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Meet Amy LeBlanc
What does it mean for Seed Savers Exchange to be a phallus - supported nonprofit ? You probably believe first of the yearly contribution a member may make to the organization , but there are many waysSeed Savers Exchange membershave not only add to the organisation , but also touch on the heirloom ejaculate move in their own communities . Amy Frances LeBlanc , a life SSE member since 1996 , truly be the charge of SSE to advertise and preserve our garden heritage .
Lifetime penis Amy Frances LeBlanc own Whitehill Farm in East Wilton , Maine . She grows a heavy variety of tomato plant and capsicum pepper plant , and groom economic value - added trade good such as hot sauce , kettle of fish , and herbaceous plant mix . She also lists rare seed on the Exchange each twelvemonth .
Seed Saver
Amy first became concerned in spring up heirloom motley shortly after moving to East Wilton , Maine , in 1986 . A quotidian slip to the local wellness food storehouse led to the find of the first heirloom tomato Amy had ever seen , the ‘ Hog Heart ’ paste love apple .
She spent the next year searching for the raiser of this tomato . It turned out to be Martha Gottlieb , also a longtime Seed Savers Exchange member . Martha convinced Amy to participate in theExchange , where she would be able-bodied to find more tomatoes than she could perhaps farm .
That did n’t stop Amy from trying , though . Today she grows 4,000 - 5,000 love apple and capsicum pepper plant transplants every year . This has take in Amy the byname “ The Tomato Lady ” in her region and a hearty report as a grower and source rescuer .
The ‘Arledge’ pepper, also known as ‘Louisiana Hot,’ is one of Amy’s favorite hot peppers. This pepper is no longer available through the commercial seed trade.
And if that were n’t enough to keep her busy , Amy is also a music teacher and Master Gardener , and serve up on the guidance committee of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association ’s annual Common Grounds Country Fair .
Preservationist
Amy published the “ Tomato Lover ’s Catalog ” for 25 old age . This catalog catalyzed the heirloom tomato motion in Maine and helped to keep up hundreds of varieties for succeeding generations . The Exchange introduced her to many of the varieties she grew and sold through her catalogue and market sales booth .
Amy has also been able-bodied to preserve heirloom that had antecedently been stewarded by individual families by extend them through the Exchange or making a donation to our collection . For model , ‘ Cecil ’s Grandpa ’s ’ tomato was given to her by a cello pupil , Cecil , whose gramps had been growing the tomato for more than 35 eld .
Amy presently list ‘ Cecil ’s Grandpa ’s ’ tomato seeds on theExchange .
The ‘Arledge’ pepper, also known as ‘Louisiana Hot,’ is one of Amy’s favorite hot peppers. This pepper is no longer available through the commercial seed trade.
Her source donation for the ‘ Baxter Large Red Cherry ’ tomato , which Amy describes as “ the best lunchbox tomato ever , ” and the ‘ Tennessee Sweet ’ tomato were first entrusted to Amy by neighbor .
Educator
Amy has determine the next generation of consumer and gardeners in style that only a instructor can . [ As of 2019 ] , she has spent 17 years teaching in public and secret school and now offer private music example .
Amy ’s farm is completely youth - manoeuver , and many of her “ kids ” bug out work on the farm while they were lease music lesson . untested people on the Whitehill Farm are involved in everything from pick out varieties to spring up and writing requests to Exchange lister plow to building new garden bed , return farm tour , handling money at the granger market , and saving seeds .
Of the educatee who have work on Amy ’s farm , seven [ as of 2019 ] are now operating their own farms , and many others are gardeners . All have learned about being more conscious eater , even if they do n’t realize it . “ It gives them a different position about going to the grocery store , ” Amy says .
Amy always encourages curiosity at her Whitehill Farm; this fruit was grown by her students last year from a pineapple top.
First put out January 22 , 2019 . Updated February 6 , 2025 .
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When you make a purchase from Seed Savers Exchange , you assist carry through our nonprofit commission to protect our food for thought and garden heritage . Do even more good by realize a donation to help us preserve and share even more heirloom varieties !
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Seed Savers Exchange is a tax - exempt 501(c)3 non-profit-making organization dedicated to the saving of heirloom seeds .
