Patrick Gunther


It’s one thing to have a 72-hour emergency kit and be prepared for a short-lived disaster, yet quite another to stock up on food supplies for an event that is much longer in duration. There are a number of excuses for focusing solely on a shorter-term disaster survival plan, but what if you were required to be self-sustaining for weeks, months, or even longer? It’s not a fun topic to dwell upon, but it is something to prepare for, even if its use never comes into fruition. Kind of like insurance, you can take comfort in knowing if it ever was necessary, you are at least covered.

One of the most useful additions to a long-term food supply is heirloom seeds. These beauties are extremely important for many reasons. Heirloom seeds are not genetically modified (non-hybrid). This makes it possible to gather seeds from your veggies to reuse season after season. Even if your focus was more on frugality and good health (non-GMO), these seeds are the best way to go.

Imagine a situation where a person (maybe you) did not have much extra space to store MRE’s, dehydrated foods, freeze-dried items, canned goods (and the like), does have enough seeds to be able to produce an output more than all of these things combined year after year indefinitely. Wouldn’t that put a hefty premium on these puppies in a circumstance in which they were called for? Much like having a good water filter should be a high priority on your long-term emergency supplies list because you can literally suck gallons of safe drinking water out of lakes and streams, heirloom seeds are your food counterpart to this equation.

Ever find yourself wondering what else you should add to your emergency preparedness regimen? Take it from this angle– how can I leverage all of these items for the benefit of myself and others should we ever need to put them to use? Then you might decide to store things that you personally might not use, but could barter with someone else to get something that you want that hadn’t occurred to you during your preparation efforts. And, bingo, heirloom seeds are just the ticket to add to your storage, because you can either trade the produce you get from the growing of them, or some of the heirloom seeds themselves. They will be more precious than gold in times of need!

Heirloom seeds are such a practical addition to your long-term emergency food storage. And you’ll be surprised at the variety of this type of seed that is on the market today. If you’re a gardener already you should experiment with heirloom seeds. You’ll find that you won’t want to go back to hybrid seeds afterwards. The heirlooms are natural and prolific!



Jeff

Dave Truman


Spring is on its way and many people are looking forward to planning and planting their vegetable garden. There are so many options, it can be hard to know what to choose and from whom to purchase your seeds. Because there are so many online vegetable seed companies to pick from, the choices can be overwhelming. This article will help to point you in the right direction.

Buying vegetable seeds online can be a very good choice. Many companies do not package their seeds ahead of time, which helps the seeds stay fresh longer. Likewise, many stores will ship the next day so you are guaranteed quick delivery. You will also find a very large selection of seeds that you may not be able to find at your local store. Even greenhouses or nurseries cannot provide a comprehensive array of viable vegetable seed options. If you are looking for that rare organic tomato seed, chances are you can find it online.

Most online vegetable seed companies offer some type of warranty. Some say that if a seed does not produce within a certain time frame, they will refund your purchase price or replace the item. This is the most common type of warranty you will come across. Other guarantees say that they will refund your money if you are not satisfied for any reason. Regardless, make sure you understand the terms before you buy.

Prices are usually fairly comparable, but check a few things before you purchase them. See how much you are really getting. Some sites may be cheaper, but they may be selling a lighter weight. Also be aware of the quality of the seeds. For example, heirloom seeds produce the best tasting tomatoes. There are also a lot of different types of the same vegetable. Be sure you are comparing the exact same vegetable or you will not get an accurate picture.

Have an idea of the type of vegetables you would like to plant. Do you want an eclectic collection of classics and exotics. Are all organic vegetables your thing. Or do you just want an old fashioned vegetable garden with the staples of cooking in it. Whatever you choose, you can find a company that will cater to your preferences.

Make sure that you patronize a reputable vegetable seed company. If you are unsure about where to start, ask some of your friends where they purchase their seeds. If you know someone in the neighborhood who has a great garden, ask them where they get their seeds or if they have any recommendations. Another way to get tips is to join an online gardener’s chat group. Gardeners are always willing to help someone who is looking for advice.

Starting a vegetable garden can be an immensely rewarding experience. Have fun with your vegetable garden, but don’t forget the things we talked about. They can save you time and frustration later on. Buying your seeds from a reputable online company is a convenient and economical way to get your garden started.



Allison

Christy Wilhelmi


When I think of heirloom vegetables, romantic notions of windswept hillsides and fields of sunflowers come to mind. I picture a sturdy wooden table arranged with rustic linens and slender glasses of wine, each one catching a ray of sunlight and reflecting onto the summer palate of oranges, reds and yellows that make up a bowl of freshly prepared Caprese salad. There is nothing quite like the combination of heirloom tomatoes, fresh basil and buffalo mozzarella cheese. Mix in a little olive oil, salt and pepper and you have the quintessential summer faire of the gods. Sure, you can make it with regular tomatoes, but the difference in flavor is like the difference between cheesecake and cardboard. Heirloom tomatoes provide exotic flavor, color and biodiversity to your life from garden to table.

By definition, an heirloom is something that is passed down from generation to generation, in hopes of preserving the memory of days gone by. In the case of heirloom tomatoes, varieties from around 100 years ago are still in circulation today thanks to thoughtful growers of yesteryear who carefully saved seeds and handed them down to their children. Seed banks and catalog companies that specialize in providing heirlooms to curious gardeners have opened the door to a world of variety ordinarily unavailable to the public.

Heirloom seeds have survived the test of time, exposure and ecological change, and are therefore more disease and pest resistant than many of their younger counterparts. Also, with supermarkets continuing to reduce the amount of biodiversity available in their produce isles, and with the introduction of genetically modified fruits and vegetables, the idea of heirloom produce is even more appealing to those who want to know - and trust - their food sources.

Some of my favorite heirloom tomatoes are chosen more for color rather than taste, even though their taste is mind-blowing, simply because there are a rainbow of colors to choose from. Each year I plant at least one of every color to insure a feast for the eyes all summer long. Let’s look at that rainbow, shall we?

Reds/Pinks: Other than the increasingly popular “Brandywine” tomato, there are so many reds and pinks out there: Costaluto Genovese – a medium to large, ribbed fruit; Burbank Red Slicing – as close to a standard tomato as heirlooms get, with much more flavor; Old German – huge red tomatoes with a blush of green on top; German Queen – a large beefsteak variety also with some color variation; Arkansas Traveler - a beefsteak tomato that will satisfy the Henry VIII in all of us. Mortgage Lifter – famous for its size, which was so said to be so big that it could help a farm out of foreclosure; and Amish Paste – a plum tomato like the traditional Roma. Some catalogues contradict each other when listing some heirlooms whose lineage is somewhat unclear: Ispolin – a softball sized flat tomato molted with oranges and pinks; and my all-time favorite, Stupice – a Czechoslovakian salad tomato that is, without fail, the first on the block to provide bright red, flavorful tomatoes every year. This plant breaks from tradition with its potato leaf foliage that also adds variety to your garden.

Oranges: Jaunne Flamme is an orange tomato that produces salad tomato sized fruit. The bright color and consistently sweet flavor make it a perfect choice for those trying to venture out into new tomato territory. Tigerella, and Tigerlike are both striped tomatoes that delight the eyes and perk up any dish with their unusual color; Orange Oxheart is indeed a heart-shaped tomato that breaks the mold of traditional flat-bottomed tomatoes. In some catalogues but not others, the Persimmon tomato is listed as an heirloom. It is shaped and colored like a persimmon, but don’t be fooled, as its sweet tomato flavor is nothing like its look-alike.

Yellow: I have tried many yellow tomatoes and have found few to compare with the delicate sunny flavor of the Yellow Pear. These sweet little teardrops of summer goodness hardly make it in from the garden, and mostly serve as tasty snacks while gardening. Even among the Yellow Pear, I have found one particular Yellow Pear from Seeds of Change to be sweeter than the others. For some other interesting yellows try Yellow Perfection – a larger salad tomato; Pineapple – a most interesting variety that is streaked with red throughout the center; and Garden Peach – named appropriately because it actually has fuzz! Don’t let that deter you from trying this unusual gem. The flavor is outstanding.

Green: Admittedly, the only green tomato I have tried to grow is the famous Green Zebra. With its dark green stripes over a soft green exterior that leans toward yellow if left on the vine a little longer, the Green Zebra is a terrific addition to any dish for diversity and a change of pace. If you haven’t tried this one, be sure to put it on your shopping list for summer.

Purple and Black: This year I am growing Cherokee Purple – a large tomato with a purple interior and green shoulders. Purple Calabash, similar to its relative Red Calabash, has a molten interior that is dark and mysterious. Adventurous tomato tasters will find it full of flavor and hefty in size. Black Plum is another plum tomato similar to a traditional Roma, but with greenish-black shoulders, much like its larger counterpart, Black, which has the same markings in a regular sized tomato. Black Krim is another popular choice

White: If you are looking for something new and different, try Nebraska Wedding – a white medium to large sized tomato. Unfortunately this one didn’t do so well in my coastal garden. Great White, however, was a huge success - a huge plant, huge tomatoes, and huge flavor. One slice would almost completely cover a slice of bread, and the color was throughout with little yellow seeds. This was one of the most interesting tomatoes I’ve grown in years.

The key to heirloom tomatoes is experimentation. Whether you are buying them at a grocery store, or growing them yourself, choosing different varieties each time is the best way to find what works for your garden or your palette. Each year I have my trusted, foolproof varieties, but I always choose at least 3 or 4 new heirlooms to try. Thankfully, we are beginning to see the phenomenon of heirlooms taking hold in gourmet and farmers markets, so they are becoming more accessible to mainstream shoppers. Just as Julia Child was influential in the appearance of gourmet vegetables in supermarkets, so can we be influential by demanding diversity and inclusion of heirlooms at our local markets. If you can’t get heirlooms where you live, and you aren’t able to grow them yourself, ask your store manager to stock them every time you go shopping. With a little effort and curiosity, soon everyone will be able to enjoy the wonder of biodiversity and fabulous flavor.



Carlos

jamiehanson


To sow seeds in the garden the first and foremost consideration should be the area available for the garden. Then looking at the garden and the seeds you will sow which will culminate into plants, the varieties should be decided. For different type of plants you have to space the garden accordingly. And the instructions for sowing seeds are normally available on the packet or a horticulturist can well advise. Always go with the instructions of the seed manual or the horticulturist who will guide you on the requirements of quantity of water, sunshine, fertilizer, etc. Always buy seeds of the current year and if possible heirloom seeds specifically for special plants. Heirloom seeds belong to a particular family of species which comes from generations and its history is known. In the garden you can plant different types of trees with variant natures. There are plant which climb for them you have to provide for a trellis or a fence. Trellis can add beauty to the garden if placed properly. Beans and peas are some varieties. You can plant tomatoes which also come in varieties like cherry tomato, it grows in vines; the Roma OR Sauce tomato which grow in bush. There is another variety of tomato which crawls in the ground. To buy these seeds you should decide early in the season by March. You sow the seeds and allow them to grow in a temperate climate till they take the shape of a plant to be planted in May/June. One particular factor should be kept in mind that if you ever desire to plant onions , it it better to go for onion sets than for seeds. Vegetable seeds are always chosen depending upon the climatic condition of the area or region. Sow the seeds and transplant them according to their climatic requirement. For example if you plant a vegetable plant or a flower plant or even herbal plant in the seasons which they do not grow, you will not get the expected yield out of it. If you plant a variety which grows in winter will never grow or yield satisfactorily. Growing vegetables are rewarding. Vegetables such as egg plants (brinjal), beans, peas, tomatoes, water melons, cucumbers, cabbage, radish, carrot, lettuce, spinach, chilly and many other varieties can be grown in a garden. The development of gardens, gardening and horticulture is primarily because of the herbal plants. Herbal plants are a part of mankind. It has medicinal values, flavors and also used in different ceremonial occasions. There are many varieties you will find in kitchen gardens or even in general gardens in people’s house. They are angelica, lemon grass, lavender, mints, coriander, Cummins, ginger, Marjoram, etc. Whether it is vegetable seeds or flower seeds or herbal seeds all of them are available on stores and can also be bought online. If you browse the internet through search engines plenty of seller’s will be available. Most of the seller’s of seeds offer good discounts. You can find many family owned generic seed shops which is grown by them and accumulated for sale. Another facility in online buying is that you can buy seeds of such varieties from other countries or region which is not grown in you country or region. A genuine online shop always provides you with premium quality seeds and seeds with more survival ratio. Even shops ship you the seeds for free.



Greg