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A Brief
Biography:
Craig
LeHoullier (a chemist by training who received his PhD from Dartmouth College) developed a passion for
growing heirloom tomatoes in 1986 while
living in Berwyn, Pennsylvania.
His
interest in gardening started much earlier, when as a small child,
he enjoyed spending time with his grandfather in his Rhode Island
gardens.
He and
his wife Susan had gardens from the time they were married in
locations such as New Hampshire and Seattle. However by 1986, the
year he joined the Seed Savers Exchange, he was becoming bored with
the usual red tomatoes carried by most seed catalogs and garden
centers. Joining SSE changed his gardening approach forever.
His
collection now contains
over 1000 heirloom tomato varieties, including many old
commercial releases previously thought to
be extinct. In addition to collecting
seeds, Craig also hunts for old seed catalogs
which he uses to
increase his knowledge of the history of tomato variety
development in the U.S. He is a
supporting member of the Victory Horticultural Library at
www.SaveSeeds.org, is active in
the SSE, and known as "nctomatoman" on several tomato related
gardening forums.
Along
with his interest in researching and preserving old varieties, Craig
is also interested in working with "created and mystery heirlooms".
He has supplied the parent stock to the Victory Seed Company for
many varieties including several unique releases.
Craig and his wife Susan annually raise and sell a wide variety of
rare and unusual tomato, pepper and eggplant seedlings each spring
at the Raleigh (NC) Farmer's Market.
Craig's
Introductions Offered by Victory Seeds:
Articles:
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