Soil . . . and the magic of seeds

More than ten years ago I built a small 6' x 8' greenhouse and as they say, "the rest is history..." Today, on the heels of the 10.10.20 countdown launch with TEDxMariLark and TED.com, I am thrilled to announce that I am launching MariLark Farms, not only to continue growing the best heirloom tomatoes in Berkeley and share seeds in our community seed bank (CSB) but to help find solutions to our climate crisis across the country and the world.

I am looking for partnerships and ways to work together on climate change while creating better soils through regenerative farming and kick starting the local food movement with our Community Seed Banks

It was the tomato seed that ignited my imagination and wonder of how a tiny seed not only grows into an amazing plant but produces food and seeds forever, yes forever! It wasn't long before I was growing and fine tuning my own varieties. First came the tomato, then came the kale, lettuce, garlic, spices, squash and yes, the GIANT pumpkins. So began my quest to not only grow the best tomato but to save seeds of all types, shapes and colors.

It wasn't long before word got out in the neighborhood that I was successfully growing tomatoes in Berkeley. The first to notice were of course the animals, deer in particular, taking bites of their favorites and leaving the rest squashed beneath their

The Greenhouse Effect began soon after building the greenhouse. It was not only the Global Warming term that Al Gore made famous, but the effect that the greenhouse had on me and my community.

I soon took a deeper dive into all things seeds and soil and the greenhouse soon became my office of choice. A lot of interesting and funny things started happening because of the greenhouse as I began to play with the idea like a romantic comedy. I started to describe scenes and ask things like, "Who's going to play my neighbor, Bob?" I thought either Robert De Niro or Dustin Hoffman. I soon started talking about this at work before long started a lunch group called, Green Wednesday, yes, green lunches on Wednesday.

As I sat in the greenhouse that first year I began to write in my journal about the greenhouse effect. I started learning about the many types of tomatoes, I wrote, "Black Russian? I thought that was a drink. Purple Cherokee? Green Zebra?" Great material for a children's book about heirloom tomatoes I thought to myself. Stay tuned for that book someday in the not too distant future.

It wasn't long after learning how to save tomato seeds before I attended my first "Campout" or conference at the SeedSavers.org farm in Dekorah, Iowa. I joined SeedSavers Exchange and have been a member ever since. This is a beautiful part of the country nestled in the the bluffs and rich soil in the northern corner of Iowa, bordering Minnesota and Wisconsin. In August of 2020, I was honored to be part of their COVID online conference and was happy to be on a seed saver panel and a quiz show. They still have people who campout during the 2-3 day conference but I flew in from California. I flew in to Minneapolis, Minnesota and made the 150 mile scenic drive through beautiful country, including many Amish communities along the northern border of Iowa. I can't wait to return to Dekorah and the seedsavers.org farm. #seedsavers.org #marilarkfarms #regenerativefarming #organic