4/20/2020

Best Seeds and Free Exchanges

I know you are at home wishing you could stroll the aisles of your favorite
garden supply store. My local favorite is Plant Depot and they are open
until three o'clock, but call and make sure of the hours.

In late winter my mailbox fills with seed catalogs and I spend hours reading
them just as honored as the poetry books I ordered this year when so many
book tours and release parties have been cancelled. I only go to my post office
to pick up mail every other week, to avoid my elaborate mask, glasses, hat,
alcohol spray, avoidance of touching anything, and protocol.

I want to share one of my life's pleasures with you. It's picking out seeds 
to plant for the early spring. I'm Zone 9a - yes that's like some Zodiac
sign that people say on their Match.com profile, not. 



I have posted photos of picture packets which I quite love, but serious organic gardeners or farmers would frown at the watercolor illustrations 
and a small amount of joy inside the paper folder.

For as long as I recall I've been a trader on free seed co-ops and seed trade  companies. You may search local for some affiliated with Garden Groups 
on Facebook or your local Arboretum or Botanical Garden. 
Many have annual trades, swaps or sales, and will mail out seeds to those who request them. 
You may also receive some free seeds when you request a free catalog. 
My favorite seed trade sites are:



        Seed Savers Exchange:



      Set up and account and post what you have to trade or are hoping to find. They are in Iowa. in addition to flowers, vegetables they also have herbs



Houzz Seed Exchange   offers local seed exchanges, try searching for a seed library to find one near you. 
Here is a link to a list of seed libraries:  Seed Library Social Netwo






Seeds of Diversity (based in Canada): They have an annual Seed Exchange where members are able to obtain samples of over 1,500 varieties of seeds and plants offered by other members in exchange for return postage. They also offer "Seedy Saturdays" where members host demonstrations and different kinds of garden tips and tricks.
Seed Savers' Network (Australia): Similar to the American based Seed Saver Exchange, above.

GardenWeb 
Facebook group: Great American Seed Swap/Exchange/Trade

     North American Lily Society
    North American Rock Garden Society
You can order catalogs to be mailed to you for free from most growers. Many have lovely illustrations online and ordering is simple. Because of 2020 corona virus expect many to be short staffed, pretty much the owner is printing, bagging and mailing to you direct.

Here are some of my all time favorite companies:

Annies
request a free seed catalog 

Baker Creek The Finest with the BEST illustrations. I love this company. Super quality, tremendous descriptions and details about how to plant and what to expect.

www.rareseeds.com
Burpee
www.burpee.com
Fedco
A purist! They don’t make your grandmother’s picture packets but a poet writes the descriptions. They offer many cold hearty seeds.
https://www.fedcoseeds.com/trees/requests.htm

Johnny’s Seeds
www.johnnyseeds.com

Jung Seed
www.jungseed.com

Richters
Be prepared to spend hours here reading. Absolute cure for corona virus shut in depression, vicariously enjoy spring.
Experts on medicinal plants, advice for all types of gardeners, the finest of suppliers.
https://www.richters.com/show.cgi?page=requst2.html

Botanical interests
 free seed catalog 




Free Seed Catalog - Heirloom, Organic - Seed Savers Exchange

https://www.harrisseeds.com/collections/catalogs


John Fendley was nearly ruined by the Paradise Fire as many employees lived in Paradise, California.
I encourage you to order from this company which is a fabulous testament to America!

https://sustainableseedco.com/


gorgeous photos of flowers 
























and an early peony from my garden