Husband Pieter's 1994, 4th of July Speech

 About time for sharing this special speech by husband Pieter, delivered on the 4th of July at the Dublin stadion before fireworks.

If watching video click on CC Closed Caption!Pieter has written several speeches in his life time and he spoke at The International Society for Mushroom Science (ISMS) Congress numerous times. Always in a foreign language though...~

The 4th of July 1994

Thanks for the kind introduction; now you know almost all about the two of us. 

For the introduction of a speaker a typical question always is, what is exactly your title?

In a certain booklet we found that there is actually no prouder title than to be an American Citizen. 

Although the weather is not cooperating too well, today we have something really important to celebrate as you all know we celebrate Uncle Sam's 218th Birthday, the birth of this great nation.

In the introduction, you have heard that we are new Americans, although we came to this country already in 1983.

My wife's love–affair with the United States started in April of 1983; her very first visit to the New World.

Some Campbell Soup people taught her at that time some history by visiting Rockford (Grand Rapids), Michigan, where President Ford grew up. They thought maybe she was homesick and thus they brought her to Holland in Michigan. 

She was not homesick but just absorbing all she could about this fascinating New World. 

One of the highlights was the visit to Chestnut Street in Philadelphia; to the Independence Hall—the home of the Liberty Bell, a shrine of Patriotism for all Americans.

There we learned more about Life with a capital 'L' and also about Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. 

The next day we flew to Dublin, Georgia and there we fell deeper and deeper in love with the New World. 

So, in August of 1983, we came to live here.

This was Our Pursuit of Happiness.

Last year we got our American Citizenship and since then we can say: we are Dutch by birth and Americans by choice, and we are proud of both. 

There are a couple of reasons for that pride. Maybe you didn't know, but the Dutch, of any nation, have the longest uninterrupted friendly relationship with the U.S. and for sure we like to keep it that way.

It was on November 16 in 1776, that the Fort on the Dutch Island of St. Eustatius in the Caribbean returned the salute from the American warship Andrew Doria, as it entered the harbor. 

 This was the first salute by a foreign power to the flag of the United States of America. 

As the history books say: this was a very courageous action by the Dutch, and it enhanced the diplomatic credibility of the United States of America. 

It also gave a strong boost to the moral of the revolutionary troops.

So, today it is 218 years ago that the U.S. has been founded.

In the Dutch tradition, Birthdays always are important events, often celebrated with an all–day open house, birthday gifts etc.

A good question, not only for us but for all immigrants could be: 'Why did you come to the U.S.?

What did we expect to find here what we eventually didn't have in the country where we lived before? 

Although a lot of things have changed since then, the answer will be more or less identical to what brought the founding fathers to this of the world over 200 years ago.

The most important reason for them was the freedom and the space to live in the broadest sense.

The freedom to believe in God in different ways; the freedom to have your own opinion, the opportunity to develop yourself up to the limits etc. 

On this Birthday we should never forget that the Founding Fathers, and after them numerous immigrants, have for sure not chosen the easiest way. They didn't find a paradise; they just found a place with almost unlimited opportunities, but they had to be explored. 

Very important also is that their Freedom was based on a STRONG MORAL AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

That, in combination with hard work, made this country into what it is today; in our opinion the best country to live in.

We have a number of good reasons to make this statement.

As you perhaps know, or picked up from the introduction, for our job we traveled and still do, all over the world and lived in several countries.

We lived in Dublin, Georgia from 1983 through 1988 and after that in Italy and Indonesia.

We more and more discovered what a great country the U.S. is to live in; we got homesick and looked for every opportunity to return.

With O'Henry we can say, "You can't appreciate home 'till yu've left it... or old glory 'till you see it hanging on a broomstick on the shanty of a consul in a foreign town."

We think Americans in general don't realize how blessed they are, too many things we just take for granted. 

Especially the younger generation should realize that it hasn't been always this good, just travel the world and find out how spoiled in fact we are.

As the Founding Fathers long time ago, we've found our real happiness in this country. 

We often have to answer the question why we've chosen to live in America. 

We think we are able to give a reasonable answer because we can compare.

Our standard answer to that question is: The U.S. is for sure not paradise and not the ideal society because it is built up by some 250 million human beings. But traveling over the world, we can assure you that you will have a hard time to find a better place to live. Therefore, we have good reasons to be thankful and to celebrate the Birthday of this great nation. 

Like in the Dutch tradition, we should not come to a Birthday party with empty hands; one has to carry a gift.

What kind of a gift could we come up with for the Birthday of our country?

The most appropriate gift in our opinion would be that we promise to contribute our share in what the Founding Fathers once started.

They worked hard to develop this country, made it prosperous and a better place to live for everybody. They installed and maintained high moral values, based on a strong believe in God.

They've shown the world that they could handle their freedom.

Our forefathers didn't contribute frivolous gifts to this country.

So, let's celebrate this Birthday of our nation not only with a spectacular firework but let us wrap up a big box for Uncle Sam, containing:

A huge amount of humility, a lot of tolerance, respect for each other and patience, the most of integrity and compassion and a strong will to share freely with others.

Thank you Founding Fathers!

Happy Birthday Uncle Sam, we love this country.

May God bless this nation and all of us.

~
Happy 247th Independence Day!

900 impressions on LinkedIn...

Related links:{December 30, 1993 U.S. flag flown over U.S. Capitol for both of us!} | previous post by me {The Dutch 1st to Salute to the Flag of The United States in 1776} | previous post by me{4th of July Speech given by my husband Pieter} | previous post by me

Silver Mushrooms

 Sure, being immersed into MUSHROOMS there has to be a SILVER ONE!

This is my personal collection on a Le Jacquard Français placemat...

Gold plated silver earrings in the shape of a mushroom; a silver charm with its lamellae beautifully worked in and a silver plated salt & pepper set.

Uploaded by the ISMS from the Mushroom Journal September 1978 ←(click link) is this on page 292

A solid silver mushroom charm, specially designed for the MGA (Mushroom Growers' Association) in connection with the Woman's Own competition. 

Silver-plated salt and pepper pots are also included.

The charm weighs a quarter of an ounce.

Placed these silver mushroom treasures on top of two lovely Mushroom Cookbooks

To the left you find The Mushroom Cookbook ←click link

To the right MUSHROOMS A Book of Recipes (Cooking with)  ←click link

A bit closer for showing these treasures...

Again a different angle

Showing the top of the silver charm, with its ring for allowing the necklace to go through

Detail of the made in Italy Salt & Pepper set

And once more now with the silver charm being turned around...

Do any of you have Silver Mushrooms?

John Miller, OAM was a Longtime Mushroom Friend of husband Pieter

 Photo below shows a happy John Miller, OAM on his 90th Birthday!

Heavy hearts in Hawkesbury after passing of John Miller ←click link

There is a mention also of him starting in 1955 to farm orchard fruit and vegetables. But the following years, seven floods devastated the farm "with all our crops washed away: and he moved to higher ground in the Hills to begin growing mushrooms.

Active in the Australian Mushroom Growers Association (AMGA), Mr Miller promoted the use of locally grown mushrooms and worked to unite farmers across the country. He was also instrumental in establishing a research facility at Rydalmere to improve productivity of local farms as chief executive of the association in the 1970s, and travelled to France in 1978 as part of Australia's successful bid to host the 1981 international (mushroom) farmer's conference. (ISMS = International Society for Mushroom Science)

"Five hundred leading mushroom growers and research scientists from all over the world came to Australia to teach us the latest technology," he said.

~

The ISMS uploaded the AMGA issue 1 of 2021

Below is page 29...

Vale (Farewell): John Miller

The mushroom industry has lost one of its most significant and distinguished leaders, with the passing of John Miller, OAM, at the age of 91. 

John was an Icon of the industry and was often referred to as "Mr Mushroom". He first took on the honorary position of Public Relations and Promotions Officer at the AMGA in 1969, and in 1973 was appointed to the permanent position of General Manager.

In his final General Manager's report in 1991/92, his commitment to the industry is more than evident. 

The AMGA office was run from our own home to keep overheads down. Beryl handled all phone enquiries besides is running around promoting"fresh mushrooms"and fighting the many mushroom industry problems that kept arising. Making sure mushrooms were ordered from farms for me to deliver to home economists, cookery editors and photographers.

Checked recipes for our leaflets to go into shops, monitored the press clipping service and consumer requests. Beryl's behind-the-scenes support has been a major contributing factor, for which I'm most grateful, in maintaining the service required by this industry.

John promoted the use of locally grown mushrooms and worked to unite farmers across the country. He was instrumental in establishing a research facility at Rydalmere to improve productivity of local farms, and commanded support and loyalty from the AMGA membership – which reflected not only in the growth of the Industry but also the ability of the Industry to manage that growth.

John was a life honorary member of the AMGA, and he will be remembered not only for his intellectual contributions, but also for his kindness and the welcoming personality that the extended to everyone.

In addition to his mushroom industry activities, John was a proud regional ambassador for the Hawkesbury area. He served as the chief warden for the Hawkesbury State Emergency Service, establishing an early flood warning system for the region. He also served as the social secretary of the Hawkesbury Historical Society and was declared an Ambassador for the Hawkesbury for his passion in promoting the rich heritage of the area.

A report in the local Hawkesbury Gazette also credits him as a driving force behind a third river crossing from Richmond to North Richmond, as well as being an advocate for the construction of a Centre for Excellence in aged in dementia care for Hawkesbury's aging population.

In 2018 he received an Order of Australia medal for his services to the community.

A loving family man, and valued colleague—we will miss him.

On the side is being mentioned his book, shown below:

Miller, John: Reminiscences of a Fun'gi: The Story of a Community that Mushroomed [Fungi] ←click link

What a wonderful job, here the true John Miller as a historian shines through...

A great writer and heritage preserver!

This picture shows also the open-air mushroom growing like in my previous post: Open-Air Mushroom Growing in South Sweden ←click link

~

So happy that we reconnected in time again and hearing from John & Beryl.

A very warm email letter we received on March 26, 2018

John even writes a kind of mushroom editorial review for Pieter: We have fond memories of your visits to Australia, and the great breath of fresh air you brought with you, to improve our out of date mushroom cultural techniques in this country. It was the start of a revolution in making us more efficient and competitive.

Our Australian mushroom growers will be eternally grateful for the great contribution you made in initially opening many new doors for us in the World of Mushroom Culture, and your leadership at the Dutch school in Horst, Holland, which many Australians have attended.

~

What a treasure for having received this in a timely manner...

Also, John & Beryl got all my Australia posts sent to them to read; feels so good.

R.I.P. dear friend and we keep forever fond memories of you both!

Beryl, no doubt is one half of another Blissful Relationship, may she find the strength for going on without her loving husband/partner...

Related links:

Trips to Australia | invitation from John Miller to have Pieter as guest lecturer in 1976 Short Course

Husband Pieter's 2nd and 3rd Trip to Australia | previous post about above mentioned 1981 ISMS Congress

Darling Harbour Cruise in Sydney for Surprise Birthday Party | photos and card from John & Beryl Miller

Our Australia Adventure of Escaping the Flooded Hawkesbury River via ONLY Bridge NOT UNDER WATER... | previous post

Dr. James W. Sinden was one of Pieter's mentors

SINDEN ON MUSHROOMS 

HAUSER

Pieter received this book from one of his mentors, Dr. James W. Sinden, with a neat fountain pen written message inside...

Sinden on Mushrooms

Collected Papers by

Dr. J.W. Sinden and Associated Authors

Sorry for the 'odd' scan by me, using the iPad as the previous scanner did constantly interfere with my Mac, we recycled it!

It was Fred C. Atkins (see previous post below) who wrote the INTRODUCTION

This is just part of the collected papers as I don't want to bore you with that...

Just on the side, writing a book (original content!) or publishing a compilation and adding other authors is not the same!

Just as Roel Dreve from Mushroom Business here stated about writing a comprehensive mushroom cultivation manual. You had Bels (Pieter's boss) and Atkins (the one my previous post was about) and Kligman and later Van Griensven. But the latter and Vedder's book seem to have stood the test of time and are still being sought–after today.

Well, the late Fred C. Atkin's books are STILL BEING SOLD but for decades L.J.L.D. Van Griensven's book has not been available.

And, as Amazon UK, here above correctly states, he was not the writer but the EDITOR!

As written in the Dutch Champignoncultuur 1968-6 (click for ISMS uploaded Pdf) about a visitor at the Experimental Station in Horst where one of the youngest employees made the mistake to explain to a visitor how one lets spores germinate to make mushroom spawn... The visitor said that she knew 'something' about it as she was the famous Dr. E. Hauser

Erica Hauser, 1913 - 1977 ←click link

She was born in Schaffhausen, Switzerland and she married Ulrich Hauser

She later married Dr. James W. Sinden...

Husband Pieter has met Erica Hauser, while on vacation in the German Schwarzwald, he paid a visit to their laboratory in Gossau, Switzerland, and she graciously had arranged a very nice hotel room for all three, including little adopted daughter Lizzy.

For several decades Dr. James W. Sinden got married to Edith Sigel

Yes, I too have personally met Dr. James W. Sinden and Edith Sigel.

My previous writing about Harvesting, got dedicated to DR. JAMES W. SINDEN

the man who meant so much to us and everyone in the industry.

In our latest published book: modern mushroom growing 2020 - harvesting there are 9 mentions of Dr. Sinden and this one on page 411 is a very special one.

Pieter used this picture, received from Dr. Sinden, made through an electronic microscope, from the surface tissue of mushroom caps (enlargement 2,000x). On the left, clean hyphae without bacteria; on the right, tissue loaded with Pseudomonas bacteria, causing the brown blotch.

We received a letter note from Edith Sigel-Sinden from February 20, 1995

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Vedder,

Thank you for your thoughtful letter of condolence and the special Valentine greeting. I appreciate your kind sympathy. It is comforting to know so many care and are sharing their fondest memories of Dr. Sinden with me, I treasure them. They sustain me. I am happy the Sinden Award was an outstanding event for Pieter. 

Dr. Sinden touched so many lives in so many special ways.

All Best wishes for continued success and happiness.

Sincerely,

Edith

Indeed, for Pieter receiving the prestigious Sinden Award, named after Dr. Sinden, was the highlight of his career!

October 7, 1982 when Pieter was the very first non British recipient of the prestigious Sinden Award.

Pieter is pictured here with Dr. Jim Sinden.

Published in 1983-1 The Mushroom Journal (click for ISMS uploaded Pdf)

Dr. Sinden was honored by mushroom-growing associations throughout the world, as well as by the International Society for Mushroom Science (ISMS) for 50 years of dedicated service to the industry in 1980. In addition, the Sinden Awards were established by the Mushroom Growers Association of Great Britain: One is presented for the most outstanding practical contribution to the mushroom industry in research, development, advisory work, communications, and leadership.

From a publication in The American Phytopathological Society (APS) James W. Sinden, 1902 to 1994

Lots of fond memories and Dr. Jim Sinden's name will live on forever!

Fred Atkins' book Mushroom Growing To-Day helped Pieter Solve Yellow Mold & False Truffle Problem | he wrote the Introduction in Sinden on Mushrooms

modern mushroom growing 2020 - harvesting - published in Mushroom Business | previous post where Roel Dreve mentioned writing a book by Van Griensven but he ONLY Edited a book!

1982 Sinden Award for Pieter at The Hotel Majestic, Harrogate, England | Pieter receiving his prestigious Sinden Award

1978 - P.J.C. Vedder's Modern Mushroom Growing Book Published in English | previous post with Pieter's publication that also got sponsored by Sinden - Hauser

{What YOU should LOOK for when Buying Fresh Mushrooms} | with mention of my previous writing about Harvesting, which got dedicated to DR. JAMES W. SINDEN

Techniques for Harvesting Quality Mushrooms  & Gratitude to Mushrooms Canada | where we refer to a publication by Dr. Jim Sinden in my video at 1:19:55 about big transplants being put between small mushrooms, causing them to stay dormant.

Fred Atkins' book Mushroom Growing To-Day helped Pieter Solve Yellow Mold & False Truffle Problem

 

Mushroom Growing

To-Day

Fred C. 

Atkins

Being a student at the Wageningen University & Research, Pieter frequented this bookstore in Wageningen. They stocked mainly horticultural books.

That was the very FIRST book about mushrooms that Pieter laid his hands on and it helped him solve a major problem early on.

The first pioneering Dutch A.B.C. mushroom growers (in special growing rooms); B. Ambrosius, P. Broekmans  and J. Christiaans, had terrible molds that caused enormous production losses. Pieter found in Fred Atkins' book that it was yellow mold and (false) truffle. He then was able to solve their problem! 

Printed in the Dutch mushroom journal Champignoncultuur 1957-3 on page 36 uploaded by the ISMS as Pdf.

WHAT TO STEAM WITH IN MUSHROOM CULTIVATION?

By P. J. C. Vedder, assistent State Horticulture Information Service.

~

Pieter was officially still an Assistent at State Horticulture Information Service, specialized in Asparagus.

But Fred Atkins' book kind of changed Pieter's destiny forever!

The 1955 version

J

AUTHOR'S NOTE, Yaxley, July 1955

Mentioning other mushroom growers and authors of books and articles: B. A. Noble, Stanley Middlebrook, Coryn Luxmoore, André Sarazin (see mention of blog post below), Guy de Man (see mention of blog post below), Dr. R. L. Edwards, Dr. J. W. Sinden, Dr. E. Hauser, Dr. E. B. Lambert and Dr. A. M. Kligman, McGregor Bulloch, John Stewart-Wood, S. A. F. Sampson, Raymond Thompson etc.

This is Pieter at the time being that Assistent at State Horticulture Information Service. Wearing his Plus Fours to a wedding reception of one of his colleagues.

AbeBooks is offering the very book, only an earlier 1952 version...

In the Dutch Champignoncultuur 1958-6 on page 159 the mushroom farm of Noble-Atkins in Yaxley, UK is shown as they had an excursion from The Netherlands.

In Champignoncultuur 1958-7 on page 180 is a story written by Fred Atkins, translated into Dutch.

My life with the mushrooms

A piece of history of the mushroom cultivation in England

My first contact with growing I had twenty years ago. My father had just invested money in Ben Noble to allow him to build six mushroom houses in Yaxley, a village near Peterborough in the Midlands. The first shot was, of course, a hit; a good harvest! But a period of humid weather had the appearance of a small difficulty as a result, which was shown to me, only as a peculiarity. Six months later, 'the little difficulty' had spread to such an extent that I was asked to join the firm, in the hope that a fresh look would reveal what caused it and how it could be suppressed.

I hesitated because I didn't know anything about mushrooms. Later, I would discover that few people in England knew more about it. I discussed the problem with the spawn manufacturers and with traders in all kinds of horticultural products, but the most valuable help came from the late Dr. W. M. Ware, of Wye College, Kent.

You will wonder what this has to do with the general situation in the mushroom industry in Great Brittain? If you allow me some vanity: I believe it has a lot to do with it, because Ware gave me a copy of his wonderful article about the cause of our disease: Verticillium.

A mycological dictionary and a lot of correspondence with Ware and other people of science opened my eyes and my mind to the wondrous world of microscopic small organisms I had entered.

This in turn aroused the desire for me to talk to other growers about it, but in fact  I did not meet a second mushroom grower in the next five years: so fantastic in those days was the mystery that surrounded us. When I finally met two or three other growers, we were overwhelmed by a passionate desire to do something that would bring all growers together. My own company had lost a lot of money because there was no organized contact between the growers and the scientists, and because there was no coordinated research and experiments. 

Page 181

Within a year we had formed the Mushroom Growers' Association for the Mushroom Industry. We were walking around with plans for the MGA Bulletin (Mushroom Growers' Association)...

Page 183

For just over 90,000 Dutch Guilders we received a very satisfactory publicity last year, mainly because the growers are enthusiastic and because we have one grower on our daily board, who is a journalist by profession and another who is a first class cook, whose mushroom pie is so delicious, that he does not dare to advertise it.

Fred C. Atkins (the journalist!)...

Message by Fred C. Atkins in the 1979-9 The Mushroom Journal

Loyal and active till almost to his death...

ATKINS, Fred (1913-1983)

Chairman, Noble Mushrooms, Yaxley, Cambs. Founder member of Mushroom Growers Association of Great Britain and N. Ireland. President, International Commission on Mushroom Science (ISMS).

Times 28 Jan. 1983.

An OBE is a British honor awarded by the Queen to recognize extraordinary contributions to the country.

It is the second-highest ranking in the Order of the British Empire honors.

Obituary as printed in The Mushroom Journal, March 1983

In 2018 Pieter got gifted by one of his Campbell Colleagues this book about COMMERCIAL MUSHROOM GROWING by M.H. Pinkerton

1954 and Printed in Great Britain

Pinkerton mentions some more mushroom industry pioneers such as Dr. James W. Sinden (will mention him next)...

Dr. C. A. Thomas and Dr. E. B. Lambert

Dr. A. M. Kligman, Dr. R. L. Edwards and Mr. F. C. Atkins bottom left. Editor of the M.G.A. Bulletin, an indefatigable writer, whose many books, pamphlets, and articles have kept the British Mushroom Growers abreast with all the newest advances in the science of Mushroom Culture.

Dr. James W. Sinden reviews Guide to Muhroom Growing by Fred C. Atkins

Published in The Mushroom Journal, January 1975

The Mushroom Journal 1978-10 click link

Mac also did the cartoon for husband Pieter in 1971 at Imperial College in London, see link below post. 

~

F. C. Atkins deserves a lot of honor as he accomplished so much!

Pieter counted him among his very special friends. 

Above is a letter, received after Pieter sent him a copy of his newly released English book.

Fred had an excellent and very polished writing style; using great courtesy.

Something the younger generation(s) are lacking nowadays...

I myself, have not had the honor of meeting or knowing him in person...

P.J.C. Vedder's 1987 Design for NEW COMPOSTING SYSTEM (Phase I) | mention of Pieter's grades at wur.nl - Wageningen University & Research 

Husband Pieter met with Darlington Spawn Makers and Fred Atkins in England | previous post

Visiting A.G. Linfield Mushroom Compost Facility in England | previous post that mentions Pieter being still Assistent at State Horticulture Information Service specialized in Asparagus

1982 Sinden Award for Pieter at The Hotel Majestic, Harrogate, England | 1st non British to receive this prestigious award

1965 Pieter visiting French Mushroom Grower André Sarazin near Historic Compiègne | Together with Belgian spawn representative Guy de Man Pieter visited André Sarazin

1978 - P.J.C. Vedder's Modern Mushroom Growing Book Published in English | letter from Fred C. Atkins upon receiving Pieter's English book with inscription and Mac's cartoon from husband Pieter