Tag Archives: Norwegian Seed Savers

Grand Opening of The Edible Garden Permaculture LAND Centre

Grand Opening of The Edible Garden Permaculture LAND Centre

(Thanks to Berit Børte, Kjell Hødnebø, Lone Dybdal, Elin Mar, Bell Batta Torheim, Inger Line Skurdal Ødegård and Margaret M. Anderson for the pictures )
Sunday 5th May was a cold showery day here in Malvik and the 3rd day of KVANN’s (Norwegian Seed Savers) annual meeting weekend in Trondheim and Malvik. This was also the day of the official opening of my garden as a Permaculture LAND centre, which was celebrated by a primula ribbon cutting ceremony and the LAND multi-species salad (how many ingredients? See below!). Meg had decorated the  gate for the occasion, now a permanent feature:

25 participants from all over Norway met in the garden at 10:30. Due to the weather,  we moved inside where I gave an introduction to how the garden had developed into a permaculture Forest Garden despite the fact that I knew nothing of permaculture principles! The rain eased off, so we moved outside for a walk and talk around the garden with focus on the plants. The album below shows some of the plants we talked about:

I had got up at 6 am to pick the ingredients for the multi-species salad we made for lunch (all 146 ingredients) to celebrate the garden’s LAND status!
LAND:   Learning And Network Demonstration network – a  network of permaculture sites.  Sites are set up to show permaculture in practice to visitors and volunteers in a safe, accessible and inspiring way. There are a number of requirements to receive LAND certification, one of which was that I had to have a PDC (Permaculture Design Certificate) which I took in 2017, sharing the teaching with Jan Bang (yes, I taught myself the plants part of the course!)

In Norway – http://www.permakultur.no/land  (Læring, Aktivitet, Nettverk og Demonstrasjon)
In the UK – https://www.permaculture.org.uk/land-centres

Before lunch, we had the official LAND opening ceremony for the Edible Garden, introduced by Eirik Lillebøe Wiken
of the Norwegian Permaculture Association,

See Berit’s FB video: https://www.facebook.com/beritboslo/videos/10219097282043751   followed by our living ribbon-cutting ceremony!

The ribbon had been expertly made by Meg Anderson from flower shoots of Primula hybrids (cowslip, primrose, oxlip / marianøkleblom, kusymre, hagenøkleblom) :-)

There was then a joint effort in my kitchen to put the salad together:

THE LAND SALAD (146 ingredients)
Aegopodium podograria
Agastache foeniculum
Alchemilla mollis
Alium carolinianum
Alliaria petiolata; Flower Tops
Allium “Summer Beauty”
Allium ampeloprasum
Allium amphibolum
Allium caeruleum
Allium cernuum
Allium cernuum “Pink Giant”
Allium cernuum x stellatum “Hammer”
Allium cyaneum
Allium douglasii
Allium fistulosum
Allium fistulosum “Gribovskiy 21”
Allium flavescens
Allium flavum “Blue Leaf”
Allium flavum “nana”
Allium hymennorhizum
Allium hymenorhizum (var truncatifolium?)
Allium jajla
Allium karataviense
Allium nutans “Caroline”
Allium nutans “Slizun”
Allium oleraceum
Allium oreophilum
Allium paradoxum var normale
Allium paradoxum var paradoxum
Allium sativum (garlic)
Allium schoenoprasum “Black Island Blush” ; Flower buds
Allium schoenoprasum “Black Island Blush” ; Leaves
Allium schoenoprasum #1
Allium schoenoprasum #2
Allium schoenoprasum #3
Allium schoenoprasum #4
Allium schoenoprasum #5
Allium schoenoprasum #6
Allium scorodoprasum
Allium splendens
Allium validum
Allium victorialis “Granvin”
Allium x cornutum
Allium x proliferum “Bergstua”
Allium x prolifrum “Amish Topset”
Allium zebdanense
Angelica “Vossakvann”
Angelica spp.
Arabis alpina
Arabis alpina
Arabis caucasica “Pink”
Artemisia dracunculus sativa “German”
Asparagus officinalis
Atriplex hortensis “Rubra”
Barbara vulgaris
Barbarea vulgaris variegata
Begonia heracleifolia; Flowers
Beta vulgaris flavescens “Swiss Chard”
Brassica napa “Turnip tops”
Brassica oleracea “Walsall Allotments perennial kale”
Brassica oleracea Perennial Kale #1
Brassica oleracea Perennial Kale #2
Brassica oleracea Perennial Kale #3
Brassica oleracea Perennial Kale #4
Brassica oleracea Perennial Kale #5
Brassica oleracea Perennial Kale #6
Brassica oleracea Perennial Kale #7
Brassica oleracea Perennial Kale #8
Brassica oleracea x (Bed 7) #1 sort
Brassica oleracea x (Bed 7) #2
Campanula rapunculoides
Campanula trachelium
Cardamine pentaphyllos
Carum carvi (caraway)
Chamerion angustifolium
Cichorium intybus #1
Cichorium intybus #2
Cichorium intybus #3
Cichorium intybus #4
Claytonia virginica; Flowers
Claytonia virginica; Leaves
Coriandrum sativum; Leaves
Crambe martima
Hablitzia tamnoides
Hemerocallis dumortieri; Flower buds
Honckenya peploides
Hosta sieboldiana Ex- Mira
Houttuynia cordata #1
Houttuynia cordata #2
Houttuynia cordata #3
Hydrophyllum virginianum
Hylotelephium var.
Leucanthemum vulgare
Levisticum officinale
Ligularia fischeri
Lunaria annua
Lunaria rediviva Flor
Malva alcea
Malva moschata
Melissa officinalis
Mentha #1
Mentha #2
Meum athamaticum
Myrrhis odorata
Olea europaea (oliven)
Origanum vulgare #1
Origanum vulgare #2
Origanum vulgare #3
Oxalis acetosella
Oxalis tuberosa “Oca”; Leaves
Phyteuma spicata
Primula denticulata
Primula veris Red
Primula vulgaris
Primula x ; Flowers
Primula x ; Leaves
Rhodiola rosea
Rhododendron mucronulatum; Flowers
Ribes spp. #1; Flowers
Ribes spp. #2; Flowers
Rumex acetosa
Rumex patientia
Rumex scutatus
Rumex scutatus “Silver Shield”
Rumex acetosa Russian #1
Rumex acetosa Russian #2
Rumex acetosa Russian #3
Rumex acetosa Russian #4
Rumex acetosa Russian #5
Rumex acetosa Russian #6
Rumex acetosa ssp vinealis
Scorzonera hispanica
Sedum “Carl”
Sium sisarum
Sonchus oleraceus
Taraxacum “Moss-leaved”
Taraxacum #1
Taraxacum albidum
Tragopogon pratensis
Trillium erectum “Burgundy”
Trillium grandiflorum ’Pink’
Tulipa fosteriana purissisima; Flowers
Tulipa viridiflora “Esperanto”
Tulipa x gesneriana “Pilot” (syn Tulipa norvegica); Flowers
Viola canadense
Viola hybrida “Yellow” ; Flowers
+ (not grown locally!):
Olea europaea (olive)

 

Væres Venner status

Jeg holdte vedlagt presentasjon denne uken om status med KVANNs første hagene hos Væres Venner like utenfor Trondheim (Ranheim).
Vi trenger flere som har lyst å hjelpe til…ta gjerne kontakt isåfall!
Vi besøker hagen under KVANNs årsmøte helg 5. mai! Alle er velkommen!

English: This is a presentation of the first year’s work and status of KVANN’s (Norwegian Seed Savers) new gardens at the Væres Venner Community Garden in Trondheim. Pictures of both the World Garden and Vegetable Sanctuary are shown.

Download (PDF, 8.03MB)

THE NEW EDIMENTALS SEED TRADE LIST FOR 2018-2019

Welcome to my new seed trade list for 2018-19.
16, 17 and 18 in brackets indicates the harvesting year for the seed. Concerning seed quantity: as I don’t have many plants of each species, seed quantity is limited in most cases. Therefore, for some species you may only get a few seeds. Many species are harvested in my garden. Others are surplus from trade and purchase. OUT: Means out of stock.  NB! Cultivars do not always come true. I offer them anyway, but no guarantees to what you will get!  NB! Traditional vegetables are at the end of the list with (mostly) common English names first.
NOTE: I don’t sell seed and I won’t be doing many trades this winter due to a busy schedule. However, I offer all plus many more to members of Norwegian Seed Savers (KVANN) through our spring (February) year book and autumn catalogue. To become a member go to http.//kvann.org and click on “Bli medlem”. It costs kr. 250 / year plus postage and packing.
For trades, I am mainly interested in uncommon hardy perennials, but I may also be interested in annuals.
NB! Not all plants in this list are edible, although almost all are!

Botanical Name (year of harvest)

Aconitum heterophyllum (16) Poisonous
Aconitum lycoctonum (17) Poisonous
Adenophora khasiana  (17)
Adenophora lilliifolia  (17)K
Adenophora pereskiifolia (17)
Adenophora remotiflora (17)
Adenophora tashiroi  (17)
Adenophora triphylla v japonica (17)
Adenostyles alpina (17)
Akebia quinata (17)
Alcea nudiflora (16)
Alcea rosea (18)
Allium aflatunense (18)
Allium altyncolicum (18)
Allium amphibolum (16)
Allium atroviolaceum (18)K
Allium barsczewskii (18)
Allium caeruleum (16)
Allium caesium Ex-Kyrgyzstan  (16)
Allium calocephalum (17)
Allium carinatum pulchellum (18)K
Allium carinatum pulchellum “Album” (18)K
Allium cernuum mix (17) K
Allium cernuum ‘Tall Mix’ (17)K
Allium cyathophorum (16) Yunnan, China
Allium darwasicum (16)
Allium decipiens (18) Type 1
Allium decipiens (18) Type 2
Allium decipiens ssp. quercetorum (17)K
Allium delicatulum (16)
Allium denudatum (16)
Allium dodecandontum (18)
Allium drummondii (16)
Allium douglasii (16)
Allium erubescens (18)
Allium fistulosum Ex-“Gribovskij 21” (18)K
Allium fistulosum Ex-“Svenskelauk” (17) (Norwegian heirloom onion)
Allium flavescens (18) (Open pollinated hybrid)
Allium flavum “Blue Leaf” (18,17)K
Allium globosum (18)
Allium hymenorrhizum (16)
Allium insubricum (16)
Allium jajlae (16)
Allium jesdianum ssp angustitepalum (16)
Allium korolkowii (18)
Allium kwakense (18)
Allium leucanthum (16)
Allium longicuspis (18)K From Kyrgyzstan
Allium macranthum (18)K
Allium mairei (18)K
Allium maximowiczii (18)K
Allium moly var bulbilliferum
Allium narcissiflorum (17)K
Allium nevii (18)
Allium nutans “Ex-Berkutenko” (18)
Allium nutans “Isabelle” (16) K
Allium nutans “Lena” (17) K
Allium nutans / flavescens hybrid? (Kazakhstan) (white flowers) (17, 16)K
Allium ovalifolium (17)
Allium ovalifolium var. leuconeurum (17)K
Allium pallasii (18,16)
Allium paniculatum (18)
Allium paradoxum normale (17) Two accessions
Allium cf. petraeum (18)
Allium petraeum Ex-Kyrgyzstan (16)
Allium przewalskianum Ex-Kyrgyzstan (16) 3 accessions from China!
Allium pskemense x cepa (18)K
Allium “Purple Sensation” (17)K
Allium rubens Ex-Kazakhstan (16)
Allium rubens (17)
Allium sarawschanicum (16)
Allium schoenoprasoides Ex-Kazakhstan (16)
Allium schoenoprasum “Bergsbygrenda” (17) Norwegian heirloom
Allium schoenoprasum “Black Pedicels” (17, 16)K
Allium schubertii (17)
Allium senescens x nutans hybrids (Ex-Mark McDonough) (16)
Allium senescens x nutans “Broad leaf” (Ex-Mark McDonough) (17, 16)K
Allium spirale (18)
Allium splendens (16)
Allium stenodon (18)K
Allium stipitatum? (16)
Allium stipitatum “Album” (16)
Allium stipitatum “Goliat” (18, 17)K
Allium strictum (17)K
Allium suworowii (18)
Allium thunbergii “Ozawa”(17)
Allium tauricola (16)
Allium tuberosum(18)
Allium tulipifolium (18)
Allium victorialis ‘Granvin, SW Norway’ (18) Wild collected
Allium victorialis ‘Ex-Hopen, Norway’ (17)K
Allium victorialis ‘Ex-Lofoten’ (18,16)K
Allium victorialis ‘Ex-Ringve’ (18)K
Allium victorialis ‘Ex-Røst’ (18, 17)K
Allium victorialis “Tei, Japan” (18)K
Allium wallichii (17,18)K  Several OP accessions
Alnus viridis crispa var mollis (18)K
Althaea officinalis (17) 2 accessions
Amaranthus chlorostachys (18, 17)K
Anemone rivularis (18)
Angelica archangelica ssp archangelica v. Majorum “Vossakvann” (18)K (Voss Angelica) “Bordalen” plus one other accession
Angelica arguta (18)K Wild collected in Oregon
Angelica sylvestris “Vicar’s Mead” (18)K
Arabis alpina (18,17)K
Aralia californica (18,17)K
Aralia cordata (17) Several accessions
Asphodelus albus (18)
Aster ageratoides “Adustus Nanus” (16)
Athyrium felix-femina (16)
Atriplex hortensis rubra (17, 16)K
Barbarea verna (17)
Barbarea vulgaris (16)
Basella alba “Red” (16)
Beta maritima (17) from Cornwall, UK
Boehmeria tricuspis (18)
Bryonia alba (17)
Buddleja davidii (18)
Bunias erucago (17)
Calamintha nepeta “White Cloud” (16)
Caltha palustris himalensis (18)
Campanula alliarifolia (17)K
Campanula cervicaria (17)K
Campanula glomerata “Alba”(17)K
Campanula latifolia “Purple White Ladies” (18)
Campanula medium (17)
Campanula persicifolia “Alba Coronata”” (15)
Campanula punctata hondoensis (16)
Campanula rapunculus (17)
Caragana arborescens (16)
Cardamine uliginosa (17)
Cardiocrinum spp (16) Japan
Caucalis platycarpos (16)
Centaurea aspera (16)
Chelidonium majus (18)K
Chenopodium giganteum (17)
Chenopodium formosanum (17)K (Taiwanese Quinoa)
Chondrilla juncea (17)S
Cicerbit alpina (18)K
Cicerbita plumieri (18)
Cirsium canum (17)K
Cirsium eriophorum (17)K
Cirsium erisithales  (16)
Cirsium heterophyllum (17) K Wild, Malvik
Cirsium japonicum (18)
Cirsium tuberosum (17)K
Claytonia virginiana (18)K
Clematis alpina (18)
Clinipodium chinense v parviflorum (17)  From Japan
Clinipodium vulgare (18)
Clintonia borealis (17)K
Codonopsis grey-wilsonii “Himal Snow” (18)
Commelina tuberosa (16)
Conopodium majus (18)K
Crambe cordifolia (18) K
Crambe maritima (18,17)K
Darmera peltata (17)
Dianthus albus (17)K
Dipsacus japonicus (16)
Disporum smithii (16)
Dracocephalum integrifolium (16)
Dystaenia takesimina (18)K
Echinochloa esculenta (17)K
Elaeagnus umbellata (17)K From Hurdal, Norway
Epilobium latifolium (16)
Elschscholtzia californica (17)
Elsholtzia ciliata (18,17)S
Eupatorium cannabinum (17)K
Fedia cornucopiae (18, 16)S,K
Fragaria vesca “ECOS” (17)
Fragaria virginiana “ECOS” (17)
Fuertesimalva limensis (17)
Geranium thunbergii (17)
Girardinia cuspidata (17)
Girardinia septentrionalis (17)
Gladiolus imbricatus (16)
Hablitzia tamnoides (Mixed) (18)K
Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus (18)K
Hosta “Frances Williams”  (H. sieboldiana “blood”) (18,17)K
Hosta sieboldiana Ex-Mira (17)K
Hosta sieboldiana Mix (18)K
Hosta gracilima (18)
Hypericum perforatum (17)K
Hyssopus officinale (18)
Inula helenium (17)K
Ipomoea aquatica (17)K
Kalimeris incisa “Madiva” (17, 16)
Laserpitium siler (18)
Lavatera arborea variegata (17)K
Lepidium latifolium (18)K
Leucanthemum maximum “Alaska” (16)
Leucanthemum x superbum “Marconi” (16)
Levisticum officinale (18)K
Ligularia dentata “Desdemona” (18)
Ligularia fischeri (18, 17)K
Lycopus asper (17)
Malva verticillata (17)S
Malva mohileviensis (18,17)K
Malva moschata “Wild fro Kløfta, Norway” (17)
Malva subovata (17)
Malva sylvestris “Braveheart” (16)
Marrubium vulgare (16)
Mertensia ciliata (18,17)K
Mertensia paniculata (18)K
Molopospermum peloponnesiacum (18)K
Nectaroscordum siculum (17)
Nepeta x fassenii “Six Hills Giant” (3 seeds)K
Orychophragmus violaceus (17)K
Oxyria digyna (18)K
Papaver somniferum “Mix” (17)K
Patrinia triloba v. takeuchiana (17)K
Persicaria virginiana “Painter’s Palette” (17)
Peucedanum terebinthaceum (17)
Phyteuma nigra (18)K
Phyteuma orbiculare (18,17)K
Phytolacca americana (18)K
Podophyllum emodi (17)K
Polygonatum odoratum “Chollipo” (17)
Polygonum divaricatum (17)K
Prenanthes purpurea (17)K
Primula elatior “Magenta” (17)
Primula kewensis (17)
Primula sieboldii Mix (17)
Prunella vulgaris “Pagoda” (17)K
Pycnanthemum muticum (15)
Rhodiola rosea (17)K
Rhus typhina (16)K
Ribes mandschuricum (18)K
Ribes petraeum biebersteinii (16)K
Rubus idaeus “Sunset” (17)
Rubus occidentalis “Black Hawk” (17, 16) K
Rubus occidentalis “Bristol” (17) K
Rubus phoenicolasius (17)K
Rumex acetosa “Belleville” (17, 16)
Rumex acetosa “Krupolistny” (17)K
Rumex acetosa “Shirokolistny” (18)K
Rumex patientia (18,17)K
Rumex sanguineus (17)K
Rumex scutatus “Wild” (18)K
Rumex scutatus “Silver Leaved”  (18)K
Rumex vesicarius (18) K
Sanguisorba canadensis (17)K
Sanguisorba minor (17)K
Sanguisorba officinalis (17)K
Sanguisorba officinalis “Tanna” (17)K
Sanguisorba stipulata (17)
Sanguisorba tenuifolia “Purpurea” (17)K
Saponaria officinalis “Pink” (18)K
Saxifraga fortunei  “Akibare”(17)
Saxifraga fortunei “Fukujyu”  (17)
Scabiosa japonica var alpina (17)
Sidalcea oregana (17)
Sideritis syriaca (18, 17)K
Silene latifolia (18)
Sinapis alba (17)S
Sium sisarum (18)K (Skirret)
Smilax hispida (17)K
Sonchus oleraceus “Giant Oregon” (16)S
Sonchus palustris (17) K
Stachys palustris (17) from Hurdal
Streptopus amplexifolius (18)K
Taraxacum ceratophorum (18)K
Taraxacum officinale “Moss-leaved” (18)K
Taraxacum pseudoroseum (18, 16)K
Taraxacum rubifolium (18, 17)K (Red-leaved dandelion)
Thalictrum aquilegifolium (18)
Thalictrum delavayi (17)
Thlaspi arvense (17) K
Tigridia pavoniana (17)K
Tradescantia ohiensis (18)K
Tricyrtis spp.  (17)K
Trillium erectum “Cream” (17)
Urtica galeopsifolia (18) (Almost) stingless
Urtica gracilis (17)
Valeriana officinalis (17)K
Viola cornuta Alba (17)

Vegetables

Bean ”Armenian Asparagus Bean” (14)K
Bean ”Klosterbønner” (17)K Norwegian heirloom (Phaseolus vulgaris)
Bean ”Turkish Beans from Geitmyra” (14)
Broccoli Raab (Cima de rapa) “Dietrich’s” (15) (Flowering turnip tops)
Broccoli Raab (Cima de rapa) “Foglia d’ulivo” (16) (Flowering turnip tops)
Broccoli Raab (Cima de rapa) “Sessantina” (16) (Flowering turnip tops)
Burdock (15) (5 different Japanese varieties) (15)
Celery “Red  stem” (15)
Chicory “Barba di Cappuccino” (15)
Chicory “Bianca” (15)
Chicory “Catalogna Frastagliata” (15)
Chicory “Di Chiavari” (15)
Chicory “Etardo” (17)
Chicory “Orchidea Rossa” (13)
Chicory “Rossa vi Verona sel. Arca” (18)
Chicory “Selvatico da Campo” (15)
Chicory “Variegata di lusia (precoce)” (15)
Chinese Cabbage “Heading” (14) (Japanese seed)
Endive “Cornet de Bordeaux” (16)
Kale “Couve Galega” (18)K  Two accesions
Kale “Helgoland Kale” (18) K
Lamb’s Lettuce “Baron” (16)
Lettuce “Cocarde” (17)
Lettuce “Freckles” (17)
Lettuce “Navarra” (17)
Lettuce “Oakleaf” (17)
Lettuce “Red Salad Bowl” (16)
Lettuce “Rossa Ricciolina da Taglio” (16)
Lettuce “Ruby Gem” (16)
Lettuce “Summer Bibb” (16)
Lettuce “Senorita” (17)
Lettuce “Tuska” (17)
Mustard Greens ‘’Giant Red”  (18)K
Oriental Greens ‘Choy Sum Purple’ (15)
Oriental Greens ‘Choy Sum Purple Flowering’ (15)
Oriental Greens ‘Early Mibuna’ (14)
Oriental Greens ‘Frilly’ (13)
Oriental Greens ‘Green Wave” (13)
Oriental Greens ‘Kekkya Takana” (14)
Oriental Greens ‘Misome’ (14)
Oriental Greens ‘Mispoona’ (16)
Oriental Greens “Red Mizuna”  (14)
Oriental Greens “Red Streaked Mizuna”  (14)
Oriental Greens “Southern Giant”  (13)
Oriental Greens “Swollen Stem Tsai Tsai Round” (12)
Oriental Greens “Xue li Hong” (14)
Parsnip (18)K
Pea “Carlin Pea” (18)K
Pea “Golden Sweet” (17)K
Pea “Robinson” (18)K
Pea “Salmon Flowered Crown Pea” (18, 17, 16)K
Quinoa “Stephe” (18)K
Rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) “Dragon’s Tooth” (16)K
Rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) “Wildfire” (16)K
Rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) “Rustic Arugula” (16)K
Rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) “Rustic Style” (16)K
Rocket (Diplotaxis erucoides) “Wasabia Arugula” (16)K
Turnip “Purple Top Milan” (17)

 

Væres Venner Community Garden 29th August 2018

I worked a couple of hours extending KVANNs garden at Væres Venner community garden in Trondheim this week…I have some 50 perennials waiting for a temporary place until next year. I also cut down the vegetation in the rest of KVANNs area in preparation to cover with the thick paper donated by the Ranheim Paper&Board factory and straw from a neighbouring farmer!
The quinoa is approaching maturity and I harvested some more broad beans (bondebønner)! It seems that the soil is fertile (no compost or other fertiliser was added)
See the video:

Status of the Granvin victory onion location

In June 2009, I was shown the only naturalised stand of victory onion (Allium victorialis) in south western Norway (away from Lofoten Islands – Vestvågøy – and Bodø area where there are several large populations, possibly a Viking introduction there which has subsequently spread).  It’s also found in a damp woodland (which regularly floods in spring) along the Granvinselven (the Granvin river) in south west Norway (see http://www.edimentals.com/blog/?p=10658). It is suggested that the onion came to Granvin by way of the so-called Jektefart (a trade route based on dried fish from Lofoten to western Norway), was planted in a garden close to the site, subsequently naturalising from there!

Naturalised locations of Allium victorialis in Norway showing the isolated Granvin site (the location near Oslo is probably extinct

In late October 2014, there was a major flood in western Norway (https://nn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oktoberflaumen_i_2014) which caused a lot of damage including in Granvin. Over 200mm rain was recorded over 3 days in several places and up to 330mm! Although not a record, it had already rained a lot for most of October and the ground was already saturated when the worst rain happened…leading to a totally unexpected extreme event.

I heard rumours that the victory onion location had been severely impacted by this event, so when we drove past Granvin on the way back from the Nordic Permaculture Festival in Jondal, I took the opportunity to visit the location! This confirmed that the site is much reduced and there is visible signs of erosion including a dried up channel through the middle of the wooded island where the onion is found (the river was very low due to the drought). In addition, I was surprised to find that a path had been constructed between the river and the school. This is part of a major civil engineering work in Granvin to protect the low lying inhabited areas from flooding (see https://www.nve.no/nytt-fra-nve/nyheter-skred-og-vassdrag/granvin-har-fatt-betre-tryggleik-mot-flaum )
A video showing the completed works https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Keg-BSrAi94 shows aerial views of “victory onion island” between 0:56 – 1:24!
These works may lead to further erosion and destruction of the island….
Seeds were actually already ripe due to the hot summer and I therefore collected seed to safeguard the Granvin onion to be offered to Norwegian Seed Savers (KVANN) through our autumn catalogue which will be produced in October!
From my friend Geir Flatabø: “Jaunssen Gjestgjevarstad (Jaunssen Guest House) in Granvin has begun to harvest / use the onion, and makes pesto served to guests, with good feedback.”

Other relevant articles:
Hagetidend (Norwegian gardening magazine) profile http://www.edimentals.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/6_Seiersl%C3%B8k_fra_Vestv%C3%A5g%C3%B8y.pdf

A report from my 2009 “onion safari” to Lofoten, Tromsø and Granvin can be found here (in Norwegian with English comments)  http://www.edimentals.com/blog/?p=18527 (some of this material ended up in my book Around the World in 80 plants))

KVANN treff Day 1 at Væres Venner and Presthus Gård

The first evening of KVANN (Norwegian Seed Savers) weekend event in Trondheim and Malvik, we visited KVANN’s first “nyttevekstreservat” (inspired by Lawrence Hills’ proposal for vegetable sanctuaries across Europe as a reaction to the loss of our vegetable diverity in 1979!) at Væres Venner Felleshage (a new communiy garden in Trondheim). KVANN have already started work on a Verdenshage (World Garden) and another area currently being used as a holding bed for a future diversity garden, including walnut, hazel, sea buckthorn and other fruit trees to be planted elsewhere..
Afterwards, Sølvi Kvam took us to nearby Presthus Gård, a farm which has until recently been threatened by nearby housing developments. It will now be developed with many activities and KVANN are also welcome to make suggestions!
 
See also

KVANN meet in Trondheim and Malvik; Ringve Open Day

Day 3 of the KVANN (Norwegian Seed Savers) meet was at the Ringve Botanical Garden Open Day in Trondheim. The day started early as I drove one of the participants to the station in Trondheim and then spent a couple of hours collecting some of the ingredients for a multi-species salad. Including plants collected on a walk, talk and forage for KVANN members, we managed 111 ingredients in the salad! Thanks to all who helped make it a very successful and fun weekend!

KVANN meet 2018; Walk along the Homla canyon

Pictures from Saturday’s 5 km (almost 4 hours with all the stops) walk along the Homla river canyon from Storfossen (this area’s second highest waterfall) to the sea at Hommelvik! As usual, a memorable trip!

 

KVANN meet in Trondheim and Malvik; tour of the Edible Garden

Some pictures from Day 2 of the KVANN (Norwegian Seed Savers) meet in Malvik in my Edible Forest Garden :)
As usual, it was a great group!!
Thanks to Margaret M. Meg Anderson for most of the pictures!

PROGRAMMET FOR KVANN-TREFFET I TRONDHEIM

PROGRAMMET FOR KVANN-TREFFET I TRONDHEIM (Program for the Norwegian Seed Savers weekend in Trondheim)

Fredag 15. juni; kl 19  Vi besøker KVANNs planlagte første nytteplante-reservat hos Væres Venner på Ranheim. Oppmøtet ved parkeringsplassen like vest for hagen (se kart); 5-10 minutter å gå fra Væresletta bussholdeplass (buss 38 fra Trondheim, Stjørdal eller Værnes, se atb.no); grusvei fra østeenden av Ranheimsvegen! Etterpå har vi også planer om å besøke Presthus gård hvor vi er også ønsket velkommen til samarbeid. Her planlegges det Trondheims svar på Bygdøy Kongsgård!
Initiativtager og tidligere leder av Ranheim Frivilligsentralen, Sølvi Kvam blir også med og vil orientere om begge prosjekter! Det blir mulighet for skyss mellom Væres Venner og Presthus Gård (det går også buss).

Lørdag 16. juni, kl 10-13  Spiselig hagevandring hos KVANNs leder Stephen Barstow i Malvik etterfulgt av en felles lunsj (med grønt hentet fra hagen). Adresse: Malvikveien 418, 7563 Malvik (bussholdeplass Naustkleiva – nr 38 fra Trondheim, Stjørdal eller Værnes, se atb.no). Plantesalg og bytte. Ta gjerne med planter til salgs!

Lørdag 16. juni, kl 13-17  Tur langs Homlastien i fantastisk natur og for å se de ville standene av strutseving (det blir dessverre for sent å plukke!), andre spiselige vekster og Trøndelags nest største uberørte foss, Storfossen (40m). Vi er avhengig av å komme til startpunktet for stien med privatbiler. Si fra om du kan kjøre! Ta med egen matpakke til turen etter behov! NB! Enkelte deler av stien er bratt! For de som ønsker det er det mulig å gå hele Homlastien ned til Hommelvik (man bør beregne opp til 5t til hele turen med stopp underveis…kanskje 3t om vi går tilbake til startpunktet).

Søndag 17. juni, kl 11-16. Ringve botaniske hages ÅPEN DAG, som arrangeres i samarbeid med hagens venneforening. Det blir plantesalg, aktiviteter for barn, «Spør en gartner», kafé, og stands om humler, spiselige planter, og flere grønne foreninger. Humlevandring kl. 12 og 14. Skjer ved hagens veksthus i Lade allé 58.
Kl 10:30-12:30  For deltagere av KVANN-treffet blir det en hagevandring med Stephen (som er gjesteforsker på Ringve). Vi ser på den nye Allium (løk) hagen som ble plantet i høst samt Gamlehagen (gamle stauder og urter fra Trøndelag) og Renessansehagen. Underveis har vi fått lov å høste spiselige planter fra naturen og samlingene til en mangfoldssalat som serveres til deltagere og publikum fra kl 13.  Serveringen blir fra KVANNs stand.

Overnatting: Vi jobber med å kunne tilby privat overnatting, ta kontakt om du er interessert. Det er også en mulighet for overnatting i landlige omgivelser ca 2km fra hagen på Storsand Camping som har hytter (muligheten for å dele?)!

Velkommen til årets KVANN treff i Malvik/Trondheim!

Deltageravgift: Gratis for medlemmer (det koster bare kr 200 å melde seg inn hos kvann.org – klikk på Bli medlem). Bindende påmelding på lørdagens hagebesøk til Stephen (begrenset plass igjen)!