J. L. HUDSON, SEEDSMAN, BOX 337, LA HONDA, CALIFORNIA 94020-0337 USA
TO OUR CLIENTS
This will be the 39th year Ms. Calkins and I have been distributing seeds, and
the 102nd year since the founding of the firm by Harry E. Saier.
This year there are 117 new seed listings, including 36 new vegetables, 1 DVD,
and 5 books.
We got a good deal on bulk GA-3 from China, so prices for this valuable
germination aid are much lower this year. Now is a good time to learn how to use
GA-3! We also have lower prices for tobaccos, Meconopsis, Acacia
simplicifolia, and a number of other popular items.
This summer we will be re-evaluating all packet sizes so we would like to hear how
important the seed count per packet is to you. Many hours of labor go into this,
so you feedback is valued—perhaps these hours could be better spent on other
areas, like growing and sourcing new seeds, germination research, or quality
control. So please let me know how important listing the number of seeds per
packet is to you.
I'll also be doing some rewriting of the catalog with the aim to save space by
removing redundant information and the like. This will either save on printing
and postage costs, or allow more kinds of seeds to be listed in the same space.
Again, let me know what sorts of information you find most useful—plant
description, cultural information, hardiness, historical, medicinal, or other
info, etc. Of course, one thing I never skimp on is germination information!
Governments around the world continue to clamp down on the free flow of seeds.
The USDA continues to fulfill its stated goal of destroying small farms and
independent plant-based businesses through regulations explicitly designed to
disadvantage the small producer. "Get big or get out!" said
Earl Butz, Secretary of Agriculture under Nixon, and this policy continues to
this day with Monsanto connections in the Obama administration. This is not a
partisan issue—both parties are irredeemably corrupted by corporate monies.
'Republican vs. Democrat' is a shell game. The FDA is shutting down independent
herb producers and restricting access to foods and supplements. In the European
Union, medicinal plants are being banned, and the Codex Alimentarius is
destroying local, artisanal food production by shutting down small producers.
Agriculture departments in many countries are making small-scale imports and
exports impossible.
Many seeds we just can't import anymore, and we have to go through unbelievably
wasteful and expensive contortions to bring others in. Enjoy them while you can!
Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité!
If you need a bulk quantity of anything we list that has no bulk price, just
write or email me at JLH(at)JLHudsonSeeds.net,
and I'll quote you a price on whatever amount is in stock and available for
immediate delivery.
Because of the unstable value of the dollar against other currencies, the prices
of imported seed are uncertain. Please check website for current bulk prices.
The white list is still coming. It is already in place in Australia and New
Zealand, where it now costs over $30,000.00 to get permission to import a single
new species of plant!
I encourage everyone to have a look at the new bulk seed list, as we are adding
a lot of information that will be useful to everyone, including the number of
seeds per weight unit. This is limited only by my lack of time - there are only
so many hours in the day. So please send me your spare time!
I'd like to encourage everyone to get a copy of my book, Invasion
Biology: Critique of a Pseudoscience. If you don't want to shell out for
it yourself, request it through your local library. I think you will find it an
eye-opener!
I also encourage you to check out the other sources
we list. We all need to support independent plantsmen. Send me the names and
addresses of your favorite diversity-rich, information-rich mail-order seed and
plant sources.
EDIBLE and MEDICINAL PLANTS
Occasionally we mention the edible or medicinal properties of plants as they
have been reported in the literature. This is solely to point out promising
plants to competent researchers, and for historical interest, and we make no
claims in this regard. Self-experimentation with medicinal or edible wild plants
can be very dangerous, due to toxins and allergic reactions. Do not experiment!
NO GENETICALLY-ENGINEERED SEED
We do not distribute any genetically-engineered seeds.
In the future we may expect transgenic traits to escape from GE plants and pass
by natural means into traditional and heirloom plants. Eventually, the entire
food supply may become modified, and none of us will have any choice in the
matter.
TREATED or UNTREATED SEED?
Whenever possible we avoid seed that has been treated with pesticide. A few
species (fewer than 10) are highly subject to insect infestation and are only
available from collectors already treated with pesticide. Sometimes this is
required by law. In these cases we wash the seed before distributing. All
treated seed are labeled as such in the catalog and the packets are clearly
labeled. If you want untreated seed only, please say so on your request.
Currently, only the following seeds have been treated with pesticide:
Acacia Greggii
Caesalpinia cacalaco
Calliandra eriophylla
Cercidium Torreyanum
Dalea spinosa
Helianthus annuus Ring of Fire
Pithecellobium flexicaule
SEED EXCHANGE
If you would like to collect seed from the wild, or save seed from unusual
plants in your garden, and would like to exchange this seed with me for credit
on your requests, ask for the 'Seed Exchange' pamphlet, which also includes 'How
to Collect Seed'.
HELP STOP THE 'WHITE LIST'
The government is proposing new regulations that will ban the possession
and distribution of 99% of all living species! Read about it and find out what
you can do to stop this.
GIBBERELLIC ACID-3 (GA-3) PRIMED SEED
We are pleased to introduce seed which has been pre-treated with gibberellic
acid for quick germination. This is a new process we developed which allows you
to just plant ordinarily slow and difficult seeds, and achieve rapid germination
without prolonged pre-treatments or making GA-3 solutions yourself. Only a few
types are available, but more will follow as research progresses.
Gibberellic acid-primed seed are listed like this:
—Datura Tatula GA-3. (b,g) DATU-28G. Packet: $3.00
SORRY, NO TELEPHONE!
I HAVE NO BUSINESS OR PERSONAL TELEPHONE. Please do not call anyone
named Hudson who is listed in the La Honda directory, as you will only disturb
someone not connected with me. I do my web work off-site as we are off the grid.
"If your 'phone doesn't ring, its me!"—J.L.H.
WE ARE NOT SET UP TO RECEIVE VISITORS.
IF YOU MOVE
When giving us your new address, please give your old address so we can
remove it from the list.
ATTENTION GARDEN WRITERS
Ask for our Garden Writer's Information Sheet, and send us a current
clipping, and we will put you on our Garden Writers mailing list.