Arrival of the Seed Savers Exchange 2008 Catalog

Monday, December 10, 2007

This is a big fun day for me every year. If you’ve never encountered it, you are in for a treat. And while I am trying to get off most catalog lists, this catalog is worth the paper/inks, etc.

Last summer, the first in several that I was able to have a garden again, I went bonkers for both seeds and plants. (Some turned out better than others, but it was a good learning experience.) Opening to the pepper section, how could you not want to order the “Sheepnose Pimento,” the “Bulgarian Carrot,” or the “Hinkelhatz.” Eggplant varieties called “Casper” (yup, it’s white), “Lao Purple Stripe,” and “Udumalapet” are pictured. There are drying beans and fresh beans, a beautiful spread of melons, herbs, flowers, and garlic. And there are 8 pages of tomatoes. Just try to resist.

A few years ago my stepsister and I (the same one who does organic ag for the Minnesota Dept. of Ag) visited the Seed Savers Heritage Farm in Decorah, Iowa, at the height of summer. Unbelievable. It’s there that they grow the seeds people send them in order to preserve the germ. The variety of colors and shapes blew me away.

But if you can’t visit in person, visit Seed Savers online.