As you know we spent the month of October in Keystone, South Dakota. We met a lot of interesting people including a man named David who works with Native Americans. He had a wonderful story to tell us about a squash called Gete Okosomin.
The seeds of the Gete Okosomin were discovered in 2008 during an archeological dig on a Menominee reservation near Green Bay, Wis. The seeds were found in a clay ball, used for storing seeds. These squash seeds eventually were given to Winona LaDuke, a longtime advocate for native food sovereignty. She called the squash Gete-okosomin, an Anishinaabe word that roughly translates to “really cool old squash”. 
The White Earth Land Recovery Project grew fifty of them, and now have seeds to share with Native communities across the North Country. Now the squash is served to elders, children, and used for ceremonies at White Earth.
The vines of the squash can grown to over 25 feet long and the squash themselves can grow up to three feet long and 18 pounds.
David was given some of the seeds and had to opportunity to grow them himself.
He had brought one of his squash with him to Keystone. The squash was cooked up and shared one night. This pre-Colombian squash is delicious: hints of melon, terrific texture, and abundant flesh.
There was plenty for all to enjoy and the seeds were dried and shared with everyone who attended the Keystone Training.
Stories of seed savers are so interesting. I love hearing how certain varieties of seeds have been saved for hundreds of years. I am so honored to have been given some of these special seeds and will grow them carefully to preserve the purity of the seeds. I have only six seeds but I can’t wait to try growing them in our Vermont garden next year.
For those that are interested there is an update to this post HERE. As well as this article which was sent to me.
Nancy on the Home Front 
I would love to grow this squash
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Fay,
I have aded your name to my list!
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Where can I get a couple of the seeds for our community garden?
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Mary Ann,
I can add your name to my list, I don’t believe you can buy these seeds commercially yet!
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Hi ! I’m in France and I’d love to grow this plant too! 🙂 Is it possible to make an exchange with you ?
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Sami,
I will add your name to the list and I would be glad to barter!
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I would love to grow this squash. please add me to your list. thank you.
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David,
I’ve added you to the list!
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I would love to grow this squash here in France 🙂
I would love to give you something in return too !
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Aurellen,
I will add your name to my list, I would love to barter!
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Have enjoyed reading about this ‘Gete-okosomin’ squash. If you have a good year, we would like a start if possible. We will purchase if necessary. Thanks..
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Robert,
I will be giving away seeds and only asking that you cover the postage. I’ll be in touch if I have a good harvest!
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Where has that seed, so I can plant and cultivate in my country.
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Anderson,
So seed until after harvest!
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I would be interested in seed from the Gete-okosomin squash if that’s possible. Please contact me if ever available.
Thank you
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Martha,
I will add your name to my list, probably be next years crop!
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I would like to grow this squash in Oregon. Thank you.
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Sandi,
I will add your name to my list probably next years harvest!
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Where can I get these seeds to bring in Brazil and plant them.
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anderson,
I don’t believe these seeds are available commercially yet, I should have extras with next years harvest! Be glad to add your name to my list!
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Hi, I posted on February 22, 2016 5:55 pm. I’m from Brazil. I’m planning to planting these seeds in my farm. Any one knows when they’ll be available? thx
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Guilherme,
I did not have a great harvest this year, what seeds I have I will be giving out starting with the folks that contacted me first. I don’t believe these seeds are available commercially yet.
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Hello I am from Spain and I would love to have some of these seeds to grow in my garden 🙂 Could you please share them with me???
Thank you very much and lots of blessings!
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I would love to get some of the Gete-okosomin seeds if possible. Please tell me how to go about getting them and what you need. I am in North Texas and will be willing to save seed to add back to the supply.
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Debbie,
I don’t have any extra seeds this year but can add you to my list. I did hear that the Rare Seeds catalog will be carrying these seeds this year for the first time.
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I was so excited to see that they have the seeds, they’re my favourite place to get heirloom seeds from, my entire garden last summer was seeds from their website.
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Shay,
That’s awesome. I am sitting my the wood stove right now looking at The Whole Seed Catalog from Baker Creek Heirloom seeds! Great place to get seeds especially Gete okosomin seeds!
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Hi , my name is Geraldo and I would love if you could add my name to your very long list. I leave in Las Vegas and It would be exciting to have some of these very special seeds . I believe they’ll grow well in our climate. I thank you very much!!
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Geraldo,
I would be glad to add your name to my list!
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Hi Nancy,
I bet your squash are delicious! Have you been getting good harvests from the initial six seeds? Would you please add my name to your list? Thanks for being so generous with all of us!
Again, many thanks!
Laurie
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Laurie,
I’d be glad to add your name to my list, I didn’t grow the squash this year as our house s on the market but I hope to next year!
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Heyyyy! I wrote to you about the seeds in 2016, any chance to be able to buy some this year? Thank you :)????
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Mari,
I did not grow any of these squash last year, if our house doesn’t sell I may try again this year.
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