Seed Savers Exchange

A quote by Josephine Nuese  found on the Seed Savers Exchange website:
"Anyone who thinks  gardening begins in the spring and ends in the fall is missing the best part of the whole year; for gardening begins in January with the dream".   And dream I do!  So many edibles and flowers!  How to choose!

Next time I'll tell you about an Arizona Grown Company Terroir Seeds! 

It is that time of year when we, in the desert are not just dreaming, but getting ready to plant.  Actually we can plant year round here but we are about to swing into 1 of our 2 gardening high gears.   I'd like to highlight some of my favorite seed companies.  Terroir, Seed Savers Exchange, Native Seed Search, Renee's Garden Seeds, Johnny's Select Seeds and Territorial Seeds are at the top of my list of favorite places to get seeds.  If you don't know them you should.  I'll introduce you to one, Seed Savers Exchange.

Why-  Seed Savers Exchange knows that the future of our planet depends on a genetically diverse food supply.  Their mission is to conserve and promote America's culturally diverse but endangered garden and food crop heritage for future generations by collecting, growing, and sharing heirloom seeds and plants.   I agree with the importance of their work.   Clean water for all, as well as clean affordable food for all and of course healthy educated children.  Theses are the most basic of things all people need.  And Seed Savers is doing they part.  Now they also have a sense of humor.  Check out the prickly caterpillars for something fun to grow with the children: http://www.seedsavers.org/onlinestore/caterpillar/Prickly-Caterpillar.html

Who -  Employees, member farmers and gardeners who sign a safe seed pledge.  You benefit and enjoy their work and get to utilize the seeds and plants.  Ladies you must go to find out how a particular Hollyhock acquired its name:  
http://www.seedsavers.org/onlinestore/Flower-Seeds/Flower-Outhouse-Hollyhock-OG.html

What - Seed Savers Exchange is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and sharing heirloom seeds.   The members pass on garden heritage by collecting and distributing thousands of samples of rare garden seeds to other gardeners.  Their members are diverse, as are their selections.  Look at this for eating a rainbow:  
http://www.seedsavers.org/onlinestore/swisschard/Swiss-Chard-Five-Color-Silverbeet-OG.html

When- They were founded in 1975.  While some of us were just wrapped up in listening to Bruce Springstein's album "Born To Run", or playing air guitar to Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody", or singing with  Paul Simon's "Still Crazy After All Theses Years", or swooning to Fleetwood Mac or  Jefferson Starship's "Miracles", or10CC's "I'm Not in Love" or Barry White's "You're the First…" or putting on the headphones to listen to Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" album, or jamming' to Bob Marley's live concert album, or weeping to Janis Ian's "At 17", or getting all pensive to Joan Baez or  Bob Dylan or thumping to Linda Ronstadt's "you're No Good" David Bowie's "Fame", The Eagles "One of These Night", or dancing to Earth Wind and Fire's "Shining Star"as well as KC & The Sunshine Band, or Average White Band's "Pick up the Pieces".  Obviously I digress but what a time in American Music History!  And look what else came of that time!  Seed Savers Exchange!  These I loved & remember to be quite common from when I lived in the Midwest and have asked for repeatedly in desert nurseries:  They smell of summer to me.
http://www.seedsavers.org/onlinestore/Flower-Seeds/Flower-Old-Vining-Petunia-OG.html

Where- Their 89 acre Heritage Farm, their headquarters, is located near Decorah, Iowa.  They are in the heart of the big agricultural country in the midwest.  Their Preservation Gardens are certified organic.  Additionally there is a historic orchard and ancient (over 2,000 year old) White Park Cattle, limestone cliffs, sparkling streams, pine woods, garden gifts and horticultural books.   their visitor's center is open from March through December.  They even have seeds from around the world.  Here's one from an old cold war foe that would look right at home in many of today's gardens:  http://www.seedsavers.org/onlinestore/Flower-Seeds/Flower-Perfect-Mix-OG.html

How - All of their programs to preserve garden biodiversity are made possible through donations, membership dues as well as seed sales.  Twenty-five cents from each pack of seeds foes into an endowment to help pay the salaries of employees who maintain the seed collection.  Consider joining or purchasing seeds, won't you?  How do they do it?!  They even have 36 seeds from the US Slow Food Ark of Taste:
 http://www.seedsavers.org/onlinestore/Ark-of-Taste/


Please, go to their website and see the colorful array of beautiful seeds for your dreams
www.seedsavers.org  
While you do that I'll go make a nice hot pot of heirloom bean soup.  It may not be freezing but it's cold enough for soup.  Our rare foggy day is perfect for souping' up for the SUPER BOWL XLIX