Edible or Ornamental +free seeds
Last fall I won a photo contest over at Renee’s Garden and they sent me a gift certificate *awesome*. What’s better than winning a gift certificate to a fabulous seed catalog? (I decide to share my winnings, see below for your chance to win some free Renee’s Garden seeds)
I was looking through the on-line catalog trying to decide what I wanted to order and I noticed that I’m definitely drawn to edible things, mostly vegetables and herbs. I have a few annual plants I start, mostly alyssum and zinnias, but I’m definitely a perennial gardener when it comes to blooming plants (or things that self-seed readily without my help).
I’ll definitely be ordering ‘Catalina’ spinach as it has done beautifully in my garden, the ‘Italian Aromatic’ sage was fab in my Thanksgiving meal, and I’m really loving my pot of ‘Amsterdam’ seasoning celery for winter soups and stews. I was also very happy with the ‘Romanesco’ zucchini, isn’t it a beauty?
So far on my list of seed to order I have:
‘All-Season’ broccoli
‘Endeavor’ kirby pickle
‘Trieste’ bulbing fennel
‘Crispy Winter Salad’ greens
‘Summer Bouquet’ lettuce trio
‘Ruby and Emerald’ container lettuce
‘Merveille De Quatre Saisons’ heirloom lettuce
‘Jewel Tones’ peppers
‘Delicious Duo’ scallions
‘Summer Perfection’ spinach
and one of the shaker cans of California Poppies to try on my back hillside, which is plagued with terribly dry lean soil. I think I’ll buy a few flowering seeds, maybe the 3 different kinds of allysum they have and some nasturtiums (also edible) and those window box sweet peas are adorable, perhaps I’ll get those to dress up my garage window!
Of course I didn’t want to keep all these lovely seeds to myself, so I’ll be giving three packs of Renee’s Garden seeds of your choice to one lucky reader. For your chance to win, head over to Renee’s Garden and choose 3 varieties of vegetables, flowers or herbs that you’d like to grow and list them in the comments below. If you win I’ll order your choice of seeds along with my order, I’ll choose a winner on Friday. We have a WINNER! 
Congratulations! Head on over to Morgan’s blog Grounded and read about things like: making your own seed balls, how to build a worm bin and what life is like in Southern California.
What do you grow most of, ornamental or edible?
For anyone interested Renee’s Garden if offering 10% off your entire order until Jan 31, 2011 with code: EARLYBIRD
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Call to Action: Say NO to GM Alfalfa
“If people let the government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny.”
~Thomas Jefferson, 1781
I’m sure you’ve heard about the controversy surrounding the possible approval of Monsanto’s genetically modified Round-Up ready alfalfa. The approval of yet another GMO crop is very troublesome to me. I know a lot of people who own small organic farms and the approval of GM alfalfa will affect their way of life. They may no longer be able to find organic hay and may lose their organic certification because of gene pollution.
I’m pretty outspoken about my concerns with genetically modified crops both for health and environmental reasons. They don’t reduce the use of chemicals and have wide genetic pollution results and other environmental concerns. Here in Ohio we now have 6 superweeds thanks Monsanto’s Round-Up ready GMO crops, read this article and check the map to see how many super weeds are in your state. Click on the map below to go to the New York Times page where you can see the progression of superweeds in the country over the past 10 years. (image from NYTimes.com)
If you’re concerned about the approval of genetically modified alfalfa please contact Tom Vilsack or President Obama right away as the decision is supposed to be made in the next couple of days. You can head over to Food Democracy Now and send a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. You can also email the USDA about this issue at: biotechquery@aphis.usda.gov and you can reach the White House at 202.456.1111. In addition I’d recommend that you encourage your Congressperson to contact House Agriculture to express support for Secretary Vilsack’s coexistence option. Find your Congressperson here (there’s a great letter in the comments here that you can copy and paste).
I have my doubts that this will do any good, since Vilsack seems to be on the side of BioTech. (why do I say this? ) As Iowa state governor, he originated the seed pre-emption bill, that blocked communities from regulating where GMO’s could be planted. He was the founder and former chair of the Governor’s Biotechnology Partnership, and was named Governor of the Year by the Biotechnology Industry Organization, the biggest biotech group. As part of the Iowa Values Fund he gave 9 million dollars and 6 million in tax relief to TransOva to help develop cloned dairy cows.
I have my doubts that writing him will make any difference, I personally don’t think that politicians (left or right) are on the side of the citizens but rather the corporations that pay for their campaigns and give them high-paying jobs when they leave office. At least sending a letter makes me feel like I did something, even though the outcome may not be the one I was hoping for. What else can I do? Besides of course not buying anything that contains GMO ingredients and supporting small local farms, especially organic ones. That’s really the best way, vote with your dollars!
Are you concerned about genetically modified crops?
Some Links for Further Reading:
Organic Consumers Association: Six Reasons Why Obama Appointing Monsanto’s Buddy, Former Iowa Governor Vilsack, for USDA Head Would be a Terrible Idea
Radio Iowa: TransOva given nine-million from Iowa Values Fund
Bio.org: Iowa’s Vilsack Named BIO Governor of the Year
GM Watch: Supreme Court’s Ruling on Monsanto’s GE Alfalfa
Grist.com: Supreme Court’s ruling on Monsanto’s GE alfalfa: Who won?
Co-Op Stronger Together: Background on the GE Alfalfa Issue
Reuters: Lawmakers ask USDA to deny Monsanto GMO alfalfa
Food & Water Watch: Food and Agriculture Biotechnology Industry Spends More than Half a Billion to Influence Congress
Denis Kucinich on GMO’s & food labeling
Stonyfield Farm: We Can’t Let GE Alfafa Ruin Organic Dairy
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Quote of the Day: Lope de Vega
“With a few flowers in my garden, half a dozen pictures and some books, I live without envy.”
Lope de Vega
Gardening really does help cultivate the simple life, at least for me. I don’t think many things ground you as much as growing a few flowers and vegetables in a little bit of soil. I find I’d rather be out in the garden than doing just about anything else. It truly has helped me live without envy, I’m too busy gardening!
What has gardening helped cultivate in your life? patience? happiness? contentment?
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Oh No – Flaky Internet
My super expensive business class extra speedy internet from Time Warner is flaking out on me, deleted a post I wrote for today *GRRRRRR* so I’m hoping I can get this posted quickly – hopefully it starts working soon.
Don’t you just hate it when you’re paying top dollar for something that doesn’t work like it’s supposed to?
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Resources: Heirloom Seed Companies
For all of you interested in great heirloom non-GMO seed companies, here’s a list I’ve been compiling for a few years. I keep adding as I find more, so let me know if you have any great companies to add. Bookmark or Pin this page as a resource because I do update it often.
Abundant Life Seeds – At Abundant Life Seeds we have been protecting the genetic diversity of rare and endangered food crops since 1975. Our goal is to offer true-to-type open pollinated varieties grown using only certified organic or biodynamic farming methods. We pledge that we will not knowingly buy or sell genetically-engineered seeds or plants. We wish to support agricultural progress that leads to healthier soils, genetically diverse agricultural ecosystems, and ultimately people and communities
Adaptive Seeds – We grow and steward rare, diverse and resilient seed varieties and distribute these to other ecologically minded farmers, gardeners and seed savers. Most of our seed is adapted to the Pacific Northwest and short season northern climates. All of our seed is grown by us and a few local friends who act as our isolation gardens. We strictly sell only public domain, open-pollinated (OP) seed, and some diverse genepool mixes. NONE of our seeds are proprietary hybrids (F1), patented (PVP) or genetically modified (GMO) and all of our seed is grown without the use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides.
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds – We only offer open-pollinated seeds: pure, natural and non-GMO! We offer heirloom seeds from 70 countries, including many that we collected ourselves. Started in 1998 by Jere Gettle, as a means to preserve rare seeds. We are located in the beautiful Ozark Mountains of Southern Missouri
BBB Seeds – Founded in 1985, BBB Seed is a family-owned company located in Boulder, Colorado committed to providing high quality, open-pollinated and non-genetically modified seed to our customers. We offer an extensive variety of wildflower and vegetable seeds for all regions throughout the U.S. including high altitude gardens.
Bountiful Gardens – Bountiful Gardens sells untreated open-pollinated non-GMO seed of heirloom quality for vegetables, herbs, flowers, grains, green manures, compost and carbon crops. We are able to offer many varieties as Certified Organic, Natural, Biointensive or Grow BiointensiveTM sustainable seed. Specialties: Rare and unusual varieties. Medicinal herbs. Super-nutrition varieties.
Botanical Interests – “At Botanical Interests our goal is to inspire AND educate so that you can create beautiful and successful gardens. ” No GMOs – recently, we enthusiastically signed the SAFE SEED PLEDGE: We do not knowingly buy or sell genetically engineered seeds or plants.
Circa Plants – We are Brandon and Alyssa Burns and we have been selling historic seeds and plants since 1999. You can find us throughout the spring, summer, and fall at various garden shows where we love to meet our customers. Our business uses gardens and land that have been in the family since the 1800s.
Comstock, Ferre & Co – They are the oldest continuously operated seed company in the United States, they started back in 1820. Situated in the Historic Old Town of Wethersfield, CT near the city of Hartford . . . Comstock Ferré blends perfectly with the nostalgic past in this oldest of Connecticut’s towns.
Fedco – your source for cold-hardy selections especially adapted to our demanding Northeast climate. Each year we observe hundreds of varieties, selecting only the best for inclusion in our catalogs. Through our product lines and cultural hints, we encourage sustainable growing methods. We offer a large selection of certified organic cultivars and regional heirloom varieties. We buy products from all over the world.
D. Landreth Seeds – Since 1784, the D. Landreth Seed Company has been providing its customers with one of the most extensive selections of fine lawn and garden seeds in the world. Our founders introduced into the United States some of the most beloved flowers and vegetables known today including the Zinnia, the white potato, various tomatoes, and our own Bloomsdale Spinach. We have become the oldest seed house in America because we are passionate in our quest for excellence in quality, service and innovation.
Gourmet Garlic Gardens – We love the country, living simply and doing hard farm and ranch work. Life is good. We grow much of our food in the family garden and dry, can or freeze food for the winter. Gourmets can only dream about food that tastes this good.
Grow Organic (Peaceful Valley Farm Supply) – PV carries only non-GMO seeds, signs the Safe Seed Pledge every year, most of the veg seeds are heirloom, all the flower seeds are open-pollinated. Offering so much more than organic seeds, from fruit trees to canning supplies, Grow Organic has all kinds of supplies for your homestead big or small!
High Mowing Organic Seeds – High Mowing Organic Seeds is an independently-owned, farm-based seed company dedicated to supporting sustainable agriculture and providing farmers and gardeners with the highest quality certified organic seed. 100% Certified Organic, Non-GMO Seeds. Over 450 Heirloom, Open-Pollinated and Hybrid Seeds. Organic Vegetable, Herb, Flower and Cover Crop Seed Varieties.
Hudson Valley Seed Library – Regional Seeds for the Hudson Valley area.
Johnny’s Selected Seeds – Johnny’s Selected Seeds is a privately held, employee-owned seed producer and merchant headquartered in Winslow, Maine, USA. The company was established in 1973 by our Founder and Chairman Rob Johnston, Jr. Johnny’s mission is helping families, friends, and communities to feed one another by providing superior seeds, tools, information and service. Our products include vegetable seeds; medicinal and culinary herb seeds; flower seeds; cover crops, farm seed, and pasture mixes; fruit plants and seeds, and high quality, problem-solving tools and supplies. We ship throughout the United States as well as internationally. We carry sizes ranging from small to large to suit the needs of home gardeners and small growers as well as retailers and wholesalers.
John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds – Our goal is to bring you the world’s best seeds and to help you cultivate the most abundant of gardens for your family. Holding your garden and kitchen close to the center of your life can lead only to good things for you, your family and friends. They do sell some Seminis/Monsanto seed varieties, but if you write and ask they’ll send you a list so you an avoid them. They develop lot of varieties in their gardens and are a terrific resource for Northern gardeners and for gardening supplies like heating mats, soil blockers, and tools.
Marianna’s Heirloom Seeds – Extraordinary and Italian heirloom seeds.
Nichol’s Garden Nursery – has served home gardeners for more than 60 years. In a time of corporate culture and takeovers, we remain a family operated business, steeped in a tradition of customer service and fine food gardening. When you order from us you receive the finest quality seeds, plants and products. If you have a gardening question our knowledgeable staff is prepared to assist you. We are an original signer of the Safe Seed Pledge and offer no genetically modified seeds or plants. We at Nichols do not sell or offer treated seed, GMO seeds and this year we have discontinued purchasing from major GMO seed developers. You will notice some varietal changes and in almost every instance we offer a comparable substitute resulting from three years of vegetable trials to fulfill this objective.
Ohio Heirloom Seeds – Ohio Heirloom Seeds is proud to sell only the finest quality vegetable and herb seeds. We pledge to you that none of our seeds have been generically altered in any manner. All varieties are open-pollinated, meaning that you can harvest seeds from your fruit and grow the exact same variety, year after year.
Renee’s Garden – Renee’s Garden seeds are selected from growers we know and trust in the USA, Holland, Italy, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Thailand, Japan, China and New Zealand. All our seeds are carefully trialed and evaluated in our test gardens in different climate zones before being added to our line. We are strong supporters of sustainable farming practices and give our business to a wide range of small organic growers whenever they can provide the grade of seed we want to supply to our customers. We do not sell treated or GMO seeds and have signed the “Safe Seed Pledge” developed by The Council for Responsible Genetics.
Pinetree Garden Seeds – In addition to continuing to offer over 1100 vegetable and flower seed varieties, books, soap making, gardening products and kitchen gadgets, we will still be packing seeds by hand and answering all the phone calls and emails ourselves to provide you with the best possible service
Salt Spring Seeds – All our seeds are untreated, open-pollinated and non-GMO. We grow all our own seeds and sell only our most recent harvest.
Sand Hill Preservation Center – “We are not a large operation and all of the work is done by Linda and me with occasional inputs from outside sources. The family consists of myself (Glenn) and my wife, Linda. Our two grown sons, Nick and Cory are no longer living at home. We are not a wholesale seed company nor are we a large hatchery. We are genetic preservationists that are in this for the genetic diversity of this planet we all call home. We produce all of our own eggs for our hatches, tend all of our own flocks, weed and care for the seed crops and produce around 90% of the seed which we sell. We also work with several close friends to produce some rare and unusual items to help give you a better variety. We purchase a few common varieties of nontreated seed to expand our offerings.”
Seeds of Change – 100% certified organic seed: vegetables, flowers, and herbs. Over 1,200 varieties: many heirloom, native and hard-to-find. Quality and performance in your garden or farm guaranteed!
Seed Savers – Since 1975, Seed Savers Exchange members have passed on approximately one million samples of rare garden seeds to other gardeners. We are a non-profit organization of gardeners dedicated to saving and sharing heirloom seeds.
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange – Southern Exposure Seed Exchange is a wonderful source for heirloom seeds and other open-pollinated (non-hybrid) seeds seeds with an emphasis on vegetables, flowers, and herbs that grow well in the Mid-Atlantic region. We support seed saving and traditional seed breeding. Seed savers and breeders are to thank for our rich selection and we will do whatever we can to support our customers and associates to carry on this noble tradition.
Sustainable Seed Company – We are a new generation of farmers who understand that if there is to be a bright future for humanity we need to start farming and living sustainably today. We sell over 100 varieties of heirloom seeds for less than a $1 No one out there currently does this. This creates a lot of extra work for us, but we want to make healthy food available to everyone and help stretch their ever shrinking dollar!
Territorial Seed Company – Territorial Seed Company is a privately held company, wholly owned by Tom and Julie Johns. Purchased in 1985 from its founder Steve Solomon, Tom and Julie have grown the business substantially over the past 26 years but have never strayed far from the original course set by Steve.
Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello – Specializing in heirloom and historical seeds
Terroir Seeds – We are a family owned and operated business focused on providing the highest quality seed, the best personal service, and making a positive impact in the community. We have a network of growers that are passionate about the seeds they grow for us. They are even more demanding about the quality than we are! We partner with growers that understand the importance of genetic purity, identifying and correcting genetic drift and continuing to select for the best possible qualities in the plants that have made them heirlooms to begin with.
Terroir Seeds – We are a family owned independent heirloom seed company offering the finest untreated heirloom vegetable, herb and flower seeds for home gardeners and small growers. We offer heirloom and open pollinated seeds, soil building and seed saving education combined with personal service, great selection and fast shipping.
The Thyme Garden Herb Company – The Thyme Garden Herb Company is an eclectic, earth friendly family business working with nature to provide organically grown herb seeds and herb plants, along with bulk dried herbs, herb teas, herb seasonings and much more. We are driven by our passion to add more to the environment than we take. Our beautiful display gardens offer visitors an opportunity to experience over 700 varieties of useful herb plants from all around the world as well as providing a source for our organically grown herb seeds and herb plants. We not only grow organic herb seeds and herb plants we have been cooking with herbs for nearly 30 years.
Vesey’s Seeds – Organic agriculture is not only good business; it is also the key to biodiversity, healthy soil and the understanding of our garden and farm ecosystems. Veseys is pleased to offer you this selection of certified organic seed – seed which has been produced under strict guidelines which govern the production of certified organic products. Veseys is also certified as a shipper/handler of organic seed.
Uprising Seeds – The majority of our seeds are still grown at our home farm Uprising Organics in Acme, WA and isolation plots throughout the county. The remainder are sourced from our great network of family farms in Washington, Oregon, N. CA and Idaho. Our growers are among the best and most experienced in the Organic Seed trade.
Victory Seed Company – Victory Seed Company is a small, family owned and operated organization that works to preserve plant varieties by locating, growing, documenting and offering heirloom and rare open-pollinated seeds to home gardeners. We grow seeds on our farm and help to support other seed farmers by purchasing from our network of growers.
West Coast Seeds (only in Canada) – specialize in certified organic, non GMO, open pollinated, and heirloom seeds and seed potatoes for organic growing.
Wild Garden Seed – We are an organic seed and vegetable farm in the Pacific Northwest. We produce farm-original varieties of many salad greens, vegetables, herbs and a few flowers.
Wood Prairie Farm – we are a small Certified Organic family farm in the State of Maine that market our products, and those of a number of other Certified Organic farmers that we know and trust, directly to our customers through our print catalog and this webstore. Our modest scale allows us to focus on producing high quality organic goods for you and your family. They have taken the Safe Seed Pledge.
Resources for Finding Organic Seeds:
ATTRA – search for organic seed sources
Where do you get your garden seeds from? Any great companies not listed here?
Other Resource lists:
Heirloom Apples and other Perennial Fruits/Nuts
Seed Potato Sources
Alternative Allium Sources
