Organic Seeds

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J. L. HUDSON, SEEDSMAN, BOX 337, LA HONDA, CALIFORNIA 94020-0337 USA

2008 SEEDLIST - ORGANIC SEED LISTING
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ORGANIC SEEDS LISTING

To skip the lecture, and go straight to the list, click here.

One of my earliest memories is of watching my father turn the compost pile. The sight of the teeming life within the pile, and the warmth and rich scents it gave off, are still so clear to me that I feel like I could reach out into that memory, and pull myself through, shedding a half-century of years and return to that happy summer day. I learned organic gardening from my father, and have practiced it to this day. A few years ago, when visiting my father, I noticed some weed killer in the garage - a strange and unexpected sight, and I did not realize at the time that it was one of the first signs of the Alzheimer's that finally killed him. So it was only madness that brought him to put poison on his land, and this pointed out to me again the madness of industrial agriculture.

There are over 6 billion people in the world, and all of us need to eat. Can this number of people be fed by organic agriculture? Without fossil-fuel mined phosphates, without fossil-fuel fixed nitrogen? Without fossil-fuel driven tractors to till, and trucks to take the food to people?

Maybe. We don't know. It would take a massive, worldwide reorganization of human society to achieve this.

Can this be done?

When the oil runs out, we, or our descendents, will find out.

Until that time, we support an orderly move towards a more sustainable, more regenerative agriculture. Theoretically, we have the knowledge and the technology to make this transition with minimal suffering, but we feel it is unlikely that humanity will choose to take the steps necessary to create a viable future. Currently, our species is on a path that seems destined to create a future of the maximum possible human suffering.

While we use organic methods ourselves, and we fully support organic agriculture, we must object to the "organic seed requirement" of current law. This requires organic growers to plant only organically-grown seed, otherwise their crop will not be considered "organic."

Most people do not realize that this requirement was inserted into the law at the request of a large corporate seed company in one of their attempts to gain control of the organic seed market, or that many in industrial agriculture support the organic seed requirement because it will be an additional burden on organic farmers, which will lessen their economic viability.

There are currently some exemptions to the organic requirement, but again, the corporations are pressing for and "end to the loopholes", and claim that no matter what the cost of organic seed, or no matter how limited the selection of organic varieties, that this is no excuse for organic growers to fail to buy their product.

We are also seeing serious profiteering by a few organic seed suppliers at the expense of their fellow organic growers, with some organic seed selling for ten times or more the cost of conventional seed. There is absolutely no excuse for this - NO organic seed is worth TEN times its conventional counterpart.

While we fully support the move towards the organic production of seed, we do not believe that there is any solid evidence that organic crops grown from conventional seed are any different from those grown from organic seed. In over thirty years distributing seeds, we have seen excellent organic seed as well as excellent conventional seed, and poor organic and poor conventional seed. We do believe that organically-grown crops are superior in many ways to those grown by industrial agriculture.

The key to the quality of seed lies in the DNA - the genetic content of the seed, and only secondarily from the conditions of production, harvest, drying, and storage. Without good DNA, no matter what the conditions of production, the seed will not be worthwhile to plant.

For example, wild-collected seed is not considered to be "organic". If a grower wants to produce an organic crop of a medicinal plant, and that seed is available as certified organic, under current rules she must use the organic seed, and cannot use the wild-collected seed. Wild populations of medicinal plants may vary considerably in the specific medicinal properties, or in adaptation to specific local conditions, and several organic growers have expressed concern that some medicinal crops in cultivation are in serious need of the greater genetic diversity that would come from an infusion of wild genes from wild plants. Under current rules, plants grown from wild seed could never enter the organic market. This is causing the same kind of genetic uniformity seen in conventional agriculture, which is contrary to organic principles of diversity.

Also, many traditional vegetable varieties vary considerably - some growers are careful about reselection for superior traits, others are not. If a specific variety is available as "organic", an organic grower would be required to use the seed, regardless of quality.

We support organic agriculture, and we also support small-scale, family farms. Should we purchase "organic" seed produced by a large corporation, or seed from a struggling small farm who does not happen to have organic certification? What would you do?

We believe that organic growers need the freedom to plant the best seeds and the best varieties they can find, regardless of how they were produced. We feel that the dangers of the loss of genetic variation in our food crops by the limitation of available variety, and the consolidation of control of seeds by corporate interests, currently far outweigh the advantages of "organic seed".

When we have spoken about our concerns with organic growers, most have heartily agreed with our views, but a few have taken a very fundamentalist hard-line that "We support 'organic' no matter what!" and that organic seeds should be required no matter what other harm this causes. We would suggest that it would make more sense for these organic purists to also require that organic growers may not use plastic irrigation pipe (a major source of toxins), or any fossil fuel or electricity (sources of environmental harm) in their operations or when transporting their product to market. Should we require that organic growers use only human and animal power to plow and ox-carts to carry their produce to market? The "agri-smog" of pesticides from California's agricultural Central Valley is killing frogs downwind, high in the Sierra Nevada. Can any grower downwind of this kind of agriculture be considered truly "organic"?

In the summer of 2004, we replaced some of our aging, flexible black polyethylene waterlines with larger-diameter, more permanent buried PVC pipe with glued connections. Periodically I emptied the pipeline and refilled it, checking the expelled air - for over 6 months, it smelled strongly of PVC solvent, and now (November 2005), over a full year later, it still smells faintly of solvent. The solvents used in PVC glue are toxic, and no doubt contaminate the water the pipes carry to our plants - for this reason we flush them before use. Although miles of PVC pipe are used in organic operations, we know of no other organic grower that has checked this source of toxins. Should we require that organic growers use expensive steel pipe? Should we require that water lines not be used for a year, until all trace of solvent has dissipated into the air? Should we be absolutists, and make it even harder than it already is for small growers to remain economically viable, or do we accept the reality that nowhere on the planet is free of man-made toxins?

We would like to point out, that while we fully support organic agriculture, we do not support fundamentalism, irrationality, or superstition, and we certainly do not support profiteering or corporate attempts to control organic seed supplies. We are opposed to making organic agriculture into a fundamentalist religion, and we are opposed to the theft of the word "organic" by government bureaucracy, and we are opposed to the corporate takeover of the "organic movement".

"Wait a decade or two and every potato coming out of the state of Idaho will be labeled 'organic', a word already under very serious stress. The process will be entirely predictable. The big food companies will buy federal and state legislation designed to put the small producers out of business, the same way the meat companies finished off the small packers and processors years ago, by insisting on hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of stainless steel and other 'sanitary' equipment, all intended to bankrupt the local sausage or ham maker. Wall-Mart's buying power will drive down organic food prices and start to drive small farmers to the wall."
—Alexander Cockburn, "Wall-Mart's Coming Lunge into Organic Food", an article on the corporate takeover of organic and the weakening of organic standards.

We need to build bridges, not walls. Instead of a black/white - organic/conventional standoff, with the small-scale grower caught in the cross-fire, we need to provide for a whole range of possibilities that will allow farmers to easily move along a spectrum of alternatives towards a healthy agriculture, rather than building a wall they must vault over.

Take back organic!

ORGANIC SEED LIST

OTC = OREGON TILTH CERTIFIED ORGANIC SEED

AGASTACHE
—Agastache rugosa. (a,h) AGAS-12. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC
1/4 Oz: $10.00 OTC ORGANIC
'KOREAN MINT'. Whole plant highly anise scented and flavored. Hardy bushy perennial to 3 - 4 feet, with spikes of purple-violet flowers and 2" leaves. Korea to Vietnam. Easy from seed, and thrives in the temperate U.S. Sunny places. Zone 4 or 5. Fresh or dried it makes an excellent tea, which was used in China as a mouthwash and hangover remedy. Also good for seasoning meat and other dishes. Fresh leaves good on sandwiches. Good cut flowers and an excellent bee plant. Fresh seed dormant, needs cold or GA-3, aged seed germinates in 2 - 3 weeks. "Another one to sow thinly due to very high germination, with slightly spicier and more exotic scent than traditional Anise Hyssop." —C. Malanowski, South Carolina, 6/2001.

AGRIMONIA (ag-ri-MOE-nee-a)
ROSACEAE. 'AGRIMONY' Hardy perennial herbs with racemes of small yellow flowers. Grown for ornament and the fragrant medicinal leaves, which are a popular spring tea. Good in the shade.
—Agrimonia Eupatoria. (d,h) AGRI-4. Packet: $2.50 OTC ORGANIC
'AGRIMONY'. Golden-yellow apricot-scented flowers in dense, slender spikes. Deep green pinnate aromatic foliage. Hardy perennial to 3 - 5 feet. Europe. The fragrant leaves are used as a tea, and it produces a yellow dye. Germinates in 1 - 6 months.

ARCTIUM (ARK-tee-um)
COMPOSITAE. 'BURDOCK'. Large coarse biennials and perennials with large leaves and burr-like heads of purple to white flowers. Some are cultivated for edible roots or medicinal purposes. Others are weeds of undisturbed land; easily destroyed by cultivation.
—Arctium Lappa. (c,h) ARCI-3. Packet: $1.50 OTC ORGANIC
Germination: 88% Tested: 9/07, Oz: $5.00 OTC ORGANIC
'GOBO', 'GREAT BURDOCK'. Giant hardy perennial to 10 feet, with purple-red 1 3/4" thistle-like flowers and large 20" leaves, white-woolly beneath. Eurasia. Often regarded as a 'weed' in the US, this is a popular vegetable in Japan. The young first-year roots are eaten, the young peeled shoots are eaten as an asparagus. Sow in deep rich soil in spring for a fall harvest, or in fall for spring crop. The seeds are an important medicine in Japan & China, & have antibiotic properties. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.

ASTRAGALUS (as-tra-GAL-us)
LEGUMINOSAE. The largest genus of vascular plants, some 2000 species nearly worldwide. Annuals, perennials & shrubs from a variety of habitats. They provide food, forage, gums, medicinals, cosmetics, & are soil builders, mineral indicators, etc.
—Astragalus membranaceus. (c,h) ASTR-30. Packet: $2.00
Germination: 92% Tested: 10/07, 1/4 Oz: $8.00 Oz: $16.00 OTC ORGANIC
'HUANG QI'. Famous Chinese medicinal herb. Light yellow flowers in spikes, followed by semi-transparent pods. Hardy perennial to 2 feet, with pinnate leaves. Northeastern China, Mongolia. The long, flexible roots are in the same category as ginseng & Eleuthero. Highly valued as a 'Qi tonic' affecting many parts of the body. "Every sort of wasting or exhausting disease is thought to be benefited by it." —Pen-Tsao of Li Shi-chen. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks without nicking.

ATRIPLEX (AT-ri-plex)
CHENOPODIACEAE. 'SALTBUSH'. Herbs and shrubs with inconspicuous flowers, grown for edible greens, the handsome foliage, or as nutritious forage in arid regions. Salt tolerant, good for reclaiming saline soils. Easily grown in full sun. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks, cool to warm temperatures. Seed viable 6 years. All hortensis varieties are also used in floral ornament both fresh and dried, and have been cultivated since the 1500s and 1600s.
—Atriplex hortensis Aurora. (c,h) ATRI-11A. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC
Germination: 84% Tested: 9/07, Oz: $12.00 OTC ORGANIC
Bright red, gold, green, pink, carmine, and deep purple foliage. Stunning in salads and for cooked greens, as well as cut floral ornament. Sure to be a good seller at farmer's markets. Organically grown. Germinates in a week or so.
NEW—Atriplex hortensis Magenta Magic. (c,g) ATRI-11M. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC
Germination: 76% Tested: 11/07, 1/4 Oz: $6.00
Deep glowing magenta-red leaves, a wonderful new color for baby salad greens. Organically-grown.
—Atriplex hortensis Purple Savoyed. (c,h) ATRI-11PS. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC
Germination: 96% Tested: 9/07, Oz: $12.00 OTC ORGANIC
Heavily crumpled, thick purple leaves. Very ornamental; new salad vegetable for the restaurant trade. Developed by Shoulder to Shoulder Farm. Organically grown. Germinates in a week or so.

CALENDULA
—Calendula officinalis Triangle Flashback. (d,h) CALN-7TF. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC
Striking fully double flowers with maroon petal-backs and faces in pastel pink shading to yellow in the center. Also called 'Zeolights'. Organically grown.

CARUM (KAR-um)
UMBELLIFERAE. Aromatic annuals and perennials with thick roots, grown for food and flavoring. Umbels of small white or pinkish flowers and pinnate leaves. Seed viable 3 - 5 years.
—Carum Carvi. (a,h) CARU-3. Packet: $1.50 OTC ORGANIC
Germination: 84% Tested: 12/07, Oz: $6.00 OTC ORGANIC
'CARAWAY'. Tiny white flowers in umbels held above the feathery, finely divided leaves. Hardy slender biennial to 1 1/2 - 2 feet. Eurasia. Grown since ancient times for its brown aromatic seed which are used to flavor breads, cheeses, baked fruit, liqueurs, and medicinally. The yellow roots are edible boiled like parsnips, and were mixed with milk to make a bread eaten by the Roman soldiers. The young, fresh, aromatic leaves are good in salads and mature leaves are boiled with vegetables. The seeds have been found in prehistoric Swiss lake dwellings, and are mentioned by writers from Dioscorides to the present. Sow in fall or in early spring in full sun where they are to grow, as they do not transplant well. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks or so. Thin to 8 - 12" apart. Will ripen seed the second season. Harvest when ripe and dry in the sun. They are an aid to digestion, and were an ingredient in love potions.

CHENOPODIUM (ken-o-POE-dee-um)
CHENOPODIACEAE. Wide-ranging genus of mostly herbs with clustered tiny flowers. Many grown for ornament, edible greens or grain, aromatic culinary herbs or medicine. Easily grown and very useful. All germinate in 1 - 3 weeks unless noted otherwise.
—Chenopodium giganteum. (a!,h) CHEN-20. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC
Germination: 36% Tested: 10/07, 1/4 Oz: $6.50 OTC ORGANIC
'PURPLE GOOSEFOOT', 'TREE SPINACH'. Young leaves are a striking iridescent magenta-red with crystalline red powder. Long red panicles of flowers. The stem is striped red and is very strong for its light weight due to a spiral twist. Large tall annual to 6 - 8 feet. Birds are fond of the seeds, and the leaves have been used as a spinach in the Mediterranean, by South African Bantu, and here in the U.S. Tender young leaves are good in salads.
—Chenopodium Quinoa Brilliant Rainbow. (b,h) CHEN-25BR. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC
Germination: 92% Tested: 12/07, 10 grams: $9.00 (about 3250 seed) OTC ORGANIC
Reselected from Rainbow for the brightest, most brilliant colors. Nice! Germinates in a week.
'QUINOA'. An important high-protein (12 - 19%) grain of the Andes, with good amino acid balance and 58% starch. A staple for millions of Andeans, the development of low-elevation types is helping its spread. Seed washed in water before cooking to remove saponins which protect from pests. Hardy, easily grown annual to 4 - 6 feet, with large seedheads. The leaves, stem-tips and young flowers are excellent in salads, having a mild sweet flavor, and very succulent. Also good cooked like spinach or added to soups. Germinates in 2 weeks.
—Chenopodium Quinoa Cherry Vanilla. (b,h) CHEN-25CV. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC
Germination: 72% Tested: 9/07, 1/2 Oz: $6.00, Oz: $10.00, 1/4 lb: $35.00 OTC ORGANIC
'QUINOA'. Seedheads a blend of colors from creamy-white to rose, a beautiful variety with very mild-flavored grain. Developed by Shoulder to Shoulder Farm. An important high-protein (12 - 19%) grain of the Andes, with good amino acid balance and 58% starch. A staple for millions of Andeans, the development of low-elevation types is helping its spread. Seed washed in water before cooking to remove saponins which protect from pests. Hardy, easily grown annual to 4 - 6 feet, with large seedheads. The leaves, stem-tips and young flowers are excellent in salads, having a mild sweet flavor, and very succulent. Also good cooked like spinach or added to soups. Germinates in 2 weeks.

CHRYSANTHEMUM (kri-SAN-the-mum)
COMPOSITAE. A large genus of showy annuals and perennials. Many are remarkably free-flowering, in every shade but blue. Excellent for cutting, lasting well in water. Most like a light, well-drained soil. Full sun. The perennials will last for years in the garden. Some make attractive pot plants. The are easy from seed sown in spring, 1/8 - 1/4" deep, to germinate in 1 - 2 weeks, some kinds up to 5 weeks. Space 1 - 2 feet apart. Well-loved garden favorites for centuries, reaching their peak of cultivation in the Orient. Seed of various kinds viable 1 - 10 years.
—Chrysanthemum Parthenium. (h) CHRY-40. Packet: $2.00 Click for photo »
Organic seed: Packet: $2.00, 5 grams: $6.00 OTC ORGANIC
'FEVERFEW'. White 3/4" daisies with yellow centers, abundantly borne June to August. Bushy hardy perennial to 2 - 3 feet, with aromatic, deeply cut foliage. SE Europe. Blooms freely the first year, & is often grown as an annual. A fine old-fashioned garden plant, excellent for cut flowers. A tincture of the leaves is said to be an excellent insect repellant rubbed on the skin. Excellent remedy for migraine—I use it, it works! Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.

CNICUS (NIK-us)
COMPOSITAE. A single species. Easily grown.
—Cnicus benedictus. (c,h) CNIC-1. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC
Germination: 99% 12/07, Oz: $9.00 (about 750 seed), 1/4 lb: $25.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
'BLESSED THISTLE'. Bright yellow inch-wide flowers on a hardy, thistle-like annual to 2 feet, with attractively marbled leaves. Blooms summer & fall. Mediterranean. Once highly valued medicinally as a panacea for everything from "the bitings of mad dogs" to migraine and gout. Contains anti-HIV compounds. An excellent tonic, said to improve the memory. "...lay it to your heart; it is the only thing for qualm... plain Holy Thistle." —Shakespeare. Used in Benedictine, and the seeds yield an oil. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks warm.

INULA (IN-yu-la)
COMPOSITAE. Showy Eastern Hemisphere perennials with daisy-like flowers and large basal leaves. Mostly hardy and easily grown. Best in full sun and does well in most soils.
—Inula Helenium. (b,h) INUL-9. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC
1/4 Oz: $10.00 OTC ORGANIC
'ELECAMPANE'. Large yellow 4" wide flowers on a robust hardy perennial to 6 feet, with leaves up to 2 feet long. Europe. A valuable medicinal herb; rich in inulin. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks.

LAVANDULA (la-VAN-du-la)
LABIATAE. 'LAVENDER'. Aromatic perennials & shrubs grown for their attractive bloom, handsome foliage and delightful fragrance. They prefer full sun, & light, dry, limey soil, rich soil reducing yield. South facing slopes are best. Clip frequently to induce bushiness. Hardy to about zone 5. Sow in fall or spring, as they germinate best at cool temperatures. Or prechill 3 - 6 weeks to germinate in 1 - 12 weeks. Seed viable 5 years. Cut flowers in morning or evening, and dry in a cool, shaded place.
—Lavandula Stoechas. (b) LAVA-22. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC
'FRENCH' or 'SPANISH LAVENDER'. Tight spikes of tiny dark purple flowers, each spike tipped with purple bracts, in summer. Shrublet to 2 feet, with narrow grey leaves. Mediterranean. Zone 7 or 8. Source of an exceptional honey, and the oil is used in perfumery. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks. Organically grown.

LEONURUS (lee-o-NOO-rus)
LABIATAE. Hardy Eurasian herbs, good in the back border or wild garden. Easily grown from seed which germinates readily in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Leonurus artemisia. LEOR-1. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC
Germination: 94% Tested: 9/07, 5 Grams: $7.50 OTC ORGANIC
'YI-MU-CAO', 'CHINESE MOTHER WORT'. Reddish purple flowers in spikes. Hardy biennial to 3 - 4 feet. Eurasia. Used in Chinese medicine as a uterine stimulant and for heart palpitations. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks. Organically grown.

NEPETA (NE-pe-ta)
LABIATAE. Aromatic annuals & perennials with pretty blue or white flowers. Easily grown in most soils, sun or shade. Sow where they are to stand. Germinates in about 1 - 2 weeks. Seed viable 5 years.
—Nepeta Cataria. (b,h) NEPE-3. Packet: $2.00 ORGANIC SEED
Germination: 82% Tested: 10/07, 1/2 Oz: $6.00 ORGANIC SEED
'CATNIP'. Dense whorls of small white or pinkish flowers, July to November. Hardy perennial to 3 feet; with downy, heart-shaped 3" leaves. Eurasia. Well-known cat attractant due to feline sex-pheromones. Said to repel rats. Good bee plant. Makes a nice tea and the young shoots are used in French cooking. Germinates irregularly in 1 - 4 weeks and up.

OCIMUM (OSS-i-mum)
LABIATAE. 'BASIL'. Aromatic tender annuals grown in the herb garden for their value as seasoning and fragrance. The leaves are widely used in sauces and soups, the flavor blending particularly well with tomatoes. The clove-like fragrance has been considered soothing, and a cure for nervous headaches. Basil tea is said to calm an upset stomach. Start seed indoors 6 - 8 weeks before last frost, and plant out after all danger of frost is past. Thin to 6" apart. Basil likes full sun, and all types do well in pots. Harvest fresh leaves anytime. For drying, cut just before it reaches full bloom. Seed viable 8 - 10 years. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks.
—Ocimum Basilicum Lime. (a,h) OCIM-1LI. Packet: $1.50 ORGANIC SEED
Germination: 65% Tested 9/07, Oz: $6.00 ORGANIC SEED
'LIME BASIL'. Has a zesty lime flavor.
—Ocimum sanctum. (a!,h) OCIM-24. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC
Germination: 98% Tested: 10/07, 5 Grams: $5.00, 10 grams: $8.00, 25 grams: $15.00 OTC ORGANIC
'HOLY BASIL', 'TULSI'. Sweetly fragrant bushy perennial to 1 - 3 feet, grown as an annual in cold climates. Profuse purple or white bloom, & sometimes purplish-tinted foliage. Tropical Asia. Held sacred by the Hindus & grown around temples. Sections of the stem-bases are used in rosaries. The leaves are used in salads, and the oil is an effective antibiotic, and the leaves are used medicinally. Nice, distinctive clove-like flavor, good in cooking, salads, or for tea. Good in herb breads and herb butters. Good bee plant. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks. Organically grown.

PIMPINELLA (pim-pi-NEL-a)
UMBELLIFERAE. Herbs with white or yellow flowers in umbels, and feathery leaves. Best sown directly to not-too-rich soil. Germinates in 1 - 6 weeks.
—Pimpinella Anisum. (a!,h) PIM-1. Packet: $1.50 OTC ORGANIC
Germination: 78% Tested: 12/07, Oz: $5.00 OTC ORGANIC
'ANISE'. White flowers. A dainty annual to 1 1/2 - 2 feet, with feathery bright green leaves. Greece to Egypt. Grown for the popular seeds used as a condiment for bread, pastries and cheese, to flavor liqueurs, and medicinally. Known to the ancient Greeks, it is mentioned by Dioscorides, Theophrastus, and Pliny. The leaves may be used in salads. Medicinally the seeds and oil are used as estrogenic agents to promote milk secretion, regulate and promote menstruation, ease birth, and allay symptoms of menopause. A number of synthetic estrogens were originally modeled after the estrogenic compounds found in the oil. Anise still has merit in that it is non-carcinogenic, has low toxicity, and is gentle in action. Not to mention you don't need a prescription, and it is low cost. See: 'Fennel and Anise as Estrogenic Agents'. Journal of Ethnopharmacology (1980) Vol. 2, pages 337 - 344.

SALVIA (SAL-vee-a)
LABIATAE. 'SAGE'. A worldwide genus of 900 species of herbs and shrubs. Many highly attractive ornamentals, culinary herbs & medicinals, the name from the Latin 'Salveo', meaning 'I heal'. Most are easy from seed, germinating in 1 - 3 weeks. A few may need cold treatment. They vary from moisture and shade lovers to hot, dry, rocky slopes. Excess nitrogen may delay flowering. Tender species make nice greenhouse plants. GA-3 or smoke helps some.
—Salvia apiana. (b,f) SALV-3. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC
'WHITE SAGE'. Large white flowers often spotted lavender, 1/2 - 1" long, in huge branched clusters up to 4 feet long, May to September. Large shrub to 3 - 10 feet tall, with whitish leaves and willow-like stems. Mountains of southern California. Excellent ornamental for arid regions. Good honey plant and wildlife browse. Germinates in 1 - 5 weeks or so. GA-3 helps.
—Salvia officinalis. (b,h) SALV-60. Packet: $1.50 ORGANIC SEED
Germination: 94% Tested: 10/07, Oz: $6.50 ORGANIC SEED
'GARDEN SAGE'. Blue 1 1/4" flowers in spikes in spring. Hardy shrublet to 2 feet, with grey leaves and white woolly stems. Mediterranean. Much used in the kitchen, a favorite ingredient in stuffings, sausage & cheese, and it makes a popular tea. An old medicine— "Cur moriatur homo cui Salvia crescit in horto?" (Why should a man die while sage grows in his garden?). Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.

SILYBUM (SI-lee-bum or si-LEE-bum)
COMPOSITAE. 'MILK THISTLE'. Striking plants. Sow in fall or spring where they are to grow and thin to 2 feet apart. Sprouts in 1 - 3 weeks. An interesting note: fresh seed will not germinate at warm temperatures, only sprouting at cool temperatures; but after 5 months dry storage (after-ripening) they will germinate well at warm temperatures.
—Silybum Marianum. (b,h) SILY-3 Packet: $2.00
Germination: 92% Tested: 9/07, Oz: $6.00, 1/4 lb: $16.00
OTC ORGANIC
'ST. MARY'S MILKTHISTLE'. Bold and striking rosettes of large glossy, dark green, spiny leaves streaked and marbled with white, followed by 2" wide rose-purple, faintly scented flower-heads on 4 - 6 foot stalks, each head with dramatic reflexed spines. Mediterranean region. Old tradition holds that milk of the Virgin Mary fell upon the plant, causing the white marbling of the leaves. Flowers much visited by bees; later, birds love the seeds. California ranchers claim it loosens hard, compacted soil, and make their own 'clod-buster' from chopped plants soaked in 55 gallon drums of water. Formerly much used as food; the young leaves in salads or boiled, (I've never tried this myself, the spines scare me!) the peeled stalks, the roots like salsify, the young heads eaten like artichokes after cutting off the spines. Was thought to increase milk in nursing women. Since ancient times the seeds have been used as liver medicine, and recently their powerful liver-protective properties have found much use in modern medicine. Experiments have shown it capable of preventing death in dogs from fatal doses of Destroying-Angel mushroom toxins.

ORGANIC VEGETABLE SEEDS:

AMARANTH
—Amaranth Elephant Head. (a,h) VAMA-EH. Packet: $2.50 OTC ORGANIC Click for photo »
Amaranthus gangeticus. Huge maroon flowerheads with a long, trunk-like spike, resembling an elephant head. Robust 1 - 4 foot plants. Brought by German immigrants in the 1880s. Seed organically grown by Shoulder to Shoulder Farm. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Amaranth Polish. (a,g) VAMA-P. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC
Beautiful deep purple plants, one of the best flavored for salads. Originally from Poland. Seed organically grown by Shoulder to Shoulder Farm. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.

BASIL
Ocimum Basilicum. Aromatic tender annuals grown in the herb garden for their value as seasoning and fragrance. The leaves are widely used in sauces and soups, the flavor blending particularly well with tomatoes. The clove-like fragrance has been considered soothing, and a cure for nervous headaches. Basil tea is said to calm an upset stomach. Start seed indoors 6 - 8 weeks before last frost, and plant out after all danger of frost is past. Thin to 6" apart. Basil likes full sun, and all types do well in pots. Harvest fresh leaves anytime. For drying, cut just before it reaches full bloom. Seed viable 8 - 10 years. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks.
—Basil, Lime. (a,h) OCIM-1LI. Packet: $1.50 ORGANIC SEED
Germination: 65% Tested 9/07, Oz: $6.00 ORGANIC SEED
'LIME BASIL'. Has a zesty lime flavor.
NEW—Basil, Ocimum sanctum. (a!,h) OCIM-24. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC SEED
Germination: 98% Tested: 10/07, 5 Grams: $5.00, 10 grams: $8.00, 25 grams: $15.00 OTC ORGANIC SEED
'HOLY BASIL', 'TULSI'. Sweetly fragrant bushy perennial to 1 - 3 feet, grown as an annual in cold climates. Profuse purple or white bloom, & sometimes purplish-tinted foliage. Tropical Asia. Held sacred by the Hindus & grown around temples. Sections of the stem-bases are used in rosaries. The leaves are used in salads, and the oil is an effective antibiotic, and the leaves are used medicinally. Nice, distinctive clove-like flavor, good in cooking, salads, or for tea. Good in herb breads and herb butters. Good bee plant. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks. Organically grown.

CELERY
Apium graveolens var. dulce. Prefers a cool, extended season for best growth. A good summer or fall crop for the North, spring and winter in the South. Likes a very moist rich soil with good drainage. Start seed in flats and transplant out when 2 - 3" tall. Space 6" apart in rows 1 foot apart. Keep constantly moist, in full sun. May be blanched by tying the leaves together and gradually covering with soil to within a few inches of the top.
—Celery Giant Red Mix. (a,g) VCEL-GR. Packet: $2.50 OTC ORGANIC
Fine mix of very large red celeries, selected for size, color, disease resistance, and cold tolerance. Given a good soil and generous watering, they produce bright red stalks with deep green leaves. Tender rosy-red hearts are a delight in salads. Organically grown by Shoulder to Shoulder Farm.

"Question with boldness even the existence of God; because if there be one, He must approve the homage of Reason rather than that of blindfolded fear." —Thomas Jefferson.

CORN (Maize)
Zea Mays. Excellent corn can be raised in any good garden soil, but rich loam is best. Keep moist. Sow seed after all danger of frost is past. Plant 4 - 6 seeds 2 - 3" deep in hills 3 - 4 feet apart each way. When seedlings are 4" tall thin to the 2 most vigorous plants. May also be planted in rows, 1 foot apart in the row. Corn does not pollinate fully if planted in a single row; best in blocks.
Field Corn Varieties:
Field Corn has more starch and is drier and less sweet than the other types, often with very large, flat, broad kernels. They are used after drying for meal, flour, hominy and fodder. Harvested when the ears are fully mature and the husks are dry. Most of the maize varieties grown by the American Indians were of this type. I have come to like field corn for on-the-cob eating, preferring its robust, hearty qualities. It is especially good Central American style, roasted over an open fire, and rubbed with a lime dipped in chili powder and salt.
—Corn Japonica Striped Maize. (e,h) VCOR-JS. Packet: $2.50 ORGANIC SEED
Incredibly lovely ornamental corn, with leaves striped white, yellow, bright pink, and green. Kernels are dark purple-red. Grows 5-6 feet tall, beautiful and unusual for borders or backgrounds. Originally from Japan in the 1890s. Space widely for best color. Organically grown.

FENNEL
—Fennel Bronze. (c,g) FOEN-1B. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC SEED
Germination: 84% Tested: 11/07, 1/2 Oz: $8.00 OTC ORGANIC SEED
Foeniculum vulgare v. rubrum. Feathery reddish bronze foliage; a very pretty 'smoky' effect. To 4 feet. Hardy short-lived perennial. Chopped leaves nice in salads or sauces, seeds for seasoning.

—HUAZONTLE (Chenopodium). (a,g) VHUA. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC SEED
Germination: 99% Tested: 10/07, 1/4 Oz: $10.00 OTC ORGANIC SEED
Ancient Mexican vegetable, producing an abundance of mild, spinach-like leaves, and the flower clusters are steamed, boiled, or battered and fried. Ripe seeds ground as meal. Very easily grown and very productive and delicious. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.

KALE
Brassica oleracea. Also known as Borecole, Kale is a cool weather crop, with sweet tender leaves. A good fodder plant for poultry and livestock. In the South, sow in late summer or early fall for winter and spring harvest. In cold climates, sow in late spring for fall harvest. Likes full sun and a rich, well-drained soil. Keep moist. Sow seeds 1/4" deep, thin to 1 1/2 feet apart in rows 1 1/2 - 2 feet apart.
—Kale Lacinato Rainbow. (b,h) VKAL-LR. Packet: $2.50 OTC ORGANIC
Deeply savoyed long narrow leaves overlaid with shades of purple, blue-green, and red. Very vigorous and cold hardy, perennial in mild climates. Organically grown.
—Kale Nero de Philo. (b,h) VKAL-NP. Packet: $2.50 OTC ORGANIC
A new type of black kale, with savoyed, dark maroon-purple leaves. A work-in-progress from Wild Garden, it should produce some interesting variations. Organically grown.

LETTUCE
Lactuca sativa. Sow in rows 1 foot apart as early as the ground can be worked, not covering the seed, as light is needed for germination. Thin to 8" apart as they develop. Or, plant in flats 1 month before planting out. Transplant carefully. Lettuce prefers cool to moderate temperatures, and is best sown in spring or early fall in a light, well-drained soil. Give shade in hot weather. For a continual crop, sow every few weeks, as long as desired.
There are four basic types of lettuce: Loose-Leaf, Butterhead, Crisphead, and Cos or Romaine. Within these types there are also: Winter Lettuces, which are more adapted to cold and will withstand ordinary winters with little care. Spring Lettuces head rapidly and are sown just after winter. Summer Lettuces are usually larger and do not run to seed as fast in hot weather.
Loose Leaf Types:
These form large, spreading rosettes of tender leaves. Good for continuous picking, taking what is needed from the outer leaves. Easily grown, withstands poor soil, neglect and bad weather.
NEW—Lettuce Cracoviensis. (b,h) VLET-CR. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC
Unique French heirloom, forming loose heads of pointed savoyed leaves, marked with patches of deep purple. Bolts easily in warm weather, forming a thick, tender rosy stem which is prized as a vegetable. Called 'red celtuce' in the 1880s, so the stem was the main use then, but it can be a dual crop. Organically-grown.
—Lettuce Emerald Oak. (b,h) VLET-EO. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC
Brilliant green oakleaf, with almost a butter-lettuce head of sweet tender leaves. Very nice texture and flavor, can be used for salad at any size. Organically grown.

MUSTARD
Brassica juncea var. integrifolia. Mustard leaves are excellent greens with a sharp pungent flavor. Boiled like spinach, they become tender and not at all bitter. Very good in soups, or as simple cooked greens served with a little melted butter.
Plant in late spring or early summer, or in frost-free climates, sow in fall and early winter. Prefers a rich soil and abundant moisture for fast growth, but will produce well in any soil. Thin to 6" apart in rows 18" apart. A cool weather crop.
—Mustard Magma. (a,h) VMUS-M. Packet: $2.50 OTC ORGANIC SEED
Germination: 96% Tested: 11/07, 1/4 Oz: $6.00 OTC ORGANIC SEED
Ruffled leaves are deep purple on top, contrasting with the green undersides. Young leaves are a wonderful salad green; excellent peppery cooked greens at any age. A particularly pretty variety with a lot of flavor. Organically grown by Shoulder to Shoulder Farm.
—Mustard Osaka Purple. (b,h) VMUS-OS. Packet: $2.50 OTC ORGANIC SEED
Germination: 84% Tested: 11/07, 1/4 Oz: $6.00 OTC ORGANIC SEED
Smooth leaves blushed deep purple, with a spicy flavor. Grows vigorously in cool weather. A fine addition to salads. Organically grown.
NEW—Mustard Pink Petiole Mix. (b,h) VMUS-PT. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC SEED
Germination: 92% Tested: 11/07, 1/4 Oz: $6.00 OTC ORGANIC SEED
Incredible mix of shapes and colors-creamy yellow to emerald -green leaves, smoothly rounded to deeply cut, all with the leaf-stems in shades of pink or purple. Superb addition to baby salad leaf mixes. colors best with cool weather and well-spaced plants. Organically-grown.

ORACH VARIETIES:
Atriplex hortensis. Also called 'Butter Leaves' & 'Mountain Spinach'. Hardy annual succulent herbs with large, tender triangular leaves, growing 3 - 6 feet tall. Delicious as cooked greens or in salads, a good substitute for spinach during hot weather.
Cultivated since the 1500's in Europe, but little known in the U.S. Salt and heat tolerant, fast growing with ample water. Succession sow, thin to 2 feet. Also grown for ornament, making handsome cut foliage, fresh or dried.
—Orach Aurora. (c,h) ATRI-11A. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC
Germination: 84% Tested: 9/07, Oz: $12.00
Bright red, gold, green, pink, carmine, and deep purple foliage. Stunning in salads and for cooked greens, as well as cut floral ornament. Sure to be a good seller at farmer's markets. Organically grown.
NEW—Orach, Magenta Magic. (c,g) ATRI-11M. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC
Germination: 76% Tested: 11/07, 1/4 Oz: $6.00
Deep glowing magenta-red leaves, a wonderful new color for baby salad greens. Organically-grown.
—Orach Purple Savoyed. (c,h) ATRI-11PS. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC
Germination: 96% Tested: 9/07, Oz: $12.00
Heavily crumpled, thick purple leaves. Very ornamental; new salad vegetable for the restaurant trade. Developed by Shoulder to Shoulder Farm. Organically

PARSLEY
NEW—Parsley Survivor Italian. (a,h) VPAR-SI. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC SEED
Germination: 90% Tested: 11/07, 1/4 Oz: $6.00 OTC ORGANIC SEED
Traditional flat-leaf type, selected for over 20 years for cold hardiness and disease resistance. Full flavored dark green leaves. Survives cold weather and poor conditions. The best parsley for difficult garden areas. Organically grown.

PURPLE GOOSEFOOT TREE SPINACH. (a!,h) CHEN-20. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC
Germination: 36% Tested: 10/07, 1/4 Oz: $6.50 OTC ORGANIC
Chenopodium giganteum. Young leaves are a striking iridescent magenta-red with crystalline red powder. Long red panicles of flowers. The stem is striped red and is very strong for its light weight due to a spiral twist. Large tall annual to 6 - 8 feet. Birds are fond of the seeds, and the leaves have been used as a spinach in the Mediterranean, by South African Bantu, and here in the U.S. Tender young leaves are good in salads.

QUINOA VARIETIES: Chenopodium Quinoa
'QUINOA'. An important high-protein (12 - 19%) grain of the Andes, with good amino acid balance and 58% starch. A staple for millions of Andeans, the development of low-elevation types is helping its spread. Seed washed in water before cooking to remove saponins which protect from pests. Hardy, easily grown annual to 4 - 6 feet, with large seedheads. The leaves, stem-tips and young flowers are excellent in salads, having a mild sweet flavor, and very succulent. Also good cooked like spinach or added to soups. Germinates in 2 weeks.
—Quinoa Brilliant Rainbow. (b,h) CHEN-25BR. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC
Germination: 92% Tested: 12/07, 10 grams: $9.00 (about 3250 seed) OTC ORGANIC
Reselected from Rainbow for the brightest, most brilliant colors. Nice! Germinates in a week.
—Quinoa Cherry Vanilla. (b,h) CHEN-25CV. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC
Germination: 72% Tested: 9/07, 1/2 Oz: $6.00, Oz: $10.00, 1/4 lb: $35.00 OTC ORGANIC
'QUINOA'. Seedheads a blend of colors from creamy-white to rose, a beautiful variety with very mild-flavored grain. Developed by Shoulder to Shoulder Farm. An important high-protein (12 - 19%) grain of the Andes, with good amino acid balance and 58% starch. A staple for millions of Andeans, the development of low-elevation types is helping its spread. Seed washed in water before cooking to remove saponins which protect from pests. Hardy, easily grown annual to 4 - 6 feet, with large seedheads. The leaves, stem-tips and young flowers are excellent in salads, having a mild sweet flavor, and very succulent. Also good cooked like spinach or added to soups. Germinates in 2 weeks.

RADISH
—Radish Edible-Podded Rat's Tail. VRAD-RT. Packet: $3.00 CERTIFIED ORGANIC SEED
Germination: 99% Tested: 11/07, 1/4 Oz: $6.00
Raphanus caudatus. Grown for the slim, deep-purple seedpods, which reach 8 - 16" long. Pods produced abundantly. Likes heat and bears all summer. From Southeast Asia, the pods have a very pungent radish flavor, eaten raw, pickled or cooked. A popular garden vegetable in the U.S. in the 1860s, now rarely seen. No edible roots, only grown for pods.

SUNFLOWER VARIETIES:
—Sunflower Arikara. (d,h) VSUN-AK. Packet: $2.50 CERTIFIED ORGANIC SEED
Germination: 96% Tested: 11/07, Oz: $6.00 CERTIFIED ORGANIC SEED
Helianthus annuus. Originally grown by the Arikara in North Dakota, these tall, sturdy plants produce masses of large dark edible seeds. Single or multi-headed plants with yellow 12 - 16" flowers.

SWISS CHARD
Beta vulgaris var. cicla. The leaves and stems of Swiss Chard are eaten like spinach, though the flavor is milder and the whole plant more robust. Will continue to produce until frost if the outer leaves are kept harvested and flower stalks are plucked. In mild climates, chard will give for 2 or 3 years or more, though the quality diminishes.
Sow seed as early as ground can be worked, in any good garden soil. Plant 1/2" deep in rows 18" apart, and thin to 8" apart when plants are well up. Harvest by cutting outer leaves at base of stem. Chard makes good poultry fodder.
—Swiss Chard Golden. (d,h) VSWI-G. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC
Germination: 88% Tested: 11/07, Oz: $9.00
Emerald green leaves with golden yellow stems. Young leaves are a colorful addition to salads, mature leaves wonderful for stir-fry or braising. The handsome color makes a good choice for market growers. Organically grown.

TOMATO
—Tomato Black From Tula. (d,h) VTOM-BT. Packet: $2.50 ORGANIC SEED
Russian heirloom with rosy-purple irregularly-shaped fruits, said by some to be the "ugliest and most delicious" tomato ever grown (vying with the Purple Calabash for this). Rich flavor, sweet and tart. Small plants produce large tomatoes. Brought into circulation by the Seed Saver's Exchange.

TURNIP
Brassica rapa. A sweet-flavored root vegetable, turnips can be pulled young and eaten raw like radishes. Mature roots are excellent sliced raw and salted, cooked in stews, or mashed along with potatoes, or on their own. Roots store well in a cool, dry place. The tops are cooked for tasty, vitamin-rich greens.
Best as a cool weather crop. Sow seed in early spring or fall in a rich soil. Plant 1" deep in rows 18" apart, and thin to 4 - 5" apart in the row.
—Turnip Scarlet Ohno Revival. (b,h) VTUP-SC. Packet: $2.00 OTC ORGANIC
Reselection of a Japanese heirloom, with round, flattened, bright red roots. Leaves smooth, glossy, with some scarlet or rarely bright purple stems and veins. Grown in Japan as pickling turnips, as the red skin colors the pickles a lovely pink. From Wild Garden, organically grown.

WATERMELONS
Citrullus vulgaris. Annual tropical vine from Africa bearing melons with sweet, crisp, juicy flesh. The seeds are high in oil and are very nutritious, and can be eaten whole after roasting and salting.
Sow when ground has warmed in hills about 8 feet apart, planting 6 - 10 seeds per hill. When plants are well up, thin to the strongest 3 plants in each hill. Watermelons like a light, sandy, well-manured soil, plenty of moisture, and full sun.
—Watermelon Orangeglo. (d,h) VWAT-OR. Packet: $2.50 ORGANIC SEED
Germination: 92% Tested: 12/07, Oz: $11.00
Long oval melons have light green skin with dark green stripes, and deep pumpkin-orange flesh. To 20 - 30 pounds. Very sweet, crisp and tasty. Organically grown.