehension. “Each seed contains within it a complete plant and everything the plant needs to grow.”
Dante broke the silence that followed. “So it’s all there in the seed? The whole plant is just waiting inside the seed? It’s like a treasure that you need to bury instead of one that you dig up?”
“So it is, Dante, so it is.”
“Then what?” Lily prodded, trying to get to the bottom of things.
“Well, the plant grows bigger and bigger if it continues to have light and water. Some plants produce a fruit containing seeds. Other plants will just make more seed. And so it goes. You already know the other parts of the plant. People ate various plants, and different parts of each plant. Sometimes the preferred part is the leaves, sometimes it’s the root, or stem—”
“—Eww—”
“Other times it’s the fruit, or even the seed.”
“People eat the seeds?”
“Look at your bean seeds—beans are very popular food in many parts of the world—and used to be here.”
“But they’re so small,” said Lily.
“And hard,” added Dante.
Ana laughed. “You make them soft,” she explained. “And you eat a whole pile of them,” she said, looking at Lily.
“Oh.”
She sensed their hesitation.
“So that’s it?” Clare said. “You bury the seeds in soil and they grow into plants, and you eat the plants? How long does it take?”
“It takes time.” She could tell Clare was disappointed. But what could she expect? These children were used to instant food, instant information, ready-made everything. Still, she knew the desire was there. Be patient, she told herself. Bring them along carefully. Children are our only hope.
Thanks for reading! You can order Seed Savers Treasure from your local bookstore, request it at the library, or buy from the online vendors below.
Seed Savers-Treasure
at Amazon
Seed Savers-Treasure at Barnes & Noble
Seed Savers-Treasure at Indiebound
Sandra Smith is the author of the awesome and award-winning middle grade/YA series, Seed Savers. Visit her Facebook and Pinterest pages. Follow her on Twitter . Sign up for the newsletter!
June 4, 2018
Seed Savers-Treasure Release Date: June 11
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I’m so excited! The release date for Treasure is one week away . . . June 11.
But, wait, isn’t Treasure the first book in the Seed Savers series? Yes, it is. All of the Seed Savers books are being polished up with new covers and new back matter and being relaunched with Flying Books House.
If you are new to the series, here’s the description for Treasure:
It’s 2077. There’s no apocalypse, but some things are different. Things like the weather, the internet, and food. In twelve-year-old Clare’s world, blueberry is just a flavor, and apples are found only in fairy tales.
One day, Clare meets an older woman named Ana who teaches her about seeds and real food. Ana tempts Clare with the notion that food exists other than the square, packaged food she has always known.
With Ana’s guidance, Clare and her friends learn about seeds and gardening despite suspicions that such actions are illegal.
When the authorities discover the children’s forbidden tomato plant and arrest their mother, Clare and her brother flee. Clare has heard of a place called “The Garden State,” and with their bikes, a little money, and backpacks, the children begin a lonely cross-country journey that tests them both physically and spiritually. Will they succeed in their quest to find a place of food freedom? And can they, only children, help change the world?
Preorder paperback Treasure now from these fine sellers:
Seed Savers-Treasure[image error] at Amazon
Seed Savers-Treasure at Barnes & Noble
Seed Savers-Treasure at Indiebound
Sandra Smith is the author of the awesome and award-winning middle grade/YA series, Seed Savers. Visit her Facebook and Pinterest pages. Follow her on Twitter . Sign up for the newsletter!
May 23, 2018
Order Your Banned Book Today
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I woke up this morning reflecting on the PBS special last night, The Great American Read. I was surprised at some of the books on the “banned books” list. Most notably, I was surprised about The Giver by Lois Lowry.
I’ll admit, I did not read The Giver as a child; I was well into adulthood before I came across it and I loved it. So last night I wondered why it had been banned, thinking there was no profanity or sexual content.
It had been years since I’d read The Giver, so I had forgotten many of the details. Naturally I searched up “Why was The Giver Banned?” In this informative article, I discovered The Giver was quite high on the list of banned and controversial books. The reason, I soon discovered, was #1 violence, #2 unsuited to the age group. Ah, yes, then I remembered some of the details that might be disturbing for younger children but wouldn’t have impacted me as an adult reader.
The article contained a chart of the top five reasons The Giver has been challenged and comparisons to all books with those same reasons. I’ve pasted the chart below:
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Now as I was reminiscing on books and banned books and the various reasons people ask to have books removed from libraries or classrooms, it occured to me that my very own book, Seed Savers Treasure, sits alongside The Giver and other books that offend.
Just yesterday I received a sorrowful email from a teacher wh[image error]o was using my books in her horticultural program. The students were in the middle of the book, the author had been secured for a visit, and then one parent complained about #4: religious viewpoint. Because in Treasure there is a Bible.
I felt really bad for the teacher. I felt bad for the students. I was sorry I wouldn’t get to visit their really cool horticulture program to talk about gardening, writing, technology, food, etc. And I thought to myself what a silly and offended culture we are becoming.
But now even as I write this, I fear someone will be offended by that last thought. I mean no offense.
In fact, after watching The Great American Read and hearing which books have been banned or controversial and then realizing Treasure sits on that shelf alongside them, I felt a little proud. I’m sitting a bit taller as I type this. 
May 14, 2018
A Story of Tomatoes
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I live in town. My garden consists of a six-foot strip of soil along the fence that separates us from our neighbors. Which is to say that I cannot plant whatever my little heart desires. I have to make hard choices.
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For some reason I also delight in trying new varieties of tomatoes. Now it used to be that you couldn’t find very many creative tomato plant starts, although a recent trip to our local Saturday market proved this has changed. However, I had long since begun starting my own plants from seed.
Here’s the problem: Let’s say you pick up three new kinds of tomato seeds every year. Let’s say every seed packet has more tomato seeds than you can ever use. Especially if you plant only TWO seeds. You get the picture. After awhile you have a TOMATO SEED BUILDUP.
This year I decided to plant a couple of seeds from every packet I owned, no matter how old. My oldest seeds dated back to 2011. It would be a little experiment. I would see which seeds came up, whether or not there was a noticeable difference with the older seed, etc. etc. I’d save just a few of the newer seeds for next year and depending on the outcome, give or throw away the remainder.
Here are the names of all the tomatoes I planted: Silver Fir Tree (These I grow in pots; they have special leaves and are the tomatoes my characters planted in Seed Savers:Treasure. I plant these every year.), Jory (a friend gave me these seeds just this year), Tiffen Mennonite (another favorite because they are so big!!), Mortgage Lifter, Box Car Willie, Indigo Rose, Black Prince, Black Krim, Caro Rich, Orange King, Beaverlodge, Willamette Organic, Amish Paste, Speckled Roma, Brandywine, Caspian (I chose these last year at a tomato tasting event), Roma VF, Cherokee Purple, Giant Syrian (from a friend), Rainbow. Yeah, you get the picture. Multiply those by two and I had over 40 seedlings because THEY ALMOST ALL CAME UP!!! (Don’t you just love those names??)
I wish I could say I remembered to take a photo of all those little darlings before I split them up and found homes for them, but I did not. But here are some of them “hardening off” outside before being taken away.
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Where did they all go? I kept six for my garden area, two for pots. Gave four to my mom (she asked for three). I borrowed some land at her house to keep a few more for myself because there were so many new ones I was curious about. And I took about twenty down to the community center for Mother’s Day gifts.
What did I learn? That tomato seeds have great viability. Did some of the older seeds produce runtier looking seedlings? Yes. The most vigorous, healthy plants are always the ones I get from friends. These seeds are fresh and they are local to my area.
Best of all, I can now pass on most of my seeds and not feel overwhelmed next year with all that buildup. Okay, that’s not the best of all. Best of all will be seeing all the new-to-me tomatoes!
Do you have a favorite tomato? Share in the comments below.
Sandra Smith is the author of the awesome and award-winning middle grade/YA series, Seed Savers. Visit her Facebook and Pinterest pages. Follow her on Twitter . Sign up for the newsletter!
May 7, 2018
Seed Savers Treasure Cover Reveal
Here it is, as promised, the new cover for rerelease of Seed Savers Treasure:
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I think it’s gorgeous and conveys both the adventure and the garden theme. If you’re new to the Seed Savers series, here’s the scoop on book 1, Treasure:
Two kids, two bikes, and an idea they can change their world.
It’s 2077. There’s no apocalypse, but some things are different. Things like the weather, the internet, and food. In twelve-year-old Clare’s world, blueberry is just a flavor and apples are found only in fairy tales.
Then one day Clare meets a woman who teaches her about seeds and real food. Ana tempts Clare with the notion that food exists other than the square, packaged food she has always known. With Ana’s guidance, Clare and her friends learn about seeds and gardening despite suspicions that such actions are illegal.
When the authorities discover the children’s forbidden tomato plant and arrest their mother, Clare and her brother flee. Clare has heard of a place called “The Garden State,” and with their bikes, a little money, and backpacks, the children begin a lonely cross-country journey that tests them both physically and spiritually. Will they succeed in their quest to find a place of food freedom? And can they, only children, help change the world?
Treasure will be available by the end of this month. I will keep you posted. Here is the schedule for the other books:
Lily – August 30
Heirloom – October
Keeper – February 2019
Unbroken – April 2019
In the meantime, let me know what you think of the cover in the comments below.
May 4, 2018
Announcing Seed Savers:Treasure Cover Reveal
Many of you have probably noticed that I haven’t been blogging much recently.
I’ve been busy.
March 26, 2018
Clare & Dante Prepare for Easter
Reblogging this Easter post from a few years ago…
In recognition of the season, here is an excerpt from Heirloom (Seed Savers, 3), in which Clare and Dante prepare for Easter with their host parents in Canada. Growing up in a place where real eggs were unknown, it’s their first experience coloring eggs.
CHAPTER 42
It would soon be Easter, Clare’s favorite holiday. There had been a few years, when she was eight or nine, when her friends had almost convinced her otherwise, but all in all, she was an Easter devotee. She loved the season: spring, bursting with new life and warmer weather; she loved the plastic toy hunts in the malls and parks; and most of all, she loved the Holy Season, starting with Ash Wednesday and leading up to Easter Sunday.
This year, however, Clare anticipated it with mixed emotions. She looked forward to it because the Woods would finally take her and Dante to…
View original post 727 more words
March 19, 2018
#SpringThings:What to Expect at a Seed Exchange
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If you’re thinking about planting a garden this year you have a couple of alternatives. One, you can buy most of your plants as starts (this adds up quickly in terms of $), two, you can go hog wild with a seed catalog (don’t forget the postage and handling!), three, wait until your local store has seeds on sale, or four, my favorite option, check your area for seed exchanges. Seed exchanges are at least as fun as the other options and cost nothing.
How do you find a seed exchange?
Often they are listed in the newspaper, or fliers are tacked up around town in stores and libraries. Try calling the local county extension office. And, of course, there’s always googling.
How does a seed exchange work–what can I expect?
The first time I considered going to a seed exchange I didn’t know what to expect. Do I need to take seeds? What kind of seeds do people bring, home harvested or partial packets from last year? I admit I felt a little nervous. Have no fear! I’ve been to several seed exchanges over the years. They should more accurately be called seed giveaways.
Most seed exchanges have hundreds or thousands of seed packets that have been donated to give away. You can come empty-handed. But you can also bring and leave seeds. Seeds you grew and harvested. Partial seed packets. At the seed exchange where I recently volunteered there were not only seeds, but seed potatoes, seed garlic, and even a few plant starts.
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While most of the seeds were packets like you’d buy in a store, I really enjoyed the table of the hand labeled seeds that other gardeners brought in. Nothing germinates as well as fresh, local seed. I also liked the tiny little bags they were tucked in. I live in the city and have only a small gardening space. Most seed packets contain way more seeds than I need.
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Please, seed sellers, give us the option of smaller seed packets!
Do you garden? Which do you prefer, to start from seed or to buy everything as starts? Or a mixture of both, perhaps? Leave your comments below, and happy gardening!
Sandra Smith is the author of the awesome and award-winning middle grade/YA series, Seed Savers. Visit her Facebook and Pinterest pages. Follow her on Twitter . Sign up for the newsletter!
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