tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15316297333197909372024-03-13T20:01:14.900-07:00Siskiyou SeedDon Tipping is a biodynamic farmer, plant breeder, father, activist and lover of wild nature. This blog is my effort to pay homage to seeds, natural farming, permaculture and small scale subsitance family farming.Don Tippinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07715646352324049565noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531629733319790937.post-88081362926506415752011-03-03T23:22:00.000-08:002011-03-03T23:25:52.920-08:00New Blog at www.sevenseedsfarm.com<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SMI_D-llu5g/TXCT1nxyw2I/AAAAAAAAAFU/hx5L9EkXGRc/s1600/Planting%2Bin%2Bthe%2BGH.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SMI_D-llu5g/TXCT1nxyw2I/AAAAAAAAAFU/hx5L9EkXGRc/s320/Planting%2Bin%2Bthe%2BGH.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580122487732224866" /></a><br />I will no longer be adding content to this blog. I have moved over to a <a href="http://www.sevenseedsfarm.com">www.sevenseedsfarm.com</a> for all future posts. I invite you to please join me there.Don Tippinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07715646352324049565noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531629733319790937.post-27250590431523668342011-02-24T10:06:00.000-08:002011-02-24T10:09:17.554-08:00New Organism Ravages GMO Round Up Ready Corn & Soy.This is a letter shared with me recently about a novel organism to science...a MICRO-FUNGUS that results in greatly increased miscarriages in animals that consume GMO corn and soy. Be informed and please don't eat this crap and then act..we must stop the planting and growing of these GMO monsters.<br />Don Tipping / Siskiyou Seeds<br /><br /><br />Dear Secretary Vilsack:<br /><br />A team of senior plant and animal scientists have recently brought to my attention the discovery of an electron microscopic pathogen that appears to significantly impact the health of plants, animals, and probably human beings. Based on a review of the data, it is widespread, very serious, and is in much higher concentrations in Roundup Ready (RR) soybeans and corn—suggesting a link with the RR gene or more likely the presence of Roundup. This organism appears NEW to science!<br /><br />This is highly sensitive information that could result in a collapse of US soy and corn export markets and significant disruption of domestic food and feed supplies. On the other hand, this new organism may already be responsible for significant harm (see below). My colleagues and I are therefore moving our investigation forward with speed and discretion, and seek assistance from the USDA and other entities to identify the pathogen’s source, prevalence, implications, and remedies.<br /><br />We are informing the USDA of our findings at this early stage, specifically due to your pending decision regarding approval of RR alfalfa. Naturally, if either the RR gene or Roundup itself is a promoter or co-factor of this pathogen, then such approval could be a calamity. Based on the current evidence, the only reasonable action at this time would be to delay deregulation at least until sufficient data has exonerated the RR system, if it does.<br /><br />For the past 40 years, I have been a scientist in the professional and military agencies that evaluate and prepare for natural and manmade biological threats, including germ warfare and disease outbreaks. Based on this experience, I believe the threat we are facing from this pathogen is unique and of a high risk status. In layman’s terms, it should be treated as an emergency.<br /><br />A diverse set of researchers working on this problem have contributed various pieces of the puzzle, which together presents the following disturbing scenario:<br /><br />Unique Physical Properties<br /><br />This previously unknown organism is only visible under an electron microscope (36,000X), with an approximate size range equal to a medium size virus. It is able to reproduce and appears to be a micro-fungal-like organism. If so, it would be the first such micro-fungus ever identified. There is strong evidence that this infectious agent promotes diseases of both plants and mammals, which is very rare.<br /><br />Pathogen Location and Concentration<br /><br />It is found in high concentrations in Roundup Ready soybean meal and corn, distillers meal, fermentation feed products, pig stomach contents, and pig and cattle placentas.<br /><br />Linked with Outbreaks of Plant Disease<br /><br />The organism is prolific in plants infected with two pervasive diseases that are driving down yields and farmer income—sudden death syndrome (SDS) in soy, and Goss’ wilt in corn. The pathogen is also found in the fungal causative agent of SDS (Fusarium solani fsp glycines).<br /><br />Implicated in Animal Reproductive Failure<br /><br />Laboratory tests have confirmed the presence of this organism in a wide variety of livestock that have experienced spontaneous abortions and infertility. Preliminary results from ongoing research have also been able to reproduce abortions in a clinical setting.<br /><br />The pathogen may explain the escalating frequency of infertility and spontaneous abortions over the past few years in US cattle, dairy, swine, and horse operations. These include recent reports of infertility rates in dairy heifers of over 20%, and spontaneous abortions in cattle as high as 45%.<br /><br />For example, 450 of 1,000 pregnant heifers fed wheatlege experienced spontaneous abortions. Over the same period, another 1,000 heifers from the same herd that were raised on hay had no abortions. High concentrations of the pathogen were confirmed on the wheatlege, which likely had been under weed management using glyphosate.<br /><br />Recommendations<br /><br />In summary, because of the high titer of this new animal pathogen in Roundup Ready crops, and its association with plant and animal diseases that are reaching epidemic proportions, we request USDA’s participation in a multi-agency investigation, and an immediate moratorium on the deregulation of RR crops until the causal/predisposing relationship with glyphosate and/or RR plants can be ruled out as a threat to crop and animal production and human health.<br /><br />It is urgent to examine whether the side-effects of glyphosate use may have facilitated the growth of this pathogen, or allowed it to cause greater harm to weakened plant and animal hosts. It is well-documented that glyphosate promotes soil pathogens and is already implicated with the increase of more than 40 plant diseases; it dismantles plant defenses by chelating vital nutrients; and it reduces the bioavailability of nutrients in feed, which in turn can cause animal disorders. To properly evaluate these factors, we request access to the relevant USDA data.<br /><br />I have studied plant pathogens for more than 50 years. We are now seeing an unprecedented trend of increasing plant and animal diseases and disorders. This pathogen may be instrumental to understanding and solving this problem. It deserves immediate attention with significant resources to avoid a general collapse of our critical agricultural infrastructure.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />COL (Ret.) Don M. Huber<br />Emeritus Professor, Purdue University<br />APS Coordinator, USDA National Plant Disease Recovery System (NPDRS)Don Tippinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07715646352324049565noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531629733319790937.post-23351884774462291002011-01-29T11:14:00.000-08:002011-01-29T11:18:06.446-08:002011 Siskiyou Seeds CatalogGreetings! <br />As I write this the nights are long, days crisp and short…a great time to reflect on the previous season and fantasize about spring and new potential. The cycles of the Earth bless us with infinite potential for hope, digesting the incredible complexity of seed, soil, sun and water…It all seems so simple, yet we can’t MAKE seeds grow, we must trust that we have done our best preparing the soil, planting at the right time, fending off those who would like to eat our tender seedlings and that the weather will be gentle. Yet somehow, amidst incredible odds, tiny seeds sprout, push through the soil, grow and fruit, blessing us with their efforts. Miraculous, to say the least. Our successes clearly eclipse our failures! Participating in the miracle of growth and creation is what keeps us coming back for more…. to dance with Mother Earth…to honor the elements…. to acknowledge the power of climate, to taste fresh fruits from the vine, sprinkled with dew, birdsong ringing in the trees, splintered sunlight bathing us in warmth, soft soil between our toes and to share the bounty with friends and family!<br /> <br />Here in SW Oregon we had a sobering deluge of rain from March through mid June that challenged pollination in many seed crops, as honeybees don’t like getting their wings wet. However we were blessed with the latest fall frost in the past 15 years (November 16th!), allowing the hot weather crops to mature nicely. As a result we have over 40 new varieties to share with you. Our commitment to building a sustainable seed movement has resulted in new growers joining our established grower network. We welcome Katie and Casey Kula from Oakhill Organics, Taylor and Sarah Starr from White Oak Farm, and Ben Yohai from Wandering Fields. Please look over our list of seed growers and notice the grower code that you will find with most varieties. It requires skillful, dedicated farmers to produce successful seed crops and we feel very fortunate to be working with these exceptional people. <br /> <br />Thank you for supporting this critical <br />work. We are grateful to you for the<br />gift you bring of planting seeds and<br />helping to grow the Earth grow green. <br />May your gardens flourish beyond <br />your wildest expectations!<br /><br />Our Mission: <br />Siskiyou Seeds is dedicated to providing growers of all scales with certified organic, open pollinated seeds of exceptional vigor, quality and integrity. These tried and true varieties have proven themselves over the years in our family’s homestead gardens, feeding us, delighting our senses and producing well amidst the occasionally less than ideal conditions that our bioregion dishes out. We continually work to improve heirloom and market standard varieties through regular trials, selection work, strain crosses and careful attention to important traits such as yield, flavor, pest and disease resistance and climate adaptability. The domestication of plants is an ongoing relationship, one in which sensitive observation reveals insights into the incredible potential for plants to co-evolve with stress and change. They never cease to amaze!<br /><br />Guarantee<br />We greatly appreciate your feedback with regards to how any of our strains grew for you and suggestions about what we might want to work on. In the event that any of seeds fail to perform adequately for you, please let us know and we would be happy to either replace the seed or refund the purchase cost.<br />Don Tipping<br /><br />ABOUT US:<br />Siskiyou Seeds operates at our family farm, Seven Seeds Farm. We have been growing certified organic seed for many national scale mail order seed companies for the past 14 years. We are fairly unique within the world of seed companies in that we actually produce much of the seed ourselves, as opposed to most companies that buy most (or all) of their seed from multinational corporate seed houses, many of whom also produce genetically engineered vegetable seeds.<br />In addition to commercial seed production, Seven Seeds Farm produces biodynamic fruits and vegetables that we distribute through a cooperative Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program called the Siskiyou Sustainable Cooperative (www.siskiyoucoop.com) in the Rogue Valley. We also raise ducks, chickens, turkeys, and sheep. Seven Seeds hosts numerous on-farm classes and workshops in a variety of sustainable agriculture related topics. To see a current listing of workshops at Seven Seeds and classes that Don Tipping will be teaching in southern Oregon please see our website www.sevenseedsfarm.com.<br /><br />About our site: We are located at 2,000 elevation, 43 degrees North latitude. Our average frost free season is from June 1st until October 15th. We are technically a Zone 7 site, however this can fluctuate. Summers are hot and dry with high temperatures in the upper 90’s or low 100’s not uncommon. Our evenings are cool in summer due to our arid, mountain environment. Winters are cool and rainy with periodic cold snaps down into the teens or below. Our average rainfall is 42” per year, coming mostly between October and May.<br /><br />Although we are blessed with abundant summer sun here in the “banana belt of southern Oregon”, the Siskiyous can be a challenging place to garden with our winter rainforest, summer desert climate of harsh extremes. The varieties that we offer in this catalog have proven themselves through years of homesteading….filling countless harvest baskets and serving as the foundation for many nourishing meals. <br /> <br />Now is the time! There is tremendous opportunity for the renaissance of the bioregional seedsman/woman to select and breed varieties for organic agriculture. I am committed to the notion that well-selected, open-pollinated seeds can outperform commercially available hybrids. Through focusing on this crucial work, we can cooperate with gardeners and farmers to address the agronomic challenges that we will all face as climate change shifts microclimates in North America. Population breeding with special attention to horizontal resistance will hopefully alleviate the hardships growers experience with plant diseases, pests and climatic stress.<br /><br />Careful attention to plant selection for seed saving can contribute to the improvement of important traits such as disease resistance, pest tolerance, climate adaptation, flavor and nutrition. Domestication is not an endpoint. Rather it is a relationship that is ongoing and can go in different directions. We are much more concerned with breeding plants that will foster healthy food for people, rather than traits such as ship-ability and shelf life. When we consider the concept of “food security” I find it logical that “seed security” should receive equal attention especially considering the threats of genetic engineering and the corporate consolidation of the seed industry. Much of the seed currently available from the traditional seed houses is increasingly coming from overseas and every year hundreds of valuable varieties are dropped from production. Consider that in the last 13 years over 200 regional seed companies have disappeared in our country and that Monsanto is now the largest vegetable seed company in the world, having bought up other large seed companies such as Seminis and Peto. Bioregional seed banks and distribution networks will emerge as one of the more important stores of wealth in the future. Anyone want to buy futures in seeds? Let’s get planting!<br /><br /> “I have great faith in a seed.” Thomas Jefferson<br />∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞<br /> “Seed is the biggest issue of democracy in food. Seed is a common resource, and we have to protect it for future generations…I would call GM [Genetic Modification] a cruelty to seed…I will live to see the end of Monsanto.”<br />∞ Vandana Shiva<br />∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞<br /> “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Gandhi<br /><br />Contributing Seed Growers:<br />SSF: Seven Seeds Farm, Williams, OR<br />Don Tipping and Kimberly Brown have farmed on the north slope of Sugarloaf mountain since 1997. They have produced seed for many commercial seed companies that offer organic seeds including Seeds of Change, Fedco, Abundant Life, and Johnny’s. Renee’s, Turtle Tree Seeds, Uprisings Seeds, Wood Prairie Farm, Bountiful gardens and others. Their Biodynamic approach to seed growing aims to develop varieties that is resilient and capable of thriving in low-input, diverse micro-farming conditions. Siskiyou Seeds lives happily at Seven Seeds Farm www.sevenseedsfarm.com<br />WGS: Wild Garden Seeds at Gathering Together Farm, Philomath, OR<br />Frank and Karen Morton have been real pioneers in the grassroots organic seed industry. Overseeing an extensive breeding program, they are responsible for a number of new original variety releases, some of which can be found in this catalogue. They have done an impressive amount of work, mostly with salad greens, of classical breeding for disease resistance. They grow about 8 acres of seed within the context of the much larger fresh market Gathering Together operation. Growing conditions are classic Willamette Valley hot dry summers and cool wet winters. www.wildgardenseeds.com<br />GG, Gratitude Gardens, Concrete, WA<br />Woody Derykx of Concrete, WA grew most of the carrots, spinach and cabbage seed which we sell. Besides being a farmer, Woody has helped create a number of organizations that support the organic community such as Oregon Tilth, the Organic Seed Growers Trade Association and the Family Farmer’s Seed Cooperative.<br />ERP: Eel River Produce, Shively, CA<br />Seasoned farmer, Bill Reynolds farms amidst the Redwoods on the Eel River in Southern Humboldt County. Bill is a produce farmer, seed grower and plant breeder and has co-developed (with John Navazio) the best open pollinated zucchini available (see “Dark Star”). He also works with tomatoes, squash and melons.<br />LKF: Lupine Knoll Farm, Williams, OR<br />Jesse and Jonathan Spero farm on the Williams Creek in Williams, OR doing tremendous work with developing new open pollinated, high nutrition sweet corn. They are also doing plant improvement and seed production work with broccoli, kale, tomatoes, and marigolds. Their forward thinking to plant breeding is resulting in varieties that have valuable traits for organic growers that the industrial farming model is sadly overlooking.<br />WGF: Wolf Gulch Farm, Jacksonville, OR<br />Tom and Maud Powell farm in a remote canyon in the beautiful Little Applegate river valley. They also coordinate a cooperative Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program called the Siskiyou Sustainable Cooperative (www.siskiyoucoop.com). They excellent genetic isolation and extensive farming experience make them invaluable growers of high quality organic seed. <br />LRF: L&R Family Farm: Provolt, OR<br />Liz Tree and Ryan Dolan farm organically in the Applegate River valley growing market produce and seeds for a variety of commercial catalog companies. Their approach to farming encompasses stewardship of grain crops, cattle, hogs, pasture, poultry and vegetables in a cohesive way that upholds good family farming ethics. They have their own organic garlic seed business with Taylor Starr; visit them on the web at www.organicgarlicseedfarm.com<br />WOF: White Oak Farm, Williams, OR<br />White Oak Farm is a non profit educational farm and learning center that produces organic fruits, vegetables and seeds in addition to offering classes in natural building and childrens’ farm discovery programs. Taylor and Sarah Starr currently focalize the impressive efforts of this land trust farm.<br />OAK: Oakhill Organics, McMinnville, OR<br />Casey and Katie Kulla grew our Celeriac, Tropea Onions and Lipstick peppers<br />WF: Wandering Fields, Applegate, OR<br />Ben Yohai grew the Baby Butternut squash we are offering this year. He farms a mixture of vegetables and seeds with his family in the upper Applegate Valley. Please keep an eye out for more goodness from these wandering farmers who are beginning to settle into a good fertile spot on the Earth!<br />Grower Code is listed after the variety descriptions (e.g. SSF, WGS)<br />Please see our Website <br />at www.siskiyouseeds.com<br /><br />Hey! What’s “OOO”?<br />Throughout this catalog you will see this designation OOO - Oregon Organic Originals to highlight farmer-bred varieties uniquely adapted for organic growing conditions<br />New Additions to this catalog include: 154 varieties of seeds from last year, 38 brand new seed varieties, lovely and delicious farm recipes, and growing tips. The new seed varieties will be marked as such throughout the catalog.<br /><br />Farm Recipes:<br />Cornbread Casserole<br />Ingredients: Cornmeal, Black Beans, Sea Salt, Olive Oil or Butter, Cheese, Salsa<br />This is a staple food around our farm, homegrown and delicious and nutritious! Make a cornmeal crust with water cornmeal (we grind ours fresh from the Riverspirit Rainbow corn) and some butter or oil so it’s not too crumbly about half an inch thick in a 9x 13 casserole dish. Cover the bottom and sides of the dish. Then add precooked black beans (we use our Black Turtle Bean). Then add a layer of salsa (see salsa recipe) then top generously with cheese and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Let cool and enjoy!<br /><br />Salsa - Seven Seeds style<br />While many folks have their favorite salsa recipe, we have gotten so many compliments on ours over the years from folks visiting the farm that I figured that I would share some of our secrets. <br />We start with heirloom tomatoes ripened to perfection and blend them up in a Food processor, then cook this down to about 1/3 of its original volume, thereby concentrating the flavors and making a nice thick base that won’t slide off chips or other things. To this we add fresh heirloom tomatoes (my favorites are fruity types like Marvel striped, Brandywine, Zapotec and German Streaked). These<br />are diced and placed into a colander over a bowl so their juices may be collected and drank, added to beans cooking, soups, or canned for later use. Then add plenty of fresh chopped garlic, onions (both red and yellow), scallions, celery, sweet peppers, and a variety of chilies, basil, parsley and cilantro. This mixture can be eaten fresh or canned in Mason jars. A taste of summer that you can enjoy year round!<br /><br />Roasted Roots<br />This is a wonderful way to enjoy root vegetables in the ate fall and winter. Parsnips really shine with this treatment. In a casserole dish mix chopped beets, carrots, potatoes, parsnips and celeriac with about a half cup of olive oil, rosemary and basil. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes or until thoroughly softened and enjoy!<br /><br />Vegetables<br />(Listed A-Z, Greens are grouped together) <br /><br />BEANS - Phaseolus vulgaris<br />Growing Tips:<br />Grow in well-drained soil of a fairly neutral pH. Beans can be sown anytime after the last frost date. They tend to rot if the soil is too wet, starting indoors in pots is one option in this case. Ideal soil temperature for good germination is 70-90 degrees. Plant 1” deep about 5-6 seeds per foot. Rows should be 18-24” apart for good airflow. Regular successive plantings every 2 weeks ensures a steady supply, as many bush types tend to give a concentrated set of beans. Harvesting regularly helps the plant to keep producing smaller tender pods. Older beans become woody and too chewy for discriminating palates.<br />Seeding Rate: one ounce averages 75-100 seeds and will plant 15-20 row feet<br /><br />BEANS - “Blue Lake” Bush (62-75 days) - Straight and string less, dark-green round 5-7” pods. This reliable strain has fed many families for many years with its versatility and is good fresh, canned, frozen. Originally bred in the Willamette valley. SOW<br />BE1: One Ounce - $3.00<br /><br />NEW! - BEANS - Dragon Tongue Wax - Originally hailing from Holland this variety of wax bean that produces 6-8" flat, string less, French type beans. Dragon's Tongue Wax Bean is yellow, striped with purple, has an excellent, sweet, and juicy flavor. High yielding, the pods keep their quality for a long period in the field after maturity. Dragon Tongue beans have a wonderful buttery taste. use for. They can be grown for fresh cooking , freezing, or let mature to the dry stage for winter use in soups and stews. BE9: One Ounce - $3.00<br /><br />BEANS - “Giant Romano” POLE (60 days) - From the seed collection of the late Alan Vanet, they produce an abundant set of large (5-6” x 1”) flat-podded snap beans. They are stringless and richer in flavor than traditional green beans. Hold well in the field. Large speckled, lavender seeds make a good dry bean too. 40 beans to the ounce. SSF BE3: One Ounce - $3.00<br /><br />BEANS - “Kentucky Wonder” Pole (65 days) - An Heirloom pole bean that has been widely grown in gardens since the Civil War. Pods are 7-9” long, stringless, and have posses superior flavor. Very vigorous and productive. Pole beans take longer to produce, but yield over a much longer harvest window than bush types. Has good disease resistance. BE11: One Ounce - $3.00<br /><br />NEW! – BEANS - Pepe de Rola, Pole (90 days) - We originally received this seed from Tessa Gowans at the Abundant Life Seed Foundation in 1999. It produces abundant sets of pods that dry down into round beans that are half white and half mottled brown and yellow. This is a very unique type of bean. Has performed well in 3 sisters plantings here in SW Oregon, wherein we plant flour corn, winter squash and pole dry beans. It’s best to wait until the corn is about 4 inches high before planting the beans or the quick growing vines will overtake the corn. Limited quantities (SSF) BE7: Half Ounce - $3.00<br /><br />BEANS - “Tiger’s Eye/ Pepe de Zappallo”, Bush (85 days) - Originally from Chile’. Vigorous growing bush dry bean a favorite for filling jars in our pantry with their gorgeous golden beans with maroon swirls on them. One of the earliest dry beans in our trials over the last decade. Beans are fairly large, 50/ ounce. Very nice cooking characteristics as the rich tasting beans hold their shape after cooking. Easy and rewarding to grow! HEIRLOOM, SSF<br />BE5: One Ounce - $3.00<br />NEW! – BEANS - “Provider”, Bush (55-70 days) - An old workhorse variety that grows vigorously even amidst cooler conditions as it has good resistance to virus and mildew. Produces heavy, concentrated sets of uniform green beans that lend themselves well to fresh market use or canning. Successional plantings sustain yield over the summer. Handsome purple dry beans can be used as a soup bean too.<br />BE8: One Ounce - $3.00<br /><br />NEW! – BEANS - Royal Burgandy, Bush (60 days) - Purple snap beans are so beautiful with their deep violet pods, stems, flowers and leaf venation that they are worth growing simply for their eye appeal! Fortunately they are tasty lightly steamed as a wonderfully colorful and flavorful compliment to summer meals. Plants grow easily and have fairly good cold soil emergence in our trials. Very good disease resistance which improves success in organic conditions. They are easier to pick because he pods stand out against the foliage better than green beans. BE9: One Ounce - $3.00<br /><br />BEANS - “Scarlet Emporeror”, Pole Phaseolus coccineus (65 – 90 days) - Rambunctious vines grow 6-18 feet tall, enjoys cool weather and is actually somewhat frost hardy. Beautiful crimson scarlet flowers attract hummingbirds. Large beans may be enjoyed at snap stage, fresh shelled or left to dry on the vine and used as a delightful creamy tasting dry bean. Seeds are black and maroon speckled. 20 seeds/ounce. Native to S. America. ERP BE6: One Ounce - $3.00 <br /><br />NEW! BEANS - “Midori Giant” Soybean Glycine Max (70 days) - A wonderful soybean that is normally grown for Edamame that are prepared by boiling whole fresh pods in salt water. A delicious and nutritious snack that is very popular in Japan and is catching on in “foodie” circles. Vigorous, upright plants grow to about 18”. Growing techniques are similar to those used for bush beans. <br />BE10: One Ounce - $3.00<br /><br />BEETS: Beta vulgaris <br />Growing Tips: <br />Plant in spring once soil temperatures have warmer a bit. Ideal soil temperature for germination is 55-75 degrees F. Direct seed at a rate of 10 seeds per foot in rows 12-18” apart. Thin to 2-4” between plants for nice sized roots. It can tolerate light frost. Planting in successions ensures a sustained harvest. We usually plant 3 waves here, an early planting in March, Main crop in mid April and a fall crop in late July that we can leave in the ground and mulch over the tops with straw for winter storage. If gophers are an issue harvest and store in a cold, humid root cellar / shed.<br />Diseases & Pests: Damping off of young seedlings can occur when soil drainage is impaired, so take care to plant into well drained soil. Leaf Miners are an issue for us, but their damage is generally minimal and only affects the greens. Gophers like beets too! Control with traps of a good dog or cat, barn owls and gopher snakes.<br />Seed Specs: One ounce averages 1,500 seeds. This will plant about 150 feet of row.<br /><br />BEETS - “Bull’s Blood” Beta vulgaris (65 days) - Intensely dark purple-red leaves add pizzazz to salads. Don’t disregard the deep red 2-3” roots as they make a nice table beet, steamed, boiled or grated raw on the aforementioned salad. Selected by seedsman Frank Morton. OOO. WGS BT1: Packet (4g.) - $3.00 One Ounce - $8.00<br /><br />BEETS - “Chioggia” (60 days) - Old Italian heirloom with candy striped roots with a bull’seye pattern of red and white alternating rings. Very pretty grated over salads. Non-staining juices come in handy when traditional red beets would dye a dish red. HEIRLOOM<br />BT3: Packet (4g.) - $3.00 One Ounce - $8.00<br /><br />BEETS - “Early Wonder Tall Top” Beta vulgaris (48-60 days) - Standard production O.P. table beet. Vigorous 16” tops are tinged with purple make excellent eating greens. Roots are a 3” flattened globe that makes great bunched beets. Can be used as a storage beet and it shines when used fresh too. Among our favorite tasting beet in our boiled beet taste trials. A workhorse variety! <br />BT2: Packet (4g.) $3.00, One Ounce (2100 seeds) $8.00<br /><br />Please see our Website for up to date listings:<br />www.siskiyouseeds.com<br />BROCCOLI Brassica oleracea<br />Growing Tips (applies equally well for Brussels sprouts, Cabbage and Cauliflower: <br />The key to successful broccoli is having nice big transplants and ample fertility. Our preferred growing method is to plant 2-3 seeds into soil blocks or cells and thin to the most vigorous plant. Grow in a greenhouse or cold frame until they have 2 or 3 true leaves and then plant outside after the risk of hard frost has passed. They can tolerate light frost. We generally grow spring and fall crops, with late summer planted fall crops producing the nicest heads. Quick growth is fostered by planting into fertile soil with plenty of nitrogen. Ideal head formation takes place at temperatures of 60-70 degrees, so plan accordingly.<br />Diseases and pests: a number of fungal diseases can infect broccoli. Our approach has been more preventative by supplying seaweed into our potting soil mix and as foliar sprays we supply beneficial micronutrients that naturally help the plants cope. Balanced fertility that isn’t too rich in nitrogen is also important. If diseased (yellowed or withering) plants are observed, pull them or the infected leaves and compost them. Pests: Cabbage moths can eat young plants. The typical organic control is spraying Bacillus thringiensis which discourages their foraging on your plants.<br />Seed Specs: 5,000-9,000 seeds per ounce.<br /><br />BROCCOLI - “ DeCiccio” Brassica oleracea (48-85 days) - Old reliable European variety, compact 2-3’ plant with 3-4” bluish-green central head, then lots of medium sized side shoots. Excellent eating quality. Variable productivity. Introduced in 1890. HEIRLOOM, SOW<br />BR2: Packet (2g, about 500 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />BROCCOLI - “Green Goliath” Brassica oleracea (55 days) - A wonderful variety for home gardeners because it produces large heads and side shoots over a long harvest window. In recent trials through the NOVIC program in Oregon, Green Goliath was far and away the best yielding open pollinated broccoli in terms of head size and side shoot production. <br />BR3: Packet (2g. about 500 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />BROCCOLI - “Oregon Long Neck” Brassica oleracea (60-80 days) - Being developed for organic conditions, this is an open pollinated broccoli from seed provided by Oregon State University in 2002. Was the darkest green broccoli out of a dozen commercial varieties in the NOVIC trials performed in 2010 in collaboration with OSU and leading organic farms in Oregon. The head stands high on the plant for easy harvest. This variety is still in development and should be considered a “gardener’s variety” only as it lacks the uniformity and head size required of many commercial growers. Produces abundant side shoots. OOO. LKF<br />BR1: Packet (2g. about 500 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />BRUSSELS SPROUTS - “Eco” Brassica oleracea (100 days) - Developed by Alan Kapular, this open pollinated strain produces plump green spouts on a tall stem with some purple coloration. Must start them early to get them to mature before fall frosts, which bring out their sweetness. OOO, SOW<br />BS1: Packet (2g, about 500 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />NEW! - CABBAGE – “Columbia” (67 days) - Great, quick growing round green cabbage that produces dense, round 3-5 pound heads that resist splitting. A versatile vegetable (try saying that 10 times fast!)that can be used for Cole slaw, sauerkraut, cooked or as vegetable catapult projectile! Compare to Golden Acre.<br />CB3: Packet (2 g. ≈ 500 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />CABBAGE - ” Early Jersey Wakefield” Brassica oleracea (60-75 days) - Small, compact plants produce tight, conical heads, 5-7” in diameter; 10-14” tall, 2-4 pounds, yellows resistant. Smooth, dark-green thick leaves, resists cracking. Can overwinter. An heirloom favorite in gardens since 1840. GG<br />CB2: Packet (2 g. ≈ 500 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />CABBAGE - “Red Express” Brassica oleracea (55-65 days) - An excellent O.P. compact, 2-3 pound red cabbage that heads up quickly. Uniform purple color, size and shape. Not a storage variety, rather enjoy them over the summer and fall.<br />CB1: Packet (2g. ≈500 seeds) - $3.00<br />CARROT – Dacus carrota<br />Growing Tips: <br />Careful Soil preparation greatly influences the success of you carrot planting. Carrot seeds are small and take a long time to germinate (up to 2 weeks) and must be direct seeded, so take care in preparing your beds and choosing to plant in silty loam over clay soils. If all you have is heavier clay soils amend with plenty of compost and consider adding some sand. Ideal soil temperature for germination is 55-75 degrees F. Direct seed at a rate of 20-30 seeds per foot and thin to 1-2” in rows 18-24” apart (much like beets, parsnips and radishes). Keep well watered, watering daily if there is no rain and it’s sunny, as they take a long time to germinate and are tiny and can dry out quickly. <br />Diseases and Pests: In wet conditions, fungal leaf blights can negatively impact the foliage. Practice good crop rotation as they are spread from crop residues from previous crops. We try to maintain a four year rotation to avoid this. Root maggots, also known as wire worms burrow into roots making unsightly tracks. Again crop rotation between root crops helps tremendously. Gophers love carrots, so keep an eye out for their damage. Buried gopher wire is a sure fire technique, although a good gopher digging dog or cat works wonders too! One family of barn owls can eat over 100 gophers per year, so you may want to consider putting up a barn owl box.<br />Seed Specs: 12,000-23,000 seeds per ounce, plants 400-800 row feet.<br /><br />CARROTS - “Nantes Fancy” Dacus carrota (65 days) - Smooth 5-8” roots with unmatched dark orange color and blunt tips, avg 1.75” diameter. Strong tops are disease resistant. Unusually uniform for an O.P., holds well in the field and keeps well. GG<br />CT1: Packet (1.5g. ≈ 200 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />CARROTS - “Scarlet Nantes” (70 days) - A wonderful selection of the finest open pollinated fresh eating carrot. Grows quickly into a nice 7-9” straight root with little to no taper and a blunt tip. Crunchy, sweet with a dark orange color and core. Keeps fairly well in cold storage too. Strong tops make pulling them up easy and resist many common diseases.<br />CT3: Packet (1.5 g. ≈ 200 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />CAULIFLOWER - Snowball Improved, (55 days) - Snowball is the classic open-pollinated variety that reliably makes large, snow-white 6-7" heads that are well protected by outer leaves. Outer leaves wrap tightly around the head so that it is self-blanching. To successfully grow cauliflower, give it plenty of fertility and more space than broccoli.<br />CF1: Packet (1/2g.≈ 75 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />CELERY - “Giant Red Reselection” Apium graveolens (100 days) - The largest red-stalked variety. Has been selected for better color, cold hardiness and disease resistance. Very flavorful. Excellent in soups and stews and blanched pink hearts are divine in salad! Celery really likes high fertility so amend your planting beds accordingly. WGS <br />CL1: Packet (1g. ≈ 150 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />NEW! – CELERY - Celeriac – Brilliant Apium graveolens (100 days) - A wonderful fall and winter staple will add tremendously to stews and soups with its large, heavy, smooth roots with refined celery flavor. Resists pithiness and hollow core very well. OAK<br />CL2: Packet (1/2g. ≈ 75 seeds)- $3.00<br /><br />CHINESE CABBAGE - “Nozaki Early” Brassica rapa (60 days) - Tall barrel shaped, heading variety produces 3-6 pound heads with light green leaves and broad white midribs. Heads up quickly. Best sown in spring or late summer. Dependable. GG CC1: Packet (1g. ≈450 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />CHINESE CABBAGE - “China Choy” Brassica rapa (70 days) - Similar to Bak Choy but with a looser rosette of leaves. Produces dark green leaves with wide, brilliant white petioles that are crunchy and tasty. Does well from spring or fall sowings. Good for Kim Chee. SSF<br />CC2: Packet (1g. 450 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />CHINESE CABBAGE - “Prize” Brassica rapa (50 days) - Grows quickly to produce a dense, open head with thick, flat, white stalks and dark green leaves. Succulent petioles are reminiscent of celery stalks and add crunch to salads or stir-fries. Suitable for making fermented Kim chee/ Korean sauerkraut. Easy to grow, direct seed or transplant. SSF<br />CC3: Packet (1g. 450 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />COLLARDS - “Flashy” Brassica oleracea (60 days) - Big, vigorous plants produce sweet, tender mild, blue green leaves all summer and then over winters well to provide greens through the fall, winter and early spring. Compare to the variety ‘Champion’. A real family feeder. SSF<br />CL1: Packet (2g. ≈500 seeds) $3.00 One Ounce (≈7000 seeds) $20.00<br /><br />CORN - Zea mays<br /> Growing Tips: Plant Corn by direct seeding 1-2” deep after soil has warmed to at least 70 degrees (Hookers and Triple Play are adapted to cool soil planting so can be planted earlier in the season). You can also transplant corn for earlier crops, but you have to baby them a bit. <br />Plant Spacing: Seed 6-10 per foot and thin to 1 plant per 8-12”, rows should be 24-36” apart. Hill method: Plant 5-10 seeds 1-2” deep in a mound, which should be 4-5 feet apart. Grow squash in-between and plant pole beans in mound once corn has emerged. Works better with flour and popcorn as it becomes somewhat jungle-like to harvest sweet corn with this method.<br />Pests: Protect young seedlings from bird predation with floating row covers. A common novice gardener problem is to assume that their corn didn’t come up, when in actuality birds such as jays, robins and crows were digging and pulling up the young sprouts. Scarecrows, floating eye balloons and reflective tape are somewhat effective. Dogs are good too. Corn earworms, (that are actually the caterpillar stage of a moth) can be controlled by spraying Bt. (Dipel™ is a brand name of OMRI certified organic control). Or just bear with their minor inconvenience by chopping the tips off of infected ears.<br />Harvest: sweet corn when it’s in the “milk” stage, which you can determine by finding an ear whose silks have dried, gently peeling back some leaves while the ear is still on the plant, then knicking a kernel and looking for milky liquid to ooze out. Clear fluid indicates that it is too early, no liquid – you’re too late, save for seed or flour corn.<br />Diseases: We have not experienced any significant diseases here in Oregon, but my counsel would be ample fertility from well-matured compost and foliar sprays of compost tea, fish emulsion and kelp when plants young if you do experience yellowing or die back.<br />Seed Specs: Sweet: 125-225 seeds per/oz., popcorn: 250-300 seeds/oz. CORN - “Anasazi Sweet” (90 days) - Productive, diverse, multi-colored sweet corn. Plants grow 6-8’ tall and produce 2 ears per plant that are 4-7” and 2” in diameter. Very flavorful. Ancient variety reportedly found by archeologists in Anasazi ruins. HEIRLOOM, LKF <br />CO1: One Ounce - $3.00 Half Pound - $15<br /><br />CORN - “Cassiopeia” Popcorn (100-110 days) - A southern Oregon original in development over the past 11 years. Originating with the old ‘Coche de Pueblo’ strain we crossed it with 4 other varieties. ‘Cassiopeia’ combines the best traits of 5 different heirloom popcorns. Selected for early maturity, large ear size and multiple ears per plant (up to 5), it is multicolored, tall (8-9’) and beautiful. Let dry in the field and cure on the cob indoors for a few months before popping. Will not cross with sweet or flour corns. Please see Japanese hulless description for some popcorn curing tips. OOO, SSF<br />CO2: Packet (1/2 ounce) - $3.00 Quarter pound - $15.00<br /><br />CORN - “Festivity” Sweet Corn (su with some sh2) - Open pollinated, cold tolerant, rainbow colored, multi-stalked with frequently 3-4 ears per plant. Created with cool soil with higher latitude locations and low-fertility in mind. Most cobs have a blend of white, yellow, red and purple kernels. Variable. 5-6 feet tall. OOO. LKF<br />CO3: One Ounce - $3.00 Half Pound - $15<br /><br />CORN - “Hooker’s Sweet” (70 days) - The earliest sweet corn we grow. Very dependable in cool summers as seed can germinate at cooler soil temperatures and it’s short stature (4 to 5 ft.) doesn’t require as much heat as taller stalks. It produces 2 to 3 small (6-8”) ears per plant of deliciously flavorful bicolor corn that matures to dark blue when the seed is dry. We can grow 3 successions of this corn in our 120-day growing season. A tried and true farm favorite! HEIRLOOM, SSF<br />CO4: One Ounce - $3.00 Half pound - $15.00<br /><br />NEW! - POPCORN – Japanese Hulless White (110-120 days) - A vigorous shorter season white popcorn that grows to about 5 feet tall and produces 2-3, 6-10” long ears per plant. Kernels pop easily and do not have a hull to get stuck into your teeth. Delicious and nutritious…Grow your own snack food! This variety was one of half a dozen parents to our Cassiopeia strain. Takes slightly long to mature, however the ears are slightly larger. * Please note that in order to pop successfully popcorn must have an adequately long season to mature fully. Harvest once husks are dry on the plant. If frost kills plants before maturity you can pull them from the roots, bundle and let finish under cover. Let ears dry fully after shucking (usually 2-3 months) before trying to pop, and no it doesn’t work to try and pop it on the cob. they just burn. SSF <br />CO8: half Ounce - $3.00<br /><br />CORN - “River spirit Rainbow” Flour Corn (90-110 days) - A stable & diverse gene pool of native flour corns including Anasazi, Hopi Blue, Hopi White and others that has been successfully grown on homesteads in OR & CA for decades. Tall (7-10’) plants produce 1-2 large (10-20”) ears in every color and pattern imaginable. Excellent for corn bread, masa, tamales and adding to any recipe that calls for wheat. Incredibly beautiful – shucking it is like opening a present from the Earth! SSF<br />CO5: One Ounce - $3.00 Half pound - $15.00<br /><br />CORN - “Sparkler” (se x su F1) Sweet corn - All the hybrid vigor. Twice the diversity. A cross of an ancient Anasazi corn with a modern sugar enhanced variety. Big cobs (both in length and width) with large kernels. Tasty and highly productive. At eating stage, about ½ the cobs will be yellow-white bicolor, the other half will have varying amounts of red and purple in addition to the yellow and white. OOO. LKF<br />CO6: One Ounce - $3.00 Half Pound - $15.00<br /><br />NEW! – CORN - “Triple Play” (su) Sweet Corn (75 – 85 days) - A nicely stabilized cross of Hookers sweet with the old open pollinated standard “Golden Bantam” that results in a very pretty bicolor sweet corn with greater ear size than Hookers and plenty of tillers that can result in 4-5 ears per plant that tends to shine under hill or clump culture rather than traditional rows. Harvest at milk stage just as some blue is beginning to show in the kernels. Delicious, rich, full flavor with large meaty kernels that burst with real corn flavor sadly lacking in modern super sweets. Developed by John Sundquist. OOO. SSF<br />CO7: One Ounce – $3.00<br />www.siskiyouseeds.com<br />CUCUMBERS - Cucumis sativus <br /> Growing Tips: (applies to summer squash, winter squash, and melons):<br />Vine crops are best direct seeded once there is certainty of no more spring frosts and the soil has warmed to at least 70 degrees, 75+ is a safer bet. Use of a soil thermometer is a wise route to go. Plant about 1” deep. Alternately, you can get an earlier crop by seeding indoors in 3” pots, 2-4 seeds per pot, 3-4 weeks before last frost and then very gently transplanting. Most vine crops need room to grow, space cucumbers 2-3 feet apart in rows or mounds 3-4 feet apart. Similar spacing for summer squash and melons. Winter squash requires a bit more room, with 2-4 feet between plants and even more in the case of pumpkins. <br />Harvest regularly too keep cucumbers and summer squash producing. Winter squash is best left on the vine to mature right up until frost or until the stems are woody and hard. <br />Pests and Diseases: The use of drip irrigation helps to circumvent many foliar diseases such as powdery mildew, as overhead watering provides a vector for spores to spread. Remove heavily infested plants. Cucumber beetles are the nemesis of many a gardener with aspirations of growing vine crops, not only eating the leaves, but spreading numerous diseases. We use floating row covers from the time of seeding until the plants are about the size of a dinner plate. You may also find success using Kaolin clay (Surround™ is an OMRI approved organic micronized clay). By spraying it on young plants or transplants striped and spotted cucumber beetles try and eat the clay covered leaves and get a belly ache. Numerous songbirds, like tree swallow eat cucumber beetles, so putting up some birdhouses is an pleasant ounce of prevention to invest in.<br /><br />CUCUMBER - “Lemon” (68 days) - Very productive variety introduced in 1894 produces copious amounts of pale yellow round sweet and crunchy fruits that are delicious eaten right in the garden. Never bitter. Plants are sprawling vines that keep producing up until frost. Disease resistant. Children love them. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br />CU1: Packet (3g. ≈45 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />NEW! - CUCUMBER – Little Leaf H-19 Pickling - This little gem marvels us with their abundant piles of tasty and crisp little pickers. Plants are parthenocarpic and produce heavily even in the absence of pollinators, so they may be used in greenhouse culture. Compact vines don’t occupy much space and lend themselves nicely to container culture. Released by the University of Arkansas in 1991. (SSF)<br />CU4: Packet (3g ≈ 45 seeds) – $3.00<br /><br />CUCUMBER - “Mideast Peace” (70-85 days) - From the seed collection of Alan Kapular, also known as ‘Mideast Prolific’ 3-5’ vines produce several crops of 6-8”, non-bitter, smooth-skinned is thin and makes for excellent fresh eating or pickles. OOO, SSF<br />CU2: Packet (3g ≈45 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />CUCUMBER - “Suyo Long” (60-70 days) - From northern China. Ribbed, dark-green skin with heavy white spines. 10-18” long fruits are almost seedless, non-bitter burp less, crisp and tender. Very prolific. Heat resistant. PM resistant. Trellis for straight fruits. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br />CU3: Packet (1g ≈ 25 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />EGGPLANT - “Violetta di Firenze” Solanum melonega (60-80 days) - Beautiful and unusual lavender fruit sometimes striped with white. Large and stocky and grooved fruit sometimes resembles squash, needs ample heat to mature successfully. Cloche or greenhouse culture recommended in colder microclimates. HEIRLOOM, WGF<br />EG1: Packet (1/2g. ≈ 60 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />FENNEL - “Perfection” Foeniculum vulgare (75 days) - An excellent quality European, bulbing fennel. Matures quickly, even in cool weather, sow spring through autumn. Produces a large, round, succulent bulb with an anise flavor that is sweet and mild. Our children love this raw. Also great steamed, baked or fried. WGS<br />FN1: Packet (1g ≈250 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />NEW! - GOURD – “Peyote Rattle”Largenaria siceraria (120 days) - Produces prodigious amounts of small (3-5”) long hourglass shaped gourds on very vigorous vines that can easily spread 10 feet or scramble 15 feet up a fence or trellis. They require a long season to mature so we usually start them indoors 3-4 weeks before setting them outside after our last frost date. They must be cured before using, which we accomplish by leaving them out all winter on pallets outside as the frost, rain and snow work their magic on them. SSF<br />GD1: Packet (5g ≈ 25 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />GREENS: mixed species<br />Growing Tips that apply to most greens:<br />When growing for salad mix, it is best to direct sow beginning in mid March and planting once per month to ensure a steady supply of fresh salads that are harvested at the peak of their growth cycle. Our beds are 4 feet wide and we’ll plant 4-5 rows 8-10” apart, seeding fairly thickly (10-15 seeds per foot) within each row. When planted as such greens such as spinach, mustards, cress and orach may be cut about 1-2” above the ground as cut-n-come again salad. In this way tender fresh re-growth is encouraged. Alternately you may grow them as transplants in the greenhouse or coldframe and then plant out in April and beyond (depends on your locale – we are 43 degrees north latitude)<br /><br />GREENS - Arugula “Sputnik” Eruca vesicaria (30 days) - A unique find from a pickling spice bulk jar in Italy by plant breeder John Navazio. Pleasantly piquant leaves contain a pleasing mix of lobed and strap shapes. Selected for bolt resistance over multiple generations. A delicious basil substitute for “rocket pesto” early in the season, simply blend with garlic, olive oil, and nuts or sunflower seeds and enjoy. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br />AR1: Packet (2g.≈500 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />GREENS - Cress, “Wrinkled Crinkled Crumpled” Lepidium Sativum (35 days) - Bred by Frank Morton, “a cross between ‘Persian’ and ‘Curly’ cress, the leaves of this unique variety are held erect for easy cutting. The twisted, crisped and savoyed texture gives these leaves unexpected heft and toothsomeness for a little garden cress.” Late bolting. OOO, WGS<br />PC1: Packet (2g.) - $3.00<br /><br />www.siskiyouseeds.com<br />GREENS, Lambs quarters, “Magenta” Chenopodium gigantium (30 days) - I obtained this seed from seedsman, Doug Gosling 20 years ago, where this plant bedazzled garden-goers and salad eaters with its iridescent magenta leaves. Flavor is tender and uniquely rich. Self sows readily if allowed to go to seed. Heat tolerant. Flowering plants can reach 5 feet tall. SSF<br />LQ1: Packet (2g.) - $3.00<br /><br />GREENS - Mustard, ‘Karate Cabbage’ Brassica carinata (40-70 days) - Now here is something unique! Originally sourced from seedsman, George Stevens (Synergy Seeds), this Ethiopian green grows quickly to a nice mound of shiny light green leaves that have an amazing texture and sweet flavor that truly tastes buttery; yes that’s right, like Butter! Must be tried to be believed. SSF<br />MU4: Packet (1 g. ≈ 400 seeds) - $3<br /><br />GREENS - Mustard, “Komatsuna” Brassica rapa (35-55 days) - Aka ‘Spinach mustard’. This plant is a non-heading leaf-type of Chinese cabbage with a tender, sweet, non-spicy flavor. Great used young in salad mix or let mature for stir-fry. Grows very quickly to 12-18” height. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br />MU1: Packet (1g. ≈450 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />GREENS - Mustard, “Mitzuna” Brassica rapa (40-65 days) - A quick growing, tender, non-pungent mustard for use in salads or stir-fry. Slender leaves are deeply cut with thin stems and mild, sweet flavor. Selected for generations for non-hairiness and late bolting. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br />MU2: Packet (1g. ≈450 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />NEW! GREENS - Mustard, “Purple Osaka” Brassica juncea (30-50 days) - This is a very quick growing spicy mustard with dark purple tops of the leaves with green under sides. Adds pizzazz to salads with their vivid color and forward flavor. Direct sow. If left to flower and go to seed it will reseed for years to on end ensuring diverse salads with little effort! SSF<br />MU5: Packet (1g.)– $3.00<br /><br />GREENS - Mustard, “Wild Garden Pungent Mix” Brassica juncea (30-45 days) - Bred by Frank Morton, “A mixture of 7+ diverse varieties. Bunches of this look like vegetable bouquets. Perfect for salad mix diversity. Leaf colors are golden, green, striped red, and solid purple; flavors sweet, pungent, and hot.” OOO, WGS.<br />MU3: Packet (1g.≈500 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />GREENS - Orach, “Purple Mountain Spinach” Atriplex hortensis (45 days) - A relative of spinach, Orach makes delicious heat tolerant greens all summer with gorgeous purple sparkly leaves. When plant it in flower it can reach 6 feet and reseeds easily. Direct sow. Visually spectacular in the garden and on the salad plate! SSF<br />OR1: Packet (2g.) - $3.00<br /><br />GREENS - Purslane, “Golden” Portulaca oleracea sativa (30-60 days) - A big garden strain of the familiar weed, does not become invasive, but will self sow if tended. Thick and succulent grows to 14” tall. Juicy, lemon flavored leaves make a great summer salad addition. Very high in Omega-3 fatty- acids. WGS<br />PU1: Packet (1 g. ≈500 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />GREENS – Purple Tatsoi F2 - Brassica rapa (30-50 days) –<br />A cross between regular tatsoi, spoon mustard and a purple stemmed, veined mustard called Hon Tai Tsai. My goal is to eventually have a true purple tatsoi. For now it is a work in progress, with plantings resulting in a wide diversity of leaf shapes and colors. Works well in salad mix. <br />PT1: Packet (1g.) - $3.00<br /><br />KALE - Black Tuscan” Brassica oleracea (50 days) - This is an excellent Lacinato (or Dino) type kale from the late Alan Vanet and SOW seeds. With dark green leaves and resistance to both heat and cold, it provides tasty, nutritious, tender kale leaves for most of the year. Very winter hardy it becomes exceptionally sweet after frost. A proven farmer’s market favorite it is beautiful to behold as well. HEIRLOOM. LKF<br />KL1: Packet (2g ≈ 500 seeds) - $3.00,<br />One Ounce (≈ 8000 seeds) - $15.00<br />www.siskiyouseeds.com<br /><br />KALE - “Red Russian” Brassica napus (50 days) - The standard homestead/garden kale in the PNW. Leaves are blue-green, flat and lobed/toothed with beautiful purple stems and veins. Mild flavor can be used young in salad or mature as a cooking green. Selected for multiple generations for cold hardiness down to 10 degrees Fahrenheit and uniform color. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br />KL2: Packet (2g ≈450 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />KALE, “Red Ursa” Brassica napus (60 days) - Bred by Frank Morton, “combines the broadleaf frills of ‘Siberian’ with the color of ‘Red Russian’. Great raw flavor for salads, especially the young mature leaves of full-grown plants. Gives good fluff to flat salad…also perfect for light stir-frying.”<br />KL4: Packet (2g.≈450 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />KALE - “White Russian” Brassica napus (60 days) - The most cold hardy kale, also bolts later in the spring than any other kale by 2-3 weeks, which helps to keep the garden on your dinner plate in the lean month of April. Looks like Red Russian kale, but with white stems and venation rather than purple. Developed by Frank Morton. OOO SSF<br />KL3: Packet (2g. ≈450 seeds) - $3.00<br /> Ounce - $20<br />KALE - “Alive” Vates Grex Brassica oleracea (55 days) - A Seven Seeds Farm original variety that is the result of allowing 6 different strains of Scotch curled, Vates types of Kale intermate. We began with a large population of a few thousand plants and then selected the hardiest survivors that made it through a week-long cold snap down to 5 degrees F with no snow or mulch. What made it not only survived, but thrived, growing succulent, sweet green leaves starting with the warming days of February and jamming right along until finally flowering in late May, at which point we harvest tasty flower shoots for use in stir fry or raw in salad. Frilly blue green leaves are held high off the ground to keep winter splashback of mud off them. This is an intermating population so expect some variability…perfect for homestead gardeners who look to their kale patch to feed them year round! OOO (SSF) <br />KL5: Packet (2g. ≈450 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />LEEKS - Allium porrum – <br />Growing Tips: applies equally well to Onions - Leeks grow somewhat slowly easy in the season and are easily overwhelmed by weeds so it’s best to grow transplants in a greenhouse or cold frame and then set them out in April or early May in Oregon. They can tolerate light frost easily. We grow our onion and leek transplants in open flats (boxes) filled with about 2” of nice compost based potting soil and make little furrows with our fingers and grow rows about 1.5” apart. This gives us nice healthy transplants in about 8 weeks.<br />Plant Spacing: Transplant about 4-8” apart in rows 18-24” apart. <br />Cultural Tip: Hilling, or the mounding up of soil around the plants helps to produce the long, white, blanched tender stalks for which leeks are so prized. This can be accentuated by planting leek seedlings into shallow (3-4” trenches and then backfilling them as the plants grow.<br />Pests and Diseases: Leeks are rarely bothered by disease, however onions can be plagued by various fungi which are best avoided through good crop rotation and thorough composting of onion, garlic and leek crop residue.<br />Seed Specs: 9-10,000 seeds per ounce<br /><br />NEW! - LEEKS – Ester Cook (100 days) - An old heirloom from the collection of Abundant Life Seed Foundation. Rescued from obscurity and shared with us at a seed swap by Zea Sonnabend. A hardy winter leek that is capable of growing very fat (3”+) stems that overwinter down to 5 degrees in our experience. Mild, luscious leek flavor! (SSF)<br />LK3: Packet (2.5g. ≈ 700 seeds) – $3.00<br /><br />LEEKS - “King Sieg” (85 days) - Beth Rasgorshek of Canyon Bounty in Idaho crossed King Richard with Siegfried Frost leek to create a versatile stable cultivar that has some of the good attributes of both. Its shanks are intermediate between the long King Richard and the short Siegfried, about 6" long but with a wonderful 3" thickness for a wide edible area. It also has some of Siegfried’s delightful blue-green coloration and delayed maturity. WGF<br />LK1: Packet (2.5g. ≈700 seeds) - $3.00<br />www.siskiyouseeds.com<br /><br />LEEKS - “Tadorna” (110 days) - A Large leek for fall production. Uniform, long shafts are east to clean and have that delicious mild flavor that brings just the right subtlety to fall and winter meals. SSF<br />LK2: Packet (2.5g ≈ 700 seeds) - $3.00 One Ounce - $20.00 <br /><br />LETTUCE – Latuca sativa<br />Growing Tips:<br />I like to grow lettuce from transplants, but you can definitely be successful by direct seeding it too. Direct Seeding is the preferred method for salad mix and cut-n-come again plantings. To grow beautiful lettuce transplants, start with nice fertile potting soil and fill your favorite pots, trays or what have you (we use Soil Blocks made from a soil blocking machine- a hand held/powered device). Our potting mix is 8 parts screened, aged compost, 1 part sand and 1 cup crushed egg shells, 1 cup powdered sea kelp…that’s it! Plant 2-3 seeds per spot and thin to the healthiest one. Transplant into well prepared bed when plants have at least 4 true leaves. We grow 3 rows on a 4 foot wide bed, with one foot between plants in all directions. Keep well watered.<br />Pests and Diseases: Slugs love lettuce and as Bill Mollison said, “you don’t have a slug problem, rather a duck deficiency!” If you can’t manage ducks, hand pick slugs or use beet traps, by putting strong beer in low tubs…the slugs climb in and can’t get out and drown. Sad...yes…maybe you should get some ducks? There are a number of diseases that can plague lettuce from downy mildew and bottom rot to tipburn. Many diseases are exacerbated by environmental conditions, so avoid over watering for fungal diseases and ensure adequate fertility to ensure quick growth. Remove diseased plants and feed to your ducks, did I mention that they like lettuce too?<br />Seed Specs.: 20.000-30,000 seeds per/ ounce<br /><br /> “Bronze Arrow” (60 days) - Gorgeous mild-flavored heirloom with oak leaf tips and a tightly wrapped, sweet heart. Produces heavy heads that are a mix of greens, red, and of course…bronze. Good market variety. Slow to bolt and very cold hardy. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br />LT1: Packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />LETTUCE - “Quan Yin” (60 days) - My favorite green head lettuce. This Batavian type is a dense, large, sweet flavored variety that holds up well in the heat. Does well as a fall lettuce too. SSF<br />LT2: Packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />LETTUCE - “Crispmint” (55 days) - Romaine type. A vigorous growing, uniquely savoyed upright, green romaine. Heads are large and tight. Fairly bolt and disease resistant. This beautiful, sweet tasting lettuce is a real standout and has become one of our favorites. SSF<br />LT3: Packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />LETTUCE - “Devil’s Ears”– “Les Oreilles du Diablo” (50 days) - One of the most unique varieties of lettuce that I’ve seen. Deer tongue type, produces a large rosette of pointed shiny, rusty-red/green leaves like a big star. A vegetable mandala. Heat resistant, without becoming bitter. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br />LT4: Packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />LETTUCE - “Dark Lolo Rosa” (55 days) - Very dark purple/red, frilly leaves make an attractive addition to salads. Great salad mix variety as it adds color and loft. Slow growing and bolt resistant. SSF<br />LT5: Packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />LETTUCE - “Forellenschullus” (55days) - A loose leaf Romaine from Austria whose name means, “speckled like a Trout’s back” in German. Leaves are bright apple green with maroon-scarlet blotches. Winner of many tastes tests for its excellent mild sweet flavor. A good salad mix variety for its unique leaf coloration. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br />LT6: Packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) $3.00 Ounce (25,000 seeds) $25.00<br /><br />LETTUCE - “Lettuce Mix” (30 days for baby leaves) - A mixture of all of the varieties we offer. Instant salad mix diversity! Romaine’s, butters, red, green, speckled and more! Direct seed in succession for a continuous supply of cutting salad leaves. SSF<br />LT7: Packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) $3.00 Ounce (25,000 seeds) $25.00<br /><br />www.siskiyouseeds.com<br />LETTUCE - “Marin” (55 days) - A nice, refined green head lettuce that achieves a large stature with its open whirl of slightly savoyed rumpled leaves. As good market head lettuce that has been largely dropped by the commercial seed trade. SSF <br />LT8: Packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />LETTUCE - “Merlot” (30 days baby, 60 days head) - Leaves are intensely purple, red with a nearly metallic sheen. Terrific for a real standout salad mix. Doesn’t have the weight for head lettuce culture Very disease and bolt resistant. Good source of the antioxidant, anthocyanin. SSF<br />LT9: Packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />LETTUCE - “New Red Fire” (50 days) - Grand Rapids type. A reliable market standard red head lettuce has filled many cases on organic farms around the country. Leaves are a nice combination of red and green. Versatile plant can be grown as a 3-season head lettuce as it’s bolt resistant and has good disease resistance. SSF<br />LT10: Packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />LETTUCE - “Optima” (60 days) - A large, dark green butterhead with a succulent blanched heart. Very good disease resistance, which is helpful in butter as most others are fairly wimpy. SSF<br />LT11: Packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />LETTUCE “Outredgeous” (50 days) <br />Bred by Frank Morton, this variety had intensely red-pigmented leaves in an open romaine shape. Great for cutting for salad mix, although it can make a nice smaller head. Pretty. OOO, SSF<br />LT12: Packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />LETTUCE - “Redina” (55 days) - Grand Rapids type. Good red head lettuce, but works equally well cut young for a mix. Frilly, medium-red leaves. Exhibits good disease resistance. SSF<br />LT13: Packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />Blog at www.sevenseedsfarm.com<br />LETTUCE - “Red Iceberg” (60 days) - Forget what you know about Iceberg lettuce and picture crunching your teeth into the thick sweet, juicy midribs of this French crisphead/Batavian lettuce. Forms a tightly wrapped, softball sized head surrounded by a satellite dish of reddish-green leaves. Very bolt resistant and doesn’t become bitter in summer heat. Delightful! SSF<br />LT14: Packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />LETTUCE - “Red Sails” (50 days) - Grand Rapids type. Ruffled, fringed leaves frame a nice large head lettuce that is among the most bolt resistance red lettuces. Crisp midribs make for crunchy summer salads. SSF<br />LT15: Packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) $3.00 Ounce (25,000 seeds) $25.00<br /><br />LETTUCE - “Romaine Mix” (30 days for baby leaves) - A wonderful assortment of 25 different types of upright romaine lettuces for direct seeding into a cut and come again salad bed. Includes reds, light greens, dark greens, speckled, and unique combinations. Easy pickin’s! OOO, SSF<br />LT16: Packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) $3.00 Ounce (25,000 seeds) $25.00<br /><br />LETTUCE – “Thai Oakleaf” (50 days)<br />This is a pleasing light green oakleaf with many layers of frilly delicate leaves that have a delicious melt in you mouth flavor. Real nice addition to salad for its visual appeal too. SSF<br />LT18: Packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) $3.00 Ounce (25,000 seeds) $25.00<br /><br />LETTUCE - “Verte Mar” (55 days) - A big, dark-green tall heading Romaine type. Uniform heads are surrounded by tasty, crisp, slightly crinkled leaves that are sweeter than other romaine’s. HEIRLOOM, SSF.<br />LT17: Packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) $3.00 Ounce (25,000 seeds) $25.00<br /><br />www.siskiyouseeds.com<br /><br />Blog at www.sevenseedsfarm.com<br /><br />MELONS – Cucumis melo<br />Growing Tips – please see Cucumbers<br /><br />MELONS - “Athena F2” ((79 days) - The first step down the road of stabilizing this workhorse hybrid variety. Selected from choice fruits within a field at Fry Family Farm. Long grown for its disease tolerance, crack resistance, good shelf life and thick, exceptionally sweet orange flesh. 4 pound average fruits, oval shape. SSF<br />ML1: Packet (2.5g.≈75 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />NEW! – MELONS - DELICIOUS 51 PMR (75-80 days) - A very dependable producer of numerous 2-3 pound round, well netted cantlopues that hold up well in the field. Very aromatic and flavorful. Guaranteed to leave a taste impression! PMR stands for powdery mildew resistant, so they hold up well late into the season allowing the later pollinated fruits to mature when more susceptible strains are succumbing to mildew. Cornell University release from (yes, you guessed it) 1951! SSF<br />ML6: Packet (2.5g. ≈ 75 seeds) – $3.00<br /><br />MELONS - “Eel River” (90-100 days) - This long season melon is worth the wait for its 3-8 pound fruits with thin skin and dense luscious orange flesh that’s remarkably creamy. Also referred to as ‘Crane melon’ it has been improved and reselected by seedsman, Bill Reynolds in southern Humboldt county for many years. HEIRLOOM, ERF<br />ML5: Packet (2.5g. ≈ 75 seeds) - $3.00 Half-Ounce (500 seeds)- $20<br /><br />MELONS - “Galia x Haogen F1” (80 days) - An early glimpse into an intentional cross between Galia F1 and Haogen. We love Haogen for its unique pineapple-like luscious flavor. However its thin rind bruises easily. Galia improves on this aspect, but we found that it sacrificed some of the flavor and texture. So see for yourself what this novel mating yields! SSF<br />ML2: Packet (2.5g≈75 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />MELONS - “Haogen” (80 days) - An Israeli perfume melon held in high esteem for its creamy, sweet green flesh that is much richer than any honeydew. Smooth skin with no netting. Worth growing for the smell of the ripe fruits alone. One of our favorite tasting melons hands down. Good dependable short season variety for northern growers has vigorous vines that produce 10 or more fruit. 1-5 pounds. SSF<br />ML3: Packet (2.5g. 75 seeds) - $3.00 Half-Ounce (500 seeds) - $20.<br /><br />MELONS - “Mountain Honey” (85 days) - A very productive traditional netted cantaloupe with excellent flavor. Texture is smooth and firm. Highly prolific, each plant can produce 10-12, 2-4 pound melons successfully even with the cool nights of our mountain farm. A good open pollinated melon for market growers. SSF<br />ML4: Packet (2.5g.≈75seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />ONIONS, Allium cepa:<br /> Growing tips for Onions can be found under LEEKS<br /><br />ONIONS - “Evergreen Hardy Bunching Onion” Allium cepa (60 days) - Non-bulbing scallions for bunching. Sow in spring in clumps and transplant out for deliciously mild garnish for beans, baked potatoes and many other culinary creations. Delicious raw in salsa too! Can be fall sown as well. <br />ON5: Packet (2.5g. ≈ 450 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />ONIONS - “New York Early” (98 days) - An improved strain of early Yellow Globe. Long day, Northern type with globe shape and very hard bulbs that store very well. Sweet enough for sandwiches and salads, but more bite than Siskiyou Sweet below. WGF<br />ON1: Packet (2.5g. ≈ 450 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />ONIONS - “Siskiyou Sweet” (110 days spring sown, or 300 days over wintered) – A reselection of Walla Walla sweet onion. Light brown skin with white flesh that is very mild and sweet. Summer ripening from a spring sowing is convenient for fresh use, not a keeper. Fresh tops useful as scallions. Very cold hardy. Can attain mammoth proportions with ample fertility, our record is 2.5 pounds without trying anything fancy. SSF<br />ON2: Packet (2.5g.≈ 450 seeds) - $3.00 Ounce (≈6500 seeds) - $20. <br /><br />ONIONS - “Southport Red Globe” (100-120 days) - Large globe with glossy purple-red skin. Mild firm white, pink-tinged flesh with pungent flavor. Long day type. Heavy yields possible because it can easily attain 10-12 ounce bulb size. Good market and medium storage variety. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br />ON3: Packet (2.5g. ≈450 seeds) - $3.00 Ounce (≈6500 seeds) - $20.<br /><br />NEW! – ONIONS - TROPEA <br />A very pretty elongated red onion also known as “torpedo” for it’s distinctive shape. The unique shape also has practical applications in the kitchen, being easier to chop as it only rolls in one direction, rather than every which way like typical round onions. Safety First! Excellent sweet, pungent flavor. Try it and you’ll see! HEIRLOOM, OAK<br />ON6: Packet (2.5g. ≈450 seeds) <br /><br />ONIONS - “Valencia” (115 days) - Large, sweet Spanish type with a full globe covered in a bronze skin. White flesh is very mild and sweet, although not as sweet as ‘Siskiyou Sweet’ above. Keeps well for a sweet onion. Thick necks require careful handling and drying for good storage. SSF<br />ON4: Packet (2.5g. ≈450 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />PARSNIP - “Cobham Improved Marrow” Pastinaca sativa (120 days) - An old English variety with 8-10 inch tapered white roots with excellent sweet flavor. Selected for a gentle taper with a nice wedge profile. Vigorous foliage. Very high sugar content makes for sublime winter dishes. Very cold hardy. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br />PN1: Packet (4g. ≈850 seeds) - $3.00 Ounce (≈6100 seeds) - $20.<br /><br />PEAS - Pisum sativum, <br />Growing Garden Peas: Direct seed from mid February until mid April for spring crop and in mid July for a fall crop. Sometimes early planted peas will rot in the soil if it’s rainy and cold, so check to see how they are doing by gently digging some up to see what’s going on in the soil. Alternately you can pre-sprout them indoors with warmer room temperatures by soaking for a few hours then drain and rinsing once or twice daily until you see a small shoot emerge, at which point you can gently plant them. This pre-sprouting technique gives you a head start in cool springs. <br />Plant about 1” deep in rows 18-24” apart for bush types (Cascade, Sugar Daddy) and 12” apart for climbing types (Sugar Snap). <br />Pests: Our biggest pests are birds that pull up the tender shoots or simply snip them off at ground level. Many gardeners assume their peas are not sprouting, when in actuality, birds are eating them and they never see them emerge. Covering them with floating row covers is an easy solution that also can speed early season growth. Peas are susceptible to a variety of wilts, viruses and other diseases, the symptoms of which are compounded by hot weather. So grow your peas in the cooler windows of the year. Peas do great as an overwintered greenhouse crop, yielding very early in the spring when planted indoors in November.<br />• Bamboo Pea Trellising: We learned this great technique for trellising vine peas from our friend and amazing natural gardener, Danny Gregg. When peas are trellised on wire or fencing, the metal heats up in the sun late in the season which stress the cool loving vines which invites diseases such as pea enation virus that attacks heat stressed peas, curtailing late season yields. To create bamboo trellises: pound wooden or metal stakes in every 6 to 8 feet and tie a stout string or wire along the top of them, which can me anchored to the ground at the ends for greater stability. Then take bamboo stakes (ideally they still have branches on them for pea tendrils to cling to) that about 8 feet long and lean them up against the top wire at a steep angle from either side. The result will be a narrow tunnel with the tops of the stakes crossing above the top wire. The benefits of this system are multiple: the bamboo doesn’t heat up like metal, it shades the vines somewhat (a good thing), it’s natural, reusable and biodegradable and it looks really cool!<br /><br />PEAS - “Cascade” (58-70 days) - A bush pea with 3-foot vines that produce prodigious quantities of 3” stringless pods with fabulous snap and sweet flavor. Thick pod walls. Out performs Sugar Ann in our experience. Multiple disease tolerance. Bred by Dr. James Baggett, OSU<br />PE1: Packet (one ounce/28g.) - $3.00<br /><br />PEAS - Green Arrow, shelling (65 days) - This shelling pea produced large 4-4½ inch pods with 8-12 peas. Green Arrow’s yields are higher than other varieties because it posses the trait of making 2 pods per node. Short vines are 24-28 inches long so they don’t necessarily need trellising, although yields will be enhanced by providing some support.<br />PE4: Packet (one ounce/28 g.) - $3.00<br /><br />PEAS - “Sugar Daddy” (68-75 das) - A dwarf bush snap pea with 24-30” vines that need little or no support. Heavy yields of 2.5-3.5” pods with thick, crunchy sweet flavor. 3 harvests common. Stringless<br />PE2: Packet (one ounce/28 g.) - $3.00<br /><br />PEAS - “Sugar Snap” (70 days) - This is the classic snap pea with vigorous vines that grow to 6-7 feet, requiring staking. Pods are 3” and are borne over a long season. Incredible flavor is unmatched. Long harvest window means greater yields than bush types.<br />PE3: Packet (one ounce/28g.) - $3.00<br /><br />PEPPERS Capsicum annum, <br />Pepper Growing Tips: Peppers are best started indoors with bottom heat as the seeds require warmth to germinate successfully. Ideally the soil temperature should be 70-80 degrees F. Once sprouted we try and grow big transplants in 2” pots, setting them out after any risk of frost has passed (early June here in SW OR). <br />Spacing: We grow 2 or 3 rows on a 4 foot wide bed, with 12-18” between plants.<br />Cultural Tip: Many growers have problems with sun scald on the fruits from inadequate foliage covering the fruit. Avoid sunscald by ensuring high fertility in your growing area with plenty of nitrogen so plants grow bushy with plenty of leaves before they begin flowering. Staking taller plants can become necessary if they are falling over from too much fruit set.<br />Harvest: when fruits turn red, green peppers are unripe! And have much higher levels of toxic alkaloids. Use clippers to avoid damaging plants.<br />Seed Specs: average of 4,000 seeds/ounce<br /><br />PEPPERS - “Cayenne- Aci Sivri” (80-90 days) - This strain from Hungary is incredibly prolific, producing up to 25 fruits per plant that are about 5-10” long. Fruits ripen from green to a brilliant shade of red and are larger than traditional cayenne’s without sacrificing the heat. Excellent for making ristras. Very impressive. SSF<br />PR2: Packet (1/2g. ≈ 70 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />NEW! - PEPPERS - Lipstick Pimento (80 days) - A wonderful variety that produces 6-10, 4” long fruits that taper to a point. The flavor of the delectably thick, crunchy walls is quite sweet and works equally well in raw dishes or roasted. Productive even in cooler summer regions. OOF<br />PR6: Packet (1/2g. ≈ 70 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />PEPPERS - “Pimento Mix” (90 days) - Mix of round red pimento and ‘Lipstick’ elongated shapes. Selected for generations for productivity and lodge-resistance. Its delicious, thick juicy fruits endear these peppers to many. Plants grow 18-24” tall and set 8-12 fruits in our climate. We grow in a greenhouse and enjoy them for 2 months after the last frost. SSF<br />PR3: Packet (1/2g≈ 70 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />PEPPERS - “Italian Rellano” (80 days) - Big, beautiful Italian sweet roasting pepper. Stocky plants are reliably productive in northern areas. Fruits emerge as green and mature to a waxy, scarlet red. Not spicy. SSF<br />PR4: Packet (1/2g ≈ 70 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />NEW! - PEPPERS - Tangerine Pimento (90 days) - 12-18” plants make a about 8-12 fruits with 5 lobes and thick, crunchy bright orange flesh that is wonderfully sweet. A delightful late summer garden treat. We grow them in a greenhouse to extend the late season harvest until about Thanksgiving ion our locale. (WGF)<br />PR7: Packet (1/2g≈ 70 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br /><br />www.siskiyouseeds.com<br /><br />PEPPERS - “Yankee Bell” (60days green/ 80 days red) - Developed by Rob Johnston in Maine for short season growers. This is a blocky medium sized pepper with 3 or 4 lobes that ripens to a bright red. Compact growth habit helps to shade fruits from sunburn and resist lodging. SSF<br />PR5: Packet (1/2 g. ≈ 70 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />PUMPKIN, “Winter Luxury” Cucurbita pepo (105 days) - An old variety that’s making a comeback because of its excellent flavor for pumpkin pies. Uniquely netted orange skin over thick flesh. Sprawling vines produce 3-4 fruits that are 5-7 pounds each. HEIRLOOM, LKF<br />PK1: Packet (5g. ≈ 30 seeds): $3.00 Ounce (175 seeds) - $10.00<br /><br />RADISH Raphanus sativus<br />Growing Tips for Carrots apply to Radishes<br /><br />NEW! RADISH “Cherry Belle” (30 days) - The market standard for open pollinated, round, red radishes. A very uniform producer of crisp brilliant scarlet with pure white flesh. Mild flavor while young.<br />RD5: Packet (7g, ≈650 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />RADISH “French Breakfast” (25 days) - Classic heirloom with an elongated shaped with a pleasing mix of scarlet-red on top and white on bottom. Grows very rapidly and is best enjoyed while they are young and tender. Distinctly mild pungent flavor. Grown since 1880s. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br />RD1: Packet (7g, ≈650 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />RADISH “Plum Purple” (30 days) - Rescued from PVP private domain by seedsman, Dr. John Navazio. A delightful quick-growing garden beauty that retains its crisp texture and mild, sweet flavor to a larger size than most other radishes. Beautiful amethyst skin over bright white flesh. Selected for resistance to wire worms over multiple generations. SSF<br />RD2: Packet (7g. ≈650 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />RADISH “Rondo” (25-30 days) - An old German round-red variety with a nice globe shape and crisp and mild bright white interior. Rediscover radishes! HEIRLOOM, WOF RD3: Packet (7g. ≈ 650 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />SPINACH - “Bloomsdale Longstanding” Spinacia oleracea (45 days) - A classic open pollinated strain introduced in 1925 that is well-selected in the Skagit valley of Washington for its upright, dark-green savoyed leaves and terrific spinach flavor. Performs better than most varieties in the heat, but really excels in spring and fall plantings. HEIRLOOM, GG<br />SP1: Packet (3g. ≈ 225 seeds) - $3.00 Ounce (≈2200 seeds) - $10.<br /><br />SPINACH - “Winter Giant” Spinacia oleracea (45 days) - Also known as ‘ Geant Hiver’ in France. Smooth, semi-savoyed variety with medium green leaves that are exceptionally cold hardy. This is an excellent strain for late summer and fall seeding. HEIRLOOM, GG<br />SP2: Packet (3g. ≈ 225 seeds) - $3.00 Ounce (≈2200 seeds) - $10.<br /><br />SQUASH, SUMMER - “Costata Romanesca” Curcibita pepo (55 days) - Delicious Italian heirloom with pale green fruits with distinct ribs. Although it yields lower than hybrid varieties, its flavor is far superior, creamy, nutty and with great texture. Exceptionally large blossoms lend themselves to frying well. WGF<br />SS1: Packet (4g ≈ 60 seeds) - $3.00 Ounce (≈150 seeds) - $15.00<br /><br />SQUASH, SUMMER - “Dark Star” Zucchini Curcibita pepo (50 days) - A new open pollinated zucchini developed by Eel River, California organic grower, Bill Reynolds that has been bred as an OP market gardener workhorse alternative to hybrids. Spineless stalks prevent damage to fruits while harvesting. Long harvest window is a good trait for farmer and gardener alike. Remarkably vigorous. ERP<br />SS2: Packet (4g. ≈ 60 seeds)- $3.00 Ounce (≈150 seeds) - $15.00<br /><br />SQUASH, SUMMER - “Yellow Crookneck” Curcibita pepo (50 days) - A tried and true variety with exceptional productivity of tender, smooth yellow fruits with an intriguing twist. Bush habit helps to save space in the garden. The flavor of this variety is rich and creamy, delightful steamed and mashed with butter! HEIRLOOM, SSF<br />SS3: Packet (4g. ≈60 seeds) - $3.00 Ounce (≈250 seeds) - $15.00<br /><br />SWISS CHARD - “Fordhook Giant” Beta vulgaris (50 days) - An incredibly vigorous green leafed chard with very wide, brilliant white petioles. Leaves can grow to 3’ tall with good fertility! Lots of variation in leaf shape, but generally heavily savoyed. An old standby in gardens across northern latitudes. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br />SC1: Packet (5g ≈350 seeds) - $3<br /><br />SWISS CHARD - “Prismatic Rainbow” Beta vulgaris (60 days) - Our selection that has leaves in shades of green, red, pink, yellow, orange and stripes. Highly ornamental, it’s a beautiful sight to behold! Selected for resistance to leaf miners, wide petioles and upright growth habit. This strain was tops in a recent trial in Washington. OOO. SSF<br />SC2: Packet (5g. ≈350 seeds) - $3.00 Ounce (≈2, 100 seeds) - $10..<br /><br />SWISS CHARD - “Rhubarb” Beta vulgaris (55 days) - This is the standard for red chard. A selection by John Navazio, it has deep ruby, red stems and dark green leaves with a pleasing savoyed rumple. Can be used young as a baby leaf in salad mix for some color. Try sautéing with balsamic vinegar and sweet onions, delightful. WGS<br />SC4: Packet (5g ≈ 350 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />TOMATO - “Black Cherry” Lycopersicon esculentum (60 days) - A refreshing break from the ordinary, this purple brown cherry tomato has incredibly abundant 1” diameter fruits with a complex, rich sweet flavor. Very productive with vigorous vines that can top 6 feet, so stake accordingly or you’ll be traversing a jungle of tangled tomatoes to satiate your desire for more of these tasty treats. SSF<br />TM1: Packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />TOMATO - “Burbank Slicing” Lycopersicon esculentum (70-80 days) - Developed by the infamous, Luther Burbank, this variety is a reliable producer of 4-6 ounce round red fruits on bush habit plants that do not require trellising. Flavor is a pleasant sweet/tart. Crack resistant and disease tolerant. SSF <br />TM2: Packet (1/4 g. ≈ 75 seeds) - $3.00<br />www.siskiyouseeds.com<br />TOMATO - “Caro Rich” Lycopersicon esculentum (72-80 days) - Indeterminate. Large 4-6 ounce beefsteak type fruits with a deep golden-orange color and low acid flesh. Very high in beta-carotene. Selected for crack resistance and general adaptability. Productive and pretty. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br />TM3: Packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />TOMATO - “Chianti Rose” Lycopersicon esculentum (90 days) - A beautiful large pink-fruited tomato that is the result of an intentional cross between the famous heirloom, Brandywine and Oxheart. Fruits are 8-16 ounces, mostly smooth, but some have furrows. Flesh is thick and meaty with a distinctive, full, rich flavor and very few seeds. Vigorous indeterminate vines require staking. SSF<br />TM4: Packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />TOMATO - “Double Rich” Lycopersicon esculentum (60-80 days) - Indeterminate. Double Rich has solid, meaty, medium sized deep red globe shaped fruit with 50-60 units of Vitamin C per fruit. Good short season producer. Good resistance to blight and wilt. HEIRLOOM. SSF<br />TM5: Packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />TOMATO - “Doucet’s Plum” Lycopersicon esculentum (60-70 days) - One of the earliest tomatoes for the Pacific Northwest. Plum tomatoes are larger than a cherry, but smaller than a slicer, makes a great salad tomato. Originally obtained from the Sandhill Preservation Society. LKF <br />TM6: Packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />TOMATO - “German Streaked” Lycopersicon esculentum (80 days) - Large 8-12 ounce, flattened fruits are a beautiful yellow, orange red marbled pattern. Particularly attractive when sliced. Flavor is very fruity and complex and reminiscent of fruits from more tropical locales. My favorite! HEIRLOOM, SSF<br />TM7: Packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />NEW! - TOMATO - Legend Lycopersicon esculentum<br />A University of Oregon release that is late blight resistant, which is a real blessing in wet summer locales where this fungal pathogen can wipe out lesser varieties. Fruits are deep red, 3-4” half pound beauties. Flavor is rich and full, like a red tomato should be. Produces where others fail! (SSF)<br />TM21: Packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />TOMATO - “Marvel Striped” Lycopersicon esculentum (90-110 days) - Originally from the Zapotec peoples of Mexico. Produces large 10-16 ounce fruits on indeterminate vines. Fruits are yellow, orange with a lobed, pleated shape, and very few seeds. Complex, fruity and tasty. HEIRLOOM, SSF, LRF<br />TM8: Packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />TOMATO - “ORLST” Lycopersicon esculentum (80-85 days) - This variety came to us from the collection of seedsman, Alan Vanet with this strange name, which we’ve deciphered as Oregon Late Spring Tomato. It appears to share genetic parentage with the OSU/James Bagget variety ‘Oregon Star’. ORLST produces nice 1-2 pound flattened red fruits with few seeds, a nice firm texture and great rich flavor. The most productive red slicer in our trials last year. SSF<br />TM9: Packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />TOMATO - “Peacevine Cherry” Lycopersicon esculentum (78 days) - Stabilized from the hybrid ‘Sweet 100’ by Dr. Alan Kapular of Peace Seeds. This rambunctious indeterminate produces an astounding amount of 1” round red fruits, borne in cluster of 6-10. Flavor is excellent, sweet/tart. You’ll find yourself gorging on them in the garden. Contains very high levels of Vitamin C and gamma-amino butyric acid, a natural nervous system sedative, hence the name. SSF<br />TM10: Packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />TOMATO - “Peron Sprayless” Lycopersicon esculentum (70 days) - Introduced in 1951 from Greece. Early, vigorous midseason tomato with good crack resistance and exceptional disease resistance. Deep-red 10-ounce fruits are globe shaped. Outperforms hybrids. Indeterminate, requires staking. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br />TM11: Packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) - $3.00<br />www.siskiyouseeds.com<br />Blog at www.sevenseedsfarm.com<br />NEW! – TOMATO - Red Calabash Lycopersicon esculentum<br />Origionally a meso-American variety from the Zapotec peoples of Mexico, brought to northern shores by horticultural adventurer, Gabriel Howearth. Delights the eyes with its flattened, bright red, pleated fruits that are 3-4” across and have a wonderful sweet tomato flavor. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br />TM20: Packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />TOMATO - “Red Pear” aka “Red Fig” Lycopersicon esculentum (70-80 days) - Very vigorous vines produce copious quantities of delightful 1.75”x1” pear shaped fruits that are scarlet-red. Delightful sweet mild flavor really spruces up salads. Crack resistant. One of our favorites. Originally brought from Italy. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br />TM12: Packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) - $3.00 <br /><br />TOMATO - “Sweet Orange II” Lycopersicon esculentum (65 days) - A unique open pollinated orange cherry tomato that is exceptionally productive. Crack resistant. Bred for higher sugar levels. LKF<br />TM13: Packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />NEW! - TOMATO - Red Rock Paste Lycopersicon esculentum<br />A nice determinate Roma type of tomato for canning and drying. Fruits are oblong and 2-3” long with a meaty texture and very little juice, so they require less cooking down to make sauce, or less time to dry. An heirloom favorite for many decades revived from extinction by Lupin Knoll Farm.(LKF)<br />TM19: Packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />TOMATO - “Thessaloniki” Lycopersicon esculentum (66-80 days) - Indetermate. Developed in Greece, this variety produces uniform baseball sized smooth red fruits that weigh 4-6 ounces. Resistant to sunburn, cracking and spots. Mild flavor. A reliable early producer. SSF<br />TM14: Packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />TOMATO - “Willamette” Lycopersicon esculentum (70-100 days) - 3-4’ bushy vines yield quality small (3”), smooth red slicers. Bred at OSU for Oregon growers. Small stem and blossom scars. SSF<br />TM15: Packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) - $3.00<br />TOMATO - “Wisconsin55” Lycopersicon esculentum (72-75 days) - Large smooth red slicer that produced uniform 3-4” round fruits that hold very well off the vine. Strong skin and solid walls give this tomato the workhorse characteristics that could make it a main crop tomato for market growers. Flavor is excellent, full, rich and satisfying. SSF<br />TM16: Packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />TOMATO - “Yellow Pear” Lycopersicon esculentum (70-80 days) - Rampant indeterminate vines produce clusters of small (1.5-2” x .75-1” diameter), yellow pear shaped fruits. Mild flavor. Great eye appeal for fresh eating. 1805, HEIRLOOM, SSF<br />TM17: Packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />TOMATO - “Yellow Brandywine” Lycopersicon esculentum (75-100 days) - Indeterminate, fuzzy potato leaf vines that make humongous 1-2+ pound fruits that are flattened with occasional ribbing. Delicious creamy texture and complex bouquet will satisfy the most discriminating tomato connoisseur. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br />TM18: Packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />NEW! - WATERMELON - Crimson Sweet Citrullus lanatus (85 days)- An heirloom work horse that can hold its own against any hybrid out there. Fine sweet flavor with incredible smooth texture. Small seeds don’t get in the way of enjoying the crisp red flesh. Produces 5-6 fruits that are generally about 10-15 pounds, but can mushroom up to 30 pounds with ample spacing and fertility. Rind is light green with dark green stripes. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br />WM2: Packet (3g. ≈ 70 seeds) - $3.00 Ounce (≈650 seeds) - $20.00<br /><br />WATERMELON - “Early Yellow Moonbeam” Citrullus lanatus (80-90 days) - This variety originated as a hybrid called ‘Yellow Doll’ and was stabilized over the last 2 decades as a result of the work of Dr. Alan Kapular. A reliable producer of 3-8 pound fruits with bright, lemon yellow crisp sweet flesh. Very thin rind that has been known to crack open with an audible ‘pop’ when stared at for too long or handled roughly. Refined flavor. Productive variety for northern growers. SSF <br />WM1: Packet (3g. ≈ 70 seeds) - $3.00 Ounce (≈650 seeds) - $20.00<br /><br />NEW! - WATERMELON - Moon & Stars Citrullus lanatus (80 days) - Take a bite our of this galaxy of taste. Moon and Stars is named for the yellow dots,“stars” and 1-2” “moons” the are speckled over the dark orange skin. The flesh is deep red with large tan seeds that are the perfect ammo for seed spitting. Not as sweet as Crimson sweet but very pleasant and refreshing nonetheless, with fine texture and depth. Can grow up to 40 pounds! HEIRLOOM (SSF)<br />WM3: Packet (3g. ≈ 70 seeds) - $3.00 Ounce (≈650 seeds) - $20.00<br /><br />WINTER SQUASH species listed with each variety<br />∞ See growing tips under Cucumber ∞ *<br /><br />NEW! - Black Forest Kabocha (95 days) Cucurbita maxima - A nice uniform kabocha that produces 4-5 fruits that average 3-4 pounds each. Fruits are gray green flattened shape with dark orange flesh that is sweet, dry and flaky. They store moderately well until February or March if kept in a dry spot. Delicious baked with butter! (WOF)<br />WS7: Packet (6g. ≈ 30 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />“Buttercup, Burgess” Cucurbita maxima (100days) - A 3-5 pound, blocky squash with deep orange skin and dark orange flesh that is sweet, creamy and smooth. Very nice eating quality, not stringy. Productive vines yield 3-8 fruits each. HEIRLOOM<br />WS1: Packet (6g. ≈ 30 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br /> “Butternut, Waltham strain” Cucurbita moschata (110 days) - Solid 9” fruits weigh in at 4-6 pounds and have a very small seed cavity, brilliant orange flesh and a tan skin. Flavor is sweet, smooth and slightly nutty. Excellent for pie. Requires supplemental curing in a greenhouse or warm house post harvest to properly color up and cure. U of Mass. 1956 introduction. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br />WS2: Packet (6g. ≈ 40 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />www.siskiyouseeds.com<br />Blog at www.sevenseedsfarm.com<br /><br /><br />NEW! - Baby Butternut, “Burpee’s Butterbush” Curcurbita moschata <br />Excellent early-maturing butternut, with compact vines (3-4ft.).<br />Flesh is deep reddish-orange, moist and deliciously sweet. Long keeper. <br />Yields 1.5-4 lb. fruits, averaging 4 fruits/plant. 75 days to maturity.WF WS10: Packet (6g. ≈ 40 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />“Delicata – Zeppelin” Cucurbita pepo (100 days) - A much loved 1894 heirloom winter squash that’s just the right size for a side dish with dinner. The fruits are 7-10” long, weigh about a pound and posses flesh that’s finer textured, sweeter, and significantly longer keeping than other strains. HEIRLOOM, WGS<br />WS3: Packet (2g. ≈ 40 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />NEW! - Green Hubbard Cucurbita maxima (100 days) - A big vigorous plant that sprawls 8-10 feet and produces 5-6 fruits that weigh 10-15 pounds and store well. Fruits have dark green bumpy skin that surrounds dark orange flesh that is smooth and sweet. Great cut in half, stuffed with rice pilaf and baked. HEIRLOOM (SSF)<br />WS8: Packet (6g. ≈ 30 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br /> “Stella Blue” Cucurbita maxima (100 days) - Developed by Bill Reynolds this variety is an improved baby blue Hubbard type, suitable for family dinners. Slate gray skin conceals thick deep orange flesh that is smooth, sweet and delicious. Try cutting one in half and filling with rice, onion, garlic, tomatoes and the like and baking it! ERP<br />WS4: Packet (6g. ≈ 30 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br /> “Sunshine Daydream” Cucurbita Maxima (90 days) - All ideas have to start somewhere…this project started as a taste bud love affair with the excellent variety ‘Sunshine F1’ a delicious orange skinned squash developed by Rob Johnston. With the dream of culturing this strain into an open pollinated variety, we offer this F2 assession. Some variability is distinctly possible, but we have faith that the flavor of this productive and tasty squash is worth it. An heirloom of tomorrow in the making. SSF<br />WS5: Packet (6g ≈ 30 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br /> “Sweet Dumpling” Cucurbita pepo (95 days) - Delightfully sweet and smooth baked or steamed, this productive squash makes 8-12 4-5” roundish fruits like little yellow and green striped pumpkins. A favorite with children. Stores quite well until April. SSF<br />WS6: Packet (2g. ≈ 40 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />NEW! - “Tuffy” Acorn Cucurbita pepo (90 days) - This has been the favorite eating squash on the farm this winter, charming taste. It produces 5-7 fruits per vine that average 2 pounds each. Perfect for single servings. Dark green rind with heavy ribs is very tuff, hence the name. Stores very well. (SSF)<br />WS9: Packet (2g. ≈ 40 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />HERBS<br />BASIL - “Genovese” Ocimum basilicum (65-75 days) - Classic pesto Basil. Makes a profusion of deep green, large leaves full of complex flavor and aroma. Responds well to frequent harvests. Harvest low to encourage succulent re-growth rather than woody stems. <br />BA1: Packet (1g. ≈400 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />BASIL - “Cinnamon” (65 days) - Pleasant sweet cinnamon aroma adds a refreshing twist to summer meals. Purple stems, veins and flowers with green leaves. A delightful garden companion. 30” tall. SOW<br />BA2: Packet (1g. ≈400 seeds) - $3 .00 <br /><br />CHIVES - Allium schoenoprasum (90 days) - A spicy addition to salads and other dishes. Perennial that can tolerate some shade. Makes pretty lavender flowers that can be used in cooking and fresh too.<br />CV1: Packet (1 g) - $3.00<br /><br />CILANTRO - “Criola” Coriandrm sativum (50-55 days- leaf / 100 days-seed) - Popular in Mexican and Asian cooking, cilantro brings a refreshing cool flavor to summer dishes. Selected for it’s unique flavor in Columbia, where they have a slightly different taste preference than Central American gardeners. Allowed to go to seed it will resow itself readily. Edible seed is known as Coriander. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br />CI1: Packet (2g. ≈ 250 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />NEW! - CILANTRO – SANTO - A later bolting type of cilantro than “Criola” from Mexico. Better for mid summer plantings. HEIRLOOM, WGS<br />CI2: Packet (2g. ≈ 250 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />NEW! - DILL – Mammoth Bouquet - The classic dill for using the fresh greens as a seasoning or the dried seeds. Vigorous grows quite tall (3-5 feet), gracing gardens with is pungent sweet aroma, and pickle recipies with that certain je ne sais quoi. SSF<br />DL1: Packet (2g.) - $3.00<br /><br />ECHINACEA PURPERA – Perennial - This herb is easy to grow as its seeds germinate without stratification (cold-treatment). Vigorous grower can reach 6 feet in flower, with dozens of beautiful pink/purple blossoms arising from a mound of dark green leaves. Flowers usually emerge the second year and thereafter. Aerial parts and roots are used medicinally to support the immune system. SSF<br />EC1: Packet (2g. ≈ 400 seeds) - $3.00<br />www.siskiyouseeds.com<br />HYSSOP - Hyssopus officinalis – Perennial - A wonderfully fragrant ornamental that also has similar medicinal characteristics to mint. Hyssop is also a favorite nectar source for bumblebees and other native pollinators. Grows to 16-30” tall in flower. SSF<br />HY1: Packet (1/2 g. ≈ 400 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />PARSLEY - “Moss Green Curled” Petroselinum crispum - This selection began as ‘Darki’ from Frank Morton, then we made a selection from a large field at Fry Family Farm, rouging any plants with bottom rot, yellowing or other undesirable characteristics. Fluffy, curly, wavy dark green leaves are produced in an abundant mound16-18” high. Try in pesto! SSF<br />PS1: Packet (1g. ≈ 500 seeds) - $3.00 Ounce (16,000 seeds) - $8.<br /><br />TOBACCO - “Hopi” Nicotiana rustica – Annual - Large dark green, resinous leaves contain very high levels of nicotine born in a 12-16” rosette. Flowers are subtle lime greenish white with a delicious jasmine-like scent in the evening. Proper curing (like all tobacco) necessary to mellow harshness. Grows to 24” when in flower. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br />TB1: Packet (1/4g. ≈ 300 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />GRAINS<br />AMARANTH - “Golden Giant” Amaranthus cruentus (100 – 110 days) - A late season grain amaranth that produces large orange/gold seed heads on top of 6 foot tall stalks. Edible green leaves with golden brown veins and stalks. Very productive, producing up to 1 pound of seed per plant. Easy to harvest, simply clip the heads and hang to dry. Thresh by stomping on them once dry and winnow to remove chaff. Should be incorporated into our diet as a staple to supplement other grains like rice, or ground into flour to mix into breads and pancakes. SSF AM1: Packet (1,000 seeds) - $3.00 Ounce - $12.00<br /><br />NEW! - BARLEY – Burbank Hulless Hordeum vulgare (260 days fall) - A variety originally developed by plant genius, Luther Burbank. A mixture of tan and black seeds. Hulless habit makes for ease of processing on a homestead scale. Plant grows to 30-36” tall and resists lodging fairly well which is very helpful when hand or scythe harvesting. SSF<br />BR3: Packet (10g.) - $3.00<br /><br />BARLEY - “EZ thresh”- Hordeum vulgare (140 days to dry grain from a February 1st sowing) - Nice hulless barley from George Stevens. Most barley has a stubborn hull that clings to the seed. Great stew ingredient that brings a chewy, nutty flavor. SSF<br />BR1: Packet (10g.) - $3.00<br /><br />BARLEY - “ Kamamuji” Hordeum vulgare (140 days from early spring sowing, or 270 days from a fall sowing) - The most productive barley for our climate in a trial of 10 varieties. 6-row barley that is different from the 2-row types used for beer malt. Long awns make for a decorative display when in seed. Very easy to grow and thresh by dancing on the dried seed heads, or thresh traditionally with a flail on a solid floor, winnow and then ‘presto’ there you go; genuine food security. Let’s create a ‘One Straw Revolution’! SSF<br />BR2: Packet (10g.) - $3.00<br /><br />www.siskiyouseeds.com<br />Blog at www.sevenseedsfarm.com<br />FLAX - “Omega”Linum usitatissimum (90 days) - Direct sow in spring after it’s warmed up flax is an easy to grow dietary supplement, useful in baking. Very high in Omega 3 fatty acids. Produces a profusion of sky blue flowers on slender 24” stems. Seed matures early in summer. Easy to thresh and winnow. Seed must be ground or sprouted to make nutrition accessible. SSF<br />FX1: Packet (3.5g.≈200 seeds) - $3.00 Ounce - $15.00<br /><br />KAMUT - “Blacktip” Triticum turanicum – ((140 days from early spring sowing, or 270 days from a fall sowing) - A landrace strain of wheat from the Fertile Crescent region. Probably better described as ‘Khorasan wheat’, it is more digestible by some people with gluten intolerance, probably because it has been selected by farmers for its eating qualities, as opposed to modern wheat varieties that are selected for high gluten content. Blacktip produces large (1/2”) kernels that have a richer, nuttier flavor than modern wheats. Can grow to 4-5 feet from a fall sowing, so lodging is a consideration that suggests early spring sowing might be better. Unique in its jet-black awns that are 2-3” long. Very ornamental! Originally obtained from seedsman, George Stevens. SSF KT1: Packet (10g.) - $3.00<br /><br />MILLET - “Foxtail” Setaria italica (100days) - A productive, warm-season grass that yields heavy seed heads with up to an ounce of grain each. Small shiny seeds are the only alkalizing grain commonly eaten. A nice alternative to rice and can be used sparingly as a wheat substitute in baking. Ornamental appeal is nice in dried flower arrangements as well. SSF MT1: Packet (4g.) - $3.00<br /><br />QUINOA - “Faro” Chenopodium quinoa (100-120 days) - A very easy to grow grain crop related to lambs quarters, beets and spinach. Grows to 4-6 feet tall with an attractive plume shaped seed head that is clipped and dried at summer’s end. Easy to thresh and winnow. Seed must be processed by rinsing with water to remove saponins that coat the seed, otherwise it will taste very bitter. Cook like rice or millet. Staple grain of the Andean peoples. Very productive, 100-foot row can yield 10-20 pounds. SSF<br />QN1: Packet (4g. ≈ 1400 seeds) - $3.00 Ounce (20,000 seeds) $10.<br /><br />POPPY - ” Hungarian Breadseed” Papaver somniferum (90 days) - Lemon poppy seed pancakes anyone? Grow your own with this low-opiate strain saved for generations for its abundant seed production. Plants grow to 2-3 feet high with pinkish single petal layer flowers. Sow early (February in Oregon) and will mature in late July. Harvest when pods are dry. SSF<br />PP1: Packet (1g.) - $3.00<br /><br />NEW! - WHEAT – Glen Spring Red Triticum spp. - A spring planted heirloom spring wheat (as opposed to white or winter wheats). Good for homestead bread making. Productive and lodge resistant. SSF<br />WT1: Packet (Ounce) - $3.00<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />FLOWERS<br /><br />AMARANTH - “Elephant Head” Amaranthus gangeticus (70-80 days) - A plant with character if there ever was one! Easily the most commented on plant on our farm during Summer tours. Grows to 2-5 feet tall and produces a large, thick maroon red flower stalk that looks like an upraised elephant’s trunk. Makes many thousands of high protein, nutritious seeds per plant. It will self-sow readily. SSF<br />AM2: Packet (1g. ≈ 250 seeds) - $3.00<br />NEW! AMARANTH - Hopi Red Dye Amaranthus cruentus x A.powelli (110 days) - A tall (4-5’) self-seeding annual that was originally used by the Hopi as a natural food dye for ceremonial feasts. Very easy and rewarding to grow it adds tremendous visual appeal to gardens with its burgundy foliage and flower plumes. Young leaves are good raw in salads and the mature seeds can be ground into flour. HEIRLOOM (SSF)<br />AM3: Packet (1g. ≈ 250 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />NEW! - CALENDULA – Flashback Mix Calendula officinalis (85 days) - A riot of calendula diversity that is very easy to grow. Direct seed or grow as transplants. Flowers are singles and doubles that range from yellow to orange to white with a variety of novel twists like red coloration on the backsides of the petals. Bred by Frank Morton. SSF & OOO<br />CD2: Packet (5g. ≈ 500 seeds) - $3.00 Ounce (≈3, 000 seeds) $18.<br /><br />CALENDULA - “Pacific Beauty Mix” (85 days) - A cheery array of yellow, orange, pinkish and whitish blooms with plenty of diversity to keep you interested as you harvest juicy blossoms for making medicinal oils and salves that are excellent for soothing burns, sprains, bites and other skin afflictions. Very easy to grow and tends to naturalize if allowed to go to seed. SSF<br />CD1: Packet (5g. ≈ 500 seeds) - $3.00 Ounce (≈3, 000 seeds) $18.<br /><br />CELOSIA, COCKSCOMB - “Kimberly” Celosia cristata (75 days) - A stunning velvety, maroon crested comb-like flower. Looks like a neon pink brain, truly nothing like it. Kimberly selected this for an abundant profusion of long stemmed blossoms which make an excellent addition to bouquets. Holds color well as an everlasting dried flower. SSF<br />CC1: Packet (1g. ≈250 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />CASTOR BEAN, - “Carmencita Red” Ricinus communis (85 days) - A tropical looking, fast growing (to 5’) annual with wine red foliage, stems and seed pods. Very exotic looking. Large seedpod spikes make an unusual, yet appealing accent in bouquets. WARNING: seeds are poisonous and contact with foliage does not agree with some peoples skin. SSF<br />CB1: Packet (10 seeds) - $3.00<br />COREOPSIS - “Calliopsis” Coreopsis tinctoria (80 days) - A Midwest native annual wildflower also known as ‘Plains Coreopsis’ that makes a wonderful showy border plant. Grows to a 30” high bush covered with hundreds of maroon and gold 1½” blooms. SSF<br />CI1: Packet (1/4g. ≈ 250 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />COSMOS - “Sunrise” Cosmos sulphureus (75 days) - A great border plant that grows to a large 4-6’ bush with hundreds of 2” yellow and orange blossoms. Even just one plant really brightens up the landscape. Self seeds readily. SSF<br />CS2: Packet (1g. ≈ 140 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />DAISY - “Zulu Prince” Venidium fastuosum (90 days) - Dramatic large (2-3”) flowers with a jet-black center, white petals with rings of orange and purple in the center grow from a grayish green mound of hairy leaves. Amazing addition to bouquets. Thrives in heat and drought. Easy to grow. Best grown from transplants. (as pictured at the beginning of flowers section) SSF<br />ZU1: Packet (1/4g. ≈ 250 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />NEW! – LAVATERA, Althea zabrina (90 days)<br />This beauty is like a dwarf hollyhock with its abundant stalks filled with a profusion of brilliant magenta flowers that bloom over a long season. Perennialzes in mild winter areas. A good cut flower and border plant. Grows to 24”. Rewarding to grow! SSF<br />ZB1: Packet (2g.) - $3.00<br /><br />“LOVE LIES BLEEDING” Amaranthus caudatus (65 days) - Tall growing (4-5’) annual with a magnificent display of pendulous plumes of maroon rope-like flowers. Very ornamental and suitable for bouquets. Edible leaves are a nutritious addition to salads. SOW<br />LL1: Packet (1/4g. ≈250 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />www.siskiyouseeds.com<br />Blog at www.sevenseedsfarm.com<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Pictured above: Zulu Prince Daisy<br /><br />NEW! – MARIGOLD - “African Giant” Tagates erecta (70-90 days) - Large 3 to 4 foot tall plants produce prodigious quantities of big, 3” blooms that can really fill out bouquets. A colorful living hedge! String up the flower heads and dry them for amazing homegrown leis and ceremonial offerings. SSF<br />MG1: Packet (1/2 g) - $3.00<br /><br />MARIGOLD - “Cracker Jack” Tagates erecta (90 days) - An early blooming mix of yellow and gold blossoms on strong, 3-foot tall plants. Flowers are a robust and fluffy fully double type. SOW<br />MG2: Packet (1/2g) - $3.00<br /><br />MARIGOLD - “Frances’ Choice” Tagates patula (70-80 days) - Bred by Alan Kapular and named for horticulturalist Frances Hoffman. Tall growing (4-5’) plants make a lovely hedge festooned with hundreds of red-petaled flowers fringed with gold. Long stems lend themselves to use as a cut flower. OOO, SOW<br />MG3: Packet (1/2 g) - $3.00<br /><br />www.siskiyouseeds.com<br />Blog at www.sevenseedsfarm.com<br />MARIGOLD - “La Ribera” Tagates patula (80 days) - Collected from Alan Mushroom Kapular form one plant in La Ribera, Baja, Mexico. Big 3-5 foot bushes produce double 2-4” orange flowers. Dry beautifully. SOW<br />MG4: Packet (1/2g) - $3.00<br /><br />MARIGOLD - “Sparkler” Tagates patula (85 days) - Large (2-3”) flowers on a robust 3-4 foot plant are maroon red accented with orange. Another Alan Kapular origional. Marigolds are excellent garden allies delighting our senses while repelling many garden pests. OOO, LKF<br />MG5: Packet (1/2g.) - $3.00<br /><br />NEW! - WHITE NIGELLA - (Flora)<br />A very easy to grow, self-sowing annual that should have a home in all gardens, especially for its charming ballon-like seed pods that young children find delightful to gather and pop, revealing the abundant black seeds….spreading they joy for future flower pickers to enjoy. Lacey delicate foliage grows to about 18-24” tall and makes many dozen of blooms over a long period. Work well in bouquets as focal points or filler. FLA NG1: Packet (1g. ≈100 seeds) - $3.00<br />SAFFLOWER - “Orange” Carthamus tinctorius (100 days) - An ancient crop grown for its use as a fiber dye and its nutritious seeds and oil. Cloth dyed with Safflower was found in the tomb of pharaoh Tutankhamen in ancient Egypt. It is easy to grow. Direct sow. Grows to 3 feet high and producing 1-5 flowers per plant with 15-20 seeds per head. Matures seed in short season areas. Tolerates drought well. Poultry relish the seed heads that produce abundant sunflower like seeds. As an oil crop, its oil is more healthful than olive oil, being high in oleic / monounsaturated oil. SSF<br />SA1: Packet (6g. ≈150 seeds) - $3.00 Ounce - $12.00<br /><br />SUNFLOWER - “Amber Eye” Helianthus annuus (80-100 day) - A polyheaded beauty that grows to 10’ with abundant blooms that are a mix of golden blooms with an amber “eye” in the center” Easy to grow cut flower, wildlife food and joyful expression of creation! SOW<br />SF1: Packet (5g. ≈ 100 seeds) - $3<br /><br /><br /><br />SUNFLOWER - “Tarahumara” Helianthus annuus (90-100 days) - A traditional variety developed by the Tarhumara people of Northern Mexico. Tall (7-11’) plants produce a single large (up to 24” across) solid golden flower with pure white seeds. Seeds are large, plump and delicious. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br />SF2: Packet (5g. ≈ 100 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />NEW! - DOUBLE CHOICE MIX SWEET WILLIAMS Dianthus spp.<br />A lovely biennial (and occasional perennial) flower that produces a profusion of sturdy blooms on 12-18” stems in an array of pinks, fuchsias, whites, scarlets and combinations thereof. Appreciating them with the eyes alone in only a small part of the picture, because their smell is heaven-scent! Imagine cinnamon, sweet peas, a dash of clove and all perfumed up as only mother nature knows how! Makes terrific, long-lasting bouquets. Rarely flowers in the first year, so please be patient. Very long bloom window in the second year starting in April and going all summer if you keep them picked and deadheaded. FLA/SSF<br />SW1: Packet (1 g. ≈ 150 seeds) - $3<br /><br />TITHONIA - “Torch” Tithonia rotundifolia (80-100 days) - Also know as ‘Mexican Sunflower’, this beauty produces many brilliant orange 3” blooms on a multi-branched 6-8’ tall plant. Unique, velvety soft leaves and stems help make this a great border plant. Blooms late into the fall for late-season color and nectar production for insects. SSF<br />TT1: Packet (1.5g. ≈100 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br />ZINNIA - “Chromasomia Mix” Zinnia elegans (70 days) - A mixture of all the classic shades and shapes you know and love about Zinnia’s plus some new twists like orange with purple edges and red with purple margins. Superb cut flower has along vase life. SSF<br />ZN1: Packet (2g ≈ 100 seeds) - $3.00<br /><br /><br />Website at www.siskiyouseeds.com<br />Seed Saving Details for Beginners:<br />Vegetable<br />(Genus species) Cycle Pollination Pollinator Isolation Seed Life Notes<br />Beans <br />(Phaseolus vulgaris) A Self 100’ 3-5 yrs Losses Vigor in time. Let dry in field, <br />Beet/Chard <br />(Beta vulgaris) Bi Cross Wind 1 mile 3-5 yrs Beets cross w/ Chard<br />Broc.,Kale,Cabbage Collard, Caulifl.<br />(Brassica oleracea) Bi Cross Insect 1/2mile 3-5 yrs Many types of Brassica exist within the same species. Consult a book<br />Carrot<br />Dacus carrota Bi Cross Insects ½ mile 2-3 years Crosses w/ wild carrot<br />Celery<br />(Apium graveolens) Bi Cross Insects ½ mile 2-3 years Attractsbene-ficial insects, gophers love to eat roots!<br />Corn<br />(Zea mays) A Cross Wind ½ mile 4-5 years Minimum 200 plants. Let dry on stalk.<br />Cucumber<br />Cucumis sativus A Cross Insects ¼ mile 5-10 years Mature to big & yellow. Ferment pulp water process.<br />Eggplant<br />(Solanum melonega) A Self 150’ 3-4 years Let mature to yellow. Water process<br />Onion & Leeks<br />Allium cepa &<br /> Allium porrum Bi Cross Insects ¼ mile 1-2 years Pull onions & replant in fall. Leave leeks.<br />Lettuce<br />(Latuca sativa) A Self 50’ 2-3 years Needs long season, easy<br />Melon<br />(Cucumis melo) A Cross Insects ¼ mile 5-10 years Won’t cross w/ water- melon. Seed ripe when fruit’s ripe. Water process<br />Mustard<br />(Brassica rapa &<br />Brassica juncea) A Cross Insects ½ mile 3-5 years 2 species B. rapa & B.juncea (spicy types) won’t cross<br />Peas<br />(Pisum sativum) A Self 50’ 2-3 years Weevils a problem<br />Pepper<br />(Capsicum annum) A Both Insects 500’ 3-5 years More isolation between hots and sweets is necessary<br />Radish<br />(Raphanus sativus) A Cross Insects ¼ mile 3-5 years Beware of wild species<br />Plant early <br />Spinach<br />(Spinacia oleracea) A Cross Wind ½ mile 2-3 years Males make no seed<br />Squash/Pumpkin<br />(Cucurbita pepo, C. maxima, C. moschata) A Cross Insects ¼ mile 2-5 years 3 species won’t cross with each other<br />Tomato<br />(Lycopersicon esculentum) A Self 25-100’ 5-10 years Potato leaf types tend to cross more readily<br /><br />Please visit our website, www.siskiyouseeds.com<br /><br />Don Tipping’s Blog at<br />www.sevenseedsfarm.com<br /><br /><br /><br />• ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS •<br />You can order from us in two ways:<br />MAIL: Please fill out the order form with the variety codes (such as SP1, or ZN3) or names and quantities desired, tear it out, or copy it and mail it along with a check or Money Order for the total amount plus shipping to our address at the bottom of the form. <br /><br />WEB: Our website is www.siskiyouseeds.com or where we have a complete shopping cart format site. The site is updated regularly to reflect shifts in our inventory or new additions. Variety photos are featured with each listing on the website. Growing tips for most species are also available there. Over time we will pack this site with useful information about seed production and seed related issues<br /><br />SEED RACKS: If you are in southern Oregon please visit our seed racks at the Ashland Food Co-op or the Williams General Store. Also in Portland at Naomi’s Organics and People’s Food Co-op. In Mount Shasta at Berryvale Market. And more in the works….<br /><br />PLEASE NOTE: At this point we cannot accept orders by FAX or phone. However, if you have a question about an order or if something is in stock feel free to call us at (541) 846-9233 <br />Or email at don@siskiyouseeds.com<br />GUARANTEE: We personally test all of our seeds for germination rate (typically far exceeding the Federal Minimum Germination Standards) and vigor and are confident that they will perform well for you. However, in the event that you are not satisfied, we will gladly replace either the seeds or refund their purchase price. We appreciate your feedback!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Siskiyou Seeds Order Form 2011<br />Name:_____________________________________________________<br />Address:___________________________________________________<br /> ____________________________________________________<br />Phone:(_____)_______________________________________________<br />Email:_____________________________________________________<br />Qty. Item Code (BE6, CO3, etc)<br /> & Variety Description Unit Size Price Subtotal<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Shipping: Order Total= $0 to $15 add $4.00 Subtotal = <br /> $15 to $50 add $6.00 <br /> $50 to $100 add $9.00 Shipping = <br /> Over $100 add $12.00 <br /> Total = <br />* Mail this form along with a Check or Money Order to:<br />Siskiyou Seeds<br />3220 East Fork Rd.<br />Williams, OR 97544 THANK YOU!<br /><br />Qty Item Code / Variety Unit Size Price Subtotal<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><br />The Farmer’s Soapbox <br /> ∞full moon January 2011∞ <br />So here is where I get my <br />chance to tell it like it is from <br />my vantage point on this<br /> beautiful moonlit mountain-<br />side. When the day is over,<br /> no one (and everyone) has <br />won, life is not a war or a contest. <br /> Rather, it’s a dance. You can’t win a dance. If you try you are missing the point. If you feel like a loser, then you don’t understand the rules; which are, put simply…every breath is a miracle, water and food are magic medicine, do no harm and love is the answer! <br />The gesture of nature reveals that the dance of life is an incredibly diverse, pulsing, cacophonous art form. Be it bold, or subtle, all of creation is emblazoned with a signature flourish. From the way a vine’s tendrils twist, to the kaleidoscope of colors in flowers, to birdsong, waterfalls, lichens on rocks, cats playing, fungi sporulating, to the taste of a ripe melon and on and on. The art of nature is endless and we are all infinitely blessed to share this life with all the amazing beings and entities that are alive and all so exquisitely beautiful. Our challenge, as I see it is to dance with creation without stomping on her toes. Sometimes when overcome with reverence for the miracle of creation we try and live ever so lightly, like the Jain Buddhists, tip toeing with veils over their mouths, as to not inhale or step on any insects. Admirable, yes, but remember, life is not a contest, and no one is keeping score AND we have got to get our collective rear in gear to fix up the incredible messes that humanity has wrought on our home planet! From the Anthroposophical perspective, humanities destiny is to change the Earth. Remember, that’s why we have thumbs. The more I study natural systems I realize that when we can emulate the art of natural forms in what we do, then we’re really starting to Tango!<br />PEOPLE! I compel each and every one of us to infuse all that we do with ART, make a statement with your LIFE, live your TRUTH and make it FUN and I assure you that we will see suffering decrease, more smiles, more laughter, more deep introspection into emotions, new friendships made, and PEACE will increase. No wars have been fought over art. As I see it, one of humanities’ most amazing gifts that we bring to this planet is our CREATIVITY, be it through music, dance, sculpture, acting, painting, poetry, well designed and crafted joinery or clothing, or well-selected and bred vegetable varieties and so on. Time is short folks, we must dig deep, save our seeds, keep planting them, share your stories, laugh and love often and in the immortal words of Beat poet and driver of the legendary Prankster bus, Neal Cassady, “Stay High and Keep Moving!”<br /><br />* Don Tipping, writing from the loft of a newly constructed seed barn made solely from the wood of wind fallen trees milled on the farm, by the warm fire burning from the scrap wood of the aforementioned lumber, sipping a nice cup of nettle/peppermint tea while the full January moon shines through the windows listening to the soothing sounds of my two boys Wali (8) and Jasper (4) sleeping mingling with the soft music of the Grateful Dead playing “Dark Star” from 2/23/73. Ahhhh……<br /><br />AND ANOTHER THING!<br /><br />We as a people must speak up about the travesty that is corporate personhood which has enabled mega-corporations such as Monsanto to patent life, unleash destructive technologies such as Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) and toxic agricultural chemicals upon the Biosphere. Corporations are not people and they should not be granted the same rights as individuals. Likewise, Intellectual Property (IP) patents on GMO’s have undermined the very foundation of agriculture. The simple, yet crucial act of farmers and gardeners saving their own seeds is not a matter to be trifled with. With the advent of IP rules, Monsanto and others such as Syngenta, Bayer, BASF can claim criminal trespass against farmers whose crops have been unintentionally cross-pollinated by insects or the wind with GMO pollen from GMO crops growing as far away as 10 miles. This is not theoretical, it happens every day. <br />Since when did we value mega-corporations such as Monsanto over small family farmers? How can we stop this madness? Are we going to let greed begin to unravel the integrity of plant DNA that has co-evolved with agriculture and shifting climates for centuries? Biotech labs are brewing up toxic gene juice that is resulting in disasters such as Roundup Ready soybeans that no longer fix nitrogen and countless other examples of crops that fail to perform when adverse conditions arise. <br />Biotech is fostering the EXACT OPPOSITE of what we ought to be doing to address selecting and breeding our food crops to be able to handle the mounting stresses and challenges that climate change is bringing to our fields. GMOs generally require more fertilizer, more herbicides and more babying than traditionally grown crops and when the climate gets weird the yields plummet. <br />We must rise up and not only make our voices heard, but actively challenge and stop the steamroller / strong-arm tactics of the biotech giants to ensure seed security for future generations. I hereby empower each of us to take a stand and ACT!Don Tippinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07715646352324049565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531629733319790937.post-84288063551426634862011-01-21T11:27:00.000-08:002011-01-21T12:08:43.498-08:00The Revolution will be on television!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_E7WX6sbprwM/TTnnxInqbCI/AAAAAAAAAE0/3tGVZkagbpI/s1600/179231_171785966198179_100001003290811_364902_2408640_n.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_E7WX6sbprwM/TTnnxInqbCI/AAAAAAAAAE0/3tGVZkagbpI/s320/179231_171785966198179_100001003290811_364902_2408640_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564733645906406434" /></a><br />Hey ya'll,<br />many interesting developments in the world of Organic seeds. Seeds of Change closed down their research farm in New Mexico after 15 years of success. They are going the way of the corporate model and consolidating operations in Los Angeles, going from a network of 50 growers to 5 suppliers, most of whom are multi-national corporations with a small organic division. This is an unfortunate development as the network of organic growers well-versed in breeding and selecting varieties for organic systems is an irreplaceable body of knowledge put into action. <br />Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the Family Famers Seed Cooperative was formed 2 years, seeing the writing on the wall of some of these changes of corporate consolidation in the seed industry coming to organics. Beginning this year we are growing and distributing certified organic vegetable seeds to retail seed companies. Next year we hope to begin to offer seed direct to farmers. Many former Seeds of Change growers are part of our farmer owned co-op, modeled after the very successful Mondragon Cooperative in the Basque region of Spain (<a href="http://www.mcc.es/ENG.aspx"></a>)<br />There is HOPE!<br />Also on the legal level, many successes are piling up. Namely, successful legal challenges to halting the planting of Monsanto and Syngenta's Roundup Ready Sugar Beets. (check out the blog at the Organic Seed Alliance for the whole scoop <a href="http://blog.seedalliance.org"></a>.<br />Now a group of farmers and food security activists are taking up the issue of utility patents on traits in vegetables and agronomic crops. PubPat is leading the charge with many groups lining up to support the Patent offices' unwise decision to issue utility patents on traits such as heat tolerance in Broccoli for which Monsanto (or Syngeta, etc..) has already received a utility patent on. Them having a patent means that they "invented" that trait, which is preposterous of course. So technically if I were to breed and advertise a heat tolerant organic broccoli seed, I would have to lease or pay royalties to them if they were agreeable to that. I am part of a group of plantifs (including OSGATA) that is looking at taking the issue of utility patents to court.<br />This whole issue is a mess that, the patent office should have never gotten involved with issuing patents on traits on life forms.<br /><br />Also....<br /><br />ABC National news will be visiting Seven Seeds Farm next week to discuss how GMOs are negatively affecting the organic seed industry and our endeavors specifically. (I'll post a link to the site when I know the time it will be aired) <br /><br />On a lighter note....<br /><br />Here is a little preview from the forthcoming 2011 Siskiyou Seeds Catalog:<br />The Farmer’s Soapbox ……∞full moon January 2011∞<br /><br />So here is where I get my chance to tell it like it is from my vantage point on this beautiful moonlit mountainside. When the day is over, no one (and everyone) has won, life is not a war or a contest. Rather, it’s a dance. You can’t win a dance. If you try you are missing the point. If you feel like a loser, then you don’t understand the rules; which are, put simply…every breath is a miracle, water and food are magic medicine, do no harm and love is the answer! <br />The gesture of nature reveals that the dance of life is an incredibly diverse, pulsing, cacophonous art form. Be it bold, or subtle, all of creation is emblazoned with a signature flourish. From the way a vine’s tendrils twist, to the kaleidoscope of colors in flowers, to birdsong, waterfalls, lichens on rocks, cats playing, fungi sporulating, to the taste of a ripe melon and on and on. The art of nature is endless and we are all infinitely blessed to share this life with all the amazing beings and entities that are alive and all so exquisitely beautiful. Our challenge, as I see it is to dance with creation without stomping on her toes. Sometimes when overcome with reverence for the miracle of creation we try and live ever so lightly, like the Jain Buddhists, tip toeing with veils over their mouths, as to not inhale or step on any insects. Admirable, yes, but remember, life is not a contest, and no one is keeping score AND we have got to get our collective rear in gear to fix up the incredible messes that humanity has wrought on our home planet! From the Anthroposophical perspective, humanities destiny is to change the Earth. Remember, that’s why we have thumbs. The more I study natural systems I realize that when we can emulate the art of natural forms in what we do, then we’re really starting to Tango!<br />PEOPLE! I compel each and every one of us to infuse all that we do with ART, make a statement with your LIFE, live your TRUTH and make it FUN and I assure you that we will see suffering decrease, more smiles, more laughter, more deep introspection into emotions, new friendships made, and PEACE will increase. No wars have been fought over art. As I see it, one of humanities’ most amazing gifts that we bring to this planet is our CREATIVITY, be it through music, dance, sculpture, acting, painting, poetry, well designed and crafted joinery or clothing, or well-selected and bred vegetable varieties and so on. Time is short folks, we must dig deep, save our seeds, keep planting them, share your stories, laugh and love often and in the immortal words of Beat poet and driver of the legendary Prankster bus, Neal Cassady, “Stay High and Keep Moving!”<br />* Don Tipping, writing from the loft of a newly constructed seed barn made solely from the wood of wind fallen trees milled on the farm, by the warm fire burning from the scrap wood of the aforementioned lumber, sipping a nice cup of nettle/peppermint tea while the full January moon shines through the windows listening to the soothing sounds of my two boys Wali (8) and Jasper (4) sleeping mingling with the soft music of the Grateful Dead playing “Dark Star” from 2/23/73. Ahhhh……Don Tippinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07715646352324049565noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531629733319790937.post-57894775405494456162011-01-14T00:51:00.001-08:002011-01-14T00:54:38.078-08:00Soapbox Rant<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_E7WX6sbprwM/TTAPCTKU2qI/AAAAAAAAAEs/FqwFIacmkOI/s1600/Zulu%2BPrince%2BDaisy.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_E7WX6sbprwM/TTAPCTKU2qI/AAAAAAAAAEs/FqwFIacmkOI/s320/Zulu%2BPrince%2BDaisy.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561962071980300962" /></a><br />re-printed from the 2010 Siskiyou Seeds Catalog...next soapbox rant brewing & steeping.<br /> <br />The Farmer’s Soapbox……(read at your own risk.....)<br /><br />Ah, what to say on the extra odd page in the first edition of our catalog??? Come to think of it, I could easily fill many pages with my passion for helping to facilitate the emerging Ecotopian cultural revolution. What is hip? In my book, it’s clean air to breathe, pure water to drink, fertile earth to grow upon, vital seeds to plant, and multi-generational tribal culture. Nuff said.<br /> Well, there’s still work to do to actualize this dream for all and the ethics of Permaculture provide a basic road map: Care of the earth, Care of the Species and Redistribute the Surplus to the first two. Sounds easy, well, let’s do it! I know I am not alone when I say that the people alive today face unprecedented challenges, whether it’s global warming, loss of biodiversity, pollution, genocide, peak oil, privatatization of our food and seed supply, war, corporate indifference to the sanctity of life, economic collapse, potential super volcanoes, or the next errant meteor. Heavy eh. Well meteors ought to be they’re usually comprised of nickel/iron, but so is our home planet’s core and it’s churning with an electromagnetic pulse unimaginably powerful, shielding us from the solar wind that would otherwise have blown our atmosphere away 4 billion years ago. I have my money on the incredible power and beauty of creation, Fo sure! This electromagnetic pulse permeates all life on this planet, just like on the mythical planet of Pandora, and like that magical world, plants and quite possibly all other life communicates through electromagnetic pulses via spores, pollen and mycorrhizal fungal networks (get an earful from Paul Stamets sometime!). <br /> The blueprint for life isn’t just a piece of paper – it’s a living, breathing, seething, pulsing organism teeming with magic oozing from every pore of creation on this incredible blue sphere. As virtuoso bassist/tracker, Victor Wooten says, “we got the right notes, but we play the wrong songs”. Sadly true, at times. Fortunately for us, (“psst, hey, you’re in the club, if you’ve made it this far”), Creation wants and needs us to dance within the web of life- every breath you exhale is reciprocity back to the plant king/queendom. We owe it to the continuity of the wonder of this planet to step it up and pull it together for our own sake, our children and those who will follow us. <br />It’s our world. Forget reform. I’m holding out for complete grassroots revolution. When we all realize that economic reform doesn’t grow food, make streams flow, create air, or surround us in loving arms we will turn to our Mother Earth and plant seeds, restore degraded natural systems, plant trees, assist our elders, brothers, sisters, children in knowing what it really means to be alive- one of the hundreds of billions of organisms that is thankful to take another breath, exhale and swirl into the gaseous soup of the truly magnificent atmosphere that makes all this possible.<br /> So please join me in actualizing the vision of a peaceful revolution: an organic seed bank in every river valley where food can be grown, vibrant community based food forest systems, thriving restoration ecology teams re-greening bioregions far and wide, decentralized cooperative governance that empowers individuals, reforesting deserts, re-patterning the landscape to fulfill its Gaian destiny to grow plants that shed pollen, upon which rain condenses to fall upon uncompacted earth, soaking in, nourishing roots, creating more organic matter, supporting fungal hyphae, stimulating growth, fixing more CO2 from the atmosphere, grasses and herbs sprouting in deserts, shedding more seeds, shrubs thriving, yielding more seeds, flowers, fruits, pollen, nectar, summoning extirpated wildlife, bringing more seeds, giving rise to trees thriving in bioregions formerly deforested stabilizing erratic weather patterns, more rain, gentle sunshine, more trees seed eaters arriving, resulting in the return of tribal culture of seed gatherers, seed planters and seed worshippers. The time is now to become re-indigenous to place, grow roots, drive less, love more, sing more and dance more. The time is now! <br /><br />PEACE! , DonDon Tippinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07715646352324049565noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531629733319790937.post-21141626946419314992010-11-30T11:54:00.000-08:002010-11-30T13:16:51.709-08:00The Chaos We Choose to Love!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_E7WX6sbprwM/TPVpgYmVcVI/AAAAAAAAAEY/7iByhX0VGJ4/s1600/100_4503.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_E7WX6sbprwM/TPVpgYmVcVI/AAAAAAAAAEY/7iByhX0VGJ4/s320/100_4503.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545454521256603986" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_E7WX6sbprwM/TPVpgFRkvVI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/W2G-qdFN7Ik/s1600/100_4497.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_E7WX6sbprwM/TPVpgFRkvVI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/W2G-qdFN7Ik/s320/100_4497.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545454516069252434" /></a><br />Yesterday I was working on juggling chaos and order...decanting 55 gallon vats of fermenting cucumbers and tomatoes to extract their seeds, pouring off the fleshy slop to reveal the beauty of accumulated seeds that settle to the bottom. I'll paint a visual image if it helps...55 gallons of fruity and cheesy smelling cucumber brew pours into a countoured swale to avoid erosion as ducks quack and dibble ankle deep (do ducks have ankles?) in the muck happily foraging for immature seeds, rollicking soul-jazz pours forth from the barns' stereo in time with the rhythmic whacking of Amy's machette as she chops open basketball sized Green Hubbard winter squash, scooping out their seeds into buckets for water processing, the sun's going down and the late November frost is settling, particularily noticeable on wet hands, and wait, low and behold, at the bottom of one of the seed barrels I am pouring out, LEGO guys emerge from the ooze along with about a dozen rocks...alchemical additions to the cauldron from my 4 year old son, Jasper. <br />As darkness settles in the flood lights illuminate the work area as the projects near completion (a laughable prospect on a farm, as the next projects eagerly jockey for position to be next in line), buckets of wet tomato, pepper and cucumber seed await being spread onto drying racks, a sticky paste of potentiality that will dry into seed "cookies" that must be crumbled and rubbed through screens to render them plantable in any practical fashion. And then there's the reality of my limited drying rack space and lack of sunlight for drying sufficiently in the greenhouse....the next project shuffles to the front of the agenda...build a seed drying rack system next to the barn wood stove and get a fire built, fan positioned and screens in place. Ahhhh...momentary completion...it's 8:45 pm, 27 degrees out and another day on the seed farm comes to a close, as I walk home breathing in the incredible array of starlight streaming into my eyes from millions of light years away as ducks quack awaiting food and shelter from predators and sheep shuffle into the barn for hay and I amble home for wine, cheese and olives! Living the good life, never a dull moment!<a href="http://www.siskiyouseeds.com"></a>Don Tippinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07715646352324049565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531629733319790937.post-46206733660499728472010-09-28T09:53:00.000-07:002010-10-02T20:27:25.145-07:002010 Seed RoundUp!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_E7WX6sbprwM/TKf05JuBruI/AAAAAAAAAEI/no9ONTJ1g6k/s1600/35352_413655822290_656552290_4732122_645071_n.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_E7WX6sbprwM/TKf05JuBruI/AAAAAAAAAEI/no9ONTJ1g6k/s320/35352_413655822290_656552290_4732122_645071_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523652730691890914" /></a><br />The spring of 2010 was a real doozy!<br />Going into March we were anticipating a very dry summer, with almost no snowpack in the mountains. Then the rains came. And they didn't let up until late June. While a blessing for summer irrigation use, it made for a very challenging year on a number of counts:<br />* Wet soils made springtime soil preparation work difficult, necessitating thoughtful timing<br />* Pollination of fruit trees was very poor. There was snow and horizontal rain in both April and May. We had no fruit set on our peaches, Asian pears, cherries and Asian plums. Our Apple crop was 30-40% of last years.<br />* Much of what fruit that did manage to set was beset by scab and other fungal diseases as a result of high humidity.<br />* Due to wet soils many vegetables were planted 2-4 weeks later than normal. This resulted in some seed crops flowering later than normal, when warmer temperatures fostered poor fertilization. For instance Broccoli pollen dessicates (dries out) over 85 degrees farenheit. So even though we had nice plants, good flower and pollen production, the pollen dried out and we had nearly no seed set. Hence my 2 broccoli seed crops wound up as crop failures. Urrghh...so much beautiful broccoli let go to seed only to feed sheep!<br />* Once again, with the late planting, many fruiting crops (such as tomatoes, peppers and melons) are maturing so late that we are pushing up against the threat of frost to have enough heat to mature their seed adequately. <br /><br />As I have come to anticipate these types of experiences as normal in the rough and tumble world of farming. Fortunately, my devotion to diversified permaculture farming ensures that something will grow successfully and keep food on the table and yield seeds to share. It is interesting to contemplate these moments as a farmer who awaits at the virtual "tap" of mother nature waiting fill my cup from her over-running abundance, in anticipation of excess akin to previous years' experience and have the cup only filled part way, climate change, a freak year, or what have you and be able to recognize deeply the intricate relationship that we have woven ourselves and our sustenance into. As climate change weirds our seasonal patterns we can no longer anticipate the norms of yesterday. Rather we must diversify further and become more creative with season extension techniques and permaculture food system approaches. When we grow our Riverspirit Rainbow flour corn we try and grow a 2 year supply every year to cover the off years when summer is short or the corn worms, raccoons or crows indulge themselves on an inordinate amount of our harvest. I am beginning to get the feeling that we are going to have to do this with more crops as we drift into this increasingly brave new world. In the meantime let's save the seeds that the incredible green goddess gifts us with!Don Tippinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07715646352324049565noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531629733319790937.post-38534988290798280152010-02-10T10:00:00.000-08:002010-02-10T10:23:54.882-08:00Siskiyou Seeds early catalog release (see website after 2/27 at www.siskiyouseeds.com)Welcome to a new paradigm in seed distribution: farmers selling fresh, organic seed direct to other growers. How novel! Siskiyou Seed is a bioregional, certified organic seed bank and seed source for gardeners and small farmers. Our vision is to connect seed growers, gardeners and farmers in a mutually beneficial relationship to support small-scale agriculture with superior genetics selected for the Pacific Northwest. We grow and distribute certified organic, open pollinated seeds through seed racks, a catalog and our website (www.siskiyouseeds.com). Our goal is to produce most of the seed on our farm, Seven Seeds Farm and fields we manage in Southern Oregon’s Applegate valley. We also work with successful, organic seed growers to increase the diversity of our offerings. Varieties that are not successful seed crops here (due to climate or cross-pollination issues, such as Spinach, Cabbage and Carrots) are sourced from outstanding, organic growers in the Pacific Northwest. More information about the farms that grow our seed is featured under the grower profiles. In this way we are able to offer well-selected fresh seed of exceptional vigor and quality. Through developing this network of seed producers we are strengthening our local seed security. <br />In order to grow life-giving food in your garden, <br />you need sun, soil, water and seeds. Our hope is that <br />you receive the first three ingredients in the correct<br /> proportions, and we are doing our best to ensure that<br /> the seeds you plant contain ample life-force to thrive and <br />flourish. Thank you for supporting a family farm business! <br /> Don, Kimberly, Wali & Jasper<br /><br />ABOUT US:<br /><br />Siskiyou Seeds was conceived here at our family farm, Seven Seeds Farm arrived after 13 years of growing certified organic seed for many national scale mail order seed companies, which we continue to do. In addition to commercial seed production, Seven Seeds Farm produces biodynamic fruits and vegetables that we distribute through a cooperative Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program called the Siskiyou Sustainable Cooperative (www.siskiyoucoop.com) in the Rogue Valley. We also raise ducks, chickens, turkeys and sheep. Seven Seeds hosts numerous on-farm classes and workshops in a variety of sustainable agriculture related topics. To see a current listing of workshops at Seven Seeds and classes that Don Tipping will be teaching in southern Oregon please see our website www.siskiyouseeds.com.<br /><br />After SOW Organic Seeds (founded in 1978 in Williams, OR) closed shop in 2007 after the untimely death of pioneering seedsman, Alan Vanet we recognized that our bioregion was left lacking a cohesive seed bank. Although we are blessed with abundant summer sun here in the “banana belt of southern Oregon”, the Siskiyous can be a challenging place to garden with our winter rainforest, summer desert climate of harsh extremes. Uniquely situated to serve our local community we recognized an opportunity to try and fill this important niche and will be offering our seeds nationally through our web site, <www.siskiyouseeds.com> and a print catalog. <br /> <br />There is tremendous opportunity for the renaissance of the bioregional seedsman/woman to select and breed varieties for organic agriculture. I am committed to the notion that well-selected, open-pollinated seeds can outperform commercially available hybrids. Through focusing on this crucial work, we can cooperate with gardeners and farmers to address the agronomic challenges that we will all face as climate change shifts microclimates in North America. Population breeding with special attention to horizontal resistance will hopefully alleviate the hardships growers experience with plant diseases, pests and climatic stress.<br /><br />Careful attention to plant selection for seed saving can contribute to the improvement of important traits such as disease resistance, pest tolerance, climate adaptation, flavor and nutrition. Domestication is not an endpoint. Rather it is a relationship that is ongoing and can go in different directions. We are much more concerned with breeding plants that will foster healthy food for people, rather than traits such as ship-ability and shelf life. When we consider the concept of “food security” I find it logical that “seed security” should receive equal attention especially considering the threats of genetic engineering and the corporate consolidation of the seed industry. Much of the seed currently available from the traditional seed houses is increasingly coming from overseas and every year hundreds of valuable varieties are dropped from production. Consider that in the last 13 years over 200 regional seed companies have disappeared in our country. Bioregional seed banks and distribution networks will emerge as one of the more important stores of wealth in the future. Anyone want to buy futures in seeds? Let’s get planting!<br />------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />“I have great faith in a seed.” Thomas Jefferson<br />-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />“Seed is the biggest issue of democracy in food. Seed is a common resource, and we have to protect it for future generations…I would call GM [Genetic Modification] a cruelty to seed…I will live to see the end of Monsanto.” Vandana Shiva<br />----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Tithing: We wouldn’t be where we are now if it wasn’t for the prayers of our ancestors and the thoughtful, good work of those that came before us. To honor this we are donating 4% of our profits (1% to each group) to the following organizations and we encourage you to invest in the future too! The Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center (www.kswild.org) seeks to preserve the outstanding biodiversity of our unique bioregion here. Big Wildlife (www.bigwildlife.org) works to protect large keystone species, like bears, cougars, wolverines) and other carnivores. Rogue Advocates (www.rogueadvocates.org) works to protect farmland and open space in the beautiful Rogue Valley. We frequently collaborate with the Organic Seed Alliance (www.seedalliance.org), a non-profit education, outreach and advocacy group that is currently the most effective voice for organic seed growing and challenging the proliferation of genetically engineered crops.<br /><br />“Be the change you want to see in the world.” Mohandas Gandhi<br /><br /><br />Contributing Seed Growers:<br /><br />SSF: Seven Seeds Farm, Williams, OR<br /><br />Don Tipping and Kimberly Brown have farmed on the north slope of Sugarloaf mountain (as seen on the cover) since 1997. They have produced seed for many commercial seed companies that offer organic seeds including Seeds of Change, Fedco, Abundant Life, Johnny’s. Renee’s, Turtle Tree Seeds, Uprisings Seeds, Wood Prairie Farm, Bountiful gardens and others. Their approach to seed growing aims to develop varieties that is resilient and capable of thriving in low-input, diverse micro-farming conditions. Siskiyou Seeds lives happily at Seven Seeds Farm<br /><br />WGS: Wild Garden Seeds at Gathering Together Farm, Philomath, OR<br /><br />Frank and Karen Morton have been real pioneers in the grassroots organic seed industry. Overseeing an extensive breeding program, they are responsible for a number of new original variety releases, some of which can be found in this catalogue. They have done an impressive amount of work, mostly with salad greens, of classical breeding for disease resistance. They grow about 8 acres of seed within the context of the much larger fresh market Gathering Together operation. Growing conditions are classic Willamette Valley hot dry summers and cool wet winters.<br /><br />MBS: Mt Baker Seeds, Skagit Valley, WA<br /><br />Woody Derykx of Concrete, WA has been part of the organic food movement as long as anyone we know. With his collaborating growers in the Skagit Valley he is working to revive a wealth of classic varieties that have been cast off by the industrial seed industry, improve them, and make them relevant again to the growing community. His location is perfect for producing top notch carrots, spinach and cabbage seed.<br />ERP: Eel River Produce, Shively, CA<br />Seasoned farmer, Bill Reynolds farms amidst the Redwoods on the Eel River in Southern Humboldt county. Bill is a produce farmer, seed grower and plant breeder and has co-developed (with John Navazio) the best open pollinated zucchini available (see “Dark Star”). He also works with tomatoes, squash and melons.<br /><br />SOW: Southern Oregon Organic Seeds, Williams, OR<br /><br />Alan Vanet was a pioneer in the organic seed movement beginning back in 1974 with Stone Broke Hippie Seeds, later Peace Seeds (1978) with Dr. Alan (Mushroom) Kapular. When Alan died in 2007 he left behind a legacy and a seed collection that we are attempting to revitalize and clean up some old lines. The climatic adaptation present in the genetics of this collection is of a value for which we are only beginning to recognize.<br /><br />LKF: Lupine Knoll Farm, Williams, OR<br /><br />Jesse and Jonathan Spero farm on the Williams Creek in Williams, OR doing tremendous work with developing new open pollinated, high nutrition sweet corn. They are also doing plant improvement and seed production work with broccoli, kale, tomatoes, and marigolds. Their forward thinking to plant breeding is resulting in varieties that have valuable traits for organic growers that the industrial farming model is sadly overlooking.<br /><br />WGF: Wolf Gulch Farm, Jacksonville, OR<br /><br />Tom and Maud Powell farm in a remote canyon in the beautiful Little Applegate river valley. They also coordinate a cooperative Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program called the Siskiyou Sustainable Cooperative (www.siskiyoucoop.com). They excellent genetic isolation and extensive farming experience make them invaluable growers of high quality organic seed. <br /><br />LRF: L&R Family Farm: Provolt, OR<br /><br />Liz Tree and Ryan Dolan farm organically in the Applegate River valley growing market produce and seeds for a variety of commercial catalog companies. Their approach to farming encompasses stewardship of grain crops, cattle, hogs, pasture, poultry and vegetables in a cohesive way that upholds good family farming ethics. They have their own organic garlic seed business with Taylor Starr; visit them on the web at www.organicgarlicseedfarm.com<br /><br />Grower Code is listed after the variety descriptions (eg. SSF, WGS, etc..)<br />Hey! What’s “OOO”?<br /><br />Throughout this catalog you will see this designation OOO - Oregon Organic Originals to highlight farmer-bred varieties uniquely adapted for organic growing conditions.<br /><br />Vegetables (A-Z, Greens are grouped together)<br /><br />BEANS Phaseolus vulgaris ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />“Blue Lake” BUSH (62-75 days) – Straight and stringless, dark-green round 5-7” pods. Good fresh, canned, frozen. Originally bred in the Willamette valley. SOW<br /> BE1: One ounce packet $3<br />“Domatsu” POLE (65 days) – Old farmer variety has been grown in the Applegate valley for over 35 years. Good adaptation for hot summers and extended picking period. Makes a good dry bean as well. Heavy yields from vigorous plants. SOW<br /> BE2: One ounce packet: $3, Half pound: $8<br />“Giant Bush Romano” (60 days) – From the seed collection of the late Alan Vanet, they produce an abundant set of large (5-6” x 1”) flat-podded snap beans. They are stringless and richer in flavor than traditional green beans. Hold well in the field. Large speckled, lavender seeds make a good dry bean too. 40 beans to the ounce. SSF<br /> BE3: one ounce packet: $3<br /> “Pepe de Zappallo / Tiger’s Eye” BUSH (85 days) – Originally from Chile’. Vigorous growing bush dry bean a favorite for filling jars in our pantry with their gorgeous golden beans with maroon swirls on them. One of the earliest dry beans in our trials over the last decade. Beans are fairly large, 50/ ounce. Very nice cooking characteristics as the rich tasting beans hold their shape after cooking. Easy and rewarding to grow! HEIRLOOM, SSF<br /> BE5: One-ounce packet: $3<br />“Scarlet Runner” POLE Phaseolus coccineus (65 – 90 days) – Rambunctious vines grow 6 to 18 feet tall, enjoys cool weather and is actually somewhat frost hardy. Beautiful crimson scarlet flowers attract hummingbirds. Large beans may be enjoyed at snap stage, fresh shelled or left to dry on the vine and used as a delightful creamy tasting dry bean. Seeds are black and maroon speckled. 20 seeds to the ounce. Native to S. America. ERP<br /> BE6: one ounce packet: $3, Half pound: $8________________<br />BEETS, “Bull’s Blood” Beta vulgaris (65 days) – Intensely dark purple-red leaves add pizzazz to salads. Don’t disregard the deep red 2-3” roots as they make a nice table beet, steamed, boiled or grated raw on the aforementioned salad. Selected by seedsman Frank Morton. OOO. WGS<br /> BT1: packet (350 seeds): $3, Ounce: $8<br />BEETS, “Early Wonder Tall Top” Beta vulgaris (48-60 days) – Standard production O.P. table beet. Vigorous 16” tops are tinged with purple make excellent eating greens. Roots are a 3” flattened globe that makes great bunched beets. Can be used as a storage beet. A workhorse variety! <br /> BT2: packet (5g – 350 seeds): $3, Ounce (2100 seeds); $8<br />BROCCOLI, “ DeCiccio” Brassica oleracea (48-85 days) – Old reliable European variety, compact 2-3’ plant with 3-4” bluish-green central head, then lots of medium sized side shoots. Excellent eating quality. Variable productivity. Introduced in 1890. HEIRLOOM, SOW<br /> BR2 packet (2g, about 500 seeds) $3<br />BROCCOLI, “Oregon Long Neck” Brassica oleracea (60-80 days) – Developed (and still in development) for organic conditions, this open pollinated broccoli from seed provided by Oregon State University in 2002. Grower/breeder Jonathan Spero provided heavy selection pressure by broadcasting the seed and selecting plants that thriving amidst this stress to produce this seed. The head stands high on the plant for easy harvest. This variety is still in development and should be considered a “gardener’s variety” only as it lacks the uniformity required of many commercial growers. OOO. LKF<br /> BR1: packet (2g. about 500 seeds) $3<br /><br /><br />BRUSSELS SPROUTS, “Eco” Brassica oleracea (100 days) – Developed by Alan Kapular, this open pollinated strain produces plump green spouts on a tall stem with some purple coloration. Must start them early to get them to mature before fall frosts, which bring out their sweetness. OOO, SOW<br /> BS1: packet (2g, about 500 seeds) $3_________________________<br />CABBAGE, “Red Express” Brassica oleracea (55-65 days) – An excellent O.P. compact, 2-3 pound red cabbage that heads up quickly. Uniform color, size and shape. Not a storage variety, rather enjoy them over the summer and fall.<br /> CB1: packet (2g. ≈500 seeds) $3_________________________<br />CARROTS, “Nantes Fancy” Dacus carrota (65 days) – Smooth 5-8” roots with unmatched dark orange color and blunt tips, avg 1.75” diameter. Strong tops are disease resistant. Unusually uniform for an O.P., holds well in the field and keeps well. MBS<br /> CT1: packet (3g. ≈ 200 seeds) $3<br />CARROTS, “Scarlet Keeper” Dacus carrota (85 days) A fall harvest and winter storage O.P. strain. 7-10” dark-orange roots, with a red core and a blunt tip. Heavy yields. Never bitter, even after prolonged storage. MBS<br /> CT2: packet (3 g. ≈ 200 seeds) $3______________________<br />CELERY, “Giant Red Reselection” Apium graveolens (100 days) – The largest red-stalked variety. Has been selected for better color, cold hardiness and disease resistance. Very flavorful. Excellent in soups and stews and blanched pink hearts are divine in salad! WGS <br /> CL1: packet (1g. ≈ 150 seeds) $3<br />CHINESE CABBAGE, “Nozaki Early” Brassica rapa (60 days) – Tall barrel shaped, heading variety produces 3-6 pound heads with light green leaves and broad white midribs. Heads up quickly. Best sown in spring or late summer. Dependable. MBS<br /> CC1: packet (1g. ≈450 seeds) $3<br />CHINESE CABBAGE, “China Choy” Brassica rapa (70 days) – Similar to Bak Choy but with a looser rosette of leaves. Produces dark green leaves with wide, brilliant white petioles that are crunchy and tasty. Does well from spring or fall sowings. Good for Kim Chee. SSF<br /> CC2: packet (1g. 450 seeds) $3<br />CHINESE CABBAGE, “Prize” Brassica rapa (50 days) –Grows quickly to produce a dense, open head with thick, flat, white stalks and dark green leaves. Succulent petioles are reminiscent of celery stalks and add crunch to salads or stir frys. Suitable for making fermented Kim chee/ Korean sauerkraut. Easy to grow, direct seed or transplant. SSF<br /> CC3: packet (1g. 450 seeds) $3_________________<br />COLLARDS, “Flashy” Brassica oleracea (60 days) – Big, vigorous plants produce sweet, tender mild, blue green leaves all summer and then over winters well to provide greens through the fall, winter and early spring. Compare to the variety ‘Champion’. A real family feeder. SSF<br /> CL1: packet (2g. ≈500 seeds); $3 Ounce (≈7000 seeds): $20<br />CORN, Zea mays____________________________________________________________<br />“Anasazi Sweet” (90 days) Productive, su, diverse, multi-colored sweet corn. Plants grow 6-8’ tall and produce 2 ears per plant that are 4-7” and 2” in diameter. Very flavorful. Ancient variety reportedly found by archeologists in Anasazi ruins. HEIRLOOM, LKF <br />CO1: packet (one ounce) $3, Half pound: $15<br />“Double Red” Sweet corn (85 days) – Open pollinated with deep purple stalks, kernels and mostly purple cobs. Developed by Dr. Alan Kapuler/Peace seeds. 6-7 foot tall plants with 1-2 ears per plant. The dark purple color is the anti-oxidant anthocyanidin-3 glycoside also found in blueberries and blackberries. Double red has potential as a natural anti-oxidant rich food and a dye plant. Wildly beautiful and tasty. OOO. LKF<br /> CO2: packet (one ounce) $3<br />“Festivity” Sweet Corn (su with some sh2) Open pollinated, cold tolerant, rainbow colored, multi-stalked with frequently 3-4 ears per plant. Created with cool soil with higher latitude locations and low-fertility in mind. Most cobs have a blend of white, yellow, red and purple kernels. Variable. 5-6 feet tall. OOO. LKF<br /> CO3: packet (one ounce): $3, Half pound: $15<br />“Hooker’s Sweet”(70 days) – The earliest sweet corn we grow. Very dependable in cool summers as seed can germinate at cooler soil temperatures and it’s short stature (4 to 5 ft.) doesn’t require as much heat as taller stalks. It produces 2 to 3 small (6-8”) ears per plant of deliciously flavorful bicolor corn that matures to dark blue when the seed is dry. We can grow 3 successions of this corn in our 120-day growing season. A tried and true farm favorite! HEIRLOOM, SSF<br /> CO4: packet (one ounce): $3, Half pound: $15<br />“Riverspirit Rainbow” Flour Corn (90-110 days) – A stable & diverse gene pool of native flour corns including Anasazi, Hopi Blue, Hopi White and others that has been successfully grown on homesteads in OR & CA for decades. Tall (7-10’) plants produce 1-2 large (10-20”) ears in every color and pattern imaginable. Excellent for corn bread, masa, tamales and adding to any recipe that calls for wheat. Incredibly beautiful – shucking it is like opening a present from the Earth! OOO, SSF<br /> CO5: Packet (one ounce): $3, Half pound: $15<br />“Sparkler” (se x su F1) Sweet corn. All the hybrid vigor. Twice the diversity. An F1 hybrid cross of an ancient Anasazi corn with a modern sugar enhanced variety. Big cobs (both in length and width) with large kernels. Tasty and highly productive. At eating stage, about ½ the cobs will be yellow-white bicolor, the other half will have varying amounts of red and purple in addition to the yellow and white. OOO. LKF<br /> CO6: packet (one ounce): $3, Half pound: $15_______________<br />CUCCUMBERS: (Cucumis sativus)<br />“Lemon” (68 days) – Very productive variety introduced in 1894 produces copuis amounts of pale yellow round sweet and crunchy fruits that are delicious eaten right in the garden. Never bitter. Plants are sprawling vines that keep producing up until frost. Disease resistant. Children love them. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br /> CU1: Packet (2g. ≈45 seeds) $3<br />“Mideast Peace” (70-85 days) – From the seed collection of Alan Kapular, also known as ‘Mideast Prolific’ 3-5’ vines produce several crops of 6-8”, non-bitter, smooth-skinned is thin and makes for excellent fresh eating or pickles. OOO, SSF<br /> CU2: Packet (2g ≈45 seeds) $3<br />“Suyo Long” (60-70 days) From northern China. Ribbed, dark-green skin with heavy white spines. 10-18” long fruits are almost seedless, non-bitter burp less, crisp and tender. Very prolific. Heat resistant. PM resistant. Trellis for straight fruits. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br /> CU3: Packet (1g ≈ 25 seeds) $3______________________<br />EGGPLANT, “Violetta di Firenze” Solanum melonega (60-80 days) Beautiful and unusual lavender fruit sometimes striped with white. Large and stocky and grooved fruit sometimes resembles squash, needs ample heat to mature successfully. Cloche or greenhouse culture recommended in colder microclimates. HEIRLOOM, WGF<br /> EG1: packet (1/2g. ≈ 60 seeds) $3_______________________<br />FENNEL, “Perfection” Foeniculum vulgare (75 days) An excellent quality European, bulbing fennel. Matures quickly, even in cool weather, sow spring through autumn. Produces a large, round, succulent bulb with an anise flavor that is sweet and mild. Our children love this raw. Also great steamed, baked or fried. WGS<br /> FN1: Packet (1g ≈250 seeds) $3<br /><br />GREENS______________________________________________________________<br />Arugula “Sputnik” Eruca vesicaria (30 days) - A unique find from a pickling spice bulk jar in Italy by plant breeder John Navazio. Pleasantly piquant leaves contain a pleasing mix of lobed and strap shapes. Selected for bolt resistance over multiple generations. A delicious basil substitute for “rocket pesto” early in the season, simply blend with garlic, olive oil, and nuts or sunflower seeds and enjoy. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br /> AR1: Packet (2g.≈500 seeds) $3<br />Cress, “Wrinkled Crinkled Crumpled” Lepidium Sativum (35 days) – Bred by Frank Morton, “a cross between ‘Persian’ and ‘Curly’ cress, the leaves of this unique variety are held erect for easy cutting. The twisted, crisped and savoyed texture gives these leaves unexpected heft and toothsomeness for a little garden cress.” Late bolting. OOO, WGS<br /> PC1: Packet (1g. ≈350 seeds) $3<br />Lambs quarters, “Magenta” Chenopodium gigantium (30 days) – I obtained this seed from seedsman, Doug Gosling 20 years ago, where this plant bedazzled garden-goers and salad eaters with its iridescent magenta leaves. Flavor is tender and uniquely rich. Self sows readily if allowed to go to seed. Heat tolerant. Flowering plants can reach 5 feet tall. SSF<br /> LQ1 Packet (2g.) $3<br />Mustard, “Komatsuna” Brassica rapa (35-55 days) – aka ‘Spinach mustard’. This plant is a non-heading leaf-type of Chinese cabbage with a tender, sweet, non-spicy flavor. Great used young in salad mix or let mature for stir-fry. Grows very quickly to 12-18” height. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br /> MU1: Packet (1g. ≈450 seeds) $3<br />Mustard, “Mitzuna” Brassica rapa (40-65 days) – A quick growing, tender, non-pungent mustard for use in salads or stir-fry. Slender leaves are deeply cut with thin stems and mild, sweet flavor. Selected for generations for non-hairiness and late bolting. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br /> MU2: Packet (1g. ≈450 seeds) $3<br />Mustard, “Wild Garden Pungent Mix” Brassica juncea (30-45 days) – Bred by Frank Morton, “A mixture of 7+ diverse varieties. Bunches of this look like vegetable bouquets. Perfect for salad mix diversity. Leaf colors are golden, green, striped red, and solid purple; flavors sweet, pungent, and hot.” OOO, WGS.<br /> MU3: Packet (1g.≈500 seeds) $3<br />Orach, “Purple Mountain Spinach” Atriplex hortensis (45 days) - A relative of spinach, Orach makes delicious heat tolerant greens all summer with gorgeous purple sparkly leaves. When plant it in flower it can reach 6 feet and reseeds easily. Direct sow. Visually spectacular in the garden and on the salad plate! SSF<br /> OR1 Packet (4g.) $3<br />Purslane, “Golden” Portulaca oleracea sativa (30-60 days) – A big garden strain of the familiar weed, does not become invasive, but will self sow if tended. Thick and succulent grows to 14” tall. Juicy, lemon flavored leaves make a great summer salad addition. Very high in Omega-3 fatty- acids. WGS<br /> PU1: packet (1/2 g. ≈500 seeds) $3________________________________<br />KALE, Black Tuscan” Brassica oleracea (50 days) this is an excellent Lacinato (or Dino) type kale from the late Alan Vanet and SOW seeds. With dark green leaves and resistance to both heat and cold, it provides tasty, nutritious, tender kale leaves for most of the year. Very winter hardy it becomes exceptionally sweet after frost. A proven farmer’s market favorite it is beautiful to behold as well. HEIRLOOM. LKF<br /> KL1: packet (2g ≈ 500 seeds): $3, Ounce (≈ 8,000 seeds): $15<br /><br />Please visit us on the web at www.siskiyouseeds.com<br /><br />KALE, “Red Russian” Brassica napus (50 days) The standard homestead/garden kale in the PNW. Leaves are blue-green, flat and lobed/toothed with beautiful purple stems and veins. Mild flavor can be used young in salad or mature as a cooking green. Selected for multiple generations for cold hardiness down to 10 degrees Fahrenheit and uniform color. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br /> KL2: packet (2g ≈450 seeds) $3<br />KALE, “Red Ursa” Brassica napus (60 days) Bred by Frank Morton, “combines the broadleaf frills of ‘Siberian’ with the color of ‘Red Russian’. Great raw flavor for salads, especially the young mature leaves of full-grown plants. Gives good fluff to flat salad…also perfect for light stir-frying.”<br /> KL4: packet (2g.≈450 seeds) $3<br />Kale, “White Russian” Brassica napus (60 days) – The most cold hardy kale, also bolts later in the spring than any other kale by 2-3 weeks, which helps to keep the garden on your dinner plate in the lean month of April. Looks like Red Russian kale, but with white veining and stems. Generally regarded as the best tasting kale by many. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br /> KL3: packet (2g. ≈450 seeds) $3_________________________________<br />Leeks, “King Sieg” Allium porrum (85 days) - Beth Rasgorshek of Canyon Bounty in Idaho crossed King Richard with Siegfried Frost leek to create a versatile stable cultivar that has some of the good attributes of both. Its shanks are intermediate between the long King Richard and the short Siegfried, about 6" long but with a wonderful 3" thickness for a wide edible area. It also has some of Siegfried’s delightful blue-green coloration and delayed maturity. WGF<br /> LK1: packet (2g. ≈700 seeds) $3<br />Leeks, “Tadorna” Allium porrum (110 days) A Large leek for fall production. Uniform, long shafts are east to clean and have that delicious mild flavor that brings just the right subtlety to fall and winter meals. SSF<br /> LK2: packet (2g ≈ 700 seeds): $3, Ounce: $20 <br />LETTUCE, Latuca sativa____________________________________________<br />“Bronze Arrow” (60 days) - Gorgeous mild-flavored heirloom with oak leaf tips and a tightly wrapped, sweet heart. Produces heavy heads that are a mix of greens, red, and of course…bronze. Good market variety. Slow to bolt and very cold hardy. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br /> LT1: packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) $3<br />“Concept” (50 days) – My favorite green head lettuce. This Batavian type is a dense, large, sweet flavored variety that holds up well in the heat. Does well as a fall lettuce too. SSF<br /> LT2: packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) $3<br /> “Crispmint” (55 days) – Romaine type. A vigorous growing, uniquely savoyed upright, green romaine. Heads are large and tight. Fairly bolt and disease resistant. This beautiful, sweet tasting lettuce is a real standout and has become one of our favorites. SSF<br /> LT3: packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) $3<br /> “Devil’s Ears” (50 days) – “Les Oreilles du Diablo” One of the most unique varieties of lettuce that I’ve seen. Deer tongue type, produces a large rosette of pointed shiny, rusty-red/green leaves like a big star. A vegetable mandala. Heat resistant, without becoming bitter. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br /> LT4: packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) $3<br />“Dark Lolo Rosa” (55 days) – Very dark purple/red, frilly leaves make an attractive addition to salads. Great salad mix variety as it adds color and loft. Slow growing and bolt resistant. SSF<br /> LT5: packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) $3<br /> <br />Please visit us on the web at www.siskiyouseeds.com<br /><br />“Forellenschullus” (55days) – A loose leaf Romaine from Austria whose name means, “speckled like a Trout’s back” in German. Leaves are bright apple green with maroon-scarlet blotches. Winner of many tastes tests for its excellent mild sweet flavor. A good salad mix variety for its unique leaf coloration. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br /> LT6: packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) $3, Ounce (25,000 seeds): $25<br />“Lettuce Mix” (30 days for baby leaves) – A mixture of all of the varieties we offer. Instant salad mix diversity! Direct seed in succession for a continuous supply of cutting salad leaves. SSF<br /> LT7: packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) $3, Ounce (25,000 seeds): $25<br />“Marin” (55 days) – A nice, refined green head lettuce that achieves a large stature with its open whirl of slightly savoyed rumpled leaves. As good market head lettuce that has been largely dropped by the commercial seed trade. SSF <br /> LT8: packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) $3<br />“Merlot” (30 days baby, 60 days head) – Leaves are intensely purple, red with a nearly metallic sheen. Terrific for a real stand-out salad mix. Doesn’t have the weight for head lettuce culture Very disease and bolt resistant. Good source of the antioxidant, anthocyanin. SSF<br /> LT9: packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) $3<br />“New Red Fire” (50 days) – Grand Rapids type. A reliable market standard red head lettuce has filled many cases on organic farms around the country. Leaves are a nice combination of red and green. Versatile plant can be grown as a 3-season head lettuce as it’s bolt resistant and has good disease resistance. SSF<br /> LT10: packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) $3<br />“Optima” (60 days) – Butterhead type. A large, dark green butterhead with a succulent blanched heart. Very good disease resistance, which is helpful in butter as most others are fairly wimpy. SSF<br /> LT11: packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) $3<br />“Outredgeous” (50 days) – Bred by Frank Morton, this variety had intensely red-pigmented leaves in an open romaine shape. Great for cutting for salad mix, although it can make a nice smaller head. Pretty. OOO, SSF<br /> LT12: packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) $3<br />“Redina” (55 days) – Grand Rapids type. Good red head lettuce, but works equally well cut young for a mix. Frilly, medium-red leaves. Exhibits good disease resistance. SSF<br /> LT13: packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) $3<br />“Red Iceberg” (60 days) – Forget what you know about Iceberg lettuce and picture crunching your teeth into the thick sweet, juicy midribs of this French crisphead/Batavian lettuce. Forms a tightly wrapped, softball sized head surrounded by a satellite dish of reddish-green leaves. Very bolt resistant and doesn’t become bitter in summer heat. Delightful! SSF<br /> LT14: packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) $3<br />“Red Sails” (50 days) – Grand Rapids type. Ruffled, fringed leaves frame a nice large head lettuce that is among the most bolt resistance red lettuces. Crisp midribs make for crunchy summer salads. SSF<br /> LT15: packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) $3, Ounce (25,000 seeds): $25<br />“Romaine Mix” (30 days for baby leaves) – A wonderful assortment of 25 different types of upright romaine lettuces for direct seeding into a cut and come again salad bed. Includes reds, light greens, dark greens, speckled, and unique combinations. Easy pickin’s! OOO, SSF<br /> LT16: packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) $3 Ounce (25,000 seeds): $25<br />“Verte Mar” (55 days) – A big, dark-green tall heading Romaine type. Uniform heads are surrounded by tasty, crisp, slightly crinkled leaves that are sweeter than other romaine’s. HEIRLOOM, SSF.<br /> LT17 packet (1g. ≈ 800 seeds) $3, Ounce (25,000 seeds): $25<br />Melons, Cucumis melo_______________________________________________________<br />“Athena F2” ((79 days) – This is the first step down the breeder’s road of stabilizing this workhorse hybrid variety. Selected from choice fruits within a 3-acre field at Fry Family Farm. Long grown for its disease tolerance, crack resistance, good shelf life and thick, exceptionally sweet orange flesh. 4 pound average fruits, oval shape. SSF<br /> ML1: packet (2g.≈75 seeds) $3<br />“Eel River” (90-100 days) This long season melon is worth the wait for its 3-8 pound fruits with thin skin and dense luscious orange flesh that’s remarkably creamy. Also referred to as ‘Crane melon’ it has been improved and reselected by seedsman, Bill Reynolds in southern Humboldt county for many years. HEIRLOOM, ERF<br /> ML5: packet (2g. ≈ 75 seeds) $3, Half-Ounce (500 seeds): $20<br />“Galia x Haogen F1” (80 days) – An early glimpse into a breeding project to confer the netted rind trait of Galia to the awesome flavor of Haogen. We have loved Haogen for its unique pineapple-like luscious flavor, its productivity and the eye appeal of its green and yellow striped fruits. However it has a very thin rind that bruised easily. Galia improves on this aspect, but we found that it sacrificed some of the flavor and texture. So see for yourself what this novel mating yields! SSF<br /> ML2: packet (2g≈75 seeds) $3<br />“Haogen” (80 days) – An Israeli perfume melon held in high esteem for its creamy, sweet green flesh that is much richer than any honeydew. Smooth skin with no netting. Worth growing for the smell of the ripe fruits alone. One of our favorite tasting melons hands down. Good dependable short season variety for northern growers has vigorous vines that produce 10 or more fruit. 1-5 pounds. SSF<br /> ML3: packet (2g. 75 seeds) $3, Half-Ounce (500 seeds): $20<br />“Mountain Honey” (85 days) – A very productive traditional netted cantaloupe with excellent flavor. Texture is smooth and firm. Highly prolific, each plant can produce 10-12, 2-4 pound melons successfully even with the cool nights of our mountain farm. A good open pollinated melon for market growers. SSF<br /> ML4: packet (2g.≈75seeds) $3<br />ONIONS, Allium cepa______________________________________________<br />“New York Early” (98 days) – An improved strain of early Yellow Globe. Long day, Northern type with globe shape and very hard bulbs that store very well. Sweet enough for sandwiches and salads, but more bite than Siskiyou Sweet below. WGF<br /> ON1: packet (2g. ≈ 450 seeds) $3<br />“Siskiyou Sweet” (110 days spring sown, or 300 days over wintered) –A reselection of Walla Walla sweet onion. Light brown skin with white flesh that is very mild and sweet. Summer ripening from a spring sowing is convenient for fresh use, not a keeper. Fresh tops useful as scallions. Very cold hardy. Can attain mammoth proportions with ample fertility, our record is 2.5 pounds without trying anything fancy. SSF<br /> ON2: packet (2g.≈ 450 seeds): $3, Ounce (≈6500 seeds): $20 <br />“Southport Red Globe” (100-120 days) – Large globe with glossy purple-red skin. Mild firm white, pink-tinged flesh with pungent flavor. Long day type. Heavy yields possible because it can easily attain 10-12 ounce bulb size. Good market and medium storage variety. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br /> ON3: packet (2g. ≈450 seeds): $3, Ounce (≈6500 seeds): $20<br />“Valencia” (115 days) – Large, sweet Spanish type with a full globe covered in a bronze skin. White flesh is very mild and sweet, although not as sweet as ‘Siskiyou Sweet’ above. Keeps well for a sweet onion. Thick necks require careful handling and drying for good storage. SSF<br /> ON4: packet (2g. ≈450 seeds) $3<br />PARSNIP, “Cobham Improved Marrow” Pastinaca sativa (120 days) – An old English variety with 8-10 inch tapered white roots with excellent sweet flavor. Selected for a gentle taper with a nice wedge profile. Vigorous foliage. Very high sugar content makes for sublime winter dishes. Very cold hardy. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br /> PN1: packet (4g. ≈850 seeds): $3, Ounce (≈6100 seeds): $20_____________<br />PEAS, “Cascade” Pisum sativum (58-70 days) – A bush pea with 3 foot vines that produce prodigious quantities of 3” stringless pods with fabulous snap and sweet flavor. Thick pod walls. Out performs Sugar Ann in our experience. Multiple disease tolerance. Bred by Dr. James Baggett, OSU<br /> PE1: packet (one ounce/28g.) $3<br />PEAS, “Sugar Daddy” Pisum sativum (68-75 das) – A dwarf bush snap pea with 24-30” vines that need little support. Heavy yields of 2.5-3.5” pods with thick, crunchy sweet flavor. 3 harvests common. <br /> PE2: packet (one ounce/28 g.) $3<br />PEAS, “Sugar Snap” Pisum sativum (70 days) – This is the classic snap pea with vigorous vines that grow to 6-7 feet, requiring staking. Pods are 3” and are borne over a long season. Incredible flavor is unmatched.<br /> PE3: packet (one ounce/28g.) $3<br />PEPPERS(Capsicum annum, unless noted otherwise)_____________________________<br />“Bolivian Rainbow” Capsicum baccatum (75-90 days) a different species than other commonly grown peppers, this variety has purple=green foliage and stems. The fruits go through a rainbow of colors: green, purple, yellow, orange then red. Often all colors are seen on a plant at once. Very ornamental. Fruits are small, ¾” and very spicy, actually make that very, very spicy! Can be grown in a pot as an edible houseplant. SSF<br /> PR1: packet (1/2g ≈ 100seeds) $3<br />“Cayenne- Aci Sivri” (80-90 days) – This strain from Hungary is incredibly prolific, producing up to 25 fruits per plant that are about 5-10” long. Fruits ripen from green to a brilliant shade of red and are larger than traditional cayenne’s without sacrificing the heat. Excellent for making ristras. Very impressive. SSF<br /> PR2: packet (1/2g. ≈ 70 seeds) $3<br /> “Pimento Mix” (90 days) – A blend of round red pimento and ‘Lipstick’ elongated shapes. Selected for generations for productivity and lodge-resistance. Delicious, thick juicy fruits that endear these peppers to many. Plants grow to 18-24” tall and set about a dozen fruits in our climate. We grow many in our greenhouse and enjoy them for 2 months after the last frost, a little taste of tropical fruit in the winter. SSF<br /> PR3: packet (1/2g≈ 70 seeds) $3<br />“Rellano” (80 days) – Big, beautiful mild chile for making chile’ Rellano. Stocky plants are reliably productive in northern areas. Fruits emerge as green and mature to a waxy, scarlet red. Quite mild flavor can be enjoyed by even those why traditionally shy away from chile’s. SSF<br /> PR4: packet (1/2g ≈ 70 seeds) $3<br />“Yankee Bell” (60days green/ 80 days red) – Developed by Rob Johnston in Maine for short season growers. This is a blocky medium sized pepper with 3 or 4 lobes that ripens to a bright red. Compact growth habit helps to shade fruits from sunburn and resist lodging. SSF<br /> PR5: packet (1/2 g. ≈ 70 seeds) $3_______________________________<br />PUMPKIN, “Winter Luxury” Cucurbita pepo (105 days) – An old variety that’s making a comeback because of its excellent flavor for pumpkin pies. Uniquely netted orange skin over thick flesh. Sprawling vines produce 3-4 fruits that are 5-7 pounds each. HEIRLOOM, LKF<br /> PK1: packet (5g. ≈ 30 seeds): $3, Ounce (175 seeds): $10<br />Please visit us on the web at www.siskiyouseeds.com<br />RADISH, Raphanus sativus_____________________________________________________<br />“French Breakfast” (25 days) Classic heirloom with an elongated shaped with a pleasing mix of scarlet-red on top and white on bottom. Grows very rapidly and is best enjoyed while they are young and tender. Distinctly mild pungent flavor. Grown since 1880s. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br /> RD1: packet (7g, ≈650 seeds) $3<br />“Plum Purple” (30 days) – Rescued from PVP private domain by seedsman, Dr. John Navazio. A delightful quick-growing garden beauty that retains its crisp texture and mild, sweet flavor to a larger size than most other radishes. Beautiful amethyst skin over bright white flesh. Selected for resistance to wire worms over multiple generations. SSF<br /> RD2: packet (7g. ≈650 seeds) $3<br />“Rondo” (25-30 days) – An old German round-red variety with a nice globe shape and crisp and mild bright white interior. Rediscover radishes! HEIRLOOM, SOW<br /> RD3: packet (7g. ≈ 650 seeds) $3<br />“White Finger” (30 days) – A unique addition to the early spring garden, White Finger makes long slender roots with a blunt tip with bright white skin and flesh. As with most radishes they are best enjoyed when young and tender. SOW<br /> RD4: packet (7g ≈ 650 seeds) $3_______________________________<br />SPINACH, “Bloomsdale Longstanding” Spinacia oleracea (45 days) A classic open pollinated strain introduced in 1925 that is well-selected in the Skagit valley of Washington for its upright, dark-green savoyed leaves and terrific spinach flavor. Performs better than most varieties in the heat, but really excels in spring and fall plantings. HEIRLOOM, MBS<br /> SP1: packet (3g. ≈ 225 seeds): $3 Ounce (≈2200 seeds): $10<br />SPINACH, “Winter Giant” Spinacia oleracea (45 days) Also known as ‘ Geant Hiver’ in France. Smooth, semi-savoyed variety with medium green leaves that are exceptionally cold hardy. This is an excellent strain for late summer and fall seeding. HEIRLOOM, MBS<br /> SP2: packet (3g. ≈ 225 seeds): $3 Ounce (≈2200 seeds): $10<br />SQUASH, SUMMER, Curcibita pepo___________________________________________<br />“Costata Romanesca” (55 days) Delicious Italian heirloom with pale green fruits with distinct ribs. Although it yields lower than hybrid varieties, its flavor is far superior, creamy, nutty and with great texture. Exceptionally large blossoms lend themselves to frying well. WGF<br /> SS1: packet (5g ≈ 25 seeds): $3 Ounce (≈150 seeds): $15<br />“Dark Star” Zucchini (50 days) - A new open pollinated zucchini developed by Eel River, California organic grower, Bill Reynolds that has been bred as an OP market gardener workhorse alternative to hybrids. Spineless stalks prevent damage to fruits while harvesting. Long harvest window is a good trait for farmer and gardener alike. Remarkably vigorous. ERP<br /> SS2: packet (5g. ≈ 25 seeds): $3 Ounce (≈150 seeds): $15<br />“Yellow Crookneck” (50 days) – An tried and true variety with exceptional productivity of tender, smooth yellow fruits with an intriguing twist. Bush habit helps to save space in the garden. The flavor of this variety is rich and creamy, delightful steamed and mashed with butter! HEIRLOOM, SSF<br /> SS3: packet (5g. ≈25 seeds): $3, Ounce (≈250 seeds): $15<br />SWISS CHARD, Beta vulgaris__________________________________________________<br />“Fordhook Giant” (50 days) – An incredibly vigorous green leafed chard with very wide, brilliant white petioles. Leaves can grow to 3’ tall with good fertility! Lots of variation in leaf shape, but generally heavily savoyed. An old standby in gardens across northern latitudes. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br /> SC1: packet (5g ≈350 seeds) $3<br /><br />Please visit us on the web at www.siskiyouseeds.com<br /> “Prismatic Rainbow” (60 days) – Our selection that has leaves in shades of green, red, pink, yellow, orange and stripes. Highly ornamental, it’s a beautiful sight to behold! Selected for resistance to leaf miners, wide petioles and upright growth habit. This strain was tops in a recent trial in Washington. OOO. SSF<br /> SC2: packet (5g. ≈350 seeds) $3 Ounce (≈2, 100 seeds): $10<br /> “Pink Passion” (55 days) – Gorgeous deep magenta leaf stalks and venation over dark green lightly savoyed leaves. Very beautiful! Selected for wide petioles, upright growth habit and winter hardiness. SSF<br /> SC3: packet (5g.≈350 seeds) $3<br /> Ounce (≈2, 100 seeds) $10<br />“Rhubarb” (55 days) – This is the standard for red chard. A selection by John Navazio, it has deep ruby, red stems and dark green leaves with a pleasing savoyed rumple. Can be used young as a baby leaf in salad mix for some color. Try sautéing with balsamic vinegar and sweet onions, delightful. WGS<br /> SC4: packet (5g ≈ 350 seeds) $3<br />TOMATO, Lycopersicon esculentum_____________________________________<br />“Black Cherry” (60 days) – A refreshing break from the ordinary, this purple brown cherry tomato has incredibly abundant 1” diameter fruits with a complex, rich sweet flavor. Very productive with vigorous vines that can top 6 feet, so stake accordingly or you’ll be traversing a jungle of tangled tomatoes to satiate your desire for more of these tasty treats. SSF<br /> TM1: packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) $3<br /> “Burbank Slicing” (70-80 days) – Developed by the infamous, Luther Burbank, this variety is a reliable producer of 4-6 ounce round red fruits on bush habit plants that do not require trellising. Flavor is a pleasant sweet/tart. Crack resistant and disease tolerant. SSF <br /> TM2: packet (1/4 g. ≈ 75 seeds) $3<br />“Caro Rich” (72-80 days) – Indeterminate. Large 4-6 ounce beefsteak type fruits with a deep golden-orange color and low acid flesh. Very high in beta-carotene. Selected for crack resistance and general adaptability. Productive and pretty. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br /> TM3: packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) $3<br />“Chianti Rose” (90 days) – A beautiful large pink-fruited tomato that is the result of an intentional cross between the famous heirloom, Brandywine and Oxheart. Fruits are 8-16 ounces, mostly smooth, but some have furrows. Flesh is thick and meaty with a distinctive, full, rich flavor and very few seeds. Vigorous indeterminate vines require staking. SSF<br /> TM4: packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) $3<br />“Double Rich” (60-80 days) – Indeterminate. Double Rich has solid, meaty, medium sized deep red globe shaped fruit with 50-60 units of Vitamin C per fruit. Good short season producer. Good resistance to blight and wilt. HEIRLOOM. SSF<br /> TM5: packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) $3<br />“Doucet’s Plum” (60-70 days) – One of the earliest tomatoes for the Pacific Northwest. Plum tomatoes are larger than a cherry, but smaller than a slicer, makes a great salad tomato. Originally obtained from the Sandhill Preservation Society. LKF <br /> TM6: packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) $3<br />“German Streaked” (80 days) – Large 8-12 ounce, flattened fruits are a beautiful yellow, orange red marbled pattern. Particularly attractive when sliced. Flavor is very fruity and complex and reminiscent of fruits from more tropical locales. My favorite! HEIRLOOM, SSF<br /> TM7: packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) $3<br />“Marvel Striped” (90-110 days) – Originally from the Zapotec peoples of Mexico. Produces large 10-16 ounce fruits on indeterminate vines. Fruits are yellow, orange with a lobed, pleated shape, and very few seeds. Complex, fruity and tasty. HEIRLOOM, SSF, LRF<br /> TM8: packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) $3<br />“ORLST” (80-85 days) - This variety came to us from the collection of seedsman, Alan Vanet with this strange name, which we’ve deciphered as ORegon Late Spring Tomato. It appears to share genetic parentage with the OSU/James Bagget variety ‘Oregon Star’. ORLST produces nice 1-2 pound flattened red fruits with few seeds, a nice firm texture and great rich flavor. The most productive red slicer in our trials last year. SSF<br /> TM9: packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) $3<br />“Peacevine Cherry” (78 days) – Stabilized from the hybrid ‘Sweet 100’ by Dr. Alan Kapular of Peace Seeds. This rambunctious indeterminate produces an astounding amount of 1” round red fruits, borne in cluster of 6-10. Flavor is excellent, sweet/tart. You’ll find yourself gorging on them in the garden. Contains very high levels of Vitamin C and gamma-amino butyric acid, a natural nervous system sedative, hence the name. SSF<br /> TM10: packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) $3<br />“Peron Sprayless” (70 days) Introduced in 1951 from Greece. Early, vigorous midseason tomato with good crack resistance and exceptional disease resistance. Deep-red 10-ounce fruits are globe shaped. Outperforms hybrids. Indeterminate, requires staking. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br /> TM11: packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) $3<br />“Red Pear” aka “Red Fig” (70-80 days) – Very vigorous vines produce copuis quantities of delightful 1.75”x1” pear shaped fruits that are scarlet-red. Delightful sweet mild flavor really spruces up salads. Crack resistant. One of our favorites. Originally brought from Italy. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br /> TM12: packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) $3 <br />“Sweet Orange II” (65 days) – A unique open pollinated orange cherry tomato that is exceptionally productive. Crack resistant. Bred for higher sugar levels. LKF<br /> TM13: packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) $3<br />“Thessaloniki” (66-80 days) – Indetermate. Developed in Greece, this variety produces uniform baseball sized smooth red fruits that weigh 4-6 ounces. Resistant to sunburn, cracking and spots. Mild flavor. A reliable early producer. SSF<br /> TM14: packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) $3<br />“Willamette” (70-100 days) – 3-4’ bushy vines yield quality small (3”), smooth red slicers. Bred at OSU for Oregon growers. Small stem and blossom scars. SSF<br /> TM15: packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) $3<br />“Wisconsin55” (72-75 days) – Large smooth red slicer that produced uniform 3-4” round fruits that hold very well off the vine. Strong skin and solid walls give this tomato the workhorse characteristics that could make it a main crop tomato for market growers. Flavor is excellent, full, rich and satisfying. SSF<br /> TM16: packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) $3<br />“Yellow Pear” (70-80 days) Rampant indeterminate vines produce clusters of small (1.5-2” x .75-1” diameter), yellow pear shaped fruits. Mild flavor. Great eye appeal for fresh eating. 1805, HEIRLOOM, SSF<br /> TM17: packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) $3<br />“Yellow Brandywine” (75-100 days) – Indeterminate, fuzzy potato leaf vines that make humongous 1-2+ pound fruits that are flattened with occasional ribbing. Delicious creamy texture and complex bouquet will satisfy the most discriminating tomato connoisseur. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br /> TM18: packet (1/4g. ≈ 75 seeds) $3<br /><br />*All Seeds are certified Organic to the USDA NOP Standards<br /><br />‘OOO” = Oregon Organic Original’ variety, bred for organic conditions<br /><br />Please visit us on the web at www.siskiyouseeds.com<br /><br />WATERMELON, “Early Yellow Moonbeam” Citrullus lanatus (80-90 days) – This variety originated as a hybrid called ‘Yellow Doll’ and was stabilized over the last 2 decades as a result of the work of Dr. Alan Kapular. A reliable producer of 3-8 pound fruits with bright, lemon yellow crisp sweet flesh. Very thin rind that has been known to crack open with an audible ‘pop’ when stared at for too long or handled roughly. Refined flavor. Productive variety for northern growers. SSF <br />________WM1: packet (3g. ≈ 70 seeds): $3, Ounce (≈650 seeds): $20_______________<br />WINTER SQUASH, “Buttercup, Burgess” Cucurbita maxima (100days) – A 3-5 pound, blocky squash with deep orange skin and dark orange flesh that is sweet, creamy and smooth. Very nice eating quality, not stringy. Productive vines yield 3-8 fruits each. HEIRLOOM<br /> WS1: packet (6g. ≈ 30 seeds) $3<br />Winter Squash, “Butternut, Waltham strain” Cucurbita moschata (110 days) – Solid 9” fruits weigh in at 4-6 pounds and have a very small seed cavity, brilliant orange flesh and a tan skin. Flavor is sweet, smooth and slightly nutty. Excellent for pie. Requires supplemental curing in a greenhouse or warm house post harvest to properly color up and cure. U of Mass. 1956 introduction. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br /> WS2: packet (6g. ≈ 40 seeds) $3<br />Winter Squash, “Delicata – Zeppelin” Cucurbita pepo (100 days) – A much loved 1894 heirloom winter squash that’s just the right size for a side dish with dinner. The fruits are 7-10” long, weigh about a pound and posses flesh that’s finer textured, sweeter, and significantly longer keeping than other strains. HEIRLOOM, WGS<br /> WS3: packet (6g. ≈ 40 seeds) $3<br />Winter Squash, “Stella Blue” Cucurbita maxima (100 days) – Developed by Bill Reynolds this variety is an improved baby blue Hubbard type, suitable for family dinners. Slate gray skin conceals thick deep orange flesh that is smooth, sweet and delicious. Try cutting one in half and filling with rice, onion, garlic, tomatoes and the like and baking it! ERP<br /> WS4: packet (6g. ≈ 30 seeds) $3<br />Winter Squash, “Sunshine Daydream” Cucurbita Maxima (90 days) – Good ideas have to start somewhere…this project started as a taste bud love affair with the excellent variety ‘Sunshine F1’ a delicious orange skinned squash developed by Rob Johnston. With the dream of culturing this strain into an open pollinated variety, we offer this F2 assession. Some variability is distinctly possible, but we have faith that the flavor of this productive and tasty squash is worth it. An heirloom of tomorrow in the making. SSF<br /> WS5: packet (6g ≈ 30 seeds) $3<br />Winter Squash, “Sweet Dumpling” Cucurbita pepo (95 days) – Delightfully sweet and smooth baked or steamed, this productive squash makes 8-12 4-5” roundish fruits like little yellow and green striped pumpkins. A favorite with children. Stores quite well until April. SSF<br /> WS6: packet (6g. ≈ 40 seeds) $3<br /><br />HERBS_______________________________________<br />Basil, “Genovese” Ocimum basilicum (65-75 days)– Classic pesto Basil<br />makes a profusion of deep green, large leaves full of complex flavor <br />and aroma. Responds well to frequent harvests. Harvest low to <br />encourage succulent re-growth rather than woody stems. <br /> BA1: packet (1g. ≈400 seeds) $3<br />Basil, “Cinnamon” (65 days) –Pleasant sweet cinnamon aroma adds <br />a refreshing twist to summer meals. Purple stems, veins and flowers<br /> with green leaves. A delightful garden companion. 30” tall. SOW<br /> BA2: packet (1g. ≈400 seeds) $3 <br />Calendula, “Pacific Beauty Mix” (85 days) – A cheery array of yellow, orange, pinkish and whitish blooms with plenty of diversity to keep you interested as you harvest juicy blossoms for making medicinal oils and salves that are excellent for soothing burns, sprains, bites and other skin afflictions. Very easy to grow and tends to naturalize if allowed to go to seed. SSF<br /> CD1: packet (5g. ≈ 500 seeds):, $3, Ounce (≈3, 000 seeds): $18<br />Cilantro, “Criola” Coriandrum sativum (50-55 days for leaf / 100 days for seed) Popular in Mexican and Asian cooking, cilantro brings a refreshing cool flavor to summer dishes. Selected for slow bolting. Allowed to go to seed it will resow itself readily. Edible seed is known as Coriander. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br /> CI1: packet (2g. ≈ 250 seeds) $3<br />Echinacea purpera – Perennial – This herb is easy to grow as its seeds germinate without stratification (cold-treatment). Vigorous grower can reach 6 feet in flower, with dozens of beautiful pink/purple blossoms arising from a mound of dark green leaves. Flowers usually emerge the second year and thereafter. Aerial parts and roots are used medicinally to support the immune system. SSF<br /> EC1: packet (2g. ≈ 400 seeds) $3<br />Hyssop Hyssopus officinalis – Perennial – A wonderfully fragrant ornamental that also has similar medicinal characteristics to mint. Hyssop is also a favorite nectar source for bumblebees and other native pollinators. Grows to 16-30” tall in flower.<br /> HY1: packet (1/2 g. ≈ 400 seeds) $3<br />Parsley, “Moss Green Curled” Petroselinum crispum - This selection began as ‘Darki’ from Frank Morton, then we made a selection from a large field at Fry Family Farm, rouging any plants with bottom rot, yellowing or other undesirable characteristics. Fluffy, curly, wavy dark green leaves are produced in an abundant mound16-18” high. Try in pesto! SSF<br /> PS1: packet (1g. ≈ 500 seeds):$3, Ounce (16,000 seeds): $8<br />Tobacco, “Hopi” Nicotiana rustica – Annual – Large dark green, resinous leaves contain very high levels of nicotine born in a 12-16” rosette. Flowers are subtle lime greenish white with a delicious jasmine-like scent in the evening. Proper curing (like all tobacco) necessary to mellow harshness. Grows to 24” when in flower. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br /> TB1: packet (1/4g. ≈ 300 seeds) $3<br /><br /><br />GRAINS: <br /><br />Amaranth, “Golden Giant” Amaranthus cruentus (100 – 110 days) – A late season grain amaranth that produces large orange/gold seed heads on top of 6 foot tall stalks. Edible green leaves with golden brown veins and stalks. Very productive, producing up to 1 pound of seed per plant. Easy to harvest, simply clip the heads and hang to dry. Thresh by stomping on them once dry and winnow to remove chaff. Should be incorporated into our diet as a staple to supplement other grains like rice, or ground into flour to mix into breads and pancakes. SSF <br /> AM1: packet (1,000 seeds) : $3, Ounce (30,000 seeds): $12<br />Barley, “EZ thresh”- Hordeum vulgare (140 days to dry grain from a February 1st sowing) – nice hulless barley from George Stevens. Most barley has a stubborn hull that clings to the seed. Great stew ingredient that brings a chewy, nutty flavor. SSF<br /> BR1: packet (14g.) $3<br /><br />Please visit us on the web at www.siskiyouseeds.com<br /><br />Barley “ Kamamuji” Hordeum vulgare (140 days from early spring sowing, or 270 days from a fall sowing) – The most productive barley for our climate in a trial of 10 varieties. 6-row barley that is different from the 2-row types used for beer malt. Long awns make for a decorative display when in seed. Very easy to grow and thresh by dancing on the dried seed heads, or thresh traditionally with a flail on a solid floor, winnow and then ‘presto’ there you go; genuine food security. Let’s create a ‘One Straw Revolution’! SSF<br /> BR2: packet (14g.) $3<br />Flax, “Omega”Linum usitatissimum (90 days) Direct sow in spring after it’s warmed up flax is an easy to grow dietary supplement, useful in baking. Very high in Omega 3 fatty acids. Produces a profusion of sky blue flowers on slender 24” stems. Seed matures early in summer. Easy to thresh and winnow. Seed must be ground or sprouted to make nutrition accessible. SSF<br /> FX1: packet (200 seeds): $3, Ounce: $15<br />Kamut, “Blacktip” Triticum turanicum – ((140 days from early spring sowing, or 270 days from a fall sowing) – A landrace strain of wheat from the Fertile Crescent region. The word “KAMUT” is actually a trademarked marketing name. Probably better described as ‘Khorasan wheat’, it is more digestible by some people with gluten intolerance, probably because it has been selected by farmers for generations for its eating qualities, as opposed to modern wheat varieties that are selected largely for yield. Blacktip produces large (1/2”) kernels that have a richer, nuttier flavor than modern wheats. Can grow to 4-5 feet from a fall sowing, so lodging is a consideration that suggests early spring sowing might be better. Unique in its jet-black awns that are 2-3” long. Very ornamental! Originally obtained from seedsman, George Stevens. SSF <br /> KT1: packet (14g.) $3<br />Millet, “Foxtail” Setaria italica (100days) – A productive, warm-season grass that yields heavy seed heads with up to an ounce of grain each. Small shiny seeds are the only alkalizing grain commonly eaten. A nice alternative to rice and can be used sparingly as a wheat substitute in baking. Ornamental appeal is nice in dried flower arrangements as well. SSF<br /> MT1: packet (15g.) $3<br />Quinoa, “Faro” Chenopodium quinoa (100-120 days) – A very easy to grow grain crop related to lambs quarters, beets and spinach. Grows to 4-6 feet tall with an attractive plume shaped seed head that is clipped and dried at summer’s end. Easy to thresh and winnow. Seed must be processed by rinsing with water to remove saponins that coat the seed, otherwise it will taste very bitter. Cook like rice or millet. Staple grain of the Andean peoples. Very productive, 100-foot row can yield 10-20 pounds. SSF<br /> QN1: packet (2g. ≈ 1400 seeds): $3, Ounce (20,000 seeds): $10<br />Poppy,” Hungarian Breadseed” Papaver somniferum (90 days) – Lemon poppy seed pancakes anyone? Grow your own with this low-opiate strain saved for generations for its abundant seed production. Plants grow to 2-3 feet high with pinkish single petal layer flowers. Sow early (February in Oregon) and will mature in late July. Harvest when pods are dry. SSF<br /> PP1: packet (1/2g.) $3<br />Safflower, “Orange” Carthamus tinctorius (100 days) – An ancient crop grown for its use as a fiber dye and its nutritious seeds and oil. Cloth dyed with Safflower was found in the tomb of pharaoh Tutankhamen in ancient Egypt. It is easy to grow. Direct sow. Grows to 3 feet high and producing 1-5 flowers per plant with 15-20 seeds per head. Matures seed in short season areas. Tolerates drought well. Poultry relish the seed heads that produce abundant sunflower like seeds. As an oil crop, its oil is more healthful than olive oil, being high in oleic / monounsaturated oil. SSF<br /> SA1: packet (3 g. ≈150 seeds): $3, Ounce: $12<br /><br />Please visit us on the web at www.siskiyouseeds.com<br /><br />FLOWERS:____________________________________<br /><br />Amaranth, “Elephant Head” Amaranthus gangeticus (70-80 days) – A plant with character if there ever was one! Easily the most commented on plant on our farm during summer tours. Grows to 2-5 feet tall and produces a large, thick maroon red flower stalk that looks like an upraised elephants trunk. Makes many thousands of high protein, nutritious seeds per plant. It will self-sow readily. SSF<br /> AM2: packet (1/4 g. ≈ 250 seeds) $3<br />Celosia, Cockscomb, “Kimberly” Celosia cristata (75 days) – A stunning velvety, maroon crested comb-like flower. Looks like a neon pink brain, truly nothing like it. Kimberly selected this for an abundant profusion of long stemmed blossoms which make an excellent addition to bouquets. Holds color well as an everlasting dried flower. SSF<br /> CC1: packet (1/4g. ≈250 seeds) $3<br />Castor Bean, “Carmencita Red” Ricinus communis (85 days) – A tropical looking, fast growing (to 5’) annual with wine red foliage, stems and seed pods. Very exotic looking. Large seedpod spikes make an unusual, yet appealing accent in bouquets. WARNING: seeds are poisonous and contact with foliage does not agree with some peoples skin. SSF<br /> CB1: packet (10 seeds) $3<br />Coreopsis, “Calliopsis” Coreopsis tinctoria (80 days) A Midwest native annual wildflower also known as ‘Plains Coreopsis’ that makes a wonderful showy border plant. Grows to a 30” high bush covered with hundreds of maroon and gold 1½” blooms. SSF<br /> CI1: Packet (1/4g. ≈ 250 seeds) $3<br />Cosmos, “Seashells Mix” Cosmos bipinnatus (85 days) – Unique display of pink, white and maroon flowers with tubular petals, that as serve as great fingertip décor for younger gardeners. Grows to 4-foot high bush. Flowers average 2-3” across. SSF<br /> CS1: packet (1g. ≈ 140 seeds) $3<br />Cosmos, “Sunrise” Cosmos sulphureus (75 days) – A great border plant that grows to a large 4-6’ bush with hundreds of 2” yellow and orange blossoms. Even just one plant really brightens up the landscape. Self seeds readily. SSF<br /> CS2: packet (1g. ≈ 140 seeds) $3<br />Daisy, “Zulu Prince” Venidium fastuosum (90 days) – Dramatic large (2-3”) flowers with a jet black center, white petals with rings of orange and purple in the center grow from a grayish green mound of hairy leaves. Amazing addition to bouquets. Thrives in heat and drought. Easy to grow. Best grown from transplants. SSF<br /> ZU1: packet (1/2g. ≈ 250 seeds) $3<br />“Love Lies Bleeding” Amaranthus caudatus (65 days) Tall growing (4-5’) annual with a magnificent display of pendulous plumes of maroon rope-like flowers. Very ornamental and suitable for bouquets. Edible leaves are a nutritious addition to salads. SOW<br /> LL1: packet (1/4g. ≈250 seeds) $3<br />Safflower, “Orange” – see description under GRAINS heading<br />Marigold, “African Giant” Tagates erecta (70-90 days) Large 3 to 4 foot tall plants produce prodigious quantities of big, 3” blooms that can really fill out bouquets. A colorful living hedge! String up the flower heads and dry them for amazing homegrown leis and ceremonial offerings. SSF<br /> MG1: packet (1/2 g) $3<br />Marigold, “Cracker Jack” Tagates erecta (90 days) – An early blooming mix of yellow and gold blossoms on strong, 3 foot tall plants. Flowers are a robust and fluffy fully double type. SOW<br /> MG2: packet (1/2g) $3<br />Please visit us on the web at www.siskiyouseeds.com<br />Marigold, “Frances’ Choice” Tagates patula (70-80 days) Bred by Alan Kapular and named for horticulturalist Frances Hoffman. Tall growing (4-5’) plants make a lovely hedge festooned with hundreds of red-petaled flowers fringed with gold. Long stems lend themselves to use as a cut flower. OOO, SOW<br /> MG3: packet (1/2 g) $3<br />Marigold, “La Ribera” Tagates patula (80 days) – Collected from Alan Mushroom Kapular form one plant in La Ribera, Baja, Mexico. Big 3-5 foot bushes produce double 2-4” orange flowers. Dry beautifully. SOW<br /> MG4: packet (1/2g) $3<br />Marigold, “Sparkler” Tagates patula (85 days) – Large (2-3”) flowers on a robust 3-4 foot plant are maroon red accented with orange. Another Alan Kapular origional. Marigolds are excellent garden allies delighting our senses while repelling many garden pests. OOO, LKF<br /> MG5: packet (1/2g.) $3<br />Marigold, “Tashkent” Tagates patula (100 days) – 2-3 foot plants produce a tantalizing display of maroon single petal layer flowers skirted with frilly orange edges and bright yellow centers. Very long bloom period goes from July until late October here. SSF<br /> MG6: packet (1/2g.) $3<br />Sunflower, “Amber Eye” Helianthus annuus (80-100 day) – A polyheaded beauty that grows to 10’ with abundant blooms that are a mix of golden blooms with an amber “eye” in the center” Easy to grow cut flower, wildlife food and joyful expression of creation! SOW<br /> SF1: packet (5g. ≈ 100 seeds) $3<br />Sunflower, “Tarahumara” Helianthus annuus (90-100 days) – A traditional variety developed by the Tarhumara people of Northern Mexico. Tall (7-11’) plants produce a single large (up to 24” across) solid golden flower with pure white seeds. Seeds are large, plump and delicious. HEIRLOOM, SSF<br /> SF2: packet (5g. ≈ 100 seeds) $3<br />Sunflower, “Tiger Teddy” Helianthus annuus (90 days) A fantastic blending of ‘Tiger’s Eye’ bicolor and ‘Teddy Bear’ genetics. Colors are bronze, maroon, red, gold and yellow with mostly double-petaled flowers with single outer layers, with an occasional fully double individual. Outrageous cut flower. SSF<br /> SF3: packet (5g. ≈ 100 seeds) $3<br />Tithonia, “Torch” Tithonia rotundifolia (80-100 days) – Also know as ‘Mexican Sunflower’, this beauty produces many brilliant orange 3” blooms on a multi-branched 6-8’ tall plant. Unique, velvety soft leaves and stems help make this a great border plant. Blooms late into the fall for late-season color and nectar production for insects. SSF<br /> TT1: packet (2g. ≈100 seeds) $3<br />Zinnia, “Chromasomia Mix” Zinnia elegans (70 days) A mixture of all the classic shades and shapes you know and love about Zinnia’s <br />Plus some new twists like orange with<br /> Purple edges and red with purple margins.<br /> Superb cut flower has along vase life. SSF<br />ZN1: packet (2g ≈ 100 seeds) $3<br />Zinnia, “Purple Dahlia” Zinnia elegans <br />(70-80 days) – This charming garden <br />Companion grows to 3-5’ with a brilliant <br />Bright magenta/fuchsia color in single and<br /> Double blooms. SSF<br />ZN2: packet (2g ≈ 100 seeds) $3<br /><br /> <br /> <br />• ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS •<br /><br />You can order from us in two ways:<br /><br />MAIL: Please fill out the order form with the variety codes ( such as SP1, or ZN3) or names and quantities desired, tear it out, or copy it and mail it along with a check or Money Order for the total amount plus shipping to our address at the bottom of the form. <br /><br />WEB: Our website is www.siskiyouseeds.com or www.sevenseedsfarm.com where we have a complete shopping cart format site. The site is updated regularly to reflect shifts in our inventory or new additions. Complete growing instructions are also available there.<br /><br />SEED RACKS: If you are in southern Oregon please visit our seed racks at the Ashland Food Co-op or the Williams General Store.<br /><br />PLEASE NOTE: At this point we cannot accept orders by FAX or phone. However, if you have a question about an order or if something is in stock feel free to call us at (541)846-9233 <br />Or email at don@siskiyouseeds.com<br /><br />GUARANTEE: We personally test all of our seeds for germination rate (typically far exceeding the Federal Minimum Germination Standards) and vigor and are confident that they will perform well for you. However, in the event that you are not satisfied, we will gladly replace either the seeds or refund their purchase price. <br /><br />Siskiyou Seeds Order Form 2010<br />Name:____________________________________________________________<br />Mailing Address:____________________________________________________<br /> ____________________________________________________<br />Phone: (_____)_______________________________________________<br />Email:______________________________________________________<br />Qty. Item Code (BE6, CO3,etc)<br /> & Variety Description Unit Size Price Subtotal<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Shipping & Handling Fees: Subtotal = <br />Order Total= $0 to $15 add $3.00 <br /> $15 to $50 add $6.00 Shipping = <br /> $50 to $100 add $8.00 <br /> Over $100 add $10.00 Total = <br />* Mail this form along with a Check or Money Order to:<br /><br />Siskiyou Seeds<br />3220 East Fork Rd.<br />Williams, OR 97544<br /><br /><br />Thank you!<br /><br />Introducing the Family Farmers Seed Cooperative:<br /><br />As people begin to raise questions about local food security and desire to support ecological farms that ensure this, I’d like to raise a voice from the wilderness about local seed systems and their role in helping to foster ecological farming. Our current system for supplying seed to the organic community has largely ignored the important role of bioregional and on-farm seed production. The vast majority of the seed used in organic farming systems is not grown organically. At best, organic seed is used but usually the germplasm was obtained from conventional sources and grown organically for one season to multiply it sufficiently for a commercial offering. There has been a recent proliferation of organic F1 hybrids being supplied by the large, multi-national seed houses. Consider that some of the inbred parent lines used to produce organic hybrid sweet corn are licensed from Syngenta and Monsanto. The farmers who grow this organic hybrid sweet corn are barred from testing the parent lines for GMOs by contractual agreement. Increasingly, much of the seed offered in numerous seed catalogs is being produced in China under conventional management. I suppose we get what we pay for. <br /> <br /> However, I feel that many farmers are asking for something that is not being supplied by the seed industry. A loose network of plant breeders, seed growers and small independent seed companies is tending a new paradigm of whole system seed. Recently I was fortunate to be among a group of 11 farmers from 5 western states who founded the Family Farmers Seed Cooperative to help this initiative move forward. Founding members from Oregon include Maud Powell (Wolf Gulch Farm) and Don Tipping (Seven Seeds Farm) of SW Oregon and Frank Morton (Wild Garden Seeds) of Philomath, Oregon. The concept of whole systems seed growing is to select for and breed varieties that perform under organic/biodynamic management. I believe that seeds will do well when grown in conditions similar to that of their predecessors. Considerate organic plant breeding and selection can produce open pollinated varieties, which are capable of out performing hybrid varieties. If we can as a community support creating organic seed systems we help organic farmers to be more successful through access to better genetics. Specifically we can select plants that posses characteristics such as the following:<br />• Seedling vigor<br />• Good nutrient foraging ability under low fertility inputs<br />• Horizontal Disease resistance<br />• Insect resistance/tolerance<br />• Adaptability to climatic stress – heat, cold, wind<br />• Nutrition and color<br />• Agronomic considerations – yield, ease of harvest<br /><br /> Our hopes is that the Family Farmer’s Seed Cooperative will give seed growers a voice to articulate what is possible through classical plant breeding. We will also highlight the fruits of participatory plant breeding relationships which pairs trained plant breeders with trained farmers. 2009 represents a year to assess the germplasm that we collectively steward through on-farm trialing, business development and equipment procurement. We are developing regional seed production hubs where we can pool resources to share seed harvesting and processing equipment and knowledge. If all goes well, by 2010 we hope to have a modest offering of seed for sale, with our goal being quality, unique varieties that will perform well in organic vegetable systems. Soon we will have a web site to demonstrate our work and eventually organize sales of seeds.<br /><br /> The ethics of organic farming implores us to do this work of stewarding the vessel of the seed. I intentionally use the term “vessel” because I recognize that a seed caries the story of all of its mitochondrial DNA. It is indeed a ship, which tells of a long journey from wild plant, to land race to productive food plant. When we buy a seed, rarely do we hear this story. When another grower shares the seed, we begin to learn of its tale. If we, ourselves actually grow the seed then we are part of the tale itself. Helping to adapt varieties of plants to our environment is the ecological alternative to adapting our environment to the plants. Domestication is a process, not an end point. As growers, we involve ourselves directly with this process becoming more intimate with the wondrous diversity at the heart of nature.<br /><br />Stay tuned at the Family Farmers Seed Cooperative website or call toll free at (866)866-2001Don Tippinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07715646352324049565noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531629733319790937.post-28591122956375519552010-01-28T01:29:00.000-08:002010-01-28T01:34:28.201-08:002010 CLASSES AT SEVEN SEEDS FARM<br /><br />ORGANIC ORCHARD CARE, FEBRUARY 13, SATURDAY 1-4PM<br />Come and glean from nuggets of wisdom that we have leaned from over a decade of growing tree fruits, and berries organically in the Siskiyous. Topics to be covered will include pruning, mulching, fertility, pest and disease maintenance, and variety selection, planning and planting. The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, next best is today! <br />GROWING FOOD FORESTS, MARCH 13, SATURDAY, 1-4 PM<br />Learn how to design and care for abundant perennial landscapes with many integrated elements. At the center of North American Permaculture lays deeply rooted forest gardens that include trees, shrubs, herbs and vines that produce nuts, fruits, medicine, fodder, nectar, fertility, shade and habitat. $25<br /><br />PERMACULTURE HOMESTEAD TOUR, APRIL 3, SAT. 1-4PM<br />A Permaculture Approach to sustainable human settlement. Here at Seven Seeds Farm we have converted a dilapidated turn of the century (1900) homestead into a thriving passive solar home based family farm. This practical outdoor class will inspire ideas for your own home space. Topics include: pattern observation, assessment tools, retrofitting, creative resource location, infrastructure development, dancing with the elements, water catchment, growing soil, food crops, animals and food forests. $25<br /><br />SEED SAVING, APRIL 17, SATURDAY, 1-4PM<br />How to plan for, plant, care for and harvest seed crops. Fresh, homegrown seed can perform significantly better than store-bought conventionally grown seed that is often many years old. Special emphasis will be given to understanding the basics of variety improvement through selection and basic plant breeding. Also covered, basic botany, basic genetics, isolation distances, pollination, seed life, vigor and germination and more. Help your garden adapt to climate change the old fashioned way – good genetics! $25 <br /><br />HOMEGROWN FOOD YEAR-ROUND, MAY 22, SATURDAY 1-4PM<br />In the Siskiyous, it takes experience, careful planning and good storage conditions to be eating from the garden year round. This timely class will emphasize growing winter foods and storage crops often overlooked by the more casual gardener. The best health insurance money can’t buy is eating healthy fresh food! $25<br /><br />FARMER, DON TIPPING WILL BE THE INSTRUCTOR FOR ALL CLASSES. ALL CLASSES ARE ON SATURDAYS, FROM 1- 4PM AND COST $25 PER PERSON. LAST YEAR ALL CLASSES FILLED QUICKLY, SO PLEASE PREREGISTER ASAP. CALL 846-9233 OR EMAIL AT SEVENSEEDSFARM@YAHOO.COM.<br />THANK YOU VERY MUCH!<br /><br />ALSO:<br />ANNOUNCING SISKIYOU SEEDS! – A BIOREGIONAL SEED BANK FOR THE PACIFIC NW WITH OVER 200 OPEN POLLINATED, ORGANIC VARIETIES. WEBSITE UP SOON AT<br />WWW.SISKIYOUSEEDS.COM<br />EMAIL FOR CATALOG AT @ sevenseedsfarm@yahoo.comDon Tippinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07715646352324049565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531629733319790937.post-36354215561771811972010-01-05T03:53:00.000-08:002010-01-05T04:05:47.023-08:00Siskiyou Seeds VisionSiskiyou Seed is a bioregional seed bank and seed source for gardeners and small farmers. Our vision is to serve as a hub to connect seed growers, gardeners and farmers in a mutually beneficial relationship to support small-scale agriculture in Southern Oregon. We grow and distribute certified organic, open pollinated seeds through seed racks, a catalog and the Internet / mail order. Our goal is to produce most of the seed on our farm and field we manage in Southern Oregon’s Applegate valley. We also work with local organic seed growers to round out a diverse offering. Varieties that are not successful seed crops here (due to climate or cross-pollination issues, such as Spinach or Carrots) are sourced from outstanding, organic growers in the Pacific Northwest.<br /><br />We have arrived at this point after 14 years of growing certified organic seed for many national scale mail order seed companies, which we continue to do. After SOW Organic Seeds closed shop in 2007 after the untimely death of pioneering seedsman, Alan Vanet we recognized that our bioregion was left lacking a cohesive seed bank. Although we are blessed with abundant summer sun here in the “banana belt of southern Oregon”, the Siskiyous can be a challenging place to garden with our winter rainforest, summer desert climate of harsh extremes. Uniquely situated to serve our local community we recognized an opportunity to try and fill this important niche and will be offering our seeds nationally through our web site , <www.siskiyouseeds.com> and a catalog, both of which will be available after 2/1/10.<br /><br />There is tremendous opportunity for the renaissance of the bioregional seedsman/woman to select and breed varieties for organic agriculture. I am committed to the notion that well-selected, open-pollinated seeds can outperform commercially available hybrids. Through focusing on this crucial work, we can cooperate with gardeners and farmers to address the agronomic challenges that we will all face as climate change shifts microclimates in North America. Population breeding with special attention to horizontal resistance will hopefully alleviate the hardships growers experience with plant diseases, pests and climatic stress.<br /><br />Careful attention to plant selection for seed saving can contribute to the improvement of important traits such as disease resistance, pest tolerance, climate adaptation, flavor and nutrition. Domestication is not an endpoint. Rather it is a relationship that is ongoing and can go in different directions. We are much more concerned with breeding plants that will foster healthy food for people, rather than traits such as ship-ability and shelf life. When we consider the concept of “food security” I find it logical that “seed security” should receive equal attention especially considering the threats of genetic engineering and the corporate consolidation of the seed industry. Bioregional seed banks and distribution networks will emerge as one of the more important stores of wealth in the future. Anyone want to buy futures in seeds? Let’s get planting!<br /> <br /><br />Stay tuned for more developments and please check out our pending web site at www.siskiyouseeds.com to follow the seed saga and get your hands on some fresh seed! Peace to you and yours.Don Tippinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07715646352324049565noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531629733319790937.post-91395657700091999192009-06-05T14:47:00.000-07:002009-06-05T15:04:45.499-07:00Heirlooms of Tomorrow<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_E7WX6sbprwM/SimWZS0WyRI/AAAAAAAAABo/a4HSDPjJhOA/s1600-h/100_2857.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_E7WX6sbprwM/SimWZS0WyRI/AAAAAAAAABo/a4HSDPjJhOA/s320/100_2857.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343967794144135442" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_E7WX6sbprwM/SimVr0ovlfI/AAAAAAAAABg/XAe_CTG40mg/s1600-h/100_2856.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_E7WX6sbprwM/SimVr0ovlfI/AAAAAAAAABg/XAe_CTG40mg/s320/100_2856.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343967012948252146" /></a><br />Heirlooms of Tomorrow:<br />Breeding and Selection for Adaptation to Climate Change<br /><br /> Heirloom vegetables hold a special place in many people’s hearts. Often they bring us a pleasant nostalgia of our ancestors in different regions preparing scrumptious feasts with garden grown treasures. Technically a vegetable variety can be considered an heirloom once it has been cultivated for over 50 years. Some consider the year 1951 to be a cutoff point for heirlooms because many modern hybrid varieties were introduced at that point. Often a variety achieved heirloom status by virtue of its flavor, appearance and general ability to perform well in a given region. Characteristics such as disease resistance, cold hardiness and vigor were very important before modern crop supports came to dominate the food supply. With respect to vegetable varieties – heirlooms were synonymous with place. <br /><br /> Nowadays, we tend to view heirloom vegetables differently. We want to taste to garden culture of the whole world in our own back yard, despite where we live. Because of the relative youth of our displaced, transplanted culture we conveniently overlook the reality that many of the traits for which heirlooms were selected for had to do with a varietals adaptation to a regions climate, pests, diseases and cultural preferences. Internet shopping, mail-order commerce, FedEx and cell phones have placed the whole world’s wealth within our grasp. Nonetheless, we still can’t dial up our desired climate or day length; there are limits to our technological prowess. Thank goodness! <br /> <br /> Take red and purple carrots for instance. In India there exists a cultural preference for these colors in carrots that are predominantly used as cooking carrots. The average climate in India is too warm to produce the crisp, sweet fresh eating carrots that we clamor for at farmers markets across the country. So, what do we do when we desire a rainbow of colors for our bunches of carrots for fresh eating? Well, we turn to the heirloom of another culture and try and use it as we would an orange fresh market variety. Sadly, the results are somewhat lackluster. The flavor of red and purple carrots doesn’t hold a candle to the sugar on a stick sweetness of “Nantes” type carrots to which we have grown accustomed. A plant breeding failure or misguided application for a fine heirloom cooking carrot that grows well in warm subtropical climates? You decide. I’ll stick to my proven regional favorites, thank you.<br /> <br /> John Navazio and Matthew Dillon at the Organic Seed Alliance have coined the term, “Heirlooms of Tomorrow” to describe a bioregional-based approach to selection for varieties that perform well within their intended marketplace. While many of our traditional heirlooms are certainly worthy of preserving for their cultural significance and fine attributes, we tend to glorify them based on their heritage alone. I would be happy to put 5 or 6 of our favorite tomatoes up to a flavor test against the current “best- flavor” titleholder, “Brandywine” anytime. They would also have more crack resistance and late blight resistance than that “Brandywine” seed I might otherwise buy from some national seed company. This speaks to the sad fact that many of our available heirlooms are no longer being grown in their region of origin or with attention to selecting them for a diversity of important traits.<br /><br /> Trialing different varieties (or even different strains of the same variety for that matter) are an excellent way to assess the merits of a given variety. While the trial results form a trial performed in the northeast United States many provide some interesting insights, they cannot be relied on as an accurate litmus test for a country as large and climatically varied as the USA. <br /> <br /> I was fortunate to recently acquire a large established seed collection from the SOW Organics seed company that operated here in SW Oregon from 1974 until its founder, Al Vanet passed on in 2008. SOW Organics began back in 1974 as Stone Broke Hippie Seeds in Ruch, moving to Williams as Peace Seeds in 1978. This vegetable, flower and herb seed collection represents the best local repository of locally adapted open-pollinated vegetables in SW Oregon if not the entire state. When you consider that seeds of many of the varieties in this collection have been continually reproduced here for over 30 years, starting a garden with this genetic adaptation to climate, pests, soils and diseases in a huge advantage over using seed produced in a different bioregion. Many noteworthy individuals have been involved with this genesis including Gabriel Howearth, Dr. Alan Kapular, Alan Vanet, Alan Adesse, Chi Scherer, Frank Morton, and Munk Bergen to name a few. Sow Organic seeds also helped give rise to another early organic seed pioneer, Seeds of Change. <br /><br /> We have been going through the formidable task of performing germination tests and field trials to asses lot purity and uniformity of the over 200 varieties of vegetables, herbs and flowers. From the information we gather in looking through this germplasm, we hope to build upon the awesome work of Alan Vanet and grow out the true workhorse varieties, selecting to preserve the best qualities of these strains and improving upon them where we see opportunity to do so. I truly believe that this type of work will enable agrarian societies to continue to thrive amidst erratic frost, heat and rain cycles. Domestication is not an endpoint; it is actually an ongoing process of which we are participants.<br /> I believe that plants have the ability to imprint upon the environmental conditions within which they grow. Now consider that many of the seeds available to farmers and gardeners are grown all over the globe. While I do believe that national scale seed companies serve an important role. If we desire to see whole system farm agro-ecosystems thrive, we must have complimentary bioregional seed systems. Ideally, seed would be grown on site as much as possible, when this is not feasible, locally produced seed would be a good alternative. <br /> <br /> As regional climate patterns become more erratic, a well-adapted gene pool that has already been bred for adaptation to our local climate affords growers a tremendous advantage. I am curious to test these theories through the trialing of different strains of vegetable varieties in replicated field trials to determine if we are able to see differences between seeds grown in different regions. I am encouraged by stories such as those of Dave Christensen, a farmer and plant breeder in Montana who developed the Painted Mountain Flour corn. Painted Mountain is the result of the intentional crossing of many different ethnic strains of flour corn, with the goal of a producing a short season flour corn that could withstand a variety of stresses. He has a remarkable story of one generation of growing it out wherein the entire crop was flattened by a cataclysmic hailstorm. A few plants managed to survive enough to still yield some seed. Painted Mountain carries this and many other special adaptive traits that benefit growers in this region, enabling them to produce crops more successfully. What is remarkable is that these heavy selection pressures also help when the corn is grown in different climates as well. <br /> With this in mind, should we actually be producing seed under stressful, rather than idealized conditions? A big question, but the more I consider my role as a seedsman I see that we are in a quandary to be economic producing seed while doing selection and breeding that yields the true workhorse varieties. Another story to reinforce this point is that of a neighboring farmer here in SW Oregon named, Jonathan Spero who also works with corn predominately, but in this case the story is that of broccoli. He recognized that broccoli was a crop that was particularly sensitive to stress. Too much heat, cold or weeds will encourage the plant to “button-up” and produced an under-sized, small head prematurely. His hypothesis was that if he could force some plants in a diverse open pollinated population to produce under adverse conditions that their progeny would carry superior genetics into market farmer’s fields. The procedure involved broadcasting the seed thickly and identifying the choice specimens from the broccoli lawn that still managed to grow vigorously and produce a good head of broccoli. Sounds far-fetched you may say, however, the results may convert any skeptics. <br /> <br /> There are many such stories from the vanguard of plant breeding that inspire hope and reverence for the elasticity of the plant kingdom. Raoul Robinson shares many compelling examples of horizontal or population breeding in his book, Return to Resistance. Plants want to reproduce themselves, sometimes on-farm conditions can be fairly challenging, we must acknowledge this reality and steward in a new understanding of the intricate relationship between plants, climate and people. The heirlooms of tomorrow? Perhaps. Nature’s road signs are there, the question is, and can we follow them?Don Tippinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07715646352324049565noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531629733319790937.post-83401139062977738012009-05-13T13:20:00.000-07:002009-05-13T14:01:19.071-07:00Southern Oregon Organic Seed Legacy Continues<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_E7WX6sbprwM/Sgs0kyvxvEI/AAAAAAAAABY/2XsC5m52IbI/s1600-h/100_2833.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_E7WX6sbprwM/Sgs0kyvxvEI/AAAAAAAAABY/2XsC5m52IbI/s320/100_2833.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335415990252584002" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_E7WX6sbprwM/Sgs0jxU63hI/AAAAAAAAABQ/u3bld2NQ-nU/s1600-h/100_1161.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_E7WX6sbprwM/Sgs0jxU63hI/AAAAAAAAABQ/u3bld2NQ-nU/s320/100_1161.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335415972691631634" /></a><br />Happy Spring!<br /><br />The Hawthorne trees are about to open up their flowers here. Hawthorne is a vasodialator, which means that it helps increase blood flow my nourishing our heart. As I ponder this I think about my heart connection to plants and those who love plants. One way I contribute to this community is through my work with growing seeds. Organic farmers are a small minority these days, organic seed growers are a smaller minority still. All of us in the state of Oregon could easily fit in a small room. Yet, we carry an important piece of enabling local sustainable food systems to thrive.<br /><br />I recently acquired the seed collection legacy of Al Vanet of SOW Organic seeds in Williams. SOW Organics began back in 1974 as Stone Broke Hippie Seeds in Ruch, moving to Williams as Peace Seeds in 1978. This vegetable, flower and herb seed collection represents the best local repository of locally adapted open-pollinated vegetables in SW Oregon if not the entire state. When you consider that seeds of many of the varieties in this collection have been continually reproduced here for over 30 years, starting a garden with this genetic adaptation to climate, pests, soils and diseases in a huge advantage over using seed produced in a different bioregion. Many noteworthy individuals have been involved with this genesis including Gabriel Howearth, Dr. Alan Kapular, Alan Vanet, Alan Adesse, Chi Scherrer, Frank Morton, and Munk Bergen to name a few. Sow Organic seeds also helped give rise to Seeds of Change, the Southern Oregon Barter Faire, the Williams Watershed Council and the Williams Town Council.<br /><br /> We are in the process of doing thourough germination and vigor testing and reproduction of these seeds and will be offering the work horse varieties through our own seed company, SISKIYOU SEED. We hope to build upon the awesome work of Alan Vanet and preserve the best qualities of these strains and improve upon them where we see opportunity to do so. I am planning on writing an article on the relationship between climate change, organic agriculture and seed saving for an upcoming blog, as I truly believe that this type of work will enable agrarian societies to continue to thrive amidst erratic frost, heat and rain cycles. Domestication is not an endpoint, it is actually an ongoing process of which we are participants.<br /><br /> Our seed rack in Ashland at the Coop has a number of these strains, along with biodynamic seed that we have grown and organic sweet corns from Lupine Knoll Farm. Feel free to email us to get on our mailing list for an upcoming catalog.<br />Thank you for your support, may your lives be full of abundant vegetation!Don Tippinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07715646352324049565noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531629733319790937.post-43960566807337037742009-04-03T13:42:00.001-07:002009-04-03T14:41:42.565-07:00Germination & the Forces of SpringGermination – The Awakening of the Seed<br /> <br /> April 1st, 2009<br /><br /> The lengthening the day brings about profound changes in the natural world. Many natural processes either initiate or accelerate. In the northern hemisphere at our latitude (43 degrees) the time around February 1st, variably known as Candle mass, or Imbolc, or groundhogs’ day depending on your cultural persuasion heralds an awakening of the nature spirits which animate the growing world. The spiritual forces, which animate the plant world, have lain largely dormant since the yellowing of the leaves and leaf fall in autumn. Now we witness the remarkable rebirth known as spring or Easter. We are fortunate to perceive the swelling and flowering of buds, the unfurling of leaves, the sprouting of seeds and the untold billions of births which take place as the sun waxes higher in the sky with each day. We too are affected by this turn in the rhythm of the year. It is important for us to align our own soul’s hope, courage and sense of purpose with that which is occurring in the rest of the created world, Because, we too have a deep soul need to emerge from the darkness of winter and make positive contributions to the web of life. <br /><br /> As farmers and gardeners we are extremely fortunate to be able to plant seeds and share in this cycle. We hold the magic of the germination process in our heart and mind as we plant seeds and tend the germinating embryo, encouraging growth and reproduction. I feel that we must also shoulder the responsibility of communicating how important this process is for all of humankind and the world at large. When we consider how extensive humanities’ reach has become to manipulate the surface of the Earth, we must accept that we are the stewards of this beautiful planet. What an opportunity. Do we want to live in a peaceful relationship with the other 100 million other species we share the planet with, or continue with top down destructive domination? Those who tend the fields and forests of the Earth have a unique, yet imposing responsibility to not only do this critical work, but also to articulate how tenuous the health of the natural systems which sustain us are at this time. Just as the Lorax spoke for the trees in Dr. Seuss seminal classic, the Lorax, growers of food must speak up for the seed at this pivotal time in human history when genetic engineering is making rapid inroads into the cornerstones of the biology of the planet.<br /><br /> Is simply planting seeds, growing seeds and distributing them enough? Can we rely on non-profits, seed companies, NGO’s, the UN, or the USDA to adequately represent and respect the spiritual forces of growth and reproduction upon which all life depends? This is a challenging question with potentially disturbing consequences. Fear aside, who is better qualified to articulate concerns over genetically engineered seeds and other threats to seed freedom than those whose livelihood and life forces are already aligned with seeds and the plant world? As the fervor over the local foods movement builds more steam, I encourage all farmers and gardeners to engage in constructive dialogue with our fellow world community members. I am tremendously inspired by the rapid changes in attitude occurring among the general populace with regards to valuing agriculture and connections with farmers. Just as the plight of salmon here in the Pacific Northwest has fostered people to adopt the paradigm of thinking about watersheds, we need to usher in an understanding of “food sheds”, “pollen sheds” and bioregional responsibility for maintaining the integrity of these systems.<br /><br /> The concept of pollen sheds has hit my backyard recently, as I had to nervously await the results of a purity test to determine if a crop of Swiss chard seed I was trying to sell was free from contamination from genetically modified “Round-Up ready” sugar beet pollen. Fortunately the test showed up negative and I was able to sell the seed, but I had to pay a few hundred dollars and submit a 1-pound sample for the test. Did Monsanto cover these costs, or would they reimburse me if my certified organic seed were rendered unsellable as a result of the technology? No, they did not, nor would I hold my breath awaiting a cordial response from them. Unfortunately, organic and biodynamic agriculture will be presented with these challenging quandaries with increasing frequency. There is a big push to develop SW Oregon’s Rogue River valley where I live as a prime area for canola seed production for Biofuels. This follows a failed attempt in Oregon’s Willamette valley to do likewise. Nearly all Biofuels canola is planted to Monsanto’s, Round-up Ready varieties. If this goes through, all of the Brassica rapa varieties (Tatsoi, Mitzuna, turnips, Pac Chois and other Chinese cabbages) for which we and other seed growers produce seed for will be threatened with GMO contamination, necessitating more costly purity testing and restricting the viability of our farm systems. Do we cower back from this threat and retreat to GMO free watersheds? Or do we stop growing crops, which have potential of crossing? Do we say, “nothing can be done”, and let someone else fill David’s shoes (or sandals) to challenge Goliath? I would like to stand up for the seed and I am confident that I am not alone. But let us use the language and tactics of positivity in creating sustainable seed systems in order to appeal to the more enlightened element of the human psyche.<br /><br /> I propose and am actively working on creating regional seed producing hubs, which network with one another like spokes of a wheel. In order to maintain the viability of small scale integrated biodynamic & organic farms we must work together to share experience, resources, tools and training. Through the newly incorporated Family Farmers Seed Cooperative (an outgrowth of the Organic Seed Alliance), we are developing bioregional hubs in SW Oregon, Colorado (near Boulder/Longmont), NW Washington (near Port Townsend and the Skagit valley), North Dakota, Idaho, and also in Oregon’s Willamette valley. Within these hubs, seed growers can share seed harvesting and cleaning equipment; pool resources for performing in-house germination tests, print labels for packaging and participate in plant breeding/improvement seminars and field days. At this point in time we need many more growers of organic seed, many of whom will probably already be farming fresh market vegetables among other things. How do we train and equip these new seed growers to supply the huge gap between organic seed supply and demand? These bioregional seed hubs will be a big step in the right direction. If we can include established growers of fresh market produce in the process we can ascertain their needs for variety improvement and work towards breeding and selecting to address their concerns and they can give us realistic feedback as to how to achieve these goals.<br /><br /> I am particularly excited about a new model for seed production. I recently was able to develop a relationship with an established medium scale organic farm in the Rogue Valley. Steve and Suzie Fry have been growing certified organic flowers, vegetables and vegetable starts for 20 years and now farm nearly 80 acres. They are acutely aware of the strengths and shortcomings of many of the available varieties of seed currently available. They also buy and use a lot of seed on 80 acres. Yet, the rigors of their system overrule the idea of starting a seed production aspect to their operation themselves. That’s where the relationship with an experienced seed grower can create multiple beneficial outcomes. For instance, they had 18,000 row feet of parsley, which had over wintered and we were able to walk the rows and discuss what traits are desirable for producing healthy plants in quantity. That many plants would be a lot of seed, but we can save 1,500 plants that demonstrated the best vigor, resistance to yellowing and crown rot and let them mature to seed. Meanwhile they can still fill boxes for wholesale produce sale. They are skilled at the vegetative growing aspect, and I can come in with my crew for the seed selection, harvest, and cleaning aspects, for which my operation is already configured. They get improved seed, have a big insectary hedgerow as all that parsley flowers (normally it would be tilled under), we sell some seed and pay some bills and together move closer towards a sustainable seed system. In cooperation we write a good story.<br /><br /> I would like to see more of these types of relationships sprout and flourish. I am partnering with Fry Family Farms to grow a large crop of Swiss chard in an area where the potential for crossing with GMO sugar beet exists. So, not only are we producing improved seed, but also creating a compelling argument for restricting the planting of GMO crops within established seed growing region. This is not merely an environmental issue, it also has elements of economics, and social/cultural ramifications. Our hope is to align ourselves with the concepts laid out in Rudolf Steiner’s threefold social order in order to appeal to our larger community to develop reasonable agreements that respect our personal freedoms. May your seeds sprout vigorously and inspire you with renewed creativity at thriving amidst challenging times!<br /><br /><br /><br />Don Tipping and his family farm in SW Oregon’s Siskiyou mountains at Seven Seeds Farm. They grow vegetables, herbs, sheep, poultry, seed and cooperate with other farmers to manage a CSA. Their seed is sold by Turtle Tree Seed, Johnny’s, Fedco, Renee’s, High Mowing Seed, Wood Prairie Farm, Seeds of Change and Uprising Seeds. This is their first year selling seed directly through their own local seed company, Siskiyou Seed . I welcome input about any of these ideas, email at sevenseedsfarm@yahoo.com, or see blog with more articles at www.biodynamicseeds.blogspot.comDon Tippinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07715646352324049565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531629733319790937.post-6137677329430394092009-04-03T13:42:00.000-07:002009-04-03T14:40:55.766-07:00Germination & the Forces of SpringGermination – The Awakening of the Seed<br /> <br /> April 1st, 2009<br /><br /> The lengthening the day brings about profound changes in the natural world. Many natural processes either initiate or accelerate. In the northern hemisphere at our latitude (43 degrees) the time around February 1st, variably known as Candle mass, or Imbolc, or groundhogs’ day depending on your cultural persuasion heralds an awakening of the nature spirits which animate the growing world. The spiritual forces, which animate the plant world, have lain largely dormant since the yellowing of the leaves and leaf fall in autumn. Now we witness the remarkable rebirth known as spring or Easter. We are fortunate to perceive the swelling and flowering of buds, the unfurling of leaves, the sprouting of seeds and the untold billions of births which take place as the sun waxes higher in the sky with each day. We too are affected by this turn in the rhythm of the year. It is important for us to align our own soul’s hope, courage and sense of purpose with that which is occurring in the rest of the created world, Because, we too have a deep soul need to emerge from the darkness of winter and make positive contributions to the web of life. <br /><br /> As farmers and gardeners we are extremely fortunate to be able to plant seeds and share in this cycle. We hold the magic of the germination process in our heart and mind as we plant seeds and tend the germinating embryo, encouraging growth and reproduction. I feel that we must also shoulder the responsibility of communicating how important this process is for all of humankind and the world at large. When we consider how extensive humanities’ reach has become to manipulate the surface of the Earth, we must accept that we are the stewards of this beautiful planet. What an opportunity. Do we want to live in a peaceful relationship with the other 100 million other species we share the planet with, or continue with top down destructive domination? Those who tend the fields and forests of the Earth have a unique, yet imposing responsibility to not only do this critical work, but also to articulate how tenuous the health of the natural systems which sustain us are at this time. Just as the Lorax spoke for the trees in Dr. Seuss seminal classic, the Lorax, growers of food must speak up for the seed at this pivotal time in human history when genetic engineering is making rapid inroads into the cornerstones of the biology of the planet.<br /><br /> Is simply planting seeds, growing seeds and distributing them enough? Can we rely on non-profits, seed companies, NGO’s, the UN, or the USDA to adequately represent and respect the spiritual forces of growth and reproduction upon which all life depends? This is a challenging question with potentially disturbing consequences. Fear aside, who is better qualified to articulate concerns over genetically engineered seeds and other threats to seed freedom than those whose livelihood and life forces are already aligned with seeds and the plant world? As the fervor over the local foods movement builds more steam, I encourage all farmers and gardeners to engage in constructive dialogue with our fellow world community members. I am tremendously inspired by the rapid changes in attitude occurring among the general populace with regards to valuing agriculture and connections with farmers. Just as the plight of salmon here in the Pacific Northwest has fostered people to adopt the paradigm of thinking about watersheds, we need to usher in an understanding of “food sheds”, “pollen sheds” and bioregional responsibility for maintaining the integrity of these systems.<br /><br /> The concept of pollen sheds has hit my backyard recently, as I had to nervously await the results of a purity test to determine if a crop of Swiss chard seed I was trying to sell was free from contamination from genetically modified “Round-Up ready” sugar beet pollen. Fortunately the test showed up negative and I was able to sell the seed, but I had to pay a few hundred dollars and submit a 1-pound sample for the test. Did Monsanto cover these costs, or would they reimburse me if my certified organic seed were rendered unsellable as a result of the technology? No, they did not, nor would I hold my breath awaiting a cordial response from them. Unfortunately, organic and biodynamic agriculture will be presented with these challenging quandaries with increasing frequency. There is a big push to develop SW Oregon’s Rogue River valley where I live as a prime area for canola seed production for Biofuels. This follows a failed attempt in Oregon’s Willamette valley to do likewise. Nearly all Biofuels canola is planted to Monsanto’s, Round-up Ready varieties. If this goes through, all of the Brassica rapa varieties (Tatsoi, Mitzuna, turnips, Pac Chois and other Chinese cabbages) for which we and other seed growers produce seed for will be threatened with GMO contamination, necessitating more costly purity testing and restricting the viability of our farm systems. Do we cower back from this threat and retreat to GMO free watersheds? Or do we stop growing crops, which have potential of crossing? Do we say, “nothing can be done”, and let someone else fill David’s shoes (or sandals) to challenge Goliath? I would like to stand up for the seed and I am confident that I am not alone. But let us use the language and tactics of positivity in creating sustainable seed systems in order to appeal to the more enlightened element of the human psyche.<br /><br /> I propose and am actively working on creating regional seed producing hubs, which network with one another like spokes of a wheel. In order to maintain the viability of small scale integrated biodynamic & organic farms we must work together to share experience, resources, tools and training. Through the newly incorporated Family Farmers Seed Cooperative (an outgrowth of the Organic Seed Alliance), we are developing bioregional hubs in SW Oregon, Colorado (near Boulder/Longmont), NW Washington (near Port Townsend and the Skagit valley), North Dakota, Idaho, and also in Oregon’s Willamette valley. Within these hubs, seed growers can share seed harvesting and cleaning equipment; pool resources for performing in-house germination tests, print labels for packaging and participate in plant breeding/improvement seminars and field days. At this point in time we need many more growers of organic seed, many of whom will probably already be farming fresh market vegetables among other things. How do we train and equip these new seed growers to supply the huge gap between organic seed supply and demand? These bioregional seed hubs will be a big step in the right direction. If we can include established growers of fresh market produce in the process we can ascertain their needs for variety improvement and work towards breeding and selecting to address their concerns and they can give us realistic feedback as to how to achieve these goals.<br /><br /> I am particularly excited about a new model for seed production. I recently was able to develop a relationship with an established medium scale organic farm in the Rogue Valley. Steve and Suzie Fry have been growing certified organic flowers, vegetables and vegetable starts for 20 years and now farm nearly 80 acres. They are acutely aware of the strengths and shortcomings of many of the available varieties of seed currently available. They also buy and use a lot of seed on 80 acres. Yet, the rigors of their system overrule the idea of starting a seed production aspect to their operation themselves. That’s where the relationship with an experienced seed grower can create multiple beneficial outcomes. For instance, they had 18,000 row feet of parsley, which had over wintered and we were able to walk the rows and discuss what traits are desirable for producing healthy plants in quantity. That many plants would be a lot of seed, but we can save 1,500 plants that demonstrated the best vigor, resistance to yellowing and crown rot and let them mature to seed. Meanwhile they can still fill boxes for wholesale produce sale. They are skilled at the vegetative growing aspect, and I can come in with my crew for the seed selection, harvest, and cleaning aspects, for which my operation is already configured. They get improved seed, have a big insectary hedgerow as all that parsley flowers (normally it would be tilled under), we sell some seed and pay some bills and together move closer towards a sustainable seed system. In cooperation we write a good story.<br /><br /> I would like to see more of these types of relationships sprout and flourish. I am partnering with Fry Family Farms to grow a large crop of Swiss chard in an area where the potential for crossing with GMO sugar beet exists. So, not only are we producing improved seed, but also creating a compelling argument for restricting the planting of GMO crops within established seed growing region. This is not merely an environmental issue, it also has elements of economics, and social/cultural ramifications. Our hope is to align ourselves with the concepts laid out in Rudolf Steiner’s threefold social order in order to appeal to our larger community to develop reasonable agreements that respect our personal freedoms. May your seeds sprout vigorously and inspire you with renewed creativity at thriving amidst challenging times!<br /><br /><br /><br />Don Tipping and his family farm in SW Oregon’s Siskiyou mountains at Seven Seeds Farm. They grow vegetables, herbs, sheep, poultry, seed and cooperate with other farmers to manage a CSA. Their seed is sold by Turtle Tree Seed, Johnny’s, Fedco, Renee’s, High Mowing Seed, Wood Prairie Farm, Seeds of Change and Uprising Seeds. This is their first year selling seed directly through their own local seed company, Siskiyou Seed . I welcome input about any of these ideas, email at sevenseedsfarm@yahoo.com, or see blog with more articles at www.biodynamicseeds.blogspot.comDon Tippinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07715646352324049565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531629733319790937.post-85713943933219815632009-03-11T12:34:00.000-07:002009-03-11T12:36:13.549-07:00Permaculture Classes at Seven SeedsFarm2009 SEVEN SEEDS FARM DAY COURSES<br /><br />GROWING FOOD FORESTS - FULL<br />SUNDAY MARCH 15TH – 1:00 PM – 4:00PM COST $25 <br />LEARN HOW TO DESIGN AND CARE FOR ABUNDANT PERENNIAL LANDSCAPES.<br />DEEPLY ROOTED PERMACULTURE FOREST GARDENS INCLUDE TREES, SHRUBS AND HERBS THAT PRODUCE FRUIT, NUTS, MEDICINE, FODDER, NECTAR, FERTILIZER, SHADE AND HABITAT <br /><br /> GROWING FOOD FORESTS<br />SUNDAY MARCH 29TH – 1:00 PM – 4:00PM COST $25 <br />LEARN HOW TO DESIGN AND CARE FOR ABUNDANT PERENNIAL LANDSCAPES.<br />DEEPLY ROOTED PERMACULTURE FOREST GARDENS INCLUDE TREES, SHRUBS AND HERBS THAT PRODUCE FRUIT, NUTS, MEDICINE, FODDER, NECTAR, FERTILIZER, SHADE AND HABITAT <br /><br />SAVING YOUR OWN SEEDS (SPRING) <br />SUNDAY APRIL 5TH – 1:00 PM – 4:00PM COST $25<br />HOW TO PLAN, PLANT AND CARE FOR CROPS TO BE HARVESTED FOR SEED<br /><br /> CREATING AN ECOLOGICAL HOMESTEAD<br />SUNDAY APRIL 19TH – 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM COST: $40<br />A PERMACULTURE APPROACH TO HUMAN SETTLEMENT. <br />THIS PRACTICAL, OUTDOOR CLASS WILL INSPIRE IDEAS FOR YOUR OWN HOMESPACE.<br />TOPICS INCLUDE: PATTERN OBSERVATION, ASSESMENT, RETROFITTING, INFRASTRUCTURE, DANCING WITH THE ELEMENTS, WATER, SOILS, FOOD CROPS, FOOD FORESTS + ANIMALS<br /><br />HOMEGROWN FOOD YEAROUND<br />SUNDAY MAY 24 – 1;00PM – 4:00PM COST $25<br /> IN THE SISKIYOUS, IT TAKES EXPERIENCE AND CAREFUL PLANNING TO HAVE HOMEGROWN FOOD ALL THE MONTHS OF THE YEAR. <br />THIS TIMELY CLASS WILL EMPHASIZE GROWING WINTER FOODS AND STORAGE CROPS OFTEN OVERLOOKED BY THE HOME GARDENER.<br /><br />SAVING YOUR OWN SEEDS (FALL)<br />SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13TH – 10:00 PM – 4:00 PM COST $40<br />HOW TO SELECT, HARVEST, CLEAN AND STORE HOMEGROWN SEEDS <br /><br />INSTRUCTOR: DON TIPPING<br />LOCATION: SEVEN SEEDS FARM, WILLIAMS, OR<br />PRE- REGISTATION IS REQUIRED<br />BY PHONE #541-846-9233 OR BY EMAIL SEVENSEEDSFARM@YAHOO.COMDon Tippinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07715646352324049565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531629733319790937.post-8734211684553687632009-02-23T21:54:00.000-08:002009-02-23T21:55:58.544-08:00Where are the seedsmen/ women?Seed Growing<br />9/9/2008<br /><br /><br /> At one time not long ago seeds men (or women as the case may be) occupied an important link in the food chain of nearly all-rural communities. Farmers either grew their own seed or trusted in small family run businesses, which stewarded old varieties or worked on developing new ones. With few notable exceptions this continued to be the primary mechanism through which farmers bought seed. Two exceptions are worth mentioning for historical sake. The first being the W. Atlee Burpee seed company that initially took advantage of free postage until the turn of the century to develop a loyal customer base of over one million catalogs shipped in 1915. At that time it was the largest seed company in the world with 300 employees. In Pennsylvania, George Washington Park printed his first seed list (with a hand printing press) in 1878 at the age of 15 and grossed $6.50. He persevered and capitalized on free postage at the time to deliver the Floral Gazette magazine and seed list. This became Park Seeds, a burgeoning seed company with 800,000 catalogs going out in 1918. These two seed companies predominantly catered to gardeners. Not to be swayed by lavish catalog descriptions, farmers still relied on local seeds men. <br /><br />Where are our seeds men now? <br /> Growing the seed we need is somewhere I encourage young farmers to direct their attention. Meditating on what has helped our farm to become successful, secure and rewarding is developing a diversity of niche markets. This has enabled us to grow on an artesian scale and receive just compensation. Diversity also helps our farm organism to evolve in multiple directions, thereby fostering ecological resiliency, multiple income streams, and opportunities for stacked functions (seed crop wastes becomes poultry food, animal bedding and compost). <br /> Growing biodynamic / organic seed is one of the most promising niches which currently exists in organic agriculture. Consider that a recent Washington Department of Agriculture study revealed that less than 2 percent of the seed used on organic farms was grown organically. The other 98 percent is a vast opportunity area. Although the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) rule states that organic growers must use organic seeds, an enormous loophole exists that if a growers tries three sources and none of them have the variety they want, or if the price or quality are unacceptable that they can simply use conventionally grown seed. Hence many organic (and presumably a significant number of biodynamic growers as well) sidestep the organic seed search requirement and source their seeds wherever they choose as long as it isn’t fungicide treated. At some point in the future, organic certifiers will more strongly require that organic growers make a more concerted effort to use organic seed. Therein lies opportunity.<br /><br /> Where will all this certified organic seed come from? <br /> That is where you come in. Our world, people, plants and animals beseech us to close our resource loops. Producing bioregionally adapted seed is a critical step towards reducing pest and disease problems in our crops, on par with the need to generate fertility on-farm. However seeds are easier to move around than compost is, so, I propose a compromise to the overwhelming task of every farm needing to grow all it’s own seed. Let us further a return to supporting bioregional seeds men and women. Most agricultural communities have farmers who have been tinkering around with their own varieties for decades. Oftentimes these farmer/landrace varieties have been selected (bred) to perform well despite disease, insect, and climate stresses. This processes of developing “farmer” varieties is how plant breeder, Raoul Robinson suggests that we achieve horizontal, or elastic resistance in plants in his landmark book, Return to Resistance. <br /><br /> Some communities are fortunate to already have small, family run seed businesses. High Mowing (VT), Turtle Tree (NY), Uprising (WA), Peace Seeds (OR) and Wild Garden Seeds (OR) are just a few examples. Farmers would do these and similar businesses are great service by buying seed from them, growing seed for them, or honestly communicating their likes and dislikes of current varieties and specific growing challenges so that we can work to develop the seed we need. Generally, we create a better local seed system if we can strengthen these feedback loops. Seed companies can work with local growers to help conduct variety trials or share samples of breeding work in progress. Farmers can help direct where future organic plant breeding goes by communicating their needs. Also farmers can do participatory plant breeding as advocated by the Organic Seed Alliance in Washington State, working with plant breeders, university specialists and seed companies.<br /><br /> Now we’re talking’<br />Participatory Plant Breeding is one of the most exciting elements to emerge from the ongoing discussion about bioregional seed systems. Young farmers looking for a life in biodynamic farming are strongly encourage to delve into this fascinating field. Consider liberating yourself from a life of harvesting and washing vegetables and trucking them to some city that you may or may not actually enjoy spending time in and picture yourself an active participant in the process, which is plant domestication. <br /><br /> Domestication is an ongoing process, which requires us to be fully engaged in for it to yield successful results. The real reason why some heirloom vegetables don’t perform as well in your market garden as the modern hybrids is that active breeding and selection work on these varieties stopped over 50 years ago. Nearly all plant breeding resources at most agriculturally oriented universities are being focused on transgenics. Well, lets pick up the slack and get to work on helping to create the heirlooms of the future and restoring the gems of the past. <br /><br /> On our farm we weave plant breeding into every time we grow a plant for seed. Sometimes it is as simple as rouging, and pulling out all the early bolting plants in a population and feeding them to the sheep. Other times its crossing different strains or varieties to create something new. Although seed production is a passion of mine I feel that it is critical that it doesn’t occur in a bubble, isolated from the real world of market gardening. I really appreciate the opportunity to take produce that we have grown from seed that we have grown to market or our cooperative CSA program and get the direct reactions and impressions from people who are eating these plants. We have found many creative ways to dovetail commercial scale seed growing with our SCA program and supplying a local farmers market. A few examples of this are:<br />• Lettuce for seed, we grow 3 rows on a bed and then harvest the middle row for market or CSA because the seed plants get so much larger they use up the space. If we wind up not needing them for market, they can stay and grow into seed plants.<br />• Doing onion bulb selection most of our culls are completely suitable for fresh market use.<br />• Calendula flowers dried for herbal use and seed production in the same area.<br />• Rouged plants fed to livestock<br />• Seed byproducts as value added items (tomatoes, pepper and melon flesh dried in the greenhouse for winter storage)<br /><br /> In my experience of hosting young would-be farmers on our farm as interns for the past decade, many of them are seeking a meaningful way to achieve right livelihood while being emotionally, spiritually and mentally engaged enough to want to keep at it. Strictly speaking from my own experience, seed growing fulfills these human needs in these awkward times when many of us are uncertain of what we should be doing with our time. . Working with seed also draws us as farmers into the important role of being spokespeople for freedom from corporate control of our seed supply and helps qualify us to articulate the necessity of restricting the uncontrolled spread of transgenic (GMO) seeds and pollen. Seed growing never ceases to pose unusual challenges to the grower with many new factors that one doesn’t encounter with market gardening. Seed growing will enlighten you to new disease issues, biennial peculiarities, an increased reliance on pollinators, migratory birds feasting on your crop, seed harvesting and processing wisdom, encouraging your crop to ferment in order to release its seed and many other wild and wooly tales from the brink of domesticationDon Tippinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07715646352324049565noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531629733319790937.post-17472690789484038152009-02-23T21:49:00.000-08:002009-02-23T21:53:48.366-08:00Seeds as an Expression of the Farm IndividualitySeeds as the Expression of the Farm Individuality<br />October 2007<br /><br /> Within the Biodynamic movement we focus much of our concern upon the fertility of the soil. This is a logical extension of the understanding that through enhancing the biological process we can facilitate the growth of healthy plants, which are capable of nourishing people and animals. I find it curious that seed quality is not given equal attention. The plant exists in relation to a variety of forces which all stream through the doorway of the seed, which is in itself a miniature version of a plant. Soil, water, air and warmth all influence the germination of seed and thus the first chapter of the life of a plant. It would stand to reason that seed quality represents a crucial opportunity to positively influence the successful growth of life enhancing food. <br /> I would like to pose the question as to why we as a movement, a body of practitioners have failed to adequately address the question of seed quality? It is doubly curious in light of the threat that genetically engineered seeds pose to food safety and thus, humanity. GMO’s and so-called “terminator technology” have thrust the issue of seed into the mainstream and both the organic and biodynamic movements have failed to see it as an opportunity to both educate the public and ourselves about the importance of regional seed production, landrace/farmer varieties and traditional horizontal resistance plant breeding. The challenges that face us in the modern agricultural landscape compel us to rise to occasion and uplift the seed for the miracle that it is. It is not a tool to be wielded, as some biotechnologists would have us believe. Rather the seed gifts us the opportunity to become a participant in the ongoing process of plant domestication. <br /> As any seed saver will tell you, the domestication of plants was not an end point, instead it is an unfolding relationship that is anything but static. The seed is a window into the potentiality of the plant. Just as an animal on a farm is in relation to the grass which it feeds upon, its exhaled breath rich in carbon dioxide linked to the photosynthetic process and its manure feeding the soil organism which in turn feeds the grass which feeds the animal. Likewise, any time we save a seed we stand at a unique position of carrying forth its genetics into the next generation. Many domesticated plants can no longer self-sow their seeds readily (although there are many that do, which will be addressed in a future issue), they require our help to prevent them from being eaten by animals or decomposed by fungi and bacteria. Consider a bean plant, it has been bred for millennia to produce a quick abundant crop of edible, starchy seeds which can remain viable for many years (as many as 4,000 years old in the case of the New Mexico Cave bean variety discovered in a clay vessel in a cave in New Mexico). This is assuming that these beans were gathered by human hands at maturity, dried appropriately, stored in dry conditions and kept safe from being eaten by rodents and insects until the conditions to plant them again arrived. If these same seeds were simply left on the plant to be dispersed naturally, the great majority of them, if not all would succumb to being eaten by animals or rotting on the ground over the winter. Hence our domesticated vegetables exist only in relation to the farmers who perpetuate their existence.<br /> Where do our seeds come from? This should be a simple question at its root. However it is becoming terribly convoluted in our modern, industrial agricultural paradigm. For the bulk of the history of agriculture, seeds were grown on the land on which they were to be used. If the farmer themselves did not grow the seed they most certainly knew who grew it. Our agrarian culture was one of seed saving by definition. The act of saving seeds is what distinguished humanity of the early Holocene period from the hunter gathers that preceded us. <br /> As villages and cities arose and humanity began to specialize and industrialize most farmers continued to grow their own seeds, but some would produce surplus in order to trade these seeds for other good or services. So during the last few hundred years it became possible to obtain seeds without growing them yourself. This is a unique transition in agricultural history. The relationship between seed and humanity shifted with this development. For most of agricultures’ long history seed saving and farmer selection for desirable traits for the climate, soils, pests, nutritional and agronomic preferences for a particular farm were inextricably linked. This is how our landraces, farmer varieties and heirlooms arose. If a farmer was growing, say, wheat or peas and the practice was to sow them in the fall in a temperate climate for a summer harvest, and the winter was unusually cold destroying a portion of the crop, the seeds which did survive would be those which had a genetic predisposition towards cold hardiness. Thus as the farmer harvests the crop, they knowingly or not are engaged in the plant breeding process of selection for their unique site and climate. Once these seeds are planted in a new site a new relationship begins, the fine-tuning of plant to locale. <br /> Seeds are the ultimate feedback loop; more robust plants produce more seed and ensure their prominence in futre generations. Conversely, diseased or pest affected plants produce less seed and wane in their composition of the plant population in the next generation, or die altogether. During this pre-modern period, which I view as the birth of the seedsman as a specialist, distinct from the farmer as a generalist, seed that was traded or sold was still generally planted within the same, or similar bioregion. As the distances over which seeds were traded increased their ability to perform became compromised as they began to be grown under conditions that differed from those they were bred and selected for. Naturally if farmers found some success with a new species or variety (consider new world crops imported into the old world) they could begin the process of selecting them for their growing conditions. Some species are naturally more flexible as to where they can be grown, but there are definitely limits, such as cacao can only be successfully grown within 18 degrees north or south of the equator. <br /> Within the last 100 years we have seen an increasing specialization in seed growing with less and less farmers growing some if any of their own seed. The advent of land grant universities further specialized the craft of seed growing into a science, thereby taking responsibility of stewarding the seed from the farmer and entrusting it to the scientist. Seed growing was concentrated in the areas of the world considered ideal for the production of certain seed crops and regional seed companies became responsible for supplying seed to increasingly larger regions. With regards to vegetable seeds I would venture a guess that more than 90% of farmers don’t save any of their own seed, 5% grow some of their own seed and less than 1% grow most of their own seed. The situation is different for farmers of the cereal grains as the complexity of ensuring genetic isolation for cereals differs from vegetables. Also, cereal grain production requires a much larger quantity of seed, so an economic incentive exists. <br /> Within the last 50 years hybrid varieties were developed for numerous vegetable species. Seed companies were quick to highlight the increased vigor, yield and uniformity possible through the use of hybrid (F1) varieties. The phenomenon of heterosis exhibited in hybrid varieties is also possible in open pollinated varieties when bred as a population with attention to those characteristics. However, as hybrid varieties began to be preferred for certain crops, traditional plant breeding of open pollinated varieties waned or stopped altogether on any appreciable scale. The reason for this is that to produce a hybrid variety, two similar inbred lines are cross pollinated to produce a new variety, which will not produce as well if its seeds are saved, encouraging the farmer to come back to that seed company for more seed the next season. The inbred lines used for the production of hybrids are kept secret, with numbers instead of names. The proprietary nature of hybrid seed production enabled further specialization of seed production in the hands of agronomic scientists and away from farmer generalist knowledge. This also enabled seed companies to charge higher prices for hybrid seed, because as breeding work of comparable open pollinated varieties diminished, the hybrids were demonstrated to be superior varieties. Nonetheless, seed companies are not to be blamed for greedy intentions, they are merely symptomatic of the reductionist paradigm at work within modern agriculture. Transgenic seeds and GMO’s simply represent the furthering of this economically driven worldview. This is the figurative dragon, which must compel us towards right action.<br /> But wait! There is hope. Biodynamic farmers have always been keenly aware of the importance of seeds. However, our modern agricultural community has yet to foster economic conditions that encourage small farmers to grow their own seed and work towards breeding varieties adapted for their unique farm ecosystems. There exists tremendous opportunity to revitalize neglected open pollinated strains (see the work of the Organic Seed Alliance). Plant breeder Raoul Robinson holds up a torch of inspiration in his masterpiece, Return to Resistance, which scientifically illuminates the folly of modern vertical resistance plant breeding wherein every year or two the new and improved “downy mildew resistant spinach” is released only to have the disease organism morph from race 6 to race 7, thereby rendering the new variety obsolete. Robinson demonstrates through 40 years of experience in numerous countries with diverse crops that farmer bred, landrace varieties bred as populations for horizontal resistance to disease, pests, and climate stress are more successful over the long run (Horizontal resistance will be revisited in a future issue). <br /> The whole systems approach inherent within biodynamics compels us to grow our own seeds and improve the varieties that we use for our conditions. The seed is an expression of the life force of the farm organism and is adjusting itself subtly to the evolution of the farm organism with each succeeding generation. It is also distinctly possible that seed grown on a biodynamic farm will be uniquely adapted to perform under biodynamic management. Rudolf Steiner spoke of how the parent plant endowed the seed with a tendency towards form and function, but that there was ample space for new forces to stream into the seed from the cosmos. In this regard the forming seed, nourished with biodynamic compost, horn manure and the horn silica is capable of carrying cosmic and spiritual forces into the succeeding generations. Plants grown from biodynamic seeds are a vehicle through which to allow the expression of the farm individuality. I encourage us all to renew our partnership with nature and the process of plant domestication through our involvement in stewarding the seed.<br /><br />Don Tipping,<br />October 2007Don Tippinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07715646352324049565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531629733319790937.post-85185082276540716562009-02-23T21:43:00.000-08:002009-02-23T21:47:43.848-08:00Whole Systems Seed FarmingWhole Systems Seed Growing:<br />Diversified Approach to Successful Seed growing<br /><br />By Don Tipping / Seven Seeds Farm<br /> 3220 East Fork rd., Williams, OR 97544<br /> sevenseedsfarm@yahoo.com<br /><br />Introduction:<br /> A promising niche market exists within the field of growing organic vegetable seed, which can benefit small producers looking to diversify an existing fresh market or CSA operation. Seven Seeds Farm is in its 13th season of growing seed commercially, fresh fruits and vegetables for direct marketing and a cooperative CSA. Livestock and grass pasture are also an important part of our system and rotation. Diversification has improved our overall farm efficiency and contributed to the productivity, profitability and overall quality of life.<br /><br />Objectives:<br /> The historical notion of a farmer saving some of their crop for seed for the next season is inextricably woven into the fabric of agriculture itself. Unfortunately the fabric of traditional agriculture has unwoven to the point wherein most farmers grown little to none of their own seed. Not only can on-farm seed production save money by minimizing seed procurement costs, but it can also develop superior regionally adapted varieties and a niche market of a value added specialty crop. Models are needed of how farmers can reestablish the tradition of on-farm seed production. I hope to demonstrate a viable model through looking into the details of our efforts at diversified mixed farming.<br /><br /> Seven Seeds Farm grows seed for on-farm use and on a contract basis with 5 seed companies (Seeds of Change, Turtle Tree Seed, Fedco, Renee’s Garden & Abundant Life). We also produce fruits and vegetables for local farmer’s markets and a cooperatively run Community Supported Agriculture Program (CSA). Chickens, ducks, geese and sheep graze throughout the farm in a management intensive rotational grazing fashion. The productive land of the farm consists of 8 acres total, 2 ½ acres in vegetables, 2 acres in tree fruits and raspberries, 3 acres of pastures and ½ acre of ponds, which are stocked with edible species of fish.<br /> <br /> Seed growing was a natural development for our farm in that we live in a sparsely populated area with limited markets for fresh produce and a number of existing farms capturing much of this market. Also our land is surrounded by forest on all sides, 3 of which are BLM public forestlands, affording us genetic isolation from other vegetable pollen sources and any potential GMO contaminants. Furthermore, we enjoy the lifestyle of not needing to spend time in town marketing our produce, rather we simply work on the growing and processing aspects and then mail seeds to the companies we contract with or deliver CSA vegetables and fruits to a local pack-out point.<br /> <br /> A key aspect to increasing our farms productivity has been planning for overlapping yields, or multiple yields from the same crop. Because we are working with limited acreage (30 of our 40 acres is forested) we have had to creatively design systems, which can provide diverse, multiple yields from a given area. Our CSA program is a cooperative of farms, which grew food for 85 members this past year. We were responsible for a portion of this production. This enabled us to focus on producing surplus from our contracted seed crops or harvesting the rogues and culls from selective breeding work. For instance, this year we grew and did breeding selection on radish, lettuce and onions. We grew more than we would need for the eventual seed production in order to have plenty of leeway to select heavily for a number of traits. The vegetables we rouged in these crops were distributed to our CSA shareholders and sold at a local farmers market. Another example is that we grew Calendula for medicine for a number of years on a contract basis (from 50 – 300 pounds of dried blossoms). We would try to arrange a seed crop for this too, harvesting the largest first blooms for medicine and then letting it mature to seed and getting a seed crop from the same ground. These examples are also coupled with the fact that we often graze down our cover crops, which preceded these crops with our flock of sheep using portable electric netting. So, using the Calendula example the yields from this crop included:<br /> * Medicinal dried flowers<br /> * Flower seeds<br /> * Wool, manure, mowing services, and meat from the sheep<br /> * Pollinator/beneficial insect habitat<br /> * Educational resource/model<br /> * Beauty and inspiration<br /><br /> In the future, we hope to utilize our growers cooperative to develop value added businesses, which make use of plant material by-products of vegetable seed processing. Seed crops such as tomatoes, peppers, winter squash and melons could yield both seed and ingredients for salsa, sauce, juices, baby food and more. The key is attaining an efficient scale of production and access to a certified processing kitchen. We have already performed a preliminary business plan to assess the viability of such a plan, but it is beyond the scope of what our farm alone can do. However, with many organic growers in a cooperative the above system could be feasible, particularly if local demand could be generated for these products.<br /><br /> The concept of overlapping yields underscores the importance of thorough planning in a whole system approach. We carefully assess how a given variety fits into our system. How many yields and benefits does it bring? Will our animals eat any of the waste products? (Chickens and ducks love the waste from tomato and pepper processing and I believe that the waste from chilie processing has an anti-parasite action on our poultry, thereby eliminating our losses due to parasites.) How much effort and labor does it require? What is the economic yield for a given area? We use bed footage as a unit of measure for assessing the economic viability of the crops we chose to grow. Because our cropland is limited we simply can’t grow corn, beans or grains on any scale and remain profitable in our farming. So we set a financial threshold for our row cropped land which acts as a primary screen or filter to help determine which crops we will grow. This threshold is affected by variables such as ease of seed crop processing/harvest, do we like eating it (melons score points here), varitetal yield differences (e.g. Brandywines tomatoes are lousy seed producers, while cherry tomatoes yield very high) and will it assist our crop rotation in a positive way. <br /><br />Because our operation is labor intensive we must organize our crop diversity such that we don’t have too many crops all ready for harvest at the same time, which would overwhelm our small labor crew. We manage our operation with a 3-person crew and chose not to have to arrange for spot labor too often. We have found that over wintering and biennial crops help us in our planning and evening out our seasonal workload. For one, biennials represent guaranteed income for the next year, which we can budget on. Also, fall planted crops such as garlic; kale, collards, root crops and other biennials mature and ripen earlier than spring planted crops, so they are harvested when our workload is lighter in July and August. We have settled on a cropping plan which has about 1/3 of our ground planted in garlic, over-wintering onions, and biennials each year. This is also advantageous because these crops are out of the field early in the summer and planted to cover crops such as buckwheat or cowpeas, thereby reducing our summer weeding chores. Our crop rotation has developed this nice syncopated rhythm to it that we have more general categories to work with and more dynamic processes occurring on the farm at any one point. For instance, garlic that is planted to buckwheat post harvest for the summer encourages beneficial insect habitat and nectar flow for honeybees in addition to biomass for soil organic matter replenishment.<br /><br />Animals continue to benefit our farm in a multitude of ways and stimulate our creativity to utilize them in new situations. We have 26 ducks, 35 chickens, half dozen geese and 13 sheep, 8 of who are pregnant, likely with twins. Our ducks and geese free range through our perennial plantings (orchards and cane fruit) and are highly effective for slug and insect control. Low fences that are about 3 feet high keep them out of gardens and row crops, which they would love to sample. The Ducks and geese also help control aquatic weeds in our pond aquacultures. They are happy to perform this service voluntarily and reward us and our neighborhood with delicious and nutritious eggs and an occasional roast duck. We cannot keep up with the demand for our eggs at $4/dozen, all sold from our home in a self serve produce stand. We view our geese as God’s answer to the weed whacker, they mow the grass in the tight spots, which the mower can’t get, or is inconvenient to temporarily fence the sheep into. They provide our family with delicious meat and tremendous entertainment and fertility. We are looking into increasing our flock to meat local demand for organic goose. Natural vegetarians, they relish culled tomatoes, apples, peppers and seed crop residue. Our chickens free range in a one-acre orchard/pasture and make the most of our seed cleaning room wastes and fruit and vegetable compost, scratching up a storm to get the small and light seed.<br /><br />We graze our small flock of sheep all over our farm using portable solar electric netting with which I can set up a quarter acre area in about 15 minutes. This netting enables us to graze them in the margins between our crops, which are already being irrigated by hand line sprinklers. Prior to having sheep I used fuel and time to mow these areas. Now they are producing fertility, wool, meat and replacement stock with no fossil fuel inputs. We also can graze our cover crops down with our flock within the netting, helping them to contribute their gifts to our future soil fertility. Also by managing more of our farm in pasture it diversifies our crop rotation further and provides land on which to grow clover/grass hay for mulch in late spring when our forage exceeds their consumption. We basically use part of our first cutting of hay to mulch our row crops with guaranteed weed free organic nutritive mulch. So far our animal systems have basically produced enough to cover their own feed and management costs, however, they produce food for our family and employees and fertility and other services, which are hard to account financially for. We are developing local direct sale markets for our wool and lamb as we grow our flock size.<br /><br />I wanted to also give some consideration to the concept of production scale in relation to energy descent, economics and quality of life. As a small farm we are successful on account of an array of niche markets – specialty organic seeds, CSA, eggs, tree fruits, hand spinning wool, permaculture education and others. As the organic seed industry grows to meet the needs of organic vegetable producers there is a strong push to mechanize, grow in size and produce seed at a lower price. This is the capitalist model. There are many sound arguments for mechanization of seed harvesting and processing. Our farmer cooperative is pursuing acquiring some small-scale equipment for harvesting and cleaning seed, including an Allis Chalmers All Crop, a vine harvester and clipper cleaner. I am sure that this will cut our labor costs and possibly even increase our quality. However, the seduction of increasing the scale of our operation overlooks the concept that the small farms which thrive on niche markets can never compete with the larger models if they are expected to produce at prices closer to that paid for conventionally grown seed. Economies of scale could eliminate the profitability of small producers. We have done a feasibility study with our agricultural cooperative and have noted the viability of having shared equipment for a number of small seed farmers. Nonetheless, I am skeptical of the continued viability of growing an acre or two of seed in a future of considerably lower prices paid for organic seeds.<br /><br />The clarity of the future of small-scale organic seed growing is clouded by the geological certainty of the peak in global oil production, known as Peak Oil in popular circles. The ensuing energy descent and economic contraction, which will occur over the coming decades, should encourage us within the organic seed industry to recognize the value in small producers who can produce high quality seed for their region. I believe that we don’t simply need the existing seed growers and companies to grow larger to meet growing demand; rather we need many more of them. The increased costs for transporting seeds and materials for farming should preclude following the seed industry model of highly specialized seed growing regions. Many of us growing organically have always been mavericks in the field of agriculture; perhaps we can develop new models of what is a successful organic seed marketing approach. I envision a return to the model of regional seeds men and seeds women custom growing seed for their bioregion and growers who work with them directly. I believe that this model will weather the coming challenges to our economy from climate change and oil depletion far better than the modern centralized model.<br /><br />I would like to put forward the concept that agriculture should operate on a wider definition of economics than the commodities mindset. Without redefining agricultural economics we risk losing our diverse, small family farms, which have been a global repository of locally adapted, heirloom varieties and unique, sustainable cultural practices for millennia. My definition of economics spans from money to ecology to community and family. Rudolf Steiner called money, “the most spiritualized form of matter on the planet.” He was referring to the fact that money we receive for a product or a job quite literally represents our personal life force. This is particularly relevant for farmers and seed growers in particular. I feel that everyone who eats has a moral responsibility to participate in supporting small scale agriculture for it has what has fed, healed and clothed humanity for millennia. Abandonment of the ideals of our agrarian roots in a world which is increasingly overshadowed by climate change, oil depletion and unfavorable economic conditions may very well preclude the economic existence of farms such as ours. Ironically, it may very well turn out that small scale, diverse micro farms may very well be what feeds Americans much more so than large scale corporate agribusiness in the face of Peak Oil. Fortunately humanity has proven itself long on creativity in the face of challenges and clearly many models will arise to reflect regional needs and customs. Now represents a period of opportunity to take advantage of the abundant resources available to us to develop successful models of sustainable seed growing.Don Tippinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07715646352324049565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531629733319790937.post-89909423473343587962009-02-18T15:39:00.000-08:002009-02-18T15:40:18.097-08:00The Trials and Tribulations of being an Organic FarmerThe Trials and Tribulations of being an Organic Farmer<br /><br />September 2008<br /><br /> Somehow I figured that the longer I did something, the more proficient I would become at doing it. Experience begets mastery. Right? Well, maybe at the piano, or ping pong, but not farming. It almost seems as if the longer I do this absurd, yet critical vocation/lifestyle, the more ways I realize that I can get horns waggled by mother nature. Take our cucumber crop this year for instance. Last year we trialed a new variety of Middle Eastern cucumber (also known as the biet alpha group of cucumber varieties) called Divr from Seeds of Change seeds. Trialing is the process of growing a small amount of different varieties side by side in order to evaluate them more thoroughly under your own field’s growing conditions. We were impressed with its smooth skin free from bitter taste and sweet crunchy flesh. So this year we figures that we try growing a couple rows of it to share with the CSA members, excited to share what we thought was a superior variety.<br /> Fast forward to June 2008. Summer weather didn’t grace our piece of paradise on the north slope of Sugarloaf mountain (elev. 6870 feet) here in Williams until after s<br />The summer solstice. The slow start of warm weather this summer proved to challenge the early season vigor of all the hot weather crops. Not to be tricked by late starts of the Siskiyous, we had covered our cuc’s with remay (spun polyester fabric, kinda like quilt facing) at planting time to insulate them against cold nights and more importantly protect them from the arch nemesis of all cucerbitacea family plants – the dreaded cucumber beetle. So our cucumbers happily grew (slowly I might add) under the remay until warmer temperatures coaxed into liberating them to feel the suns rays directly. We were assured that they had grown enough foliage to combat and pestilence.<br /> The sharp claws of reality sink deep into vegetable flesh. As the fruits began to develop and we walked the rows to asses when to begin picking we noticed that not only did we have a preference for the fruits of the middle eaten cucumber but so did both the spotted and striped cucumber beetles. Not only did they like it, they relished it with a parasitic fervor. The small fruits were crisscrossed with the feeding tracks of the beetles so much so as to resemble the way an engraver beetle chews on a pine log. We were growing another couple rows of tradition Market more green cucumbers and pale yellow lemon cucumbers next to out choice specialty ones and they were largely spared the plague. <br /> Not to be outdone. We figured that the damage was simply an early season fluke, so we took drastic measures and harvested the entire first flush (about 200 pounds) of cucumbers and fed them to out ducks and chickens. Confident that it would enable the plants to redirect their energy into growing new fruits with less damage. But noooo….<br />Striiike two!<br /> Once again the fruits we horribly scarred and eaten with wounds oozing gelatinous cucumber sap. We counted our losses and tried to get some yield from the patch and sorted out the worst of the worst and wound up feeding another couple wheelbarrow loads of cucs to our enthusiastic ducks, chickens and turkeys. This continued for a few weeks until we were unable to meet our CSA’s quality standards and now the crop sits unharvested, a writhing cesspool of cucumber beetles munching in an orgy of pestilence. To add injury to defeat, their feeding transmits both cucumber mosaic virus and powdery mildew fungus to the leaves of the plants, so the neighboring ones don’t look too good either. A silver lining to this tragedy is that our interns and we made some mean pickles and tasty relish from some of the culls that we will savor in the winter months to come.<br /> As a farmer I want to be able to relay this story to those who marvel at beautiful fruits and vegetables in a CSA box or the market stand, completely innocent of the carnage that lies in waste in the dark recesses of the down and dirty world of domestication and cultivation. For every perfect fruit in a CSA box there is often one or two ugly ones sitting in the row in the field, harvested and rejected. If the rejects are lucky, they get rounded up and fed to livestock on the farm, but all too often they aren’t worth the effort and they get tilled back into the soil to nourish the soil and conjure luck in the quest for cosmetically beautiful food. In a perfect world consumers would be as concerned about the beauty within the fruit (the care put into growing soil and preserving biodiversity on the land) as the physical beauty on the outside of the fruit. Besides, perhaps the bugs are actually showing us which fruits are the most nutritious of the lot. Hmmmm…<br /><br />Don Tipping<br />Waning in the wee hours at Seven Seeds Farm on Sugarloaf Mountain 2008Don Tippinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07715646352324049565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531629733319790937.post-90933907333069607472009-02-18T15:36:00.000-08:002009-02-19T01:32:43.057-08:00Announcing Siskiyou Seeds!Hi all,<br /><br />Siskiyou Seed - biodynamic seed Available for planting!<br /><br />Grown at Seven Seeds Farm <br /><br />2009 Seed List<br /><br />Order by email (copy this as a word document and then mark the varieties you’d like and return to the email below), or mail to us at 3220 East Fork, Williams, OR 97544, and no phone orders please.<br /><br />We’d prefer for orders to be picked up at the farm until we get a local seed rack going. However we can ship to you (include $5 for under $50 orders, or $10 for over $50)<br /><br /> sevenseedsfarm@yahoo.com<br /><br />This is our first season selling direct to growers. We hope to expand our offerings and quantities available significantly. Feel free to contact us about custom growing potential. All seed is Stellar certified organic and grown using biodynamic practices (LKF) denotes Lupine Knoll Farm grown by Jesse & Jonathan Spero. All seeds backed by 100% replacement guarantee. Thank you for your interest in supporting local seed growing. Peace, Don Tipping.<br /><br />Seeds available in packets only, All Packets are $3/ each, or 10% off if you get 10 or more packets<br />Some varieties are available in bulk, these are marked with an “*” inquire about pricing. 104 varieties. <br /><br />ALLIACEAE:<br /> *Siskiyou Sweet Onion – reselection of Walla Walla – 12-32 ounce - sweet <br /> Rosa diMilano Onion – nice uniform barrel shaped storage onion. Very pretty<br /> Red Wethersfield Onion – good red globe shaped storage red. Heirloom standard<br /> Valencia Onion – a large sweet Spanish type. Delicious and stores well<br /> Newburg – vigorous, uniform yellow storage onion<br /> Poncho Leeks- Over winters well, big and stout – mild flavor<br />APIACEAE:<br /> *Turga Parsnip – nice & refined big roots. Sweet and nutty flavor<br /> Moss green Curled Parsley – frilly and fun. Great garnish and good in pesto<br /> Scarlet Nantes Carrot – Super sweet, blunt tip. Best fresh eating, stores well too<br />BRASICACEAE:<br /> Nurtibud Broccoli: very uniform and vigorous, can make large heads and sideshoots<br /> Tatsoi : aka spoon mustard. Very mild. Cute and tasty in salad<br /> Sputnik Arugla; from a pickle spice jar in Italy from John Navazio. Diverse roquette<br /> Perennial Collards: makes seed and regrows, can grow from cuttings too!<br /> Lacinato Kale – bumpy dinosaur greens, sweetens up with the cold<br /> *Red Russian Kale – selected for uniformity and nice purple color<br /> *White Russian Kale – later bolting, but like red Russian<br /> 9-Star Perennial Broccoli – makes florets both spring and fall for a few years<br /> Purple Tatsoi F2 – in progress breeding project for salad mix<br /> Mitzuna – selected for late bolting and non-hairy-ness, for multiple cuttings<br /> Plum Purple Radish – beautiful round roots – 4 years of heavy selection<br /> French Breakfast Radish – the nicest strain available – heavily selected<br /> Maruba Santoh Pac Choi – Kim Chee anyone? Open head with crunchy petioles<br /> Green Glaze Collards – unique glossy leaf sheen, nice eating, especially fried!<br />CHENOPODACEAE:<br /> Early Wonder Tall Top Beet- Old standard round red table beet. Sweet and red. Nice greens<br /> *Prismatic Rainbow Chard – gold, red, green, orange, and lots of in-betweens, good in salad small<br /> Ford hook Giant Chard – huge vigorous plants, heavily savoyed green leaves, white stems<br /> Bull’s Blood Beets – deep red leaves, stems and roots, good for salad mix <br /> Purple Orach – like huge lambsquaters, good in salad, very pretty iridescent. Heat tolerant<br /> Beet Berry – spinach flavored mini-strawberry seed capsules, seductively weird<br />COMPOSITAE:<br /> Spadona chickory – large deep green flat leaves for cooking<br /> Nina Frisee’ Endive – fluffy and frilly, great in salad. A tongue tickler<br /> Sandrina Butter Lettuce – nice quick growing green butter<br /> Vertmar Lettuce– big sturdy sweet green romaine with some bolt resistance<br /> *Concept Lettuce – great green head lettuce, disease resistant, good market strain<br /> Redina Lettuce – good red loose head, vigorous and beautiful<br /> Italienischer Lettuce – huge, vigorous, heavy green oakleaf <br /> *Forellenschluss Lettuce – green, buttery romaine with red freckles, nice for mix<br /> Merlot Lettuce– the deepest, darkest red in the field, slow growing<br /> Bronze Arrow – green oakleaf with red highlights, heavy heads, and a farm fav.<br /> *Crispmint Lettuce – cool savoyed upright romaine – another farm fav.<br /> New Red Fire Lettuce – classic 3 season red head lettuce, not for mix<br /> Marin – smooth, heavy green head lettuce, real nice<br /> Optima Lettuce – a big, creamy smooth butter lettuce with disease tolerance<br /> Ermosa Lettuce– pretty medium sized butter lettuce, some heat tolerance<br /> Devil’s Ears Lettuce – spiky, big red & green pointed leaves like a star – unusual<br /> Red Iceburg Lettuce – crunchy and sweet in summer heat, can’t be beat<br /> Slogun – big heat tolerant Batavian type, very slow bolting<br />CUCURBITACEAE:<br /> Delicata Squash – from Frank Morton’s Zeppelin reselection, sweet and great<br /> Buttercup Squash – green outside, deep orange inside, great tasting & smooth <br /> Waltham Butternut Squash – small seed cavity, earlier to ripen, cure inside<br /> *Sharlyn Muskmelon – delicious white/orange flesh – good yield of sturdy fruits<br /> *Haogen Isreali Perfume Melon – green fruits are tropically tasty – a farm fav<br /> Lemon Cucumber-<br /> Crimson Sweet Watermelon – classic green striped, super sweet red-fleshed watermelon!<br />FABACEA:<br /> True cranberry Bean – deep red pole bean for drying – like jewels<br /> *Magic Bean – like scarlet runner, but more colorful, up to 18 ft tall<br /> Black Jet Soy Bean – early maturing – good for tempeh<br /> Human Bean – our favorite dry bean, early and prolific<br /> Jade Snap Bean – the best tasting green bean, very productive bush habit<br /> Haricot Vert Green Bean – slender French style snap bean<br /> Montcalm Kidney Bean – big maroon dry bean, early yielding<br /> *Black Turtle Bean – early, good yield, easy thresh, fast cooking<br /> *Zapallo Dry Bean – also called tiger’s eye, early, big and very pretty – a farm fav. <br />POACEAE:<br /> *Rainbow Dry Corn – a grex/multi line of many native flour corns, beautiful food<br /> Cassiopeia Popcorn – 95 dearly maturing, diverse rainbow of color combinations<br /> *Anasazi Swt Corn -85 days OP Ancient variety, many colors, thick cobs, variable (LKF)<br /> *Art Verell’s Sweet corn – 75 days OP Heirloom su corn from SW Oregon. Short <br /> Stalks, white kernels<br /> *Luther Hill Swt Corn – 80 days OP Classic white su heirloom variety. Was a <br /> Standard CV in the 1950’s (LKF)<br /> *Double Red Sweet Corn -developed by Dr. Alan Kapuler) 85 days OP<br /> Deep red kernels, cobs & stalks. High in antioxidants. (LKF)<br /> *Sparkler F1 Swt Corn- 85days Anasazi x modern se. Productive, big ears, <br /> Variable in color. Bred by J. Spero /LKF<br /> *Festivity Sweet Corn –(Painted Hills improved) 80 days, multi-colored, multi- stalked, <br /> Cold tolerant, 2 – 4 ears per plant. LKF<br /> Foxtail Millet – for dried flowers, or food easy to grow<br /> Black eagle Kamut – ancient wheat relative, huge kernels, tall vigorous plants. Pretty black awns<br /> Kamamuji Barley – hulless and very productive, farm fav. Masunobu Fukoaka’s choice.<br />SOLANACEAE:<br /> Caro Rich tomato – crack resistant big, orange fruits, good for market<br /> Roma Paste Tomato – determinate vines produce heavy set of fruits, no trellising<br /> Thessaloniki Tomato– nice early medium red slicer from Greece<br /> Amana Orange Tomato – big yellow/orange fruits like a Brandywine, late<br /> German Streaked– huge red, yellow and orange marbled fruits – best tasting <br /> Chianti Rose Tomato – an improved Brandywine – large pink fruits<br /> Gold Currant Tomato – the sweetest non-hybrid cherry tomato, very productive<br /> Yankee Bell Pepper – big, sweet, tasty red bells – earliest bell pepper for Oregon<br /> Aci Sivri Cayenne Pepper – long twisty red fruits mature early – hot<br /> Sweet Chocolate Pepper –red/brown fruits, great fresh or roasted - productive!<br /> Early Jalapeño Pepper – nice productive fruits can actually turn red by mid Sept.<br /> Anaheim Pepper – big, mildly spicy fruits –great for Chile’ rellanos and roasting<br /> Bolivian rainbow Pepper – very spicy tiny fruits in a variety of colors, ripen red<br />FLOWERS & OTHER:<br /> Sweet Williams: intoxicating cinnamon aroma. Biennial, flowers first year, tends to naturalize here<br /> Purple Cleome: Spider plant – fairly outrageous big stinky plant with spines and beautiful flowers.<br /> Bee Friend – Phacelia – insectary cover crop, beautiful purple fiddle heads<br /> Pacific Beauty Calendula – a diverse mix of colors and shapes, medicinal<br /> Sunrise Cosmos – riotous cloud of orange flowers to 4 feet tall<br /> Cockscomb Amaranth – fuchsia pink novelty everlasting flower<br /> Tithonia – Mexican Sunflower – butterfly attractant, incredible hue of orange<br /> Seashell Cosmos – pink, white and fuchsia tubular petals on robust 4-5 ft plants<br /> Purple Dahlia Zinnia – fuchsia to purple, many blooms on plants to 5 feet<br /> Tashkent Marigold – compact plants to 2 feet – with maroon orange flowers. Fedco’s favorite!<br /> African Marigold – big, tall (to 4 ft) yellow and orange pom poms, <br /> Tiger Teddy Sunflower – unusual mix of teddy bear and tiger’s colors & petals<br />HERBS& OTHER:<br /> Criolla Cilantro – delicious fresh, tasty as coriander too. Great living mulch with corn. Salsa!<br /> Gennovese Basil – vigorous grower, mild flavor, Pesto anyone? Our favorite <br /> Clary Sage – aromatic, edible “chia” seeds. Aka “armpit” plant by Sena Cech!<br /> Motherwort – medicinal, naturalizes easily, bumblee bee heaven<br /> Omega Flax – very productive and easy to grow – grow your own fatty acids!<br /> Cadoon – like artichokes, but you eat the blanched leaf stalks. A perennial that naturalizes<br /> Bread seed Poppy: low in opiates, delicious in baking. Tall lavender blooms yield abundant seedDon Tippinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07715646352324049565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531629733319790937.post-10733601910130991472009-02-18T14:32:00.000-08:002009-02-18T14:36:06.918-08:00Seven Seeds farm story 2/19/09Hi,<br />Well I currently farm in Williams,Oregon with my wife and our 2 sons (2& 6). This is our 13th season farming here. We grow certified organic vegetables, fruits, berries, seeds, sheep for wool & lamb and poultry. We manage 40 acres of which 3 acres are in row crops, 3 acres in berries and orchards, 6 acres in pasture/hay, and 28 acres in managed woodlot forest. Our fruits and vegetables are sold through a local farmers market and a coopoerative CSA with 150 members. Of our row crop land, about 2/3rds is used to grow seeds for commercial contract to Seeds of Change, Johnny's, Fedco, Turtle Tree Seed, High Mowing Seeds, Uprising Seeds and Renee's. Seed growing and plant breeding have dovetailed into our vegetable farming nicely because we are able to gather multiple harvests from the same crop in many instances. For example, when growing lettuce for seed we will plant 3 rows on a 4 foot bed, harvest the middle row and any that need to be culled for various reasons and sell them through our CSA; then the remaining 2 rows will mature to seed, growing to about 4 feet high and occupying the space left from the first harvest. We sell many onions through the CSA that were culls from a plant breeding selection project. Being culls for genetic reasons, their "issues" generally have something to do with shape, size, color or another trait which doesn't impinge upon their table quality.<br /><br /> For years we have gotten requests from local growers to sell them seed direct, which we had declined to do because we lacked the infrastructure to sell direct. We decided to fill this important local seed supply niche after the untimely passing of Al Vanet (SOW Organic Seeds) who was one of the early pioneers that led to the founding of Seeds of Change. 2009 represents the first year for Siskiyou Seeds, a smll packet and rack sales seed company focused on bioregional seed security, hence, no web site. Our goal is to sell the varieties which have proven themselves as performers through a dozen years of Siskiyou mountain farming and homesteading. This endeavor enables us to further diversify our workload an income streams through the year, so we don't have such a crunch period at one point in the fall. It will also help us to focus more directly on doing the necessary work of selection and breeding for organic systems.<br /><br /> 2009 also represents the first year for a new growers cooperative looking to sell seed direct to growers on a national scale, the Family farmers Seed Cooperative. A group of 10 prominane and successful seed growers are spearheading this effort to increase the availability of QUALITY organic seed that is bred for organic systems. <br /><br /> Another aspect of seed growing which mates well with our fresh maket farming is that seed crops take longer to mature, so the effort is concentrated into planting early season, maintainace mid-season and harvest in later season. This spares us from the treadmill of constant marketing, harvesting and selling that is truck farming. However, we have honed our production for our cooperative CSA (www.siskiyoucoop.com) to focus on the early season crops to carve out more time in September and October when the seed crops demand our attantion. An important aspect of seed growing that makes our farm economy work is that we can prearrange contracts early in the Winter and go into the growing season with income figures to budget with, similar to the way a CSA ensures the grower up-front cash. However, with seed crops, the farmer doesn't get paid until the seed is harvested, cleaned, and germination tested, which means tha ofeten we don't receive payment until January or February. So, for us, having some fresh market income is cruicial to keeping cashflow happening year round. We have learned to work around the late payment for seed crops by budgeting it as our start up money for the year.<br /><br />Currently, only about 2% of the seeds used on organic farms is grown organically. Clearly a huge opportunity exists to meet this hole in our organic farming community. I view seed growing as an exciting challege to learn more about the plants we work with. It also helps to support the ecology of our farm as it retains more carbon on the farm as we only export a small percentage of the plants' biomass. Also, many of the by-proucts of seed crops can be used to feed livestock on the farm. Most importantly for me, growing seeds has provided an engaging challenge and enabled us to support a cruicial link in community food security in a meaningful way.<br /><br />Don Tipping<br />Seven Seeds FarmDon Tippinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07715646352324049565noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531629733319790937.post-32556808725477671372009-02-03T00:54:00.000-08:002009-02-03T00:57:00.992-08:00No Till Farming RotationReduced Tillage at Seven Seeds Farm<br /><br /> Tilling the soil eliminated the earth’s natural protective biological cover of vegetation to create a weed free environment in which farmers can grow crops. It releases abundant nutrients to those seasons’ crops by allowing organic matter in the form of humus to become mineralized by sunlight and water forces. Repeated tilling exhausts the soils natural fertility, thereby forcing the farmer to apply fertilizer, usually composted animal manures and cover crop green manures on an organic farm. Nonetheless, these practices do not have a long track record of sustainability. Contemplate how long tractors have been in wide usage (maybe 50-60 years). Traditional farmers had to preserve much more land as pasture to feed draft animals for power. Usually this amounted to 2/3rds of a given mixed farm. Tractors changed this whole systems approach by freeing up that land for the growing of crops, which could be sold, and eliminating animals from the fertility loop on many farms. Consider one cow can produce enough manure to fertilize one acre of high production vegetables. However, it requires 4 acres of grass to pasture and produce hay for that one cow (now you can see where the 2/3 -> ¾ pasture based whole system farm model). Assuming farmers are not yet willing to forfeit their tractors for draft horses (which actually carry a larger ecological footprint if the farmer has to buy in hay than using biodiesel in a tractor. Remember a horse is like a tractor “idling” all day,) how can we develop a more sustainable model of vegetable farming?<br /> I have experimented with no till small scale farming for a few years. I am actually doing a reduced tillage system as I learn what works for me. I have 7 years of very active soil improvement (cover cropping, rock dusts and lots of biodynamic compost) into our clay loam soil. I doubt that the project I describe next would be successful on a rougher soil. We grow seeds for Seeds of Change in blocks that are about 1/8 an acre (30' x 100') and I am developing a no till rotation scheme with this plot size. A few years ago I had a block of tomatoes I had grown for seed. Normally I pull the trellising and disc it all under in the fall and sow rye, peas and vetch over the winter, which is mowed or grazed down in May and then disced and tilled and compost spread (at 15yds/acre) to make beds. <br /> My experiment began by doing my normal soil prep/cover crop regime as described above on one half of a block and on the other I simply left the tomato beds sit over the winter (they had been mulched with straw when the tomatoes were planted) and then I pulled the vines in the spring (very easy to do by then) and I transplanted lettuce plants for seed (3 rows on a 4 foot wide bed) into both the tilled (cover cropped and compost applied) and untilled/mulched (no cover crop or compost) beds side by side 4 beds of each. It was a little trickier transplanting into the untilled beds, but a right angle trowel made the job doable. Amazingly the transplants in the untilled beds took off right away growing vigorously while the ones in my fluffy spaded beds sat there for about 2 weeks until they began growing again. <br /><br />My hunch is that the undisturbed soil flora/fauna/fungal populations were intact in the untilled beds and took a while to recolonize the tilled beds. What really surprised me was that after this initial growth the untilled ones produced larger heads and more seed even though they didn't benefit from the compost and nitrogen rich cover crops that the other beds received.<br /><br />What I want to try next is including a cereal grain in the rotation, so that my straw is grown in place. A conceivable 5-year rotation might look like:<br /><br />1) Fall sown Rye/Oats/wheat possibly with a legume like dry peas,<br />* This would be ready for harvest in June/July, graze chicken/ducks/turkeys to clean up left over grains, then<br />2) Plant summer crop from transplants into straw<br />3) Garlic in the fall<br />4) Broadcast buckwheat before forking our garlic, so that it is planted when you pull garlic, grow buckwheat to seed, harvest some and clean up the rest with poultry.<br />5) Plant a winter crop of fava beans (seeded in early October) to be harvested in May/June then back to another summer crop<br />6) Plant summer crop in June (tomatoes, or vine crop)<br />7) Plant grains in the fall <br /><br />Over the course of five years you could get:<br />* 3-grain crops <br />* Poultry clean up opportunity in between each<br />* Fava Bean crop<br />* Garlic Crop<br />* 2 summer crops<br /><br />A total of 7 vegetable crops and also animal products within 5 years. Now if I could only pull it off within a commercially viable farm. I have done aspects of this rotation but never in a seamless cycle.Don Tippinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07715646352324049565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531629733319790937.post-54592230309824862922009-02-03T00:52:00.000-08:002009-02-03T00:54:28.609-08:00Farm as an OrganismFarm As An Organism<br />February 15th, 2007<br /><br /> Ideally a farm should function as an organism, recycling wastes to meet the needs of other elements of the system and deriving its needs from other elements within this loop. Photosynthesis and oxygen/carbon dioxide gas exchange is the ultimate blueprint for this pattern. Treating the land, as an organism is clearly the goal to all holistic approaches to farming or land management, whether it’s permaculture, biodynamics, holistic resource management, biointensive, forest gardening or natural farming. The realm of physics offers some guidelines. Everything encounters the Law of Conservation of Energy; which states “that energy can not be created (made from nothing), or destroyed (made to disappear to no-where) and that energy can be changed from one form to another (such as electrical energy in to heat energy).” (Wikipedia.org). The classification of waste is non-existent in an ecological system. The distinction between where something is a waste product and a food source becomes blurred. Contrast the food chain worldview to the food web approach. The food chain represents the industrial, assembly-line outlook, whereas the food web view recognizes that all elements of a system are interconnected. <br /> The trouble with designing closed-loop systems which self manage is that the law of conservation of energy within a given system doesn’t take into account the surplus ancient energy made available through the use of fossil fuels. Further, the economics of living in our “everything at your fingertips” consumer culture makes it difficult to create closed loop systems. Why grow grain or fodder crops for your animals when it is so easy and inexpensive to buy suitable feed at the local farm supply store. The industrialization of organics has even made organic factory-farmed feeds easily accessible. Because those of us living in industrialized nations live under a veritable cloak of waste (fossil fuels transmuted into surplus carbon) it tends to cloud our judgment as holistic designers. The monetary economy functions as a zone or element of our permaculture landscape. This facilitates an easy rationalization towards buying that reasonably priced certified organic poultry feed to ease management of our multi-species forest gardens. <br /> The proliferation of Biofuels has brought the concept of Food=Waste to the forefront of the political and public sphere. With more corn and soy being grown to create ethanol and biodiesel we are casting our vote for the preferred pseudo-livestock of our postmodern permaculture landscape – the automobile. Food that could feed people and animals is being rendered into fuel by industrial processes, which cannot escape the law of conservation of energy. The streamlining effect that the food chain worldview has upon ecological systems aims to shorten the loops that solar energy goes through to meet human needs. In this vein the Biofuels argument is seen as a sound approach to deal with waste (in this case gross overproduction of corn and soy by agribusiness) and turn it into a resource, fuel, food for our cars and trucks. Measured in terms of total energy yield per acre, the land that now produces so much corn and soy is a pathetic waste of what was once an incredible prairie poly culture dominated by grasses, forbs, Bison and wildfire. Yet within our emerging ecotopian culture we have become blinded to the laws of physics. We embrace biodiesel (which uses more energy to make than it provides when burned), the compact fluorescent light bulb (which although they conserve energy, contain mercury), and other tech-no-logical band-aids in our valiant effort to ameliorate our impact upon a biosphere that is struggling with the modern human lifestyle<br /> Clearly the pattern of natural systems is that of recycling and capturing energy. The complexity of interconnections in functioning ecosystems is the result of an endless process of new species moving into niches that may only exist for a geologically brief time. Human beings may well be such a species capitalizing upon a niche. Regardless we have a role to play. Founder of biodynamic agriculture, Rudolf Steiner once claimed that the role of humanity is to change the Earth. This concept is hard to accept, yet equally hard to refute. Rather than adapting to a niche, we have learned to adapt our environment to the agrarian and pastoral niche within which we have grown comfortable. Humanity seems confounded by a quandary here: the pattern of nature implies a hunter-gatherer nomadic relationship to the landscape rather than our sedentary agrarian relationship. Nevertheless, exceptions abound! Perhaps we may rejoice that humanity is not alone in our agrarian pursuits. Maybe we should laud our cleverness to join the ranks of fungal farming termites in South Africa, honeydew farming ants, or nectar gathering honeybees. <br /> I believe that we can view the permaculture relationship to the land as a long trajectory process of ecological restoration. We aren’t going back to the past of foraging and hunting just yet. The farming systems and settlement patterns that we thoughtfully set into motion now are governed by the same rules as the rest of Gaia. Careful observation results in a feedback loop of what is successful and capitalizing on pulses of abundance, be it a bee tree, pigeon guano in an old barn, salvaged metal roofing, or a windfall peach crop dried and canned for storage. As we slowly wean ourselves from the petroleum umbilical cord that keeps many brilliant designs at bay, we are becoming more aware of numerous opportunity areas. Less external resources will force us to look to within our own system for its needs. As we start small and harvest our mistakes we will model farms and villages after ecosystems, which capture resources as they cascade through the food web like a net. <br /> Farming for a living in the 21st century, I have found that needing to remain economically viable stimulates my creativity towards intelligent, holistic design. It helps if you have a permaculture streak running in your veins. For example, we grew about 1/6 of an acre of Calendula flowers to be dried and sold for medicinal use for a few years. The high labor costs of picking the flowers twice a week and the wholesale price we were being paid was beginning to edge this crop out of our production scheme. This was until we pursued a seed contract for the seeds, which we could still reliably mature after meeting our flower harvest quota. We also noticed over time that Calendula provided a trap crop for cucumber beetles, which helped our cucurbit vine crops. The goal of needing to remain profitable to stay in business farming precipitated an opportunity to stack functions. <br /> We have also used this strategy successfully when integrating plant breeding, seed production and market gardening. In order to improve the genetics of many vegetable species that we grow on commercial contract for seed companies, we must cull or “rogue” plants with undesirable characteristics and deleterious genetic traits. Sometimes this can account for as much as 10% of a planting of lettuce or up to 90% when do selection for radish stock seed. So we have developed our market outlets (CSA, Growers’ markets) to accommodate selling our rogues, which are perfect for food, but are considered “off-types” in a seed planting. Seed growing in general has fostered a different outlook on vegetable farming in that the vegetable itself is merely a vehicle to grow the seed. So, the fruits of tomatoes, melons, squash and peppers are waste by-products of our seed production goals. Of course we don’t let this opportunity go unutilized, melon and squash halves are bagged for distribution to CSA members and countless wheelbarrow loads of fruits minus seeds feed our menagerie of livestock. Our motto is increasingly that each crop must have multiple yields and these should serve a diversity of elements. This view has been the result of observing resources pass unutilized through our farm system: calendula seeds, tall grass, rainwater from a roof, pest outbreaks, algae in ponds and countless others. This has enabled us to stay on the land farming a diverse small acreage without needing off farm jobs, as many farmers must do. Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm sums up the value of these observations nicely, “I am just the orchestra conductor making sure that everybody’s in the right place at the right time.”<br /> Farming in the same spot for the past decade we have come to recognize that nature tends to produce periodic abundance in pulses rather than a steady stream. Oregon White Oak (quercus garyii) trees produced a bumper crop a few years back and we noticed resident wild turkeys and deer voraciously eating them. Our sheep also scoured oak grove edges overhanging their pastures for acorns that they would audibly crunch enthusiastically. This prompted us to begin to include turkeys in our pasture and woodland edge management and seasonally graze our sheep in oak woodlands. When crushed, our chickens and ducks relish acorn meal and with a bit of processing we relish them too (both the acorns and the birds). While deer, bear and others consume large amounts of acorns in season, we can capture surplus, or waste yields for a farm feed that is ideally harvested by the animals themselves. Although Oregon white oaks tend to produce acorns every year, varying in abundance, California Black Oak (quercus kellogii), yield every 2-5 years, were the preferred species of native peoples here due to their higher oil content (10-12% for Q.garayii, vs. 25-30% for Q.kellogii). This information has also influence our woodland management to favor Black Oaks and thin coniferous trees for structural poles, firewood, bark, fencing and lumber around them. <br /> Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menzesii) presents itself as a classic opportunity to turn a liability into an asset as it regenerates readily in its own shade and tends to form wildfire prone thickets in the absence of periodic fire or disturbance. We build with peeled Douglas fir poles in place of dimensional lumber whenever possible. Soil tests indicated that although our land was historically a mixed coniferous and hardwood forest we had alkaline soil (pH =7.5 –> 8). Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm fame integrates forestry with farming using wood chips from logging and milling wastes as animal bedding and compost carbon source. Inspired by the example of Joel Salatin, we were encouraged to use forestry by-products (wastes) to meet our carbon needs on our farm. Starting with dead and windfall trees we integrate wood chips and saw dust from lumber milled on site as animal bedding under the theory that we can capture the excess nitrogen in sheep urine and poultry manure in a slow composting process with wood wastes and possibly help steer our pH to a more neutral reading. This also helps to limit our need for off farm straw for animal bedding and helps us reticulate carbon from the forest into our fields. Woodland and basketry coppice wastes wind up in brush fences, paddock cross fencing and a native alternative too many uses previously met by exotic bamboo. In many of these instances we are using forestry wastes to feed fungal communities and steer a bacterially dominated pasture based farm system to a mycrorhizal fungi dominated woodland savannah system. <br /> An important observation about the unfolding of our farm system is that, although we set out with a design based on observation and assessment from the beginning, many of our most successful endeavors have been the result of a long-term relationship to the site. As we become clearer about our needs and the needs of the plants and animals around us, both domestic and wild, the clarity of our observations increases dramatically and design ideas spring forth as the obvious next step in the sequence of closing resource loops. I am certain that indigenous peoples adapted to changes in their landscape and their needs in a similar fashion. This is the long-term trajectory of which I mentioned earlier. These early versions of modern permaculture/whole systems farms will resemble modern agriculture less and less as they go through the process of becoming indigenous landscapes and communities. Until we see ourselves as fully enmeshed in our bioregions food web we will still perceive resources through the eyes of the food chain industrialist, as waste or idle and unused. The yields of the truly sustainable farm of the future will be an adaptation of the energy flowing through the system. Call it resources, waste or food, it all represents solar energy fixed as carbon, air, water and warmth. In our bioregion, the Siskiyou mountain farm of the future may be based much more upon supporting native pine/oak savannahs and their associated herbivores. However, it may involve planting of superior strains of genetically selected natives and inclusion of proven exotic species in a complex web of species garnering calories as sunlight, water, nutrients and carbon trickle through a series of sieves that resemble tree canopies, ponds, marshes, soil, animals and plants.<br /><br />Don Tipping, and his family steward Seven Seeds Farm in the Siskiyou Mountains of Williams, Oregon. This is their 11th year growing seed, eggs, fruits, vegetables, sheep, mixed poultry and spreading the gospel of ecotopian culture. They help manage a cooperative CSA and seed growers network (www.siskiyoucoop.com) and train future permaculture farmers through classes and apprenticeships. sevenseedsfarm@yahoo.comDon Tippinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07715646352324049565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531629733319790937.post-3995519832741549892009-02-03T00:49:00.000-08:002009-02-03T00:50:20.367-08:00Energy DescentNavigating Energy Descent<br /><br /> Peak Oil implores us to consider the tremendous opportunity to rediscover and remake sustainable culture. Looking decades into the future I imagine a truly bioregional relationship between society and the landscape. A world where one doesn’t chose to try and live more sustainable, rather it is the cultural norm and guided by natural resource limits. Both urban and rural communities diversify away from the Wal-Martization that homogenized culture prior to energy descent. A thorough assessment and revaluation of liabilities uncovers many potential assets that were unclear in a society awash in excess. I envision creative utilization of resources considered problems in an energy surplus economy. For instance in the fire prone arid West, ecological fuels reduction thinning could yield small diameter poles and brush for engineered pole trusses, insulative wattle for walls and charcoal feedstock for steam power generation. Previous to developing these cottage industries of quasi –migratory woodland gatherers and crafts people, the large centralized landscape managers hustled for grant monies to slash and burn hazardous fuels, often the byproduct of industrial forestry. <br /> Regional specialization is an outgrowth of pattern embellishment wherein a culture looks its environment for resources and models. Without global economics and interstate trucking, a deeper level of stewardship becomes necessary to avoid exhausting the ecosystem benefits which this forest culture depends upon, like water, air, erosion control, wildlife habitat. Manufacturing becomes more localized, producing the tools and materials necessary for life regionally, drawing upon vast sort yards where the excess of the 20th century is recycled. Any surplus for trade with neighboring regions would reflect regional specialization, a direct outgrowth of the assets of a given bioregion. Every region possesses a diversity of resources, such that in time the clothing, housing, diet, means of transport and customs would come to reflect the bioregion, with each valley becoming more and more distinct from one another as time passes. The image of the interstate connected city strip with its predictable assortment of multination chain stores, gas stations, strip malls and the like will vanish as theses buildings are co-opted for more practical purposes in the post-carbon reality.<br /> Other key features of a post collapse society might include:<br />• Local currency and barter systems <br />• A reliance upon animal power<br />• Food production at every level of settlement density<br />• Wood for heat, steam power and manufacturing<br />• Biological filters for gray and black water<br />• Redistribution of human settlement near areas capable of supplying clean water and land for food; and away from areas of severe drought, cold and frequent natural disasters<br />• Vernacular architecture – no more stick frame houses in unforested regions, more cob, sod, log and stone construction<br />• Village social structures for social services<br />• Frequent farmers’/crafters’ markets for trade within a region<br />• City and county level governance predominating<br /><br /> I believe that the future holds many hopeful outcomes and it is well worth beginning the visioning process for what our lives and our children’s lives will look like in the future. Ursula LeGuinn discusses the concept of the history of the future in her classic, Always Coming Home, asserting that we often only hold pieces of clues to life in the distant past, from which we formulate a story. Likewise, we hold pieces of clues of what life will be like in the future and in many ways, permaculture design spiraled out four dimensionally in space time can assess the future design environment. Albeit that we may have to exercise more creativity to deal with an abundance of unknowns. The scenario I outlined above is a fairly optimistic portrayal of life many years from now which assumes a reasonably stable climate which can facilitates agriculture. The intervening period will likely be tumultuous, challenging our societal systems and rendering some obsolete. Collapse of the current industrial civilization is already underway. Peak Oil is only one symptom of a system in its final throes. Although they are all interrelated in a multitude of ways Peak Oil shares the billing of the “death knell of industrial civilization” with climate change, economic collapse, infectious diseases, food scarcity, war and a host of other formidable challenges. I believe that Peak Oil rings particularly loud for North Americans because of our unparalleled dependence upon petroleum.<br /><br /> The transition to a post-petroleum society will take decades and will be anything but smooth. However, planning for a managed decent rather than simply taking a wait and see attitude would be prudent. There are a number of focal points to a managed energy descent, including food, medicine, transportation, localization, economics, water, shelter, transport, population transfer, security and governance, I feel that food and water are where the rubber meets the road, so I will deal with these two concerns in detail.Don Tippinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07715646352324049565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531629733319790937.post-45530065200931059542009-02-02T23:37:00.000-08:002009-02-03T00:04:59.135-08:00Are Commercial Hybrid Seeds really Necessary?Hi ,<br /><br />As a farmer and plant breeder I feel compelled to call attention to the myriad of reasons to plant heirloom and locally adapted seeds. Through selecting the best performing plants in a population, farmer bred heirlooms have had to evolve with nutures panopoly of pests, disease and climate stress. Consequently, they develop horizontal resistance to disease (stress, etc) which remains largely effective despite mutations in the pathogen (eg. downy mildew race 1,2, 3 ,4, 5 etc). Horizontal resistance is the result of population breeding, wherein a suite of diverse genetics is maitained that can infer secondary benfits to growers planting these seeds. For instance if I focus on breeding for cold tolerance in a broccoli I may also be selcting inadvertantly for aphid resistance of increased phytonutrient content. Commercial hybrids are bred for vertical disese resistance to s specific race of a pathogen. Once the pathogen evolves, that resistance is rendered ineffective. Further, a handful of multinational corporations control over 90% of the vegetable seed market and their marketing focus is F1 hybrids thereby discouraging gardeners and farmers to save their own seeds. Consider that Monsanto recently bought the world's largest vegetable seed company (Seminis) making them one of the largest seed companies in the world. Think about that when you buy your hybrid "Early Girl" tomaotes - money in Monsanto's pocket. While the hybridization process infers heterosis which increases vigor in some instances, the benfits can only truly be seen in a small group of families (namely corn, broccoli). Classical or traditional plant breeding can acheive or surpass the results of propritary hybrid breeding programs.<br /><br />Also - Seven Seeds Farm is commerating its 13th season farming in Williams with the birth of Siskiyou Seed - which picks up where Al Vanet and Shryl Lee's SOW Organic Seeds left off. We will have locally grown certified organic seed racks at the General Store, Chet's Nursery, the Ashland Co-op and in Ruch within the next few weeks. Our offerings are the culmination of what has proven sucessful in many years of homestead gardening here in Williams. Our favorite chestnut varieities will be represented in the vegetable, fruit, flower culinary herb seeds we will be selling. <br />feel free to email us for a seed list if you would like to place an order before I finish assembling the seed racks.<br />Seven Seeds farm - Don Tipping<br />sevenseedsfarm@yahoo.comDon Tippinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07715646352324049565noreply@blogger.com0