December 12, 2005
The Sprout Garden
The latest news says that grocery store-bought sprouts are prone to salmonella. Can it be true? Even organic? My resident sprout aficionado was crestfallen, so I searched the web for a sprouting kit. You can use a large mason jar with cheesecloth if you're desperate, but I thought it would make a nice CHRISTMAS gift if I found something a little more substantial. There is one called the Biosta for $29.95 that looks nice in the photos, but it doesn't come with anything, so I opted for this version from Handy Pantry, which has lots of stuff. This basic sprouting kit includes the sprouter itself (3 trays and 4 drainboard/covers), jar lid, booklet called "Sprouting for Health" plus 20 oz. of various organic seeds to sprout, all for $42.95. Since an additional five ounces of organic broccoli sprout seeds is $9.95, the Sprout Garden looks like a good buy. Plus I like the name. (Check back in January for a first-hand report on how it worked.) This vendor also has jars and a sprouting sack as well as a large supply of organic seeds.
The Sprout Garden
The Biosta Sprouter
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November 09, 2005
Starting Seeds DVD
If the book highlighted in the previous post seemed too esoteric, here's another way to help a gardener friend learn about the subject. It's a little more expensive at $19.99 but looks like it would be easier to understand in a short time. How about adding a gift certificate to one of the seed vendors like Burpee, Park
Seeds, Heirloom Seeds, Johnny's Seeds, or for something different, Seeds of Change (all organic)? You could do it all for under $50.
Starting Seeds DVD
Johnny's Seeds
Seeds of Change
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Seed Starters Handbook
New from the Garden Gate store is this handbook for the SERIOUS gardener at $15.95 ps. Whew...247 pages, softcover. If you know someone who obsesses all winter over seed catalogues looking for the perfect heirloom or hard-to-find seeds and then obsesses over starting them under perfect conditions, this could make you very popular with the recipient of your gift. Haven't read it, but anyone who can write 247 pages about starting seeds must know a lot about her subject. I wish her editors had mentioned the rule about apostrophes, however. You see this omission more and more, and it just drives me crazy!
Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Books, Videos, DVDs | How-to Instruction | Seeds
August 16, 2005
Identifying Heirloom Seeds
Heirloom seeds. Has a nice ring, doesn't it? Conjures thoughts of silver, lace, and faded photographs...but SEEDS? Yes, there is a distinction between types of seeds, but not by age. The term "heirloom" refers to the seeds of herbs and forbs that retain their original genetic makeup and have not been hybridized or altered in any way. Some say the plant type must have been introduced at least 100 years ago, others say 50.
There is a growing interest in preserving seeds from plants grown in past generations for their unique characteristics as well as sentimental value. This article by Sharon Tomlinson gives an overview of criteria used to establish the "heirloom" designation and encourages even casual leafylifers to collect and store the seeds of special plants. The article may also serve to introduce you to Garden and Hearth.com, one of our favorite websites.
Flower and Herb Seeds
Garden and Hearth
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