Comments on: My Seed Inventory Odyssey http://www.circlemfarm.com/2009/my-seed-inventory-odyssey/ Join the circle! Fri, 10 Sep 2010 03:49:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: kriss http://www.circlemfarm.com/2009/my-seed-inventory-odyssey/comment-page-1/#comment-6240 kriss Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:38:20 +0000 http://www.circlemfarm.com/?p=1279#comment-6240 Absolutely. One can simply save seeds from year to year. But that requires careful harvest of the seed at the right time (with things like carrots, you generally pick before flowering and you want the space to plant something else!), then careful drying of the seed and further careful storage. I've got lots of friends who do it, and I get a lot of cool seed from them. But I've never enjoyed the documentation and work required at the busiest time in the garden year. However, this year I'm going to give it a go with the help and encouragement of one of my Work Share Members. I'll write more about seed saving in the next post, actually. In terms of getting going on your own, I'd start by browsing Johnny's Seeds. Not all are heirloom, but they tell you clearly which are, and their growing info, both on the packets and the catalog can't be beat. You'll learn a ton. Next, I'd recommend both Baker's Creek and Fedco. Lots of heirlooms, and still a good amount of information. Finally, you should definitely check out Seed Savers Exchange which is an honest-to-goodness membership exchange, with a huge catalog of very rare seeds contributed by members. seedsavers.org Good luck! Absolutely. One can simply save seeds from year to year. But that requires careful harvest of the seed at the right time (with things like carrots, you generally pick before flowering and you want the space to plant something else!), then careful drying of the seed and further careful storage. I’ve got lots of friends who do it, and I get a lot of cool seed from them. But I’ve never enjoyed the documentation and work required at the busiest time in the garden year. However, this year I’m going to give it a go with the help and encouragement of one of my Work Share Members. I’ll write more about seed saving in the next post, actually.

In terms of getting going on your own, I’d start by browsing Johnny’s Seeds. Not all are heirloom, but they tell you clearly which are, and their growing info, both on the packets and the catalog can’t be beat. You’ll learn a ton. Next, I’d recommend both Baker’s Creek and Fedco. Lots of heirlooms, and still a good amount of information. Finally, you should definitely check out Seed Savers Exchange which is an honest-to-goodness membership exchange, with a huge catalog of very rare seeds contributed by members. seedsavers.org

Good luck!

]]> By: Keri M. http://www.circlemfarm.com/2009/my-seed-inventory-odyssey/comment-page-1/#comment-6237 Keri M. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:15:54 +0000 http://www.circlemfarm.com/?p=1279#comment-6237 Here's a question that shows I'm new to heirloom gardening. Can't you just save the seeds from a few of the plants and then plant them next season? Wouldn't that eliminate the need for ever ordering that same seed again? Not a very lucrative idea as far as seed companies go, but a gardener would sure save a lot on shipping charges that way. I'm also a bit of a addict. Not for seeds, but for seedlings. I go to the market in May and want to buy every eager seedling I see. I garden on a much smaller scale and can't see buying 100 seeds if I really only need 3 plants. If you had to recommend one seed company for a beginning gardener to get heirloom seeds for your basic tomato, squash, lettuces, strawberries, what would it be? Here’s a question that shows I’m new to heirloom gardening. Can’t you just save the seeds from a few of the plants and then plant them next season? Wouldn’t that eliminate the need for ever ordering that same seed again? Not a very lucrative idea as far as seed companies go, but a gardener would sure save a lot on shipping charges that way.

I’m also a bit of a addict. Not for seeds, but for seedlings. I go to the market in May and want to buy every eager seedling I see. I garden on a much smaller scale and can’t see buying 100 seeds if I really only need 3 plants.

If you had to recommend one seed company for a beginning gardener to get heirloom seeds for your basic tomato, squash, lettuces, strawberries, what would it be?

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