In the Crop Stories Podcast episode, LuAnna and co-host Ira Wallace discuss the significance of purple tree collards in Richmond, California, which has been their official plant since 2010. Their conversation touches into the plant's history, its role in African American migration, and its cultural importance. They highlight the resilience of the collards, which can grow up to six feet tall! The discussion also touches on the challenges of maintaining heirloom plants, the importance of regionality, and the educational value of living plants in teaching complex histories, emphasizing the plant's symbolic role in community and racial justice.

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Thank you for listening to the Crop Stories Podcast. The Crop Stories Podcast is a production of The Utopian Seed Project, a non-profit celebrating agricultural biodiversity in the Southeast. To support our work, purchase a copy of the Crop Stories journal, or learn more about our projects, visit us at utopianseed.org.

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• Instagram: @utopianseedproject
• Link to Support: https://www.utopianseed.org/crop-story-audio

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Join LuAnna and co-host Ira Wallace as they discuss the importance of heirloom collard seeds and their cultural significance. They highlight Dr. Edward Davis's research on seed savers in the Collard Belt, which includes North Carolina. Ira shares insights on the unique varieties of collards, such as purple and cabbage collards, and their historical and cultural importance. They also discuss the decline in home gardening and seed saving among younger generations and the need for projects like the Heirloom Collard Project to preserve biodiversity and promote regional seed stewardship.

Support the show

Thank you for listening to the Crop Stories Podcast. The Crop Stories Podcast is a production of The Utopian Seed Project, a non-profit celebrating agricultural biodiversity in the Southeast. To support our work, purchase a copy of the Crop Stories journal, or learn more about our projects, visit us at utopianseed.org.

Follow the Journey

• Instagram: @utopianseedproject
• Link to Support: https://www.utopianseed.org/crop-story-audio

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, as it helps these stories grow.

In this episode, host LuAnna is joined by again by collard expert Ira Wallace of Southern Exposure Seed Exchange. Their conversation centers on Dr. Mark Farnham’s piece,Your Quick Guide to Collards, which gives a technical breakdown of the vast genetic diversity within the Southern staple. The discussion explores the rich world of heirloom varieties, from the yellow-green cabbage collards of the Carolinas to the striking Alabama Blue, and tall multi-season tree collards.

NOTE: This episode was recorded June 24, 2025.

Support the show

Thank you for listening to the Crop Stories Podcast. The Crop Stories Podcast is a production of The Utopian Seed Project, a non-profit celebrating agricultural biodiversity in the Southeast. To support our work, purchase a copy of the Crop Stories journal, or learn more about our projects, visit us at utopianseed.org.

Follow the Journey

• Instagram: @utopianseedproject
• Link to Support: https://www.utopianseed.org/crop-story-audio

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, as it helps these stories grow.

Featuring a reading of Grief and Growing: An Immigrant Seed Keeper's Story of Cultivating Connection by author Dr. Mehmet Oztan, this conversation traces the emotional and cultural journey of an immigrant seed keeper. Join host LuAnna Nesbitt and special guest Ira Wallace as they discuss the "Karalahana" of the Black Sea, the striking parallels between Turkish and Southern foodways, and how the act of saving seeds can serve as a form of therapy and a bridge to one's heritage.

NOTE: This episode was recorded May 8, 2025.

Support the show

Thank you for listening to the Crop Stories Podcast. The Crop Stories Podcast is a production of The Utopian Seed Project, a non-profit celebrating agricultural biodiversity in the Southeast. To support our work, purchase a copy of the Crop Stories journal, or learn more about our projects, visit us at utopianseed.org.

Follow the Journey

• Instagram: @utopianseedproject
• Link to Support: https://www.utopianseed.org/crop-story-audio

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, as it helps these stories grow.

Featuring a reading of The Heirloom Collard Project by author Chris Smith, this conversation traces the journey of the Heirloom Collard project and its impacts. Join host LuAnna Nesbitt and special guest Ira Wallace as they discuss heirloom collards, collards connection to Black heritage, and the importance of collaborative projects like these.

NOTE: This episode was recorded Friday, April 11, 2025.

Support the show

Thank you for listening to the Crop Stories Podcast. The Crop Stories Podcast is a production of The Utopian Seed Project, a non-profit celebrating agricultural biodiversity in the Southeast. To support our work, purchase a copy of the Crop Stories journal, or learn more about our projects, visit us at utopianseed.org.

Follow the Journey

• Instagram: @utopianseedproject
• Link to Support: https://www.utopianseed.org/crop-story-audio

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, as it helps these stories grow.