On Thursday, October 14 of 1976, husband Pieter lectured at the Mushroom Growers Association's Conference at the Royal Bath Hotel in Bournemouth in South England, a resort area and World Heritage Site.
Pieter's lecture has been published in The Mushroom Journal May 1977 now being uploaded by the ISMS
Pieter received this card from Saviour Gauci, via his Dutch Rotary friend Loek Nelissen and his wife, who met him while on vacation in Malta...
That was already several years after the MGA Conference, but it shows that people know Pieter J.C. Vedder the world over! This was after Pieter got his prestigious Sinden Award but more about that later...
Translated from Dutch:
Congratulations with 'The Award!" Terrific! Well earned!
Since you were not at Rotary, herewith proof that we met your friend in Malta.
How sociable it was we will tell you. Greetings, Loek
*
This photo of the C.C.O. Staff is taken by Saviour Gauci in1982 after a course for the M.G.A. Growers at the Practical Training College for Mushroom Growing.
From Left to right: Principal and Founder Pieter Vedder, Antoon Van As, Peter Rechsteiner, Jan Smits and Roel Seubring.
We both hope that Saviour Gauci's mushroom business is doing well in Malta!
Translated from Dutch:
Congratulations with 'The Award!" Terrific! Well earned!
Since you were not at Rotary, herewith proof that we met your friend in Malta.
*
From Left to right: Principal and Founder Pieter Vedder, Antoon Van As, Peter Rechsteiner, Jan Smits and Roel Seubring.
We both hope that Saviour Gauci's mushroom business is doing well in Malta!
Related links:
Husband Pieter visiting Mushrooms in the Cave - Bradford-on-Avon in England | previous post by me
Visiting A.G. Linfield Mushroom Compost Facility in England | previous post by me
Husband Pieter met with Darlington Spawn Makers and Fred Atkins in England | previous post by me
SO Happy for Having Met Another WRITING Mushroom Wife in the U.K. | previous post by me
Husband Pieter's Fond Relationship with Mushroom Growers in the U.K. | previous post by me
I woder if knowing so much about mushrooms, do you grow and eat lots of mushrooms, Mariette? They are delicious and healthy.
ReplyDeleteDearest Debbie,
DeleteNo, we actually never grew mushrooms ourselves... Only educated others for commercially growing them on a more efficient scale and for avoiding diseases and such.
Both of us love the Shii-take mushrooms most and the Porcini. The white button mushroom I use once in a while when good firm fresh quality is available. Talking about and writing about those white button mushrooms and then eating them a lot was a bit too much... Everyone has to wind down from work! These white button mushrooms are as healthy as vegetables are, as they contain 90+ % water! The Shii-take do have proven medical value though.
Hugs,
Mariette
Oops Debbie, had to correct this...
DeleteWith never grew mushrooms ourselves I meant that privately we never had a mushroom farm.
But we certainly did produce several million pounds of white button mushrooms and other exotics at the practical training college. We ran it like a business and were self sufficient with high yields and great quality as an example to students. Sorry about that, it was my 'boss' who tapped me on my (too fast typing...) fingers!
One day I might explain this a bit more in a post...
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeleteherzlichen Dank für deinen interessanten Post.
Alles Liebe
Elisabeth
Liebe Elisabeth,
DeleteAber gerne.
Liebe Grüße,
Mariette
Great. Your husband contributed so much to this work.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment on my latest post. I tried to figure out, too. However, I did not find any historical information about its establishment.
Dearest RTC.,
DeleteThank you and indeed, Pieter has been one of the pioneers in making mycology understandable to the grower.
Pieter had a very rare ability to translate science into understandable language in all of his class rooms.
Most scientist only produced 'papers' and love(d) to see their name in print... not much use to others for gaining any practical advice.
Sad that the historical information cannot be traced... Loved the building! Even more so since the house husband Pieter is born in, had a thatched roof. A Saxon farm from the 17th Century with even older parts done in loam. But it got destroyed during the period they had to evacuate end of WWII...
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello Mariette and Pieter, It is nice that in a life of growing and studying mushrooms, that both of you got your share of well-deserved awards and recognition. Of course, your blog readers, having come to know you two through so many stories and events, understand the devotion that is the source of that recognition.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteWell, my Pieter always possessed a very rare teaching ability in which he managed to translate all the available science from research and practical experience into plain and understandable language towards the growers. They are the ones that have to manage the work and if you can teach and above all explain them whey they have to follow a certain procedure, you have done a lot. Life as a scientist is not only about producing papers with difficult words that no one can actually benefit from. There are already too many that only love to see their name in print for self-glorification.
Both of us are more down to earth and of the 'back to basics' approach, as the core never ever changes.
Hugs,
Mariette
I always love seeing those handwritten notes. They show real friendship, appreciation, etc. I look forward to reading about the award :-)
ReplyDeleteDearest Tamago,
DeleteYou are so right about that, they are very thoughtful and meaningful!
Happy to read that you're looking forward to the Sinden Award.
Hugs,
Mariette
You have been really interesting life! Have a nice evening
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
DeleteYes, very true and time went fast like that. Always on the road, always preparing for another lecture, seminar or training aside from standing in front of the classroom...
Hugs,
Mariette
Both of you know so much about mushrooms!
ReplyDeleteDearest Krishna,
DeleteThat's because both of us loved what we did and also we love people...
Hugs,
Mariette
The photo you showed is lovely. 50 years ago? Such a great hoistory about your husband ,Pieter.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a beautiful day.
Dearest Tomoko,
DeleteNo not 50 but getting close to 45 I guess...
It is a long history and of one of the pioneers involved in mushroom growing.
Hugs,
Mariette
Ohhh, Yes, in the mid 40 means about 45!
DeleteThis evening, I boiled maitake for morning salada thinking of you.
So delicious!
Have a lovely day.
We both love Shiitake and Maitake!
Delete❤️
Great throw back, I have managed to grow my own oyster mushrooms, very tasty☺
ReplyDeleteDearest Natalia,
DeleteYes, those are very fond memories and we both are proud of them.
We too ate our own Pleurotus mushrooms from the garden... See here: {Pleurotus Ostreatus in Wood Garden Provided Meal}
Hugs,
Mariette
Thank yoy so much, I will definitely check that out! I'm following and I will visit more often☺☺
Delete💛
DeleteEverything to know about mushrooms will be found here in your posts. So very interesting.
ReplyDeleteI want to try to find here in Virginia the Chanterelle mushroom that some have gathered in a Richmond park. Nice yellow color and I hear they have a scent similar to the apricot.
Will have to go with an expert to learn more about gathering the wild ones.
I used to sometimes respond to your comments but you have now "noreply-comment@blogger.com" enabled so I can't. Thank you for commenting on my last post and yes the leaves were dry as I walked and shoes sunk in the wet ground in places. Many old dead leaves still to fall from some very large oaks.
Dearest Betsy,
DeleteYou are very fortunate if you can collect the Cantharellus cibarius, up to now not commercially grown. Enjoy them while you can and those are easy to detect but always best to go with someone who knows about wild mushrooms.
Not that you are learning a lot from these posts though. It is just a way of writing down some history that otherwise will be lost forever. Pieter has been one of the pioneers in mushroom cultivation for commercial growing and so many of his scientist colleagues have passed on. So I really make this an effort to get it written while I still can discuss with Pieter. It certainly gives peace of mind and anyone ever searching, can find it. Maybe not very interesting for most of my usual blog readers...
We both never have removed old leaves, that is THE BEST from the garden. It makes life's cycle complete and it's also where mushrooms come into play as they can digest the lignine of the woodsy parts, that no other organism can handle. But leaving it on the soil is a great benefit for plants, shrubs and trees as they can use its nutrients again.
In the woods, nobody is ever raking... so we ought to learn from Mother Nature!
Hugs,
Mariette
Dear Marietta
ReplyDeleteIt is such a wonderful surprise to see pictures of our father Saviour from another time. I know that he always greatly admired and respected Pieter. It would be wonderful if you could let us know if you have other pictures or letters from dad.
Best wishes
Olivia
Dearest Olivia,
DeleteThat is a surprise indeed for getting a reaction from Saviour's daughter!
But we are very sorry for having to inform you that this is all we got...
Best wishes back to you and yours!
Pieter and Mariette
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDear Luuk,
DeleteWhat a nice surprise to hear from a 3rd generation!
Small world and funny to know that I babysat your Mom while working at the CCO in Horst, The Netherlands.
Kindest regards from Georgia/USA,
Pieter & Mariette