Remembering Casey: Seeds of Memory

Landraces seed saving is deeply connected to people (culture) and place (soil). Landrace seed consist of a mixture of different seed varieties which are different to one another. This gives a wide range of genetic memory that can allow for greater adaptability to our climate.

However, what do we prioritise? In a landrace, each seed variety has a story which can be lost when it crosses with another seed variety. But is this necessary for us to do as our climate changes?

At the Wash House gardens we have been growing the Desert Spirit Landrace of squashes. This landrace was bred by an incredible American seed breeder called Casey Piscura who specifically bred varieties of vegetables to thrive in low light cool climates such as Scotland. We are deeply grateful for such people who dedicate their life's work to breeding seeds in open pollinated organic conditions to difficult climates like ours in Scotland.

In February 2025, at the age of 39, Casey Piscura of Wild Mountain Seeds passed away. We hope to remember the importance of saving seed to secure food for the future, and the many people who came before us to share seed with us, especially passionate humans like Casey Piscura.

Rest in Peace Casey Piscura, 10 September 1985 – 2 February 2025

- Hamshya Rajkumar, Glasgow Seed Library