January 11, 2007

finally got some seed catalogs delivered to me yesterday. About time!! How can one survive winter without seed catalogs? Yesterday Mary sent me a link to a woman's blog about her choice for seed companies. Most of my favorite ones were not even on this woman's list and she had a few I would not choose.

My top picks for seed catalogs are:

Heirloom Acres Seeds Thom is a great guy to work with. I have not knowingly worked with his wife Rene, but I am sure she is nice too. They are a family run business and deal with growing heirloom seeds organically. When I ordered  25 pepper seeds, I didn't get 25, I got way more than that. Their catalog is on its way to me as I type. I believe I have ordered from them for 2 years, though it may have been three. Based in New Bloomfield, Missouri.

Territorial Seed Company is one of the companies my dad had used for as long as I can remember. This is one of my 2 top picks for cold wet weather/short season seeds. They have alot of open pollinated seeds and gaining more and more organically grown ones. In all the years I have ordered from them, I have always been happy with my order. Based in London Springs, Oregon.

Seed Savers Exchange I have belonged to over the years, though not currently and I need to again. They are one of the original seed houses for the preservation of heirloom seeds. They rotate which seeds they grow out. So part of their theory I think is, is that if you want to get the same seed every year for your garden, they are encouraging you to learn to save your own seeds. I also highly recommend getting a yearly membership for $35.00 even if it is just to get the SSE's Yearbook, which is a great resource. Based in Decorah, Iowa.

Cooks Garden I have only ordered from once throughout the years, but I very much liked their selection and their catalog is just wonderful with the 'paintings' and recipes. Based in Warminster, Pennsylvania.

For the pepperheads, you must check out Peppers Joe's . They specialize in hot and chili peppers. Their seeds are organically grown and also not treated. You can't go wrong here, unless you get the pepper juice in your eyes. OUCH! Ask me how I know. Based in Timonium, Maryland.

On the Canadian side of the border, I also would recommend :

Seeds of Diversity is not really a seed company, it is a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to the conservation, documentation and use of public-domain non-hybrid plants of Canadian significance. They have 1,700 members from coast to coast who are gardeners, farmers, teachers, scientists, agricultural historians, researchers and seed vendors. Together they grow, propagate and distribute over 1500 varieties of vegetables, fruit, grains, flowers and herbs. They are a living gene bank. You must be a member to get any of the seeds. A one year membership is $30CA.

Salt Spring Seeds  70 new offerings in the 2007 catalogue. 100% organic, non-GMO seeds. Due to Customs Regulations they can no longer ship orders to the United States. Based on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia.

I would like to order from West Coast Seeds one day, but honestly, I have not done so yet as I have 300+ heirloom seeds in my seed duffle bag as it is. They are a Delta,British Columbia based company. They only can ship seeds within Canada as well.

I am also trying Agrestal Organic Heritage Seed Co. this year, but I am not telling you what I am ordering until I do so, as they ran out of the seed I wanted last year. And since I am only growing one variety of this vegetable this year, I want to make sure it is the best one for my area and I do not want to miss out 2 years in a row.  Their focus is on culturally unique and out-of-the-ordinary, quality heirloom varieties of vegetable, herb, fruit and flower seed. They  choose to grow seed organically and are based in Gormley, Ontario. I do not know the status of if they can ship seeds out of Canada.

None of these companies I have listed have genetically modified seeds and most if not all have signed the Safe Seed Pledge and grow by organic methods.