The potato of my Irish ancestors: The Lumper. This variety, and others closely related to it, were widely grown across Ireland leading up to the great famine of 1845 and 1846 because this then-novel Andean crop grew well in poor soil and could feed a family almost singlehandedly. The reason for a reliance on one lumpy potato crop and subsequently the reason for the famine: impoverishment due to British colonial rule. So when late blight (Phytophtora infestans) destroyed the potatoes, poor people suffered first and hardest, as tends to happen with natural disasters. A million died, a million fled Ireland. When I plant and harvest this potato, I feel connected to my Irish potato farming ancestors, and I’m glad that both this variety and my ancestors survived, grew stronger, and kept fighting so future generations could live a good life. And if and when I eat foods grown by farmers in poorer countries, I hope for their resilience, triumph, and full bellies. #lumpers #lumperpotatoes #thelumper #solanumtuberosum #heirloompotatoes #greatfamine #irishfood (at Delaware County, Pennsylvania)
