My Favorite Seed Catalogs

It is going to be a few months before I am able to get outside and work in my garden again. It will be at least another month before I can start seed inside. In the meantime what’s a gardener to do?

I actually enjoy this quieter time of year and there is nothing I enjoy more than sitting by the woodstove with a cup of tea and my favorite seed catalogs!

When I first started gardening my main resources for seeds were the larger more commercial catalogs. As the years have gone by I now focus on heirloom seed suppliers and if I can find a local seed supplier that’s even better!

Several years ago I took a six month long seed saving class offered by a woman who runs a small seed saving business. Not only was the class informative but I was able to see first hand how Sylvia works hard to save her seeds and provide her customers with seeds that will grown in Vermont!

I have to say that Sylvia’s seed catalog, Solstice Seeds is by far my most favorite catalog. I know that all the seeds offered in this catalog were grown less than twenty miles from my home! I have wonderful results with Sylvia’s seeds and will continue to order from her. The numbers of seeds offered increase each year. Sylvia does not have a web site but if anyone is interested I’d be glad to send you a pdf of her catalog. Just contact me!

If there are seeds that I can’t find in the Solstice Seed catalog there are other catalogs that I also enjoy. Fedco Seed catalog is from Maine. It is a no frills catalog printed on black and white paper with no color photos. The descriptions are excellent and I have also had good results planting their seeds. Our local co-op places a group order each year where I get a 20% discount. Fedco prices are excellent to begin with and when you add the 20% discount they can’t be beat!

Another favorite Vermont Catalog is the High Mowing Organic Seeds catalog. I just love shopping local and supporting other Vermont businesses.

Have you followed the Baker Whole Seed Catalog? They are in their 18^th year of business and have the most wonderful seed catalog. Last year they planted around 2000 varieties at their Missouri farm! All the seeds they sell are heirloom varieties. Their 2015 catalog is by far the best, full of big colorful photos. It’s fun to see what all these heirloom varieties look like especially since both the Solstice Seed Catalog and the Fedco Seed Catalog are black and white and do not offer any photos.

One last catalogs worthy of mentioning is the Seed Savers Exchange catalog. although not local, it is a catalog full of heirloom and open pollinated seeds. For 40 years the Seed Savers Exchange has been in the forefront of the heirloom seed movement, working with gardeners and seed savers to preserve our garden and food heritage.