Seed Savers Exchange

Just got my 2001 Yearbook from SSE. I look forward to this day all year long. For those who are not members, imagine the ULTIMATE seed catalog! The Yearbook is an offering of seeds by 900 listed members to all SSE members. This grassroots network, thereby, preserves thousands of heirloom vegetables. Anyone interested in heirloom seeds (or troubled by the corporate seed industry) should join SSE. Your 30 bucks goes along way and gets you the world's greatest seed catalog plus other publications.

Just to give you a taste, The 2001 Yearbook includes:
12,557 different varieties of fruits and vegetables
(the total of all mail order catalogs in the US and Canada is 7,313)
Thousands of tomatoes!
Varieties that are adapted to your climate
Hundreds of "forgotten favorites" that were replaced by hybrids
Tons of seeds not available anywhere else on the planet!
(and wouldn't exist on the planet if SSE and its members weren't around.)

The Yearbook is a functional-not-flashy listing of everything available from members. SSE has a color catalog for the home gardener type who is just looking for the best of the heirlooms. www.seedsavers.org

Hmmmmmmmm--so many seeds...so little space.
Scott

That's the trouble with zip code sorting, Scott. Some of us get their yearbooks, and some of us are still waiting. :-(

Seriously, folks. If anything, Scott has understated the value of the yearbook, and of the work SSE members are doing.

Yep!
This years Yearbooks is Superb! Any one interested gardening must join SSE...
It is better than any Magazine!

And all it took to tempt Adam and Eve was one dinky little apple ;0) I guess we can blame them for passing down that gardening gene to us, huh? So how can we be expected to resist the temptation of THOUSANDS fruits and veggies???? I think I'll be writing a check to SSE soon. Seriously, thanks for the tip!

How would you folks rate it for flowers? I don't grow many vegetables anymore. Do You think a membership would be worth it for someone that just grows flowers and herbs?

Poppysue:

There is an associated organization called The Flower and Herb Exchange specifically for folks like you. Membership is $10/year and includes an annual yearbook published in March that give you access to about 3,000 varieties of old-time flowers and herbs.

You can check this out at www.seedsavers.org if you like

Thank you Brook. I've printed out the form and I'll send the membership fee in. I'm looking forward to see what they have to offer. I'll let ya all know what I think of it.

When you get your yearbook, be sure to read through the listed members sections--People describe their special projects and voice their opinions--always interesting.
--BakerCreekSeed???? Is that you Gere?

Wow! Thanks, Scott for bringing this to my attention. I would love to join! Sounds like SSE is right up my alley.

P2

This message was edited Monday, Feb 26th 5:56 PM

Now this is what I love about DG. We can actually feel free to share these things and not worry about people going astray. I have been to that site several weeks ago and forgot about it. I definately want to join. How does the seed thing work? How much are they sold for? Are they distributed from one main place or is it like a dtabase of sorts? Please share!!

Angel

Hi Scott!
Ya thats me! I'm MO GEJ in the SSE yearbook!
Great to see so much interest on DG!

Hi Angel-
There are two ways to get seeds from SSE. First, the website/color catalog are for any gardener who is interested in growing heirlooms--just order and plant! (about$2.50 per packet) The money raised supports the preservation projects at Heritage Farm.

Second is SSE membership. Members get the SSE yearbook which is listing of all the seeds that members have to offer to each other. Members buy seeds from each other--a sort of grass roots network of individual preservationists. This is best for people who would like to learn to save seed and be a part of preserving our rich genetic resources. You can get seeds from maybe the only guy on earth who has that particular variety, so it's best if you're willing to be the second person on earth to maintain it! I try several different vegies each each and then continue growing the ones I like year after year--and I "reoffer" them in the yearbook to share with others.
I hope I explained it well!
Scott

Just to add a little to Scotts explanation.

Seed amounts and prices are set. That is, there is a minimum number of seed recommended (but most growers are more generous than the minimums---even with very rare and endangered varieties) and prices are set based on the type of seed.

Listed members pay $1 less per packet than non-listed members, which is just a way the organization says thank you. Regular prices (for non-listed members) are: small seeds $2; Beans, corns, other large seeds and all biennials, $3; Potatoes, roots, rizomes, garlics, cuttings, etc., $4.

One cautionary note: If you are looking for bargains, you will be disappointed. The idea of SSE isn't to provide cheap seed. It's to preserve the genetic diversity of our food plants. So all you are getting, really, is a sample pack of seeds---not enough to grow a full crop, but enough to start your own saving of that seed to grow out a crop the following year.

As Scott noted, you buy the seed directly from the grower. The SSE yearbook is, in one sense, a clearing house for all these growers.

Meanwhile, the SSE catalog itself lists seed from what the organization, itself, has grown out at Heritage Farm. Each year about 10% of the SSE seedbank---containing about 18,000 varieites---is grown out. Seed in the bank is replenished, and the rest sold in the catalog.

Hey you guys - this is great! I had a chance to join this early on, but didn't have the money at the time. I know, it doesn't seem like much, but we were just starting out on the farm and potato chips were a once in a blue moon luxury!! Now, I can do it. Great seeds, wonderful people.
Kathleen

My first yearbook came today and ohhhhhh Baby!
I'll never be without it again.

This is pure heaven,especially for a preservationist like me.

I'll be spending every free minute for the next few weeks trying to decide how much more yard I can disc up without disressing DH. Actually,anything he dosen't have to mow,he's happy with.

Thanks for the insite. It sounds wonderful. Right now I live in an old 4-family with enough space for a nice long flower garden and sneek a few veggies and lots of herbs in but when I buy a house in a few years I plan on getting at least an acre so I can have plenty of play room for great veggies.

That would be a great time to join. I'm afraid I'll get myself in trouble if I join now. I JUST got approval from my new landlord to put in "a flower bed." Little does he know, lol.

Angel