Winter Wheat pays tribute to Turkey Red wheat, a hearty grain variety brought to Kansas by Mennonite immigrants from present-day Ukraine in the late nineteenth century. Turkey Red is a heritage grain, meaning that its seeds pre-date modern agro-industrial breeding and hybridization practices. While these approaches have led to higher crop yields, they often come at the expense of flavor and nutrition. To restore these vital qualities to wheat, the staff of life, and to avoid using fertilizers and pesticides (most heritage grains are inherently robust and pest-resistant), some American farmers are returning to Turkey Red cultivation. Winter Wheat celebrates the renaissance of this special grain. With a composition inspired by Delft florals, Winter Wheat depicts wheat stalks along with sprigs of Common Vetch, Red Clover, Soybeans and Field Peas. These companion crops improve soil health, slow erosion, repel pests, control weeds and invite pollinators such as Monarch, Zebra Longtail and Karcher butterflies. To learn more about how we designed Winter Wheat, see our blog entry, Winter Wheat and Turkey Red.
