|
Dr. John Wyche
February 4, 1911 - July 19, 1985
 Dr.
John Wyche was a master gardener who lived on the top of a rock mountain
near Hugo, Oklahoma. He moved hundreds of tons of rocks to build the
walls of twenty-two terraced gardens around his home. The materials to "make"
his soil had to be hauled up the mountain: leaves, sawdust, loam, pine
needles, and lots of elephant manure. (He used to own Cole Bros.
Circus.)
Dr. Wyche was one of the founding members
of the Seed Savers Exchange. He sent out thousands of packets of free
seeds each year to anyone who would send him postage and never wanted
anything in return, except to help other gardeners. His seeds are
scattered through this Yearbook, including some of our most valued ones
which his people, the Cherokee, brought over the Trail of Tears in 1836.
Dr. Wyche enriched our project not only
with his seeds, but also with his friendship. His ornery sense of humor
was delightful and he was a wonderful, warm, mailbox friend to many of
us. His family and countless friends will all miss him terribly.
Source:
Seed Savers Exchange 1986 Yearbook
Two of his varieties, 'Cherokee
Trail of Tears' pole bean and 'Dr.
Wyche's Yellow' tomato are available from the Victory Seed Company.
| 
