7th Day of Seed Catalogs

Seed Company Spotlight
Siskiyou Seeds
 
Location: 3220 East Fork Rd., Williams, OR 97544 
Inquiries: [email protected]
Phone: 541-415-0877
Website: https://www.siskiyouseeds.com/
Catalog Request: https://www.siskiyouseeds.com/
 
Small family-owned organic seed company and farm located in the Apple Gate valley of Southern Oregon between Medford and Cave Junction. They offer open pollinated, regionally grown and adapted seeds. They offer both print and online catalogs.
 
Siskiyou Seeds wants us to know where our seed comes from and who grew it. They produce about 60% of their seed from their “Certified Organic home farm, Seven Seeds Farm, and works with growers both in our local SW Oregon area and slightly farther afield to be able to offer a greater diversity of varieties. . . . We are committed to helping to foster a resilient seed system through having a network of skilled organic seed growers in the United States.
 
Large network of regional growers – some of these names are familiar! https://www.siskiyouseeds.com/pages/contributing-seed-growers I love reading through this list. Each entry contains so much information that helps you really know the farmers. They list the name of the farm, their latitude, who the farmers are, their farming approach (i.e. biodynamic), their certification, a bit of their history and what they bring to the network. I could spend a couple hours searching out these farmers and learning more about what they are doing.
 
Ground Cherry – Inca Berry, Physalis peruviana. Also known as Giant Groundcherry, this looks very cool. It is a native on the Andes and has been cultivated for millennia by the Inca people. This plant will produce more fruit if grown in marginal soils . . . I have just the spot. Grown by Seven Seeds Farm.
 
Their herbs are grouped in culinary and medicinal categories. There a couple things I found in the medicinal herb collection that are going on my wish list.
 
Spilanthes, Spilanthes acmella. Also called the Toothache Plant, chewing the leaves or buds will numb your mouth. It has an interesting flavor and sensation in small amounts added to cold drinks or salads. It is a good low border plant providing interest and color to the edge of garden beds. Grown by Seven Seeds Farm.
 
Nettles, Urtica dioica, 75 days. This is a northwest native perennial, usually called Stinging Nettles because of the spines on the leaves and stem the cause a stinging or burning sensation when you touch it with your skin. These are delicious, nutritious edible native plant and I have been wanting to establish a patch. This may be my year. Grown by Seven Seeds Farm.
 
Marshmallow, Althea officinalis. This is an easy to grow plant that are beloved by pollinators. It is well adapted to our wet Maritime Northwest climate and can grow in well-drained soil in part shade to full sun. Harvest the roots in winter to make food or medicine. Grown by Seven Seeds Farm.

Elecampane, Inula helenium. This striking perennial has been part of our landscape for decades. With large, broad leaves, the flower stalk grows to 7’ or more. It grows in part shade in moist soils. The root is tinctured for medicine. During ancient Roman campaigns, soldiers would could carry candied Elecampane root with them to treat digestive problems. Grown by Seven Seeds Farm.

Elecampane flower photo credit: Joan Goodnight

​All images unless otherwise noted are from https://www.siskiyouseeds.com/ and are used for educational purposes only.

Book a Speaking Engagement

I would be delighted to bring my message of edible, organic gardening to your group, school, company or organization. I am currently booking speaking events for 2024. I would be delighted to speak to your group either in person or virtually! Book a speaking engagement!

Contact me!
www.gardenwithlisa.com/contactme 
or email to [email protected]

---

Seed Company Spotlight
Irish Eyes Garden Seeds
 
Location: 5045 Robinson Canyon Road, Ellensburg WA 98926
Inquiries: [email protected] 
Phone: 509-933-7150   509-933-7150, press 2
Website: https://irisheyesgardenseeds.com
Online Catalog Only: https://irisheyesgardenseeds.com
 
Irish Eyes Garden Seeds or Irish Eyes with a Hint of Garlic is a 100% family-owned, seed company that specialized in potatoes, garlic and short season seeds. They were one of the first companies to sell organic seed potatoes starting in 1989 in Ellensburg, WA. They have taken the safe seed pledge and sell organic and non-GMO seeds. I have always turned to Irish Eyes for my seed potatoes, garlic and shallots. They also offer a wonderful line of seeds.
 
Irish Eyes caters to the “small home gardener up to large wholesale suppliers. . . . By educating our customers and providing them with quality products, we are truly making a difference in people’s lives. We are a company that wants to be remembered for its dedication and promotion of organic farming and gardening practices.”
 
They really want to help you grow and have garden guides for just about all of their crops. Check out their resource library at https://irisheyesgardenseeds.com/growing-guides-home-growers/
 
They work with gardeners, retailers and farmers. You can find all the contact information and numbers here https://irisheyesgardenseeds.com/contact-us/
I frequently find Irish Eyes seed bulbs, roots and tubers at in my favorite garden stores or nurseries. Look for seed garlic, shallots and potatoes from Irish Eyes and know they are regionally produced. If you seed rhubarb crowns, asparagus and horseradish roots for sale, they may have been supplies by Irish Eyes.
 
One of the reasons I read seed catalogs is to learn more about growing different crops and how seeds are grown. When I pulled down the menu for potatoes, I saw Pre-nuclear and Nuclear listed and I was curious. This is what I learned:
 
“Pre-nuclear tubers are the earliest generation of potatoes available. These will produce the highest yields and have the highest disease resistance than any other seed potatoes. These are about marble sized when planted and require special care prior to planting. Pre-nuclear seed potatoes result in yield increases by 25- 200%. Perfect for the American homesteader wanting to save their own seed.”
 
Nuclear Potatoes. “These regular size nuclear seed potatoes have only been grown in native soil once. These seed potatoes still hold the amazing vigor of the pre-nuclear seed potatoes but at a smaller cost. They have gone through the same testing and visual inspections the pre-nuclears have gone through to meet certification standards.” The limited quantity are out of stock.
 
It is nice for folks who want to save potatoes to replant next season to have the option of buying pre-nuclear potatoes. Here are two that I like from the early season potatoes
 
Potato – OG Viking Purple. These dark purple potatoes with snow white flesh caught my eye. They store well and are great as mashed potatoes. Developed in the year of my birth, 1962 at North Dakota State University. I am adding this to my wish list.
 
Potato – Early Ohio. This looks like a lovely multipurpose potato. An heirloom for the 1900’s, it is great fried, roasted, mashed and boiled. Any way you like to eat potatoes, this one will please. It’s on my wish list.
 
 
 

​All images unless otherwise noted are from https://irisheyesgardenseeds.com and are used for educational purposes only.

Book a Speaking Engagement

I would be delighted to bring my message of edible, organic gardening to your group, school, company or organization. I am currently booking speaking events for 2024. I would be delighted to speak to your group either in person or virtually! Book a speaking engagement!
Contact me
www.gardenwithlisa.com/contactme 
or email to [email protected]