Of Seeds and Salsa (and a few book reviews)

(A cute picture of my younger daughter eating salsa was
supposed to go here, but she was late getting up for
school this morning.)

This is the time of year that seed catalogs fill the
mailbox. Actually mine have been arriving since early
December. Totally Tomatoes TM gave me the idea for a
salsa garden. So I figured, why not a salsa inspired
issue of ye olde blogazine? I decided to review some
seed catalogs, in case other gardeners (or wannabees
like myself) had missed a great company. Feel free
to add your favorites. I didn't review nurseries as
much because I've reviewed a few in the past.

If you have time check out the Salsa Store. I couldn't
get the fancy multi-book widget to work, so please
click on the link if interested. There's even a
story called Chickens and Chips that I may get my
niece for her next birthday.

Happy dreaming/gardening . . .

Michelle

Catalog Review: Bountiful Gardens

 

This organization is part seed
company and part "ecology action"
group. They teach, and sell booklets
about "bio intensive gardening" and
"sustainable mini-farming". This
is the only catalog that mentions
"Peak Oil, Peak Food, and Peak Water"
and tries to do something about it.
They sell heirloom varieties of
vegetables, herbs and grains.
Two hooves up!

Pictures: A few black and white
photos.

Layout: Very informative.

Products: Worth a try.

Prices: Good.

Special features: Great
book and pamphlet section.
Good karma.

www.bountifulgardens.org

~Michelle

Catalog Review: Burnt Ridge Nursery & Orchards

This is a nice little catalog.
It provides lots of ideas
for planting an edible
landscape. Small shrubs,
trees and bushes may
provide a big supplement
to our diet in the future.
This company's prices are
very reasonable, and they
provide information on
what plants need to be
cross pollinated. There
are also handy charts
that show which plants
are suitable for various
climates. Two hooves up!

Pictures: None.

Layout: Excellent.

Products: Worth a try.

Prices: Good.

Special features:
Charts for plant
suitability by region
and climate.

www.burtridgenursery.com

~Michelle

You get what you pay for . .

 

 

These catalogs represent just
a few companies that sell
very inexpensive plants and
seeds. They don't appear to
be organic, and I would
pass on ordering from them.

Products: Doubtful.

Pictures and layout:
Below average.

Special features:
None.


~Michelle

High Mowing Seeds Catalog

 

 

Two hooves up!


www.highmowingseeds.com


~Michelle

Catalog Review: High Mowing Organic seeds

This catalog is a must. Save it
when you're done ordering, you'll
be glad you did. I bought seeds
from this company last year and
was extremely pleased.

I bought fingerling potatoes and
scarlet runner beans from them.
Then, we had the drought of the
century, and my heavy clay soil
was like concrete. I barely
watered due to water restrictions
and the seemingly hopelessness
of it all. Most of my plantings
died, several times. Yet,
I harvested a bucket full of
potatoes and picked red beans
throughout the drought. Pamela,
your seeds are coming.

This company is very pro organic,
and encourages growers to save
their own seeds. One of the best
things I like about it is the
in depth information at the start
of each vegetable category. This
includes how to grow, space and
harvest each category of plant,
as well as info on diseases and
pests and suggestions on how to
combat them organically.

Products: Reasonably priced,
very good quality.

Pictures (You want to see what
you're ordering.)and layout:
Excellent.

Special features: In depth coverage
of various vegetables and how
to grow them.

~Michelle

Catalog Review: Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

 

LOVE THIS ONE!!! It's a visual
feast for the gardening soul.
This down home company offers
so many varieties of the weird,
the unusual, the rare or forgotten.
Who knew there were so many
types of melons and lettuce?
Squash? Yeah baby! I want to
order their magazine as well.
Two hooves up!! A keeper!

Their pages could list varieties
in alphabetical order, and
sometimes the luscious pictures
are not readily identifiable.

Pictures: Confusing and scrumptious
at the same time.

Layout: Tempting and confusing.

Prices: Wicked good.

Products: Yeah baby!

RARESEEDS.COM

~Michelle

Catalog Review: Pinetree Garden Seeds

 

This catalog offers very reasonably
priced seeds, most packets are $1-$2.
Their varieties are about average.
They sell only organic, non genetic
engineered varieties. The pictures
and information listed about
their varieties of flowers, herbs
and veggies is again, avaerage.
They have a nice clearance
section on gardening books.
It's well worth ordering the
free catalog.

Pictures: 1/3rd of varieties
have photos.

Layout: Fine.

Products: Worth a try.

Prices: Excellent!

www.superseeds.com

~Michelle

Catalog Review: Territorial Seed Company

 

It's a nice catalog to curl
up with on a cold wintry day.
It has a little bit of
everything, some modern
and some heirloom varieties.
Their prices on seed packets
seem a little high. Their
photos and information are
about average.

Pictures and layout:
Good.

Products: Not sure.

Prices: Pricey.

www.territorialseed.com
~Michelle

Catalog Review: Sand Hill Preservation Center

 

Here's a guy devoted to saving
a lot of agricultural diversity.
I've heard that poultry ordered
from this company is the best
around. Other big hatcheries
claim to have rare breeds, this
"genetic-preservationist-hobbyist"
deals directly with many small
breeders and can offer true to
breed poultry.

He does the same for many varieties
of seeds, bulbs, and sweet potatoes.
The catalog itself has no pictures.
I recommend this company as a resource
for gardeners interested in rare
or fallen out of favor seeds and
poultry.

Pictures: None.

Layout: Easy readability.

Products: Probably very good.

Prices: Reasonable.

www.sandhillpreservation.com

~Michelle