I wish this month to bring you an article concerning an heirloom seed company that I feel is one of the best resources for buying seeds that can be saved from year to year for planting. This company does not offer hybrid seeds which cannot be saved and planted each year and most of the time does not produce a true-type plant. Also, the customer buying hybrid seeds must rely totally on the companies selling hybrid seeds which for the most part are backed by the big company Monsanto. Think how much better it would be for the consumer to have their own seeds available from year to year and how much money could be saved. It just takes some effort on the consumer’s side to learn how to save these seeds. There are many resources describing how to do this. The following article comes from Daves Garden website: davesgarden.com.

It all started in 1998 with Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, the company that now offers one of the largest selections of heirloom seeds in the U.S. with over 1,300 varieties of tasty vegetables, fragrant flowers and spicy herbs. Groovy seeds for all your home and market garden needs. Jere Gettle collects many ethnic varieties each year through his extensive travels. We offer the most unique, colorful and flavorful varieties. Our varieties have been grown in many major gardens, including Disney World, the U.S. National, Chicago, New York, St. Louis Botanic Gardens, Monticello, Living History Farms and Colonial Williamsburg, to name a few.

Baker Creek carries one of the largest selections of seeds from the 19th century, including many Asian and European varieties. Gettle founded the company in 1998 as a tool to promote and preserve our agricultural and culinary heritage. Our varieties have been featured in Organic Gardening, Mother Earth News, New York Times, Chicago Tribune, O Magazine, Martha Stewart and many others. Gardeners can request a free 124-page color catalog that now mails to over 250,000 gardeners nationally.

Over the past dozen or so years, Baker Creek has branched out into other related projects as well, including The Heirloom Gardener magazine, which is now in its seventh year of publication. The Gettle family has also expanded to a location in Sonoma County, California, in the beautiful town of Petaluma. In June 2010 they expanded to Connecticut, buying and preserving the near 200 old Comstock, Ferre & Co. one of America’s first seed companies.

We also work extensively to supply free seeds to many of the world’s poorest countries, as well as here at home in school gardens and other educational projects. It is our goal to educate everyone about a better, safer food supply and fight gene-altered Frankenfood and the companies that support it. Until next time!

Alice Russell,  also known as “Me Me,” resides in the Randolph/Saxe area. She can be reached at letstalkherbs@gmail.com.