NEWS FOR THE SEASON - Hope · PDF fileNEWS FOR THE SEASON NEWS FOR THE SEASON ... CCCCOOOO ==== cccceeeerrrrttttiiiiffffiiiieeeedddd oooorrrrggggaaaannnniiiicccc ((

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NEWS FOR THE SEASONNEWS FOR THE SEASONNEWS FOR THE SEASONNEWS FOR THE SEASON

Dear fellow gardeners and seed lovers,

Hope Seeds’ values, ever since founder Kim Ed-mondson sprouted the idea of a small seed company in 1994, have been: 1) a passion for seed saving; 2)

a commitment to sustainable agriculture; 3) helping

to secure local food systems for future generations. With 20 years now under our belt, Hope Seeds con-tinues to reflect these values in the decisions we make as we grow. We grow seeds! Our company is farm-based, grow-ing seeds at our home farm in Belleisle and sourcing seeds from other small, sustainable family farms in Eastern Canada. We grow organically, with seven generations in mind. We say “no to GMO” (see the Safe Seed Pledge on our website). We farm our seeds and food in the same fields, we eat what we grow, and our bodies know the impact that quality, local seed has on how we feed ourselves. Each of the farms in our Hope Seeds Grower Network (HSGN) (read about them on page 44) take these values to heart, too. This year, we are honouring these stewards by highlighting their seed in our cata-logue and pricing. As a local fair trade effort, each of our HSGN seed packets is priced $0.25 above our base packet price of $3.50. That extra quarter will go di-rectly back to the seed farmer, to support them in prioritizing and improving their seed crops. Seeds are important—we need their nutrients, their biodiversity, and the farmers who tend them! Let’s show them we care. We grow farmers! Thanks to the generous support of the Atlantic Canadian Or-ganic Regional Network (ACORN)’s “Grow A Farmer” program and The Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security, two of our office staff – Suzana Her-ceg (Seed Quality and Packing) and Ashlea Hegedus-Viola (Catalogue and Cus-tomer Service) – were out in the fields here this summer. Both women participated in seed crop planning, planting, tending, harvesting, cleaning, grading, and touring seed farms. Along with third Hope Seeds staffer Tracey Hatcher (Bean Counter & General Management), the four of us attended the Eastern Canadian Organic Re-gional Network (ECOSGN) biannual conference in Montreal in November. It was truly a celebration of growth, as I watched these women involve themselves in the workshops and growers-network with a passion I recognized as my own, from all those years ago, when I started out in the seed world. We will keep growing . . . thanks to you all!

Happy planting!

Andrea Berry, Andrea Berry, Andrea Berry, Andrea Berry, Owner & GrowerOwner & GrowerOwner & GrowerOwner & Grower

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Bean counter Tracey Hatcher (L) and Hope Seeds owner

Andrea Berry (R).

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TABLE OF CONTENTSTABLE OF CONTENTSTABLE OF CONTENTSTABLE OF CONTENTS

Beans—Pole, Bush Snap, Bush Dry, Soy ............................................. 4 Beets ............................................................................................................ 7 Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage ...................................................... 8 Carrots, Parsnip .......................................................................................... 9 Cauliflower, Kohlrabi ............................................................................. 10 Celery, Celeriac, Chard ........................................................................... 11 Corn ........................................................................................................... 12 Cucumbers ............................................................................................... 13 Greens—Mixes, Specialty ..................................................................... 14 Kale ............................................................................................................ 16 Leeks .......................................................................................................... 17 Lettuce ....................................................................................................... 18 Melons ...................................................................................................... 19 Onions ..................................................................................................... 20 Peas ............................................................................................................ 21 Eggplant, Peppers ................................................................................... 22 Pumpkins ............................................................................................ 23, 26 Ordering and Other Info ........................................................................... 24 ORDER FORM ..................................................................... middle section Radish, Spinach ....................................................................................... 26 Squash—Summer, Zucchini .................................................................. 27 Squash—Winter ..................................................................................... 28 Tomatillo, Ground Cherry, Tomatoes ................................................ 29 Turnip, Rutabaga .................................................................................... 33 Herbs ......................................................................................................... 34 Flowers ..................................................................................................... 36 Seed Potatoes ............................................................................................ 40 Jerusalem Artichokes .............................................................................. 42 Seed Garlic .............................................................................................. 43

WHAT’S NEW FOR 2015?WHAT’S NEW FOR 2015?WHAT’S NEW FOR 2015?WHAT’S NEW FOR 2015?

New Varieties: Light Red Kidney, Chioggia, Borettana, Listada di Gandia, Super Sugar Snap, Sweet Dumpling, Small Shining Light, Dark Green Romaine, White Russian, Acadia Kale Blend, and a couple of tomatoes, including a Hope Seeds exclusive "Bernardo's Paste". . .

You asked for it—a handy growing chart at the end of the catalogue. Easy to clip out and carry with you.

And, back by popular demand, bulk quantities/larger packet sizes are listed, if available, beneath each description.

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Cover art description: see page 12. | Information about our growers: see page 44.

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VEGETABLES...VEGETABLES...VEGETABLES...VEGETABLES...

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1016-LG MENNONITE PURPLE STRIPE (Pole—GREEN/PURPLE: SNAP, SHELL, or DRY) Ain’t no tamin’ the Purple Stripe! Vigorous vines chal-lenge any pole, producing pretty shades-of-purple flowers yielding abundant pods with tasty beans. Pods are green with deep purple streaks, and beans dis-play the same purple streaks on a tan background (or reverse colouring). The best part: beans are tasty at any stage, surprisingly juicy even at the “in-between” point between snap and dry. Grown by Peter Gerber and family of Com-munity Produce in Richmond Corner, NB. A=$3.75 (25g) B=$8.00 (115g)

1023-LG BAIE VERTE INDIAN (Semi-pole—DRY) 100 days. This is a real dedication to Acadian heirlooms! Passed on through many hands and gar-dens from Cape Spear to Port Elgin, NB and eventually to Hope Seeds from Theo-dore Duguay of Cap-Pelé. It is believed to be originally from the early local natives who shared it with Acadian settlers in the area. Since many of the natives and Aca-dians intermarried, the bean was passed around the local community and was at one time quite popular. Vines reach to 3' or 4' and produce green pods with white, robust, kidney-shaped seeds with an ir-regular, tan-coloured, splotch-flecked,

and reddish-brown hilum. An excellent soup bean that maintains its colour when cooked. Grown by Peter Gerber and family of Community Produce in Richmond Corner, NB. A=$3.75 (25g) B=$8.00 (115g)

1026-LG SCARLET RUNNER (Pole - GREEN: SNAP, SHELL, or DRY) 70 days. Stunning bright red flowers on dra-matically rampant vines. Grower Steph Warr says that these grew well beyond their 12-foot trellis. Be sure to grow on a strong trellis or fence. Pick and eat fresh young beans for endless blooming. Hugely ornamental and adored by the hummingbirds who came in droves. Grown by Twisted Brook Farm in Law-rencetown, NS. A=$3.75 (25g) B=$8.00 (115g)

Limited quantity, online orders only! PURPLE PEACOCK (Pole—PURPLE: SNAP or DRY) 72 days. This pole bean tolerates early plantings in cooler soil. Purple pods are delicious as a snap (fresh) bean, turning green when cooked. Left on the vine to ripen, dry beans are lovely in stews. Grown by Peter Gerber and family in Richmond Corner, NB and by Gilberte Doelle of Wild Rose Farm. A=$3.75 (25g)

BEANS BEANS BEANS BEANS (~30(~30(~30(~30----50 seeds /25 g)50 seeds /25 g)50 seeds /25 g)50 seeds /25 g)

POLE BEANS POLE BEANS POLE BEANS POLE BEANS

Many of our beans are edible at more than one stage—fresh snap beans, fresh shell beans, dry beans—making them multi-purpose and versatile.

The general rule of thumb is to plant beans in warm soil (the earliest we can get them in is about a week and a half before the last spring frost) and only pre-soak them if you know there will be moist weather/soil for a few days. Beans should be planted approximately 3” to 6” apart (the longer distance is preferred for dry bean production, to help with airflow).

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...VEGETABLES...VEGETABLES...VEGETABLES...VEGETABLES

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1006-LO BLACK VALENTINE (Bush—GREEN SNAP) 52 days. Intro-duced by Peter Henderson & Co. in 1897, this excellent green bush bean has stuck around in home and market gardens for good reason! The cold-tolerant black seed doesn’t mind a bit of extra moisture. Pur-ple blossoms yield lots of slender, slightly curved, 6" beans that hold their snap for quite a while. Excellent choice for can-ning and freezing. Grown by Hope Seeds. A=$3.75 (25g)

1007-LO BLUE JAY (Bush—GREEN/PURPLE: SNAP, DRY) 95 days to dry stage. A very rare variety that has been replenished and restored through the dedicated work of Bob Wildfong as part of a project of Seeds of Diversity Canada and Everdale Environmental Learning Centre. After many years, Bob finally had enough of Blue Jay to offer quantity and get these beauties to you. Quick to snaps, very productive, and excellent flavour. Seed is uniquely coloured: navy blue with beige markings, 7 per pod on aver-age. Grown by Hope Seeds. A=$3.75 (25g)

1010-CO YIN-YANG/ORCA/CALYPSO (Bush—GREEN/PURPLE: SNAP, DRY) 90 days to dry. Seeds re-semble the magnificent orca whale, with deep black and white markings. Plants are short and sturdy, yielding pods that are excellent, fresh snap bean. Or leave pods to mature and develop tasty baking beans. A=$3.50 (25g)

1011-LG BEURRE DE ROCQUEN-COURT (Bush—YELLOW: SNAP) 50 days. A popular French heirloom, also known as Golden Rocky, this bean is highly productive over a long season. 8", slender yellow pods are delicious for

fresh eating and canning. Excellent for the home garden. Grown by Peter Gerber and family in Richmond Corner, NB. A=$3.75 (25g) B=$8.00 (115g)

1012-CO DRAGON LANGERIE / DRAG-ON’S TONGUE (Bush—YELLOW/PURPLE: SNAP, DRY) 55 days. “Our” chef Jeff MacLean at Fresh Fine Dining in Flor-enceville-Bristol, NB found that these beauties DO keep their purple streaks when plucked from the steamer at just the right time! Flat, dainty, yellow pods overlaid with striking purple streaks have a buttery flavour that stands out. A sure crowd-pleaser. A=$3.50 (25g)

1020-CO RED SWAN (Bush—RED: SNAP) 58 days. Add a little colour to your fresh bean salads this summer! Red Swan is a cross, by breeder Alan Lobitz, between a pinto and purple snap. This gives us tasty, stringless, 5" pods of vi-brant red. A=$3.50 (25g)

*NEW! 1028-CO LIGHT RED KID-NEY BEAN (Bush—DRY) 90 days. THE dry bean for soups, salads, baked beans and chili. We like Light Red Kidneys’ moist but not mushy texture. It is adapted to wet, cool climates and per-formed well in last year’s bean trials, of-fering high yields and healthy, disease-free plants. A=$3.50 (25g)

*NEW! 1027-CO TIGER EYE/PEPA DE ZAPALLO (Bush—DRY) 80 days. A gorgeous, versatile dry bean. Amber yellow with maroon swirls. When asked

BUSH SNAP BEANSBUSH SNAP BEANSBUSH SNAP BEANSBUSH SNAP BEANS

BUSH DRY BEANS & BUSH DRY BEANS & BUSH DRY BEANS & BUSH DRY BEANS & SOYBEANSSOYBEANSSOYBEANSSOYBEANS



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why she really liked this one, our bean trial coordinator this year said simply: “early, disease-free and beautiful; I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t grow it.” An-other bonus: the skins are thin and tender, meaning it dries fast without molding and cooks up nicely, with a rich and creamy yet mild taste. Originally from South America. Also known as Pepa de Zapallo, translated as “Pumpkin Seed” or, possibly, “Fool’s Seed.” A=$3.50 (25g)

1004-CO JACOB’S CATTLE (Bush—DRY) 90 days to dry stage. A standard in Maritime bean dishes, especially Saturday night “beans ’n’ brown bread.” Some say this bean originated with native peoples in the American Southwest; others credit it to the Passamaquoddy of Maine around 1600. The name comes from the Biblical story of Jacob and the spotted cattle, as the dark red speckles on the white bean look like the back of a spotted cow. A=$3.50 (25g)

1022-LO ENVY (Bush—SOYBEAN) 75 days. You’ll be the envy of gardeners all around, growing this tasty soybean in your beds. Excellent for edamame—a pop-ular snack in Japan, made from steaming the fresh pods for a minute or two and popping the bean into your watering mouth. The standard soy for early, relia-ble, prolific production. Grown by Wild Rose Farm in Gilbert’s Cove, NS. A=$3.75 (25g)

1024-LO MAINE SUNSET (Bush— DRY) 80 days to dry stage. We’ve been working on this one for a while! An-drea went all the way to Italy to get seeds with a New England connection. In 2007 at Terra Madre in Turin, 10 seeds were passed to her at a seed exchange. She has grown them out ever since. Beautiful ruby-and-

gold swirls with a white background on plump, oval beans. Dries down quickly; very easy for hand threshing. Grown by Hope Seeds. A=$3.75 (25g)

Limited quantity; online orders only! BLACK COCO (Bush—DRY) 100 days to dry stage. A French heirloom with pur-ple-striped green pods, each containing 5 large, round, shiny black seeds. Plants grow about 18" tall and show good re-sistance to drought, cold and disease. Great beans for Mexican dishes—pleasing nutty flavour. Grown by Brian Creelman of Ouest Bishopton, QC. A=$3.75 (25g)

Limited quantity; online orders only! CARIBEE (Bush—DRY) 90-100 days to dry stage. The Acadians in the area of Botsford, NB have grown this old sulphur bean for well over 100 years. Theodore Duguay of Cap-Pelé, NB obtained the original seed for this stock from a 90-year-old woman whose father was a farmer in Great Shemoque. The original name was Caribbean, but the Acadians changed it to Caribee (possibly named for a place in France). Mr. Duguay believes this bean is similar to China Yellow from the New England states, but says he has witnessed the loss of the entire “eye” as he has grown this bean year after year. Grown by Wild Rose Farm. A=$3.75 (25g)

Limited quantity; online orders only! GOOSE GULLET (Bush—DRY) 120 days. A true Acadian legend! In 1755, Aca-dians deported from the Bay of Fundy purposely grounded their ships along the shores of Clare County. Survivors hid deep in the woods, living with the Mi’kmaw, lost to the ruling British. Acadi-ans found this bean in the gullet of a downed goose that fall, then saved and planted the seed the next spring. It has been grown by locals ever since. Grown by Wild Rose Farm. A=$3.75 (25g)



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*NEW! 1105-CO CHIOGGIA (Tops, roots) 60 days. If you don’t speak Italian, you’ll probably start call-ing this “candy cane” or candy stripe” beet, noting the alternating fuchsia and white concentric rings inside a pinkish-red skin. If you want to impress your friends, try saying “kee-oh-ja” or “kyod-ja,” which is also the name of a coastal fishing town in Northern Italy, sometimes thought of as “little Venice.” The Chioggia beet was probably brought to America by Italian immigrants around 1850. The taste is more mild and less earthy than most beets. A=$3.50 (2g)

1101-CO EARLY WONDER TALL TOP (Tops, roots) 50-60 days roots. Our 2008 trials proved that Early Wonder lives up to its name! Popularized around 1911, this variety is first to develop full-sized, smooth-skinned red roots. Tops are 16" to 18", making this variety a great choice for those who crave steamed greens in spring. A=$3.50 (2g) B=$6.00(10g) C=$10.00 (50g)

1102-CO DETROIT DARK RED (Tops, roots) 55-60 days roots. Detroit Dark Red has certainly been the mainstay

of our winter storage and canning crop,

with delicious and tender, round, red roots. Tops are tasty, too! Heritage, from 1892. A=$3.50 (2g) B=$6.00(10g) C=$10.00 (50g)

1103-CO BULL’S BLOOD (Baby greens, tops, roots) 30 days baby leaf, 60 days roots. Bull’s Blood is a great choice for those who want to diversify their se-lection of spring greens with a little splash of deep, burgundy red. Our res-taurant clients used to ask for this guy by name! When we first planted Bull’s Blood, we were amazed at the most vi-brant, deep maroon, shiny leaves that tasted so sweet on a cold November’s eve. Old heritage variety from about 1840, when beets were more commonly referred to as “blood turnips.” A=$3.50 (2g) B=$6.00 (10g)

Limited quantity; online orders on-ly! GOLDEN GREX (Tops, roots) 55 days roots. A gift to the wonderful, rooty world of beets from breeder Alan Kapu-lar. Gorgeous, bright orange, tapered roots with creamy white interiors (some with concentric yellow/orange and white rings) exhibit sweet tender fla-vour from baby roots up to 4" across. Excellent tops for greens. Grown by Hope Seeds. A=$3.75 (2g)

BEETS BEETS BEETS BEETS (~100(~100(~100(~100----120 seeds/g)120 seeds/g)120 seeds/g)120 seeds/g)

A versatile, nutritious, and historic root vegetable!

Beets are easy to grow in our cool climate, so get your seed in the ground as soon as it can be worked. Most beet seeds are actually tiny fruits containing three or four, and up to eight, true seeds! So, if you plant thickly, you can eat your thinning as greens - a delightful spring treat, raw in salads; taller tops later on are great steamed. Once thinned to 2” spacing, remaining plants will have room to grow their roots for summer and fall fresh eating, and winter stor-age. Successive plantings will keep you stocked with baby greens, tops, and roots throughout the season. We've kept our roots in potato barrels or totes, packed in wood shavings, and stored in the cold cellar, which stays just above freezing for most of the winter.



*BACK! 1202-CO ROSALIND 90 days (60 days from transplant). For the love of PURPLE vegetables! Rosalind is, surprisingly, an open-pollinated broccoli with a single lavender head. Grows about 18" in height, with green leaves with bright white centres—a visual delight in the garden. Colour is retained when steamed to a tender-crisp stage, not when boiled-to-death. No side shoots. A=$3.50 (0.5g)

1201-CO CALABRESE SPROUTING 60 days from transplant. This is an old, Italian, open-pollinated variety that is perfect for home gardeners who want a continuous harvest of broccoli throughout the season. The main central head is about 5" across and Calabrese has very prolific side shoots that give you smaller florets perfect for popping directly in the stir-fry or as dippers. A=$3.50 (1g)

1301 FALSTAFF 96 days from trans-plant. A purple Brussels sprout! Tiny little red “cabbages” fill out nicely along stems in fall and hold their colour when cooked. I’ve had such consistently good perfor-mance from Falstaff that this variety quickly became a garden staple and a beautiful eye-catching addition. A=$3.50 (0.5g)

1302 ROODNERF 96 days from trans-plant. In the world of Brussels-sprouts-gone-hybrid, try Roodnerf as a good open-pollinated (OP) variety. You’ll have plump green sprouts along the stem by mid-September, getting sweeter with frost. A=$3.50 (0.5g)

1401-CO DANISH BALLHEAD (GREEN, LATE) 100 days from trans-plant. Introduced by Burpee in 1887, and that same year earning a $10 prize for John Nogle of Plymouth, Ohio, who grew

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BRUSSELS SPROUTSBRUSSELS SPROUTSBRUSSELS SPROUTSBRUSSELS SPROUTS (~300 seeds/g)(~300 seeds/g)(~300 seeds/g)(~300 seeds/g)

CABBAGE CABBAGE CABBAGE CABBAGE (~300 seeds/g)(~300 seeds/g)(~300 seeds/g)(~300 seeds/g)

BROCCOLI BROCCOLI BROCCOLI BROCCOLI (~300 seeds/g)(~300 seeds/g)(~300 seeds/g)(~300 seeds/g)

Broccoli is one of the most rewarding plants to grow. They’re good ’n’ hardy for our northern gardens, preferring the cool weather of spring and fall over the heat of summer.

Broccoli can be direct-seeded in the garden as soon as soil can be worked, although I generally start my plants indoors 4-6 weeks before planting out. They can take a bit of frost, so you don’t have to wait as long to transplant as you do with squash,

tomatoes or peppers.

Named for the town of Brussels, Belgium, where they were popular as early as the 1200s. Eventually, these cold, hardy mini-cabbages spread through the cooler European countries and popped up in North America around 1800.

Start your transplants in April and plant out in May (after about 5 weeks). To en-courage more sprouts, pinch out the grow-ing tip and harvest from the bottom up!

Sweetness comes with a touch of frost!

A light frost can be a great thing for broccoli and Brussels sprouts, allowing the plants to develop a sweeter flavour by converting starches into sug-

ars as an “anti-freeze” mechanism.

No homestead is complete without cabbage! Choose early varieties as part of your sum-mer diet or storage varieties to see you through those rooty winter months when there’s not much of a leaf around. Start in-doors with your broccoli or direct seed.



a head weighing 15 lb! Fortunately, the average size is 5-7 lb, heading up in late summer and holding strong as a reliable winter storage variety that's hard to beat. A=$3.50 (1g)

1402 EARLY JERSEY WAKEFIELD (GREEN, EARLY) 63 days from trans-plant. The first pointy-headed character to grace Hope Seeds’ gardens and catalogue! Originating in England in the early 1800s, it became popular on this continent with market and home gardeners when introduced by Peter Henderson in 1868. Heads are a tight, conical 2-3 pounds that form with little outside foli-age, allowing for tighter row spacing. A=$3.50 (1g)

1403 GOLDEN ACRE (GREEN, EAR-LY) 62 days from transplant. An early, green, round cabbage that heads up quickly on short stems, and with a medi-um-sized core. Sweet, tender hearts make its flavour a winner. Definitely a summer-slaw variety, as open-pollinated Golden Acre doesn't wait till fall. A=$3.50 (1g)

1404 MAMMOTH RED ROCK (RED, LATE) 100 days from transplant. Pretty purple/red flattened heads that firm up later in the season add excellent colour to coleslaw! She’s holding great down in the cellar; we’ll be munching on Mammoth in March. Great open-pollinated storage variety that dates back to 1889. A=$3.50 (1g)

1405-CO RED EXPRESS (RED, EAR-LY) 65 days from transplant. I’ll proclaim my bias and state that I prefer red any-way, but Red Express still got me quick! This little guy headed up early in the season and brought us to market with great colour and 3-5 lb heads that cus-

tomers loved. Better flavour for slaws and salads, and when planted in close quarters makes cute 6" mini-heads. A=$3.50 (1g)

1407 FRIGGA SAVOY (GREEN) 86 days from seed. I’ve grown Frigga for the past few seasons and fell for her easily. Cute, wrinkly, and flattish 6" heads are a vibrant green. Frigga holds through the summer quite well, giving an extended harvest period. A=$3.50 (1g)

1509-CO LANCER (Parsnip) 54 days. Parsnips are my favourite spring treat—left in the ground over winter they sweeten up to candy-like quality. Lancer is a selection improvement on Hollow Crown, with long, white smooth roots—a proven heirloom from the early 1800s. A=$3.50 (2g)

1510 OVER-THE-RAINBOW BLEND (Carrot) 65-70 days. Did you know that rainbows actually start under-ground? Here’s your chance to sample different coloured carrots with our in-house blend, combining orange Danvers 126, yellow Jaune du Doubs, Atomic Red, and purple Dragon. Fun for kids and kids-at-heart! Hope Seeds’ in-house blend. A=$3.75 (2g)

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CARROTS & PARSNIPS CARROTS & PARSNIPS CARROTS & PARSNIPS CARROTS & PARSNIPS (750 seeds/g)(750 seeds/g)(750 seeds/g)(750 seeds/g)

When growing carrots, take a look at your soil type—the heavier it is, the harder it is for those roots to push down, and the thicker/stubbier your carrots will be. Rocky ground? More odd shapes and twisters. Sandy? You’re off to the races!

Get your seed in the ground as soon as it can be worked, but make sure you keep soil evenly moist for up to 14 days as seedlings start to emerge.



1501-CO DANVERS 126 (Carrot) 70 days. Danvers 126 is still my favourite fresh and storage carrot. Lovely sweet roots grow to about 7" on average, smooth-skinned (so not so many dirt-filled crevic-es), with blunt ends in sandy soils (pointy ends in heavier soil). Tops are firm for easy hand-harvesting. Doesn’t get woody as roots mature. A=$3.50 (2g) B=$6.00 (10g)

1502-CO SCARLET NANTES (Carrot) 65 days. A classic among carrot-growers, Scarlet Nantes grows 6" to 7" roots with blunt ends, almost no core, and with sweet tender taste. Good for fresh eating. A=$3.50 (2g) B=$6.00 (10g)

1503-CO CHANTENAY RED CORED (Carrot) 60-75 days. An old variety that came to this continent in the late 1800s, but was popularized around 1929. Suitable for growing in heavier soils. Roots have wide shoulders, deep red-orange colour, and the sweetest fla-vour of all the chantenay types. Un-matched storage variety that stays sweet and juicy long into the new year. A=$3.50 (2g) B=$6.00 (10g)

1506 TONDA DI PARIGI (Carrot—mini) 55 days. It’s a little treasure from 19th-century Paris (although, yes, it does have an Italian name)! “Round from Par-is” is a variety that produces early, 1" to 2", round orange roots. Despite their small size, the flavour is humongous! A=$3.50 (2g)

1601-CO EARLY SNOWBALL (Cauliflower) 60 days. I was surprised to find these guys heading up so soon in the garden last year! Nice bright white heads, even though this variety is not self-wrapping. Tender yet crisp, heads hold their harvestable stage a while, allowing for spaced-out harvests. A=$3.50 (1g)

1602 EARLY WHITE VIENNA (Kohlrabi) 50 days. Not the most popular cole crop, as it is kind of funny-looking and people don't really know what to do with it. But don't be afraid of the wonder-ful world of kohlrabi! The swollen stem is the desired part and is best when harvest-ed at about 2"-3" diameter. The stem is light green, with white flesh and a crisp juicy texture. Excellent raw as kohlrabi sticks (like carrot sticks!), for dipping, grating into salads, or cubed into stews. A=$3.50 (1g)

1603 EARLY PURPLE VIENNA (Kohlrabi) 50 days. Just like his sister Early White Vienna, except with vivid purple skin and leaf stems. A=$3.50 (1g)

1604 KOHLRABI KOMBO (Kohlrabi) 50 days. White? Purple? White? Purple? Can’t decide? Want both? Have your kohlrabi and eat it too, with this custom blend of Early Purple and White Vienna. Hope Seeds’ in-house blend. A=$3.50 (1g)

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CAULIFLOWER CAULIFLOWER CAULIFLOWER CAULIFLOWER & KOHLRABI& KOHLRABI& KOHLRABI& KOHLRABI (~300 seeds/g)(~300 seeds/g)(~300 seeds/g)(~300 seeds/g)

Start your plants indoors in April or direct-seed as you would with other cole crops — without hesitation in frosty spring weather.

The Disappearing Radish Trick . . . Try mixing radish seeds with your carrots; they’ll pop up in no time, marking the row and breaking the soil’s crust to allow those delicate little carrots through after the rad-ishes are long gone (harvested and eaten).



1701-CO TALL UTAH 100 days. Standard green cel-ery that produces 20" to 24" high stalks. A good, fresh-munching crop is made easy by blanch-ing the stems: trans-plant seedlings into a 6"-deep trench and fill in with soil as the tops grow up. A crop of deeper green colour is grown simply by transplanting at soil level. ~400 seeds/pack A=$3.50 (0.2g)

1703 GIANT PRA-GUE (Celeriac/Celery Root) 100 days. Tossed aside as ugly and un-sexy (!) until recently, celeriac is making a comeback with gourmet chefs and gardeners growing a year-round food supply. Ce-leriac is simply celery that has been bred to grow a large root and few leaves, making a lovely winter storage vegetable that adds celery-flavour to cooking. Use celeriac either boiled, mashed, cubed into stews, or roasted with garlic and potatoes. Start seeds early in Feb./Mar. and transplant once heavy spring frosts are over and done. ~200 seeds/pack A=$3.50 (0.1g)

1801-CO FIVE-COLOUR SILVER-BEET 45 days. A rainbow right in the garden! A chard commercially intro-duced by British seed company Thomp-son & Morgan back in the 18th century as “Rainbow Chard.” Stems of bright red, pink, orange, yellow, and white, with leaves of dark green. Add them as baby leaves to salad mixes or harvest them larger for braising, steaming, or stir-fries. A=$3.50 (2g) B=$6.00 (10g)

1802-CO FORDHOOK GIANT 50 days. The term “Swiss” was used to dis-tinguish chard (a.k.a. perpetual spinach, silverbeet, or crab beet) from French spin-ach back in the early 10th century. Ford-hook Giant stomped down around that time and still produces giant, 24"- to 28"- high leaves with deep green colour and thick, succulent, white stems. A=$3.50 (2g) B=$6.00 (10g)

1803-CO RUBY RED 50 days. For folks who love a bunch of chard, Ruby Red is a standard. Bright red stems with dark green leaves make the mouth water. Sow thickly to cut young leaves for baby salad greens, or spread plants to 12" for larger leaf growth and big harvests. A=$3.50 (2g) B=$6.00 (10g)

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CELERY & CELERIAC CELERY & CELERIAC CELERY & CELERIAC CELERY & CELERIAC CHARD/SWISS CHARD CHARD/SWISS CHARD CHARD/SWISS CHARD CHARD/SWISS CHARD (~70 seeds/g)(~70 seeds/g)(~70 seeds/g)(~70 seeds/g)

Celery and celeriac are umbelliferae (botanical siblings to carrots, dill, Queen Anne’s Lace, and the like). Start seeds early indoors (approx. 10 weeks before planting out), as celery is a relatively slow germinator. Prefers cool and moist growing conditions; transplant about 2-3 weeks before last spring frost.

Chard is quite versatile and low maintenance. As a summer green, it doesn’t bolt like spin-ach once the warm weather and long days hit. For fall planting, chard is also very forgiving about being left out in the cold.

Direct-seed as soon as your soil can be worked. We’ve started adding it as a baby green to salad mixes, but many folks let the leaves grow larger. Chard will also regrow, so you can get more than one harvest out of it.



1901-CO ASHWORTH/RAT-SELECTED (Sweet) 65-75 days. This must be a good one—Fred Ashworth named it "rat selected" be-cause this variety was the

one most visited by rats in the storage bins! Early 6" cobs on 4'-5' stalks; yellow kernels and old-fashioned corn taste. Keep an eye on the milk stage for optimal harvest time and sweetness. A=$3.75 (30g) B=$12.00 (115g)

1902-LO GOLDEN BANTAM (Sweet) 85 days. A herit-age variety from 1902, Golden Bantam changed the stereotype that yellow corn was just for cattle. Surpasses the old white varieties in sweetness but maintains that old-fashioned corn fla-vour. Ears are 7" and narrow, growing on stalks 5' to 6' high. Ripens a little later than Ashworth, so plant at the same time and get an extended harvest. Grown by Wild Rose Farm in Gilbert’s Cove, NS. A=$3.75 (30g)

1903-CO PAINTED MOUNTAIN (Milling, flour, ornamental) 90 days dry. It took breeder Dave Christensen 36 years to come up with the hardiest, fastest-maturing grain corn in the world, but, by

golly, he did a darn good job! Bred to handle the windy, cold, and drought con-ditions that this part of the world offers, Painted Mountain grows where no other corn will. Beautiful, 6"- to 7"-long, thin cobs express a rainbow of colours, mak-ing it not only an excellent milling/flour variety for those who make their own corn meal or flour, but also an excellent decorative variety. A=$3.75 (30g)

1906-CO PAINTED HILLS (Sweet) 70-75 days. It didn’t take us long to trial breeder Dave Christensen’s corn, derived from some of the same lines as Painted Mountain. Much like its milling-corn brother, Painted Hills expresses multi-coloured kernels on each cob, although some have more white kernels, thanks to its sweet-corn parentage. Hardy, stocky plants, with 1-2 cobs each. Kernels are tender and sweet, making this a well- rounded and unique variety for corn-on-the-cob season. A=$3.75 (30g)

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CORNCORNCORNCORN (~60(~60(~60(~60----75 seeds/30g) 75 seeds/30g) 75 seeds/30g) 75 seeds/30g)

Corn is actually a robust annual grass with male flowers in the tassels and female flowers forming ears lower down . . . turning into the corn we eat!

Corn is a heavy feeder and loves to get extra nourishment from compost prior to planting and at about knee-high growth stage. Plant seed about 1” deep with 6”- to 8”-spacing in rows. Hilling rows at the 8” growth stage helps control weeds and provides stalk support.

Poppy Balser’s Front Cover Art

After spending late fall admiring Poppy Balser’s “daily painting adventure,” we couldn’t resist sharing her work with

you. This watercolour, titled “Corn $3,” was painted en plein air at the Annapolis Royal Farmers’ and Traders’ Market dur-ing the annual Paint the Town weekend

in August 2014. Poppy lives on the shores of the Bay of Fundy in Nova Sco-tia and more of her work can be found at

http://poppybalser.com



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*BACK! 2005-LO BUSHY (SLICER/PICKLER) 60 days. Yes—a reliable little pickler that has all the qualities you’re looking for! Dark green skin, crisp white flesh, and vines that are quite compact at 3'-5' long. Good crunchy cuke for salads, too! An heirloom variety originating in Russia, where it was favoured in small gardens around Moscow (often at season-al second homes, or dachas) for its space-saving and reliable production. Grown by Tim Livingstone of Strawberry Hill Farm. A=$3.75 (1g) B=$8.00 (10g)

*BACK! 2001-LO TANTE ALICE (ENGLISH) 65-70 days. Tante Alice comes to Hope Seeds through Seeds of Diversity Canada's annual seed ex-change. We received it from member Antoine D'Avignon, but this very rare variety can be traced back to Alice Gosselin of Dorchester, QC. At 88 years young in 1988, Mrs. Gosselin was grow-ing this cucumber in her gardens. SoDC members have continued its preservation for the last decade with good reason! English-style slicers grow 12" to 14" long on vines that, if trellised, will encourage straight fruits. Excellent flavour and shows disease-resistant qualities. Grown by Gilberte Doelle of Wild Rose Farm. A=$3.75 (1g)

2002-LO MIDEAST PROLIFIC (SLICER/PICKLER) 55-60 days. Flavour, flavour, fla-vour! It was a race to the cuke patch to see who would get the Mideast treat for the day. This lovely, thin-skinned, Leba-nese slicing-cuke (harvest young for pick-ling) is a great choice for taste and abun-dance in our short seasons. Even though the truck took out a tray of seedlings the morning of planting day, direct-seeding as a last resort (I admit I had pretty much given up) still gave enough time for Mid-east Prolific to fill bushels well before even a hint of frost. Grown by Hope Seeds Farm. A=$3.75 (1g)

2003-CO MARKETMORE 76 (SLICER) 60-65 days. Not much needs to be said about North America's favourite choice for an open-pollinated slicing-cucumber! Dark green, 8"-9" fruits are bitter-less, crisp, and abundant on vines that are disease- and drought-resistant. Long picking season, so you can plant less but eat more. A=$3.50 (1g) B=$8.00 (10g)

2006-CO SUYO LONG (SLICER/SPECIALTY) 60 days. It may look a little...odd...but you’re guaran-teed to end up with one of the best tasting cukes you’ll ever eat! Suyo Long has its origins in Asia, but recently found its way to this continent. Fruits have dark green, bumpy skins with white spines (easy to rub off) and grow up to 15” long, 2” in diameter. Curling at one end can be fixed by trellising. A=$3.50 (1g)

CUCUMBERS CUCUMBERS CUCUMBERS CUCUMBERS (~35 seeds/g)(~35 seeds/g)(~35 seeds/g)(~35 seeds/g)

Cucumbers are just one member of the cucurbitacea family (others being melons, squash, pumpkins, etc.). They are generally heavy feeders, enjoying the extra dob of compost around the roots, and real-ly do well in warm weather. They tend to take over more than their fair share of the garden, but can be tamed back by using bush varieties or trellising up fences or teepee structures. Cukes will keep on pro-ducing, the more you pick.



2101-CO GOURMET LETTUCE MIX 28 days. Our most popular greens! A unique blend of variously coloured and shaped lettuces; a beautiful addition to any meal. No brassicas in this mix for those who have flea beetle problems. Harvest baby leaves by cutting 1" to 2" above the soil line and allow new leaves to grow for a return trip. A=$3.50 (1g) B=$12.00 (5g) 2102-LO MILD GREENS MIX 21 days. Breeder and grower Dan Brisebois has refined this brassica greens mix to contain a variety of colours and shapes but only a little bit of bite! Come-and-cut-again blend. Grown by FCT in Les Cèdres, QC. A=$3.75 (2g) B=$10.00 (10g) 2103-LO SPICY GREENS MIX 21 days. Excellent cold tolerance for row tunnel, early-, or late-season production. Try this combination of spicier brassica greens (with lots of Asian influence) or add this to a lettuce mix to mellow its tang a bit. Grown by FCT in Les Cèdres, QC. A=$3.75 (2g) B=$10.00 (10g)

2104-LO HOT MUSTARD MIX 21 days. This is where grower Dan really shows off! Lots of flavour in this mustard mix: big and bouncy, flat to frilly, purple to green, and everything in-between. Grown by FCT in Les Cèdres, QC. A=$3.75 (2g) B=$10.00 (10g)

2105-LO WINTER GREENS MIX 20 days. A mix of brassicas selected for quick re-growth in cold temperatures. Seed in early Sept. and harvest till snow-fall, or sow in cold frames for winter-long salads. The latest from Dan Brisebois, our specialty greens breeder and grower. Grown by FCT in Les Cèdres, QC.

A=$3.75 (2g) B=$10.00 (10g)

2163-LO HOPE SEEDS MUS-TARD BLEND 21 days. A 1:1 mix of Ruby Streaks and Golden

Frills mustards. Deeply lobed, ruby-coloured leaves give great colour and texture along with a mild mustard fla-vour. Matched with a bouncy, frilly green leaf with lots of mustardy spice. Grown by Wild Rose Farm. A=$3.75 (2g)

ACADIA KALE BLEND See pg. 17 AMARANTH See pg. 37

*NEW! 2168-CO MÂCHE/CORN SALAD 55 days (10-12 days for germi-nation). Cold-hardy/frost tolerant—THE off-season staple green. Tastes like a mini-butterhead lettuce with a slightly nutty flavour. Pick large leaves for a cut-and-come-again green or harvest the entire rosette. Excellent in salad; use as you would use

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GREENSGREENSGREENSGREENS————Mixes Mixes Mixes Mixes (~800 seeds/g) (~800 seeds/g) (~800 seeds/g) (~800 seeds/g)

GREENSGREENSGREENSGREENS————Specialty Specialty Specialty Specialty (~800 (~800 (~800 (~800

seeds/g)seeds/g)seeds/g)seeds/g)

If you’re hesitant about growing mustards, try one of the mixes. Spicier greens are a great addition to a traditional lettuce salad or they can be cooked, used in soups, or chopped up and added to recipes, as you would with a fresh herb.

Find the come-and-cut-again blends and single greens below. Get your seed in the ground as early as soil can be worked (many varieties have a tough time germi-nating in soil temp. above 24°C), or get a jump on the season for larger growing greens and start plants indoors 4-6 weeks before planting out.



spinach. Sow in cooler months (if the soil is too warm, the seeds will go dormant). A=$3.50 (1g)

2151-LO ARUGULA 21 days. A standard in salad mix-es but also great on its own. Has moderate spice and is nice as a cutting green in a salad mix or by itself at the larger leaf stage. Grown by FCT in QC. A=$3.75 (2g) B= $10.00 (10g)

2152-LO GARDEN CRESS / PEP-PERGRASS 21 days baby. A fast-growing green that pops up in about 24 hours. Use it in your "come and cut again" mixes for its zippy flavour and lacey foliage. Peppery flavour; a gourmet inclusion in salads. Grown by Wild Rose Farm. A=$3.75 (2g) B=$10.00 (10g)

2153-LO SPRING RAAB /RAPINI 45 days. This is a traditional green vege-table used in Italian cuisine. Spring Raab has a mild mustard flavour and broccoli-like florets that are most tasty steamed. Easy to grow and nutritious—loaded with folic acid and vitamins. Grown by FCT in QC. A=$3.75 (2g)

2154-LO MIZUNA 45 days. A familiar green in come-and-cut-again salad mixes that adds interesting shape and flavour. Jaggedly lobed leaves lend an angular touch and have a mild mustard taste. Let grow and harvest whole heads for stir-fries. Grown by FCT in QC. A=$3.75 (2g) B=$10.00 (10g)

2155-CO GIANT RED (Mustard) 45 days. Giant Red adds yet another dimen-sion to your fresh greens smorgasbord. Vibrant, deep purple and mustard green are a treat for the eyes, while the kick of mustardy spice livens the palette. A=$3.50 (2g)

2156-CO TAT SOI 21 days baby, 45 days full-size. Very common in salad mixes. Dark green, flat, spoon-shaped leaves that grow rapidly for several harvests, maximizing garden space. Mild flavour, thick texture. A=$3.50 (2g) B=$10.00 (10g)

2162-LO PURPLE MIZUNA 21 days to baby. 45 days full-size. This unique salad leaf holds its quality for late sum-mer harvests! Green, oak leaf-shaped leaves with purple veins and trim, mild flavour. Lovely contrast to green mizuna (2154-LO) for colourful salad blends. Grown by Wild Rose Farm. A=$3.75 (2g) B=$10.00 (10g)

2167-LO PRIZE CHOI (Bok choi) 50 days. Bok choi is often the introduction to Asian greens for many folks. Common to our North Americanized “Chinese food,” its thick, white, juicy stems and deep green leaves are refreshing and crisp in stir-fries. Prize choi grows to around 8"-10" tall and is harvested as a head. Per-forms best in the cool weather of spring or fall plantings. Grown by Hope Seeds. A=$3.75 (2g) B=$10.00 (10g)

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Conference Notes: ECOSGN 2014

This is the friendly face of Dan Brisebois, instrumental in organizing the November 2014

Seed Connections conference in Mon-treal, which brought together seed growers and researchers from across the eastern provinces for three days of story-sharing and seed-growing train-ing. Dan is also one of our growers.

We’re lucky to have him as part of our community of farmers!



2158-LO PEA SHOOTS 12-14 days. It’s easy to have greens all year round by growing pea shoots! Kind of like alfalfa sprouts—only these guys are grown in trays of soil and young growth is cut just above the soil line within just 10-14 days of planting. Bright green colour (vitamin-rich), crisp, juicy texture, and mouth-watering, fresh pea flavour will melt your yearning for spring by the mid-winter fire. Grown by Mark and Sally Bernard of Barnyard Organics in Freetown, PEI. A=$3.75 (115g) B=$7.50 (454g/1 lb) C=$26.00 (2.27kg/5 lb) *Pricing includes a surcharge [$2 for B size packs and $8 for C size packs] to cover shipping.* 115g of dry peas fills half an open seed-ling tray and yields approx. 150g of shoots. For instructions, with illustra-tions, see the Pea Shoots description at www.hopeseed.com

*NEW! 2205-LO WHITE RUSSIAN 21 days baby leaves, 50 days mature. A sister kale to Red Russian, this Siberian variety can also tolerate cold, wet, and moist conditions. White Russian has ten-der, white stems and flat, broad, green leaves—it’s excellent eaten young in a gourmet greens mix or as mature leaves in a massaged kale salad. Interesting fact: since kale is a biennial, the plants for this seed crop were started and overwintered at the infa-mously windy Wild Rose Farm in Gilbert’s Cove, dug up in the spring, and brought over to Hope Seeds, where they shot up into seed production. That allowed Gilberte to grow a similar kale without crossing the varieties. Grown by Wild Rose Farm and Hope Seeds. A=$3.75 (2g) B=$10.00 (10g)

2201-LO RED RUSSIAN/RAGGED JACK 21 days baby leaves, 50 days ma-ture. Red Russian was the first seed I ever saved en masse and it has held a special place in my garden ever since. Kale is an excellent leafy green that adds texture, colour, and nutrition to spring salad-mixes. Baby leaves are nice and tender, and excellent raw. Older leaves are a nice

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KALE KALE KALE KALE (~400 seeds/g)(~400 seeds/g)(~400 seeds/g)(~400 seeds/g)

Kale is becoming quite popular in Canadian kitchens these days, thanks to a hearty in-troduction by way of the salad mix boom. It’s all fine and dandy to use this leafy vege-table as a baby green, but don’t hesitate to let it grow and develop larger leaves to eat in soups or stews or baked as kale chips. Kale is gaining a reputation as a “super-food” and it’s also fairly easy to grow—it’s nutritious, remarkably cold-hardy (yes, you can push the snow aside to grab some leaves for supper), and very low-maintenance. Its flavour sweetens with fall frosts.

Conference Notes: ACORN’s Beginner Farmer Symposium

This year, Sally Bernard spoke about her family’s adventures with pastured poultry. From chick-en tractors to methods for deter-ring preda-tors, her cleverness and creativity struck me as some-thing that beginner farmers should strive for.



chopped green—we substitute kale for spinach in our lasagna recipe. Of course, kale is a first-choice fall green, as older leaves sweeten up with frost. Grown by Wild Rose Farm. A=$3.75 (2g)

2202-CO LACINATO DINOSAUR 30 days baby, 55 days mature. We’ve all seen dinosaur bones, but skin??? The bumpy, dark blue-black leaves of Laci-

nato Dinosaur kale are long and skinny with smooth edges—not like Ragged Jack (above). It may look like dinosaur skin but, fortu-nately, its taste and texture have no resemblance (we assume)! Its excellent flavour sweetens with

fall frosts; very cold-hardy. A=$3.50 (2g) B=10.00 (10g)

2203-LO BLUE CURLED SCOTCH 50 days mature. A very friendly kale, giving you green grins from the snow-covered garden in December. Frilly, blue-green leaves (similar colour to Bleu de Solaize leeks) are super- nutritious, cold-hardy, and bouncy in your soups and salads. Compact plants, 12" to 15" tall, with very productive leaf growth. Interesting fact: While both are in the Brassica family, Blue Curled Scotch is actually a different genus than the Siberian/Russian varieties. Grown by Wild Rose Farm. A=$3.75 (2g)

2206-LO ACADIA KALE BLEND Inspired by our kale-loving, green smoothie-drinking friend

Gilberte, we’ve combined the colours of her Acadian heritage: Blue Curled Scotch, Red and White Russian kales. Grown by Wild Rose Farm and Hope Seeds. A=$3.75 (2g)

2301-CO BLEU DE SOLAIZE 110 days from transplant. A French heirloom variety, named after the blue tinge in the leaves. A hardy variety that just might over-winter in Zone 3B gardens, although I tend to get them into our soups before too much snow. Start leeks early (Feb./Mar.) and keep trim-ming the leaves to 4"-6" to give them a sturdy start. Transplant into a 6" trench to lengthen the white shank, hilling them up as they grow (Eliot Cole-man makes holes with a dibbler and drops the seedlings in, allowing soil to naturally fill in the holes over the sea-son). A=$3.50 (2g)

2302-CO KING RICHARD 75 days from transplant. Quicker to mature than Bleu, but not nearly as cold-hardy (only withstanding light fall frosts). Grow the King as a summer leek, saving Bleu for your winter eating. Long shanks don’t require hilling; minimal bulbing. A=$3.50 (2g)

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LEEKS LEEKS LEEKS LEEKS (~700 seeds/2g)(~700 seeds/2g)(~700 seeds/2g)(~700 seeds/2g)

Like other alliums, leeks, in our short sea-sons, require you to start them early in-doors, 8-10 weeks before planting them out. Seedlings can handle a bit of spring frost, but don’t try to push them too hard with-out a bit of row-cover protection.

Green Smoothie

1-2 cups apple cider 2-3 handfuls of greens (spinach, kale, chard, lettuce) 1 handful of fresh/frozen fruit

Blend, pour, and enjoy!



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*NEW! 2415-CO DARK GREEN ROMAINE (Romaine/Cos) 65 days. Mild, crisp, dark green leaves. Upright heads are good for container-gardening and field or greenhouse production. A=$3.50 (0.5g) B=$6.00 (2g)

*NEW! 2414-CO CIMMARON RO-MAINE (Romaine/Cos) 60 days. A beautiful French heirloom lettuce dating back to the 18th century. This is a romaine type, with a large head of leaves that are a bronze-red colour, and is absolutely striking in the garden. Slow to bolt, deli-cious and crisp in salads, the leaves often regrow if roots are left intact. A=$3.50 (0.5g)

2401-LO DRUNKEN WOMAN (Butterhead) 55 days. A beautiful, succu-lent, large butterhead that blushes pink around her frizzy edges. Curiously, it was mostly the guys who chuckled when they toured the seed patch and found out her name . . . Grown by Hope Seeds. A=$3.75 (0.5g)

2402 MERVEILLES DE QUATRE SAISONS (Butterhead) 56 days. My favourites are butterheads because of their thick, juicy, and smooth-textured leaves. Merveilles de Quatre Saisons (Marvel of Four Seasons) is an old French heirloom described in Vilmorin’s The Vegetable Garden (1885). Its red colour develops best in cooler weather, and Merveilles is bigger than most butter-heads I’ve tried. A=$3.50 (0.5g)

2403-CO BLACK SEEDED SIMP-SON (Green leaf) 28 days baby, 45 days full size. Quickly matures into a green, frilly leaved head. Tolerates heat and sun, making this a good choice for sum-mer-long planting. A=$3.50 (0.5g) B=$6.00 (2g)

2405-CO SALAD BOWL (Oakleaf) 28 days baby, 50 days full size. Deeply lobed, green, oak leaf-shaped leaves. An AAS winner in 1952 and still a strong contender today. No bitterness in heat. A=$3.50 (0.5g) B=$6.00 (2g)

2406-LO BRONZE ARROWHEAD (Oakleaf) 65 days full size. When Bobbi Gascoigne of The Pulse Café in Water-ville, NB came to the greenhouse, Bronze Arrowhead stopped her in her tracks. Bobbi declared that she’d love to just serve up the whole head on a plate as artwork! Gorgeous, deeply lobed, green-to-bronze leaves dart out like arrows from the middle of these 10"-12" heads. Slow to bolt. Grown by Hope Seeds. A=$3.75 (0.5g)

LETTUCE LETTUCE LETTUCE LETTUCE (~400 seeds/0.5g)(~400 seeds/0.5g)(~400 seeds/0.5g)(~400 seeds/0.5g)

Who would ever guess that lettuce had so many different shapes, flavours, textures and colours? Thankfully, it’s a cool-weather crop that seems to immediately add dimension to new spring gardens.

Get your seed in the ground as early as soil can be worked (many varieties have a tough time germinating in soil tempera-tures above 24°C), or get a jump on the season and start plants indoors 4-6 weeks before planting out. Space lettuce for heads 8”-12” apart and sow salad mixes at about 60 seeds per foot. Keep in mind that many of the lettuces can be grown as a come-and-cut-again crop as well.

Buttercrunch Oakleaf Romaine Leaf



2407-CO DARK LOLLA ROSSA (Red leaf) 30 days baby, 55 full size. Chefs love the colour splash that Dark Lolla Rossa adds to their creations. Bur-gundy-red leaves are green toward the centre and curly, adding great bounce to salads. A=$3.50 (0.5g) 2408-CO RED SAILS (Red leaf) 55 days full size. The slowest bolting red- leaf lettuce, with compact fringed heads. Leaves are tinged with red around the edges, while the core stays bright green. Stays sweet in summer heat. A=$3.50 (0.5g)

2410-CO REINE DES GLACES (Crisphead) 60 days. The “Queen of the Ices” has been ruling for over two centu-ries, with her crown of ornately toothed, green outer leaves protecting a tight and crisp white inner head. A=$3.50 (0.5g)

2411-LG GARRISON (Red Oakleaf) 30 days. A fast-growing red oak that makes for lovely contrast in a cut-and-come-again salad bed. Grown by Twisted Brook Farm. A=$3.75 (0.5g)

2412-LG XENA (Green Leaf) 55 days. A heavy, dark green lettuce for salad mix or head. Thick, crisp leaves hold well after cutting. Grown by Twisted Brook Farm. A=$3.75 (0.5g)

2413-LG REVELATION (Red Leaf) 50 days. Smooth, deep, dark red lettuce, fantastic in a salad for its striking con-trast. A stabilized off-type from a plot of revolution Lolla Rossa lettuce several years back has resulted in this super vari-ety we love to have in the mix. Grown by Twisted Brook Farm. A=$3.75 (0.5g)

*NEW! 2506-LO SMALL SHINING LIGHT (Watermelon) 80-90 days. Sweet, pink and juicy. Similar to Sugar Baby but has a slightly thinner rind (i.e., more fruit!) and keeps better on or off the vine. Size ranges from 6" to 12" (large bowling ball to basketball size). Heir-loom from Russia. Prized for growing well in cooler conditions—but if you’re lucky enough to have a hot summer, the taste will be even sweeter. Grown by Hope Seeds. A=$3.75 (1g)

2501-LO MINNESOTA MIDGET (Muskmelon) 80 days. What a treat— ripe cantaloupe, even in Zone 3B. Call the papers! The Minnesota Midget was a hit at the Falls Brook Centre Fair in 2010 when over 50 visitors instantly became seed savers and melon connoisseurs. They scooped the seeds and goop out of the middles and graciously “disposed of

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MELONS MELONS MELONS MELONS (~20 seeds/g)(~20 seeds/g)(~20 seeds/g)(~20 seeds/g)

Melons absolutely love heat, so if you have any greenhouse space, plastic mulch, or any other tricks for turning up the temperature, then lay it on thick for the melon patch. Well fertilized soil is important, as well as access to pollinators for fruit-set.

Notes from the Field: Twisted Brook Farm

Although she’s only been on her Lawrencetown

farm for two years, Steph Warr’s land is blooming and

bursting with seed crops and market produce. Steph is one of those farmers who’s always excited about trying new varieties—so excited that she’ll come by, pop her head in the door, and tell us about, say, an article she just came across about “her” Whip-

persnapper tomato. We appreciate the wonderful (and wonderfully named) varieties that she brings to the table.



the waste product” by scarfing down the sugary flesh. The size of a grape-fruit, the Minnesota Midget ripens quickly on 3' vines with a thick orange flesh and thin, netted rind. Grown by Hope Seeds. A=$3.75 (0.5g) B=$9.00 (3g) 2503-CO BLACKTAIL MOUNTAIN (Watermelon) 85 days. One of the first creations of cucurbit breeder Glen Drowns, Blacktail Mountain is the product of his deep desire to have ripe watermelon in northern Idaho, where summer nights average about 6°C. (That’s summer?!) These 8-10 lb, round, green-skinned orbs with pink flesh have an amazing storage life. Serve up homegrown wa-termelon at Christmas dinner—you can with Blacktail Mountain! A=$3.50 (1g)

2504-CO GOLDEN MIDGET (Watermelon) 75 days. Another mini-sized melon that has flavour 10 times its size! Golden-yellow skin indicates the red flesh inside the 6" round fruit is ripe and at its sweetest point. Developed by Dr. Elwyn Mender of the University of New Hampshire in 1959. A=$3.50 (1g)

2505-CO SUGAR BABY (Watermelon) 78 days from transplant. A little guy also known as "Icebox." It is the perfect choice for short-season gar-deners, as it produces reliably in north-ern climates. A dark green rind, with pink-red flesh that tastes like a sugary summer treat. A=$3.50 (1g)

*NEW! 2607–CO BORETTANA CIPOLLINI 110 days. This Italian heirloom is a more mild (sweeter) on-ion—about 2"-3" wide, with a flat top. Excellent miniature storage-onion, tra-ditionally braided and hung for up to 5 months. The small size means you can grow Cipollini closer together. The best-tasting caramelized onion! A=$3.50 (0.5g)

2601-CO EVERGREEN BUNCH-ING (Green) 57 days from seed. Direct-seed as soon as the soil can be worked, or start in soil blocks in multiples of 7-10. Long green leaves, with a hearty white portion. A=$3.50 (2g) B=$10.00 (10g)

2603-CO ROSSA DI MILANO (Storage) 110 days from trans-plant. Rossa di Milano was first introduced to Hope Seeds by Patrick Steiner of Stellar Seeds in BC. An Italian, red-skinned variety that’s shaped like a bar-rel and keeps just as hard as oak through the winter. A=$3.50 (1g) B=$8.00 (5g)

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ONIONS ONIONS ONIONS ONIONS (~200 seeds/g) (~200 seeds/g) (~200 seeds/g) (~200 seeds/g)

An interesting note about“day-length” and bulbing onions: Onions can be grouped into two different categories—short-day and long-day. These terms refer to the number of daylight hours the variety needs to produce bulbs. Short-day onions require about 11-12 hours to halt top growth and start the bulbing process, while long-day onions need 14-16 hours. Long-day onions are the ones that will bulb up here in the northern latitudes as your winter keepers.



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2604-CO NEW YORK EARLY (Storage) 98 days from transplant. Look-ing for an early, reliable, 2"-3", yellow storage-onion that’s sweet and mild enough to eat raw? Look no further than New York Early, an improved selection of old-timer Early Yellow Globe. A=$3.50 (1g) B=$8.00 (5g)

2606-LO BENNIE’S RED (Storage) 108 days from seed. We at Hope Seeds, lovers of onions (and all things allium, for that matter!), are im-pressed by this one’s excellent keeping capacity, large bulb-size and gorgeous colouring so that, when cut in half, Ben-nie's looks just like a bull's- eye. Many other seed houses have had crop failures for this for years, so Hope Seeds is hap-py to be offering the fruits of hard labour here. Grown by Hope Seeds. A=$3.75 (1g) B=$8.00 (5g)

*NEW! 2709-LG SUPER SUGAR SNAP 60 days. This crunchy, sweet snap pea came recommended to us by one of our long-time growers—Peter Gerber, who insisted that we share the secret of the Super Sugar Snap. A very heavy producer with plump 4" pods; plants grow to about 5'. Grown by Peter Gerber and family in Richmond, NB. A=$3.75 (30g) B=$8.00 (115g)

2702-LG GREEN ARROW (Shell) 70 days. We’ve been able to “go one better” on this tried-and-true garden standard. The folks at Community Produce in Richmond Corner, NB (a cool Zone 3B) have selected this strain of Green Arrow for earliness and production over the last 10 years. We saw the difference in our trials compared with other Green Arrow seed. Heavy yields of 4"-5" pods with 8-11 deep green peas on 32" vines. Grown by Peter Gerber and family. A=$3.75 (30g) B=$8.00 (115g)

2706-LG SCHWEIZER REISEN (Snow) 55 days. The last thing I planted at the little farm in the spring of '08 was a short row of Schweizer Reisen peas. It was a bit of a warm snap, but it turned quickly cool for a few more weeks there-after. Schweizer Reisen never even no-ticed, popping up within 2 or 3 days and growing like gangbusters! This strain comes to Hope Seeds from Mike and Melba Rabinowitz of The Organic Farm in Newfoundland. The vines are tall and need staking, flowers are a gorgeous purple, and snow pea pods are large and delicately flavoured. Grown by Peter Ger-ber and family. A=$3.75 (30g)

PEA SHOOTS See pg. 16

Office Notes: Peter’s seeds are here! I can get a tad giddy when seeds ar-rive from our growers. One day, a

heavy box arrived—so heavy that the courier warned me to flex my mus-cles. After lugging it to the table, I cut the baler twine, ripped off the packing

tape, opened the box, and found pounds and pounds of beautiful peas. I had seen them growing in the fields of Peter Gerber and his family in New Brunswick—now here were the

seeds!

PEAS PEAS PEAS PEAS (~75 seeds/30g)(~75 seeds/30g)(~75 seeds/30g)(~75 seeds/30g)

One of the most rewarding and common garden crops around. Peas prefer cool weather and soil for germination and growing, and they can be planted in early spring or fall for a second crop. Plant peas 1”-2” deep, 2”-4” apart. I plant double rows for climbers so peas grow up on both sides of the fence. Get them in quick and, once harvest starts, the more you pick, the more the vines will set flowers and pods.



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*NEW! 2818-CO LISTA-DA DI GANDIA 85 days. An Italian-type egg-plant, originally from the south of France but brought to Spain in the mid-1800s. Purple-white striped, 5"-8" fruit. A more mild tasting eggplant than the Black

Beauty, with thin skins and creamy flesh. Good for container-gardening in full sun or in greenhouse production. A=$3.50 (0.5g)

2808-CO BLACK BEAUTY 82 days from transplant. Fruits are deep purple/black and large at 7". Reliable variety for short seasons. A=$3.50 (0.5g)

2809-LG BOLDOG HUNGARIAN (Paprika) 75 days red. Prolific bearer of long, thin-walled fruits that dry down easily for a stunningly deep-red, flavour-ful paprika. Originally from Boldog,

Hungary, this sweet paprika has only the slightest trace of heat. Fruit-set is heavy and the 5"- to 6"-long fruit can be dried and ground into paprika or eaten fresh. Grown by Twisted Brook Farm. A=$3.75 (0.3g)

2817-LO PEPPERONCINI (Paprika) 75 days. Prolific Italian heirloom. A little heat makes this a flavourful pepper pick-led or eaten fresh in salads. Its fruit rip-ens from green to red. Grown by Wild Rose Farm. A=$3.75 (0.3g) B=$7.00 (1g)

2801-CO CORNO DI TORO (Corn –shaped) 70 days green, 78 days red. Also known as “Bull's Horn,” this heir-loom Italian pepper grows to about 8" long with a flavour that is a blend of sweet and spicy. This strain ripens from red to yellow. Traditionally used for frying. A=$3.50 (0.3g)

2803-LO KING OF THE NORTH (Bell Pepper) 57 days green, 64 days red from transplant. Finally, a sweet pepper that ripened in the field! We used no plastic mulch, row cover, etc. with the King, and had an abundance of thick-walled, juicy peppers come late August. Highly recommended as a standard for your northern kitchen garden. Pre-dates 1880. Grown by Strawberry Hill Farm in Pembroke, NB. A=$3.75 (0.3g)

2811-LO SWEET CHOCOLATE PEPPER (Bell Pepper) 75 days. “Chocolate” refers here to the colour of the fruits (a deep, rich, burnt maroon), but they really are wonderfully sweet too! An early bell pepper that suits our shorter seasons for pepper-growing weather in the north. A great colour con-trast when mixed with other sweets in relish, salsa, or sauce. Grown by FCT. A=$3.75 (0.3g) B=$7.00 (1g)

EGGPLANT EGGPLANT EGGPLANT EGGPLANT (~70 seeds/0.5g)(~70 seeds/0.5g)(~70 seeds/0.5g)(~70 seeds/0.5g)

PEPPERS PEPPERS PEPPERS PEPPERS (~30(~30(~30(~30----40 seeds/0.3g)40 seeds/0.3g)40 seeds/0.3g)40 seeds/0.3g)

Most northern gardeners these days rely on plastic mulch, hoop houses, row tun-nels, or greenhouses to get a reliable crop of peppers or eggplant. They're a finicky family to grow in the field, but it can be done! Start your seed-lings early in the late win-ter, potting up as the seed-lings grow. Set them out in the field after they harden off in the spring, but make sure they avoid any late frost.

EGGPLANT AND PEPPERSEGGPLANT AND PEPPERSEGGPLANT AND PEPPERSEGGPLANT AND PEPPERS



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2812-LG YANKEE BELL (Bell Pep-per) 60 days to green, 80 days to red. A green-to-red bell pepper specially devel-oped in Maine for our short northern season. Its large plants produce 6-8 large, blocky, thick-walled peppers. Early! Crisp! Delicious! Grown by Twisted Brook Farm. A=$3.75 (0.3g)

2813-LO HEALTHY (Bell Pepper) 70 days red. Rely on the Russians to make sweet peppers possible for Zone 3B! Healthy was at the head of the pack in our ’09 trials from the start: first to flow-er, first to fruit, first to ripen. In fact, we were eating Healthy while many other “early” peppers were still in shock from the cold, wet summer. Fruits are 4"-long, 2½" at the top, and tapering to a point. Starts yellow, ripens to red. Sweet fla-vour and good for freezing. Developed in Moscow. Grown by Strawberry Hill Farm in Pembroke, NB. A=$3.75 (0.3g) B=$7.00 (1g)

2816-LG SWEET APPLE (Bell Pep-per) 72 days red. Thick-walled, top-shaped pimento pepper. Early and de-pendable, sweet and juicy, these mid-sized plants yield well under diverse conditions. Grown by Twisted Brook Farm. A=$3.75 (0.3g)

2806-CO EARLY JALAPENO (Hot) 78 days from transplant. That familiar little green pepper, with just enough heat to suit most tastes. A=$3.50 (0.3g)

2807-LG RING OF FIRE (Hot) 60 days red. The name says it all. Red, ripe, 3"-5" fruits are abundant on small-leaved, busy plants, and pack a wallop even when green. Cayenne type. Grown by Twisted Brook Farm. A=$3.75 (0.3g)

2814-LO RED ROCKET (Hot ) 55 days to green, 85 days to red. Want a winning pot o’ chili to warm your bones on those frosty fall days? Red Rocket grows prolific, 5"-long, thin pep-pers that start green and ripen to fire-engine red. Dry these for easy storage by drawing fishing line or heavy thread through the tops, then hang in a dry, airy place. Pretty and pretty darn hot! Grown by FCT. A=$3.75 (0.3g)

2815-CO HUNGARIAN HOT WAX (Hot) 60 days to yellow, 85 days to red. Dependable and heavy producer in the field or a greenhouse. These medium-heat peppers are early, starting yellow and turning orange-to-red. Thick-walled and great for pickling, roasting or salsas. A=$3.50 (0.3g)

2902-LO ROUGE VIF D’ETAMPES C. maxima 100 days from transplant. The original “Cinderella” pumpkin, with a deeply ribbed, flattened shape—perfect for a princess’s carriage! This is a beauti-ful pumpkin as well as good-tasting and multi-purpose. The fruits can get quite large, depending on the growing zone. Fun to grow with kids while telling the fairy-tale of Cinderella. French heirloom from the city of D’Etampes. Grown by FCT in Les Cèdres, QC. A=$3.75 (3g)

PUMPKINS PUMPKINS PUMPKINS PUMPKINS (~8 seeds/g)(~8 seeds/g)(~8 seeds/g)(~8 seeds/g)

Pumpkins, squash . . . what's the diff? Well, the distinction between squash and pumpkins is more colloquial than botani-cal. Each group has members of the four different botanical families: Cucurbita maxima, C. moschata, C. pepo and C. mixta. I know many folks who say their best pies come from fruits they call winter squash. So if you want to call it a pump-kin, you just go right ahead!

ORDERINGORDERINGORDERINGORDERING


ORDERING INFO: ⇒ Use the order form in the middle of this booklet or

visit us online at www.hopeseed.com Use sepa-rate sections for 1) SEEDS; and 2) POTATOES/JAs. ⇒ Please note that some items have shipping surcharges. These include: Pea Shoots, Jerusalem Artichokes, and Seed Po-tatoes. We hope you can appreciate that shipping products is a big expense for small businesses.

⇒ Submit your order by post, fax, e-mail or online. ⇒ Orders will be mailed within 4 to 7 days of receiving payment, on

a first-come-first-served basis, starting Feb 1st. Exception—the earli-est shipping date for Potatoes and JAs is APRIL 15th (we don’t want your tubers to freeze!).

⇒ If an ordered variety has gone out-of-stock, it will be substituted with a suitable variety if possible, unless otherwise requested. Check our website for the up-to-date availability of specific items.

⇒ All orders are sent via Canada Post (expedited parcel or letter mail) unless otherwise requested; additional charges for alternative shipping apply. Orders can be picked up on site.

⇒ If we make a partial shipment of your order because of a backorder, we will not charge additional shipping when we ship the backorder.

⇒ Hope Seeds makes every effort to ensure high-quality stock and guarantees the condition of the seed when it leaves our door. If, for whatever reason, you are not satisfied, please inform us and you will receive a full refund.

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As much as we know that growing plants is a curious and magical experience, we’re also well aware of some of the science behind it. We do yearly germination tests on all our seed varieties and follow the standards and methods set out by the Canada Seeds Act.

INFORMATIONINFORMATIONINFORMATIONINFORMATION


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Notes from the Field: Gilbert’s Cove, NS

The Tante Alice seed crop at Wild Rose Farm this year was beautiful. Ripe, juicy cucumbers popped out of more than 60 plants—a good number, allowing for selection, rogueing, genetic breadth, and cross-pollination. One of the great things about growing plants for their seeds is that you often get to enjoy some of the fruits of your harvest along the way. But it’s not always so sim-ple. Your days until maturity for seed crops are almost always more than the days until harvesting plants/fruit for eat-ing. Cucumbers, for example, need to be left on the vine until they are great, big, yellow, and overripe (almost moldy!). This sparked some chat at the farm last year. We had to tell some hungry custom-ers who were eyeing those cukes, “Sorry, I

can’t give those to you, they’re for seed!”; we had to explain why we were leaving oodles of cucumbers to “go bad” (i.e., pro-duce seed). Perhaps the toughest thing about grow-ing seed is that, no matter how much love and attention and energy you put into a crop, there’s always the slight risk of those seeds not being plump and mature and so not owning up to their full germination potential. There’s always that glimmer of uncertainty about sacrificing beautiful cucumbers to produce seeds which you cannot see right away but remain scien-tific marvels. Luckily, Tante Alice realized her poten-tial. A few heads turned on Open Farm Day when I revealed what was inside those big, bad-looking cucumbers. I was more than overjoyed to scoop out the seeds and, later, to see them come out of the germination box smelling fresh and lively.

ABOUT HOPE SEEDS: ∗ Hope Seeds is a certified-organic producer and small processor with Atlantic Certified Or-ganic (ACO). A copy of our certificate can be found on our website. ∗ All of the seed we sell is untreated, open-

pollinated (you can save seed from it) and non-GMO. We are signatories to the Safe Seed Pledge; you can find its full text on our website.

∗ The seed we sell comes from our own on-farm production, our growers (see pg. 44), and a few larger, trusted seed suppliers.

∗ Our quality-control measures include field trials, rogueing and selection, pest and dis-ease sampling, and germination tests.

∗ Our seed rack vendors, located across the Maritimes, are generally stocked from March until June; check our website for their locations.



2903-CO WINTER LUXURY PIE C. pepo 80 days from transplant. I saw WLP in Amy Goldman’s “The Compleat Squash” book and had to try it. In the 2009 trials, I was convinced this was “the one”! Its 3-5 lb, round orange fruits have thick flesh and slightly netted skin, giv-ing them a silvery twinkle in the field. An amazing stem (quite the handle), sweet flavour, and velvety texture make one wonder why this isn’t the vari-ety from which every pumpkin pie is born. Re-leased in 1893 by Johnson & Stokes of Philadelphia; selected and re-introduced in 1917 by the Gill Brothers Seed Company. A=$3.50 (3g)

2904-LO LADY GODIVA C. pepo 80 days from transplant. Naked-seeded. The legend of Lady Godiva (1040-1080) has it that the noblewoman rode nude through the town of Coventry, England so that her husband would repeal his heavy taxation of the peasants under his rule. Now, that gal had moxie! The Lady Godiva pumpkin bears naked seeds, meaning the tough outer husk on the seeds does not develop. Perfect for those who love their roasted pumpkin seeds. Grown by Greta Kryger in Ottawa, ON. A=$3.75 (3g)

3003-CO CHERRY BELLE (Root) 25 days red. Red little globes are one of the first spring treats that aren’t greens! Spicy and uniform without getting pithy. An AAS win-ner in 1949, so you know it’s good! A=$3.50 (2g)

3101-CO BLOOMSDALE LONGSTANDING 40-60 days. A still-popular heirloom spinach that came from Europe around 1925. Stands up well in mid-summer heat; slow to bolt. Its leaves are dark green, heavily savoyed, and wonderfully-flavoured. A=$3.50 (2g) B=$8.00 (20g)

3102-CO GIANT WINTER 50 days. An open-pollinated spinach that has recently been recovered from just a few seeds! Selected for cold-hardiness, Giant Winter bears a heavy crop. A=$3.50 (2g) B=$8.00 (20g)

SPINACH SPINACH SPINACH SPINACH (~200 seeds/2g)(~200 seeds/2g)(~200 seeds/2g)(~200 seeds/2g)

RADISH RADISH RADISH RADISH (~100 seeds/g)(~100 seeds/g)(~100 seeds/g)(~100 seeds/g)

Spinach prefers shorter days and cooler temperatures, so plant your seeds first thing in spring or later in the fall. Super- cold-hardy, spinach is an ideal leafy veg to include in your season-extension garden.

Radishes are generally very quick to ma-ture and easily grown from seed, so they're a great choice for kids or first-time gardeners. Sow radishes thinly and direct-ly in the ground, about ¼”-deep. They can be sown as soon as you can work the soil (a month or so before the last expected frost).

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3301-LO COSTATA ROMANES-CA C. pepo 60 days. Many folks consid-er zucchini “just a filler” for cake and muffin recipes. Well, with Costata Romanesca you can toss that idea right into the compost pile! Exceptionally rich, nutty flavour makes this Italian heirloom the “only zucchini worth growing,” according to seed guru Will Bonsall of Scatterseed Project. Grown by FCT in Les Cèdres, QC. A=$3.75 (3g)

3302-CO BLACK BEAUTY/DARK GREEN C. pepo 50 days. Gardeners looking for a familiar, dark green, smooth-skinned, and abundant sum-mer squash, look no further! When I grew Black Beauty for the first time, I noted its resistance to those wretched cucumber beetles, while other squashes wilted under the pressure. A=$3.50 (3g)

3303-CO GOLDEN C. pepo 57 days. This open-pollinated, yellow zucchini makes those modern hybrids dull by comparison. It offers tender fruits on

plants that produce a more moderate number than other zucchinis, and they’re more nutritious than their green cousins. Introduced in 1973 by Burpee; the product of some crafty breeding work by Dr. Oved Shifriss. A=$3.50 (3g)

3304-CO PATTISON PANACHE, JAUNE ET VERTE C. pepo 55-70 days. A bush-type, scallop summer squash that can be used at different stages for fresh eating (early, young fruits) or as unu-sual fall ornaments (mature, hard fruits). Pattison Panache look like little yellow spaceships with green streaks that deepen as the fruits age. Open-pollinated, yellow zucchini that puts those modern hybrids to red-faced shame. A=$3.50 (3g) 3306-LO COCOZELLE C. pepo 45 days. An heirloom, Italian type of bush zucchini. Dark green with lighter green stripes, it’s often grown for its prolific, edible blossoms (stuffed with ricotta, dipped in batter and fried . . . yum mmmmm!). Grown by Greta Kryger in Ottawa, ON. A=$3.75 (3g)

SQUASHSQUASHSQUASHSQUASH————SUMMER & SUMMER & SUMMER & SUMMER & ZUCCHINI ZUCCHINI ZUCCHINI ZUCCHINI (~25 seeds/3g)(~25 seeds/3g)(~25 seeds/3g)(~25 seeds/3g)

Summer squash, many of which are called zucchini, is one of the easiest crops to grow. They don’t take too long, you can direct-seed them in the garden once warmer soil temperatures arrive, and, good gravy, do they ever stop? They say that July and August are the only times in Carleton County when folks lock their car doors because, if you step into the store for just a second, you'll come back to find your back seat full of the buggers!

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Zucchini Pancakes

1 cup shredded zucchini 1 cup flour 1 cup buttermilk tiny pinch of baking soda 1 tbsp. honey 2 tbsp. melted butter 2 tbsp. ground flax

Add zucchini and flax last. Ad-just flour if needed. Pour batter onto HOT griddle. Flip. Enjoy!



*NEW! 3208-LG SWEET DUMP-LING 95 days. Lovely thin skins; cream- coloured with green stripes; tender enough to eat. A perfect single serving size with sweet, dry flesh. Our favourite for stuffed squash—think Table Queen meets Zeppelin; a mix between an acorn squash and a delicata. Compact, bush vines. Very prolific. Grown by Owen Bridge in Nictaux, NS. A=$3.75 (3g)

3201-CO SPAGHETTI SQUASH C. pepo 95 days. Trailing vines produce oval fruits with buff-coloured skin. Fruits are approximately 3 lb each and their yellow flesh can be shredded and served like spaghetti! Lovely when mixed with sauce and baked back in the shell. A=$3.50 (3g) B=$6.00 (10g)

3202-CO TABLE QUEEN BUSH ACORN C. pepo 80 days. A popular winter squash for those with limited space. With green skin and shaped like an acorn; produces 3-8 fruits per plant. Introduced in 1948. A=$3.50 (3g) B=$10.00 (7g) 3203-CO RED KURI C. maxima 95 days. A strong, growing winter squash with Japanese origins. Loads of bright, orange-red, 2-5 lb fruits on long vines. These squashes are great for winter stor-age and last well into spring if they don’t get eaten first! Its orange flesh is very dry and has a unique, nutty flavour which makes Red Kuri well worth growing. A=$3.50 (3g)

3204-CO UNCLE DAVID’S DAKO-TA DESSERT C. maxima 95 days. A beautiful, buttercup-type squash that’s quick to grow in these short seasons! Bred by David Podoll in North Dakota over 40 years, selecting for colour, taste, sweetness, vigour, and cold-hardiness. It’s a winner in our books, as our trials proved Uncle David’s a champion pro-ducer, with thick, dry flesh, small seed cavity, and loads of taste. 3-5 lb fruits on trailing vines. A=$3.50 (3g) B=$7.00 (10g)

3205-LO GUATEMALAN BLUE BANANA C. maxima 105 days. Yes, we have blue bananas, right here in the Mar-itimes! Hailing from Central America, Guatemalan Blue Banana grows 15"- to

18"-long and 6" in diameter, with sky blue-grey skinned fruits. Prolific and easy producers. I’ve prepared them by slicing them into rings, scooping out the seeds, and filling with an apple/nut stuffing to roast. No one can resist! LAST CHANCE! Grown by Hope Seeds. A=$3.50 (2g) B=$5.00 (10g)

3206-CO ZEPPELIN DELICATA C. pepo 95 days. This zeppelin won’t de-flate on your plate! High starch (then turning to sugar) content makes Zeppelin Delicata top of the charts for flavour, especially when roasted. Its 1–1½ lb fruits are perfect for two people; cooks quickly, with a large seed cavity great for stuffing. A=$3.50 (1g)

SQUASHSQUASHSQUASHSQUASH————WINTER WINTER WINTER WINTER (~25(~25(~25(~25----30 seeds/3g)30 seeds/3g)30 seeds/3g)30 seeds/3g)

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One of the earliest domesticated crops in the Americas. Many ancient varieties were grown for their oil-rich seeds and durable rinds that were dried and made into bowls.



3401-LO TOMA VERDE (Tomatillo) 70 days. Green, 1½" fruits that grow in-side a papery husk (like the annual flow-er “Chinese Lanterns”). Tomatillos are the main ingredient in “green salsa.” Plants grow like tomatoes—very vigor-ous and somewhat frost-tolerant. Profi-cient self-seeder. Grown by FCT. A=$3.75 (0.2g)

3430-LO AUNT MOLLY (Ground cherry) 70 days. The little, yellow, berry-like fruits of the ground cherry grow inside papery husks similar to tomatillos and ornamental “Chinese lanterns.” Ex-cellent in jams, jellies and pies—these tasty treats bowled people over at a local tomato taste-off in summer 2011! Grown by FCT. A=$3.75 (0.2g)

3434-LO PURPLE (Tomatillo) 70 days. The purple-fruited cousin to Toma Verde. While they start out green, most fruits on these plants ripen to a deep violet. Grown by FCT. A=$3.75 (0.2g)

3427-LO REISETOMATO (Indeter-minate) 75 days. There’s just no category for this tomato! Each fruit is like a cluster of cherry tomatoes fused together. The German name means “travelling toma-to,” as one could break off a couple of fruits from a “pod” to snack on without a knife, without opening the whole juicy fruit. Tart flavour, prolific, and definitely the talk of the garden! Grown by Hope Seeds. A=$3.75 (0.2g)

3431-LO ITALIA (Indeterminate) 70 days. Mmm . . . best dried tomatoes ever! Slice these 1" -2" oval tomatoes in half, place in the dehydrator, and enjoy tasty, well-preserved treats mid-winter. Quali-fies as a small paste tomato but super- sweet and great for snacking right off the vine as well. Very prolific. Grown by Hope Seeds. A=$3.75 (0.2g)

TOMATILLO & GROUND TOMATILLO & GROUND TOMATILLO & GROUND TOMATILLO & GROUND CHERRY CHERRY CHERRY CHERRY (~140 seeds/pack) (~140 seeds/pack) (~140 seeds/pack) (~140 seeds/pack)

Tomatillos are the green cous-ins of the tomato that grow inside a papery-husk and are the main ingredient in salsa verde. They can also be used in stews, curries, meat dishes and soups. Tomatillos are rich in minerals and a fairly good source of Vitamins A and C.

Ground cherries are . . . well, you just have to taste them! They’re nature’s little pre-packaged treat and one of our North Ameri-can native fruits. Since they fall to the ground when ripe, ground cherries make for great “treasure hunts” for kids. They’re easy to grow, hardy, and pest-resistant (as far as we know!)—treat them as you would tomatoes but no staking required.

TOMATOES TOMATOES TOMATOES TOMATOES (~60 seeds/0.2g)(~60 seeds/0.2g)(~60 seeds/0.2g)(~60 seeds/0.2g)

What would a garden, a summer, a barbe-cued burger, or a winter stew be without tomatoes? The wonderful world of these fruits-posing-as-vegetables opens up when you start to include heritage varieties in your garden and kitchen. Lots of colours, shapes, tastes, and textures add diversity to your food; the stories behind many of these varieties below add food for thought.

Hope Seeds has both determinate (these bush-habit fruits tend to ripen all at once, which is great for those who process or can a bunch at a time) and indeterminate (climbers—generally good in greenhouses when trained on strings, their fruits ripen-ing throughout the season) varieties. The former tend to respond well to less prun-ing (i.e., don’t take out those suckers!) and don’t necessarily need support; the latter produce more fruits when suckers are trimmed out and really appreciate a cage or stake to keep them off the ground.

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3415-LO CHEROKEE PURPLE (Indeterminate) 72 days. Named for its believed origination—among the Chero-kee native people—this is one of the more famous “black” tomatoes. A beefsteak type with large, 3-4 lb fruits, purple-red skin with green shoulders, and brick-red flesh. Grown for its excellent flavour and meaty texture. Grown by FCT. A=$3.75 (0.2g)

3416-CO COS-MONAUT VOLKOV (Semi-determinate) 68 days. The first choice from our 2009 trials for taste and early ripening! An old Ukrainian tomato, renamed in 1971 for the Russian cosmonaut who died on a mission in out-er space. He must have been quite the guy, as this is quite the tomato. Large, slightly flattened, red, beefsteak-type fruits with yellow shoulders. Rich flavour that excelled in our less-than-perfect 2009 growing season. A=$3.50 (0.2g)

3432-LO NORTHERN LIGHTS (Indeterminate) 80 days. Great flavour, unique colouring, and handfuls of fruits make Northern Lights glow bright in our books! Vines bear a decent crop of red, orange, and yellow “tie-dyed” tomatoes about the size of your fist. Sweet flavour and a visual delight. Our 2012 intern Kate O’Brien brought this treasure with her from California, saved from plants she had grown at a market farm the year be-fore. Grown by Hope Seeds. A=$3.75 (0.2g)

3435-LO BLACK KRIM (Indeterminate) 75 days. Black Krim, aka Black Crimson, has been added as a “new staple” to our tomato collection. The fla-vour! The colour! Vining plants produce beefsteak-shaped fruits that are ripe when shoulders turn deep crimson and the belly is still greenish-red. Excellent slicer. Grown by Hope Seeds. A=$3.75 (0.2g)

*NEW! 3438-CO BLOND-KOPFCHEN (Indeterminate) 75 days. The most prolific cherry tomato we’ve ever trialed! Huge clusters of golden, sweet, 1" tomatoes that resist cracking. An heirloom from East Germany; aka “Little Blonde Girl.” A=$3.50 (0.2g)

3405-LO BLACK CHERRY (Indeterminate) 65 days. Deep burgundy skins on 1"-round fruits that grow in abundant clusters. Adds delightful colour to a cherry tomato salad when mixed with yellow and red. Grown by FCT in Les Cèdres, QC. A=$3.75 (0.2g)

3408-CO RED PEAR (Indeterminate) 70 days. The red-skinned mate to Yellow Pear. When these two are combined in salads or pint-boxes, you’ll delight in the colourful sight. Pear-shaped fruits on productive vining plants. A=$3.50 (0.2g)

3409-LO SWEETIE (Indeterminate) 65 days. Extra sweet; 100 or more small, juicy snack-tomatoes per plant. Doesn’t seem to mind those cool, wet summers that are becoming the norm here in the Maritimes—still comes out sweet and shining. Nice treats while you’re working in the garden on a hot day! Grown by Hope Seeds. A=$3.75 (0.2g)

Looking for Pruden’s Purple? Try Northern Lights

BEEFSTEAK TOMATOESBEEFSTEAK TOMATOESBEEFSTEAK TOMATOESBEEFSTEAK TOMATOES

CHERRY TOMATOESCHERRY TOMATOESCHERRY TOMATOESCHERRY TOMATOES



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3433-LG WHIPPERSNAPPER(Determinate) 65 days. Won the earliest tomato race this year, again! Mother Earth News called this tomato’s growing habit “quirky.” That sounds right. We love it for baskets and container-gardening. Amazingly prolific, its beautiful, oval-shaped, pink (pink!), cheerful cherries taste bright and delicious. Grown by Twisted Brook Farm. A=$3.75 (0.2g)

*NEW! 3437-LO BERNARDO’S PASTE (Indeterminate) 80 days. A Hope Seeds exclusive. Our new favourite

paste tomato! The seed started with Bernardo, an Italian grocery-store owner in BC who gra-ciously shared it with friends. Eventually it surfaced on the East Coast, and our friend Niki Clark of Nikian

Farm passed on this tomato treasure. Bernardo’s Paste performs equally well in the greenhouse and the field. Huge clusters of 8"-long, 3"- to 4"-wide, pointy paste tomatoes. Balance of flesh and juice; few seeds. Great taste for fresh eat-ing and canning. Grown by Hope Seeds. A=$3.75 (0.2g)

3411-LO AMISH PASTE (Indeterminate) 85 days. I had lost my faith in Amish Paste, but it ripened at the last second and ended up being the best canner in 2008. Not too juicy, not too seedy—good for lazy sauce-makers like me, who can’t be bothered to take out the seeds! Fruits are red, oval-shaped, and range in size from 2" to 5" in diameter. Of Amish origin; from Wisconsin. Grown by FCT in Les Cèdres, QC. A=$3.75 (0.2g)

3413-CO SAN MARZANO (Semi-determinate) 75 days. Bob Wildfong from Seeds of Diversity Canada says, “When you crush the fruit to get the seeds out, you nearly have tomato sauce already!” San Marzano has been added to the Slow Food list of Italian Presidia foods, recognizing the variety for its local importance. Fruits are 2"-3", with extraor-dinary fragrance when ripe.

A=$3.50 (0.2g)

3428-LO OPALKA (Indeterminate) 75 days. Originally from Poland, this is another paste tomato great for sauce and salsa. Fruits are long and pepper-shaped, with

few seeds and meaty flesh. Said to be blight-resistant. Grown by Hope Seeds. A=$3.75 (0.2g)

3414-LO BLACK PRINCE (Indeterminate) 70 days. Originally from Irkutsk, Russia, the Black Prince is called the “Czerno Prinz Tomat.” It’s hailed as a true Siberian tomato for its outstanding performance in northern climates. Vines produce an abundance of medium-sized, red-brown fruits, with black shoulders, dark red flesh, and flavour like none oth-er! Grown by FCT. A=$3.75 (0.2g)

3417-LO EARLIROUGE (Determinate) 65 days from transplant. A Canadian-bred tomato from Trenton, Ontario in 1977, so it knows the short season we can get up here! Earlirouge proved its mettle when, in 2008, our plants had fruits ripen during that wet, cool July when all others were sulking green. Medium-sized fruits ripen all at once for a good canning crop. Grown by Hope Seeds. A=$3.75 (0.2g)

PASTE TOMATOESPASTE TOMATOESPASTE TOMATOESPASTE TOMATOES

SLICER TOMATOES SLICER TOMATOES SLICER TOMATOES SLICER TOMATOES

Looking for Cabot? Try Early Latah (next page)



3418-LO EARLY LATAH (Determinate) 57 days. A favourite early variety of Hope Seeds’ customers. Early Latah takes the cold very well and sports round, red, 2"-3" fruits from July till frost. Grown by Strawberry Hill Farm in Pem-broke, NB. A=$3.75 (0.2g)

3421-LO QUEBEC 5 (Indeterminate) 60 days. Quebec 5 gets Hope Seeds’ to-mato-of-the-year award for 2007! Lovely, smooth, and firm red fruits are about 3"-4" across, with a wonderful fresh and vibrant flavour. I used these for canning,

fresh eating, and on almost every burger from August on. Grown by Strawberry Hill Farm. A=$3.75 (0.2g)

3424-LO TIGERELLA (Indeterminate) 57 days from transplant. She's a beauty! Tigerella is queen of the patch when it comes to flavour and productivity for an early field tomato. 2" to 2½" fruits are a sunny orange that de-velop their tiger stripes as they ripen. When taste-tested last summer, Tigerella raised everyone’s eyebrows with her rich tomato flavour. Old English variety. Grown by FCT in Les Cèdres, QC. A=$3.75 (0.2g)

3425-LO TRIBE’S TOBIQUE (Determinate) 57 days. Grower Tim Liv-ingstone couldn’t hide his astonishment at Tribe’s Tobique’s performance in 2010. Tomato seedlings of various types in the

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Notes from the Field: Pembroke, NB

When we went to visit Tim Livingstone of Strawberry Hill Farm this summer, we found him in a back field, racing up and down the rows with a harvest knife. He talked while he cut heads of cauliflower for his weekly CSA Box program. The Livingstones—Tim, his wife Kirsten, and their children—are considered by many to be an organic-farming success story in the Maritimes. They run a vibrant certified-organic CSA and bustling roadside farm stand, tend mixed vegetables, seed crops, and live-stock, and provide opportunity for local employment. They have a retired bus that’s been converted into a mobile CSA pick-up station, with a big “veggies and farm products” decal plastered on its side. People are hungry for top-quality vegetables and fruit, grown locally

—Tim and his family are serving that communal need. When we first arrive, Tim is apologetic that he can’t spend as much time as he would like to with the seed crops that he’s growing for us. But no wonder! One minute, he’s excitedly telling us how to distinguish a Viceroy butterfly from a Mon-arch; the next, he’s giving instructions to a worker on a trac-tor while juggling cauliflower in one hand and a cellphone in the other. When Tim finishes answering questions from whomever was on the other end, he turns to us and starts talking about watermelons. What a whirlwind! We leave with arms full of melons to sample and I reflect on his farming hustle-and-bustle. Tim moves efficiently through his land, with a patient thoughtfulness and a keen eye for quality. Even with “not enough time” for his seed crops, they are still stunning and top-notch. Meeting someone like Tim, smiling and jovial in the storm-eye of such activity, is a little too rare. I’m hopeful that the norm is changing, though, and that soon we’ll find more people farming so smartly—and more people sharing in the work of feeding people.



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unheated field greenhouse, awaiting transplant, were touched by an unex-pected frost. While most others turned black and . . . well, we’ve all seen it . . . Tribe’s only lost 2 plants out of the entire batch. Talk about selected for cold-hardiness! A delightful tomato made locally famous by Fred Tribe, the Perth-Andover, NB naturalist who found a plant growing wild on the banks of the Tobique River one early July. Stocky plants, dark leaves, round, red, 2” fruits. Grown by Tim Livingstone. A=$3.75 (0.2g)

3426-LO MENNONITE ORANGE (Indeterminate) 80 days. Back by popular demand! Beautiful, 4"-5", smooth orange fruits make this heritage tomato a beauty in the garden. Mennonite Orange comes from Old Order Mennon-ites in Pennsylvania, but has been in Southern Ontario since 1910. Production is plentiful; fleshy fruits are sweet. Grown by Hope Seeds. A=$3.75 (0.2g)

3436-LO ROSABEC (Determinate) 70 days. A pink tomato with Canadian-red roots! From the 1960s and ’70s Cana-dian tomato breeding project by Roger Doucet at Station Provinciale de Re-cherches Agricole in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec. Fruits are early, prolific, and somewhat variable in shape, from slight-ly flattened to round. It’s dependable through cool nights; one of the first of the season to show up on our dinner plates. Grown by Hope Seeds. A=$3.75 (0.2g)

3501-LO PURPLE-TOP WHITE GLOBE (Summer turnip) 60 days. A mild flavour. Roots have white flesh and purple tops for pretty additions in salads. Not for winter storage—use thinnings for greens in spring salads. Grown by FCT. A=$3.75 (2g) B=$6.50 (10g) 3502-LO MELFORD (Rutabaga, win-ter turnip) 100 days. A rare variety of rutabaga that’s won the praise of many, including Hope Seeds customer Carl Robertson of Dieppe, NB. In 2008 Carl had people at the ACORN conference in Memramcook, NB rushing the Hope Seeds booth for Melford, eager for seeds for the most tender, tastiest rutabaga around! Yellow-fleshed; green tops. Grown by Hope Seeds. A=$3.75 (2g) B=$6.50 (10g)

TURNIP & RUTABAGA TURNIP & RUTABAGA TURNIP & RUTABAGA TURNIP & RUTABAGA (~600 seeds/g) (~600 seeds/g) (~600 seeds/g) (~600 seeds/g)

Turnips are the roots that are best eaten small (i.e., 2” in diameter) and they don’t really store well after being harvested. You’ll want to eat them throughout the growing season; don’t leave them to grow huge, as they get woody quite easily. Pick them young and add them to salads, stir-fries, etc. Some folks call them “summer turnips.”

Rutabagas are the typical winter storage root that you’ll see in “stew packs”. They’re usu-ally harvested around softball-size, then hung in the root cellar or put in the back of the fridge for a long time.

What does it take to save seeds commercially?

Growing plants to save seed is quite different from growing plants for their vegetables, flowers, or fruit. Knowing the difference between saving seeds for your own purposes and growing seed commercially can help keep things in

perspective, too. We encourage people to find out more about and feel empow-ered by saving and sharing seeds. Want to learn more? How to Save Your Own Seeds, a handbook from Seeds of Diversity Canada, is a great resource.

We have copies available for $18 (taxes and S&H included).


HERBS...HERBS...HERBS...HERBS...

4001-CO GENOVESE 45 days baby, 70 days mature. Perfect for pesto! 24"-high plants with 2", savoyed leaves. A=$3.50 (1g) B=$7.50 (10g)

*BACK! 4003 SWEET LIME 45 days baby, 70 days mature. Lovely and vibrant lime hints make this a good basil to use with fish and poultry. A=$3.50 (1g)

4004-CO DARK OPAL 65 days. Add these pretty, deep purple leaves, with heady fragrance and flavour, to your

bunches of basil and pesto. A=$3.50 (1g)

4019-CO CINNAMON 65 days. Green leaves, pretty pink flowers, and a heady cinnamon aroma! Lovely for bunching, adding to fragrant bouquets, or drying for potpourri. From Mexico, where fresh bunches were put on tables to ward off insects. A=$3.50 (1g)

4020-CO SACRED/TULSI 75 days. Ocimum sanctum. An aromatic culinary and tea herb; makes a calming hot or iced tea. Sacred Basil is said to have many healing properties; used in Ayurvedic medicine. A=$3.50 (1g)

4010-CO ITALIAN FLAT-LEAF (Biennial) 70 days. From the Greek petros (a rock) and the Latin selinon (parsley) and crispum (finely wavy), Italian Parsley has smoother, darker green leaves and a stronger flavour than its curly cousin, “Moss Curled.” Likely native to the Med-iterranean region, parsley was believed by the Greeks to presage death and sol-diers avoided it. Eventually, it was used to honour the dead and woven into crowns for victorious athletes. It was still regarded with fear well into the Middle Ages, though; some believed it to be the Devil’s herb. It was the Romans’ chewing of parsley sprigs during feasts to freshen their breath that led to its modern use as a garnish. Parsley is a biennial, producing seed the second year and very slow to germinate, taking up to 3 weeks. A=$3.50 (1g)

4018-CO MOSS CURLED 80 days. Standard, curly parsley; used for garnish but really adds great flavour, bounce, and nutrition to salads and dressings. A=$3.50 (1g)

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ANNUAL HERBSANNUAL HERBSANNUAL HERBSANNUAL HERBS

BASIL BASIL BASIL BASIL (~500 seeds/g)(~500 seeds/g)(~500 seeds/g)(~500 seeds/g) PARSLEY PARSLEY PARSLEY PARSLEY (~550 seeds/g)(~550 seeds/g)(~550 seeds/g)(~550 seeds/g)

It’s always the herbs which seem to be the “gourmet touch” when it comes to good food. The flavours and aromas that fresh herbs add to meals is unbeatable! What’s so interesting is their relationship with other plants in the garden: their companion qualities for creating beneficial insect habitat, deterring the bad bugs, and “bringing out the best” in neighbouring crops.


...HERBS...HERBS...HERBS...HERBS

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4005-CO BORAGE—COMMON 50 days. Observations about Borage from 2000 years ago still ring true as herbal wisdom today: Borage cheers the heart and helps a drooping spirit. Borage is an annual herb that’s a delight in any gar-den. Easy to grow from seed, plants are vigorous, quickly growing to 2' in one season. Pretty, lilac-blue, star-shaped blossoms are edible, with a hint of fresh cucumber flavour! Add blossoms to salad mixes for a gourmet twist or put into summer drinks for refreshing sweetness and colour. Self-seeds. A=$3.50 (1g)

4006-CO CHAMOMILE— GERMAN 70 days. These daisy-like, tiny flowers are an excellent herb for evening teas. Very tiny seed, so try adding seed to a bit of sand and then sprinkling the mixture around to disperse the planting. A=$3.50 (0.2g)

4007-CO CORIANDER/CILANTRO 40 days leaf, 90 days seed. Often used to add its distinct, fresh flavour to salsas and other Latin American dishes. Leaves are vibrant green and flat, resembling Italian parsley. Excellent when chopped and added to salad dressings. ~150 seeds/g A=$3.50 (1g) B=$5.50 (10g) 4008-CO DILL—BOUQUET 45-60 days. Like coriander, dill is used both for its leaves and seed. Its feathery leaves are full of aroma and flavour, and this herb is a great attractor of parasitic wasps (the good guys!) if left to flower. ~600 seeds/g A=$3.50 (1g) B=$7.50 (10g)

4009-CO SUMMER SAVORY 75 days. Summer savory is a Maritime sta-ple in poultry dressings and sausage blends! Milder and sweeter than it’s per-ennial mate, winter savory. (The Bulgari-an table has three condiments: salt, papri-ka and savory; when these are mixed, it’s called sharena sol [colorful salt]). Easy to grow from seed. A=$3.50 (1g)

4017-LO NIGELLA —BLACK CUM-IN Edible seed. See pg. 38

4011-CO SAGE—COMMON 90 days. Very aromatic selection. Grey leaves can be used fresh or dried for fish and poultry dishes. Sage has a traditional role in Native culture as one of the four sacred medicines: Sage, Tobacco, Sweet-grass, and Cedar. It is burned (called a “smudge”) in ceremony as the smoke is used to “cleanse” participants and the area. ~150 seeds/g A=$3.50 (1g)

4012-CO CHIVES 90 days. The first sign of spring in the herb gar-den! Chives poke their stalks out of cool soil well before you think anything might start growing. The pretty purple flowers are edible, with their mild, onion-y flavour adding pizzazz to salads. Its clumps spread easily. A=$3.50 (1g)

4016-LG GARLIC CHIVES 90 days. You can distinguish garlic chives from “regular” onion chives by their flat leaves (not round and hollow like onion chives), white blossoms (as opposed to purple/pink), and their garlic taste! Grown by Twisted Brook Farm. A=$3.75 (1g)

PERENNIAL HERBSPERENNIAL HERBSPERENNIAL HERBSPERENNIAL HERBS

HERBSHERBSHERBSHERBS


4013 LAVENDER—MUNSTEAD 110 days. Lavender is my favourite herb and I use its essential oil in almost every-thing. Munstead is a strain that’s cold-hardy in Zone 4, although I’ve used it in Zone 3B. A=$3.50 (0.2g)

4014-CO OREGANO—GREEK 80 days. No Mediterranean dish is complete without the aromatic addition of orega-no! Related to mint, oregano crawls low and spreads easily. Tame it with regular harvest or grow in pots. A=$3.50 (0.2g)

4015-CO THYME—ENGLISH 90 days. Very hardy and fast-growing for a perennial. I can usually get many cut-tings from plants that I start from seed that same season. Use thyme with meatsand savoury sauces. A=$3.50 (0.1g)

5032-LO CENTAUREA/CORNFLOWER—BACHELOR’S BUTTONS 90 days. Brilliant blue flow-ers on 16"-30" stems, making great cut flowers. Now common in North Ameri-can gardens, Bachelor’s Buttons hail from the UK, where they were consid-ered weeds in grain (corn) fields. They are now threatened by the extensive use of herbicides. Folklore tells us the name “bachelor’s buttons” comes from young men pinning them on their jackets as a symbol of their love. If the flowers faded too quickly, it was taken as a sign that their love was not returned. Grown by FCT. ~200 seeds A=$3.75 (1g)

5008 FOUR O’CLOCKS/MARVEL OF PERU Tender perennial. 95 days. Four O’Clocks have a history that dates back to 1540, when they were exported from the Peruvian Andes by conquista-dors. The 2'-3' tall plants give off a beau-tiful fragrance in mid-afternoon when their multi-coloured blooms open. ~45 seeds A=$3.50 (3g)

5011-CO NASTURTIUM—JEWEL MIX Edible flowers/leaves. 60 days. A bushy variety of na-sturtium that holds its flowers above the foli-age. Blooms in a mix of colours; can add a bit of spice and colour to gourmet meals. ~20 seeds A=$3.50 (3g)

While annual flowers don’t grow back from their roots each year, many will self-seed—a treat for next season! Most varieties here are great as com-panion plants in the vegetable garden.

ANNUAL FLOWERSANNUAL FLOWERSANNUAL FLOWERSANNUAL FLOWERS

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Give the gift of Hope Seeds!

If you’d like to purchase a gift cer-tificate, just include it on your or-der form and write in an amount.

There are no taxes or shipping fees on the purchase (even if you want your gift certifi-cate mailed to a different address).

Redeemable via mail/fax orders or via our webstore checkout.

FLOWERSFLOWERSFLOWERSFLOWERS


2159-CO SHUNGIKU (Edible Chry-santhemum) 45 days. Somewhat new for North American palates, this Japa-nese green is thinly lobed, with a deli-cate flavor. Edible at several stages: baby leaf, young shafts, and leaves. Its flow-ers are brilliant yellow and also edible! Grows to about 4' tall. A=$3.50 (1g)

5030 ZINNIA—STATE FAIR MIX 65 days. Zinnias were named after Jo-hann Gottfried Zinn, a German botany professor of the mid-1700s; they were known as “Youth and Old Age” in the 1800s. Zinnias are easy annuals to grow from seed, with showy colours and bold blooms. They’re long-lasting, excellent cut flowers and tolerate dry soil. State Fair grows 30", with spectacular, 4", dahlia-like blooms. ~200 seeds A=$3.50 (2g)

5001 AMARANTH—LOVE-LIES-BLEEDING 70 days. Amaranth is orig-inally from South America and tradi-tionally used as a grain. It is making something of a comeback in North America as both grain and baby green, but Love-Lies-Bleeding is really grown as an ornamental. Plants are 3' tall, with 9"- to 18"-long, velvety-red tassels. Excellent dried flower. ~1500 seeds A=$3.50 (1g)

5033-LO SORGHUM—AMISH RAINBOW BROOMCORN 90 days. Plants can grow to 10' tall, with upright sprays of brilliant red seed heads. Tradi-tionally, these heads were dried and bound in bunches to make brooms. Grown by FCT in Les Cèdres, QC. ~60 seeds A=$3.50 (1g)

5034-CO AMARANTH—HOPI RED DYE 25 days for greens. This am-aranth is actually prized for its tender baby leaves —use them to add a splash of magenta to your salad. Mature plants have deep red leaves and bright flowers, and collect nutritious black seed, which the Hopi still use to make red corn bread.~1500 seeds. A=$3.50 (1g)

5005-LO GRANDMOTHER’S MIX 50 days. Beautiful yellows and oranges. This particular cultivar came to grower Kim Edmonson from her grandmother’s collection, hence the name. Grown by Wild Rose Farm. A=$3.75 (1g)

5004-LO SUNNY MIX 50 days. Sun-shine right in the garden! A blend of yellow, orange, red and pink blos-soms. My favourite calendula—so cheery! This item is over-packed to ac-count for slightly lower germination. Grown by Hope Seeds. A=$3.75 (2g)

Calendula has been justifiably popular among gardeners for centuries: easy to grow from seed (and easy to save seeds!); beautiful in-tense blooms of yellows to reds from June to early autumn; wide medicinal and culinary uses. The name originates with the ancient Romans, who saw calendula blooming on the first day (or calends) of each month and thus thought them a useful remedy for irregular menstruation. Calendula was thought to have magical powers, allowing people to see fairies and helping women choose appropriate mates. More practically, during the Civil War in the USA, calendula salve was applied to wounds to stop bleeding and help healing—a practice adopted by herbal users today. Calendula petals are delicately flavoured and add flares of colour to cakes, cookies, rice, tea blends, salads . . . you’re limited only by your imagi-nation! Seed in May/June for blooms all sum-mer long.

AMARANTH & SORGHUM AMARANTH & SORGHUM AMARANTH & SORGHUM AMARANTH & SORGHUM

CALENDULA CALENDULA CALENDULA CALENDULA (Edible;(Edible;(Edible;(Edible; Medicinal) Medicinal) Medicinal) Medicinal)

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FLOWERS...FLOWERS...FLOWERS...FLOWERS...

5006 BRIGHT LIGHTS 85 days. 2' plants with bright yellow, orange, red, and rust-coloured, 2" blooms. Plants do well in either damp or dry conditions— quite adaptable. Blooms from July through to October. A=$3.50 (2g)

5007-CO SENSATION MIX 85 days. One of the most popular annuals last year, and for good reason! Pretty, 3.5' plants with feathery foliage produce white, pink, cream, and maroon single blooms with yellow centres. A=$3.50 (2g)

4017 NIGELLA SATIVA—BLACK CUMIN/KALONJI (Edible seed) 110 days. Also known as “fennel flower.” A unique spice plant that has been cultivat-ed in India for millennia and is a staple

flavour in East Indian cuisine. The seed’s distinct peppery flavour is brought out by dry roasting prior to use. Small blue flowers turn to tiny dry seedpods. Pun-gent black seeds are used to flavour cur-ries, bread, Indian naan and cheese. A=$3.50 (0.5g)

5014 NIGELLA DAMASCENA—PERSIAN JEWELS 70 days. This is a pretty and delicate plant, growing to about 20" high, with pastel pink, blue, and white blooms July-October. Used as both a cut and dried flower. A=$3.50 (0.5g)

5017-LO PRETTY IN PINK 90 days. The oldest type of poppy in cultivation. The Ancient Greeks and Egyptians used it as a painkiller and sleep-inducer. Really a tender perennial, poppies general-ly behave as self-seeding annuals around here. Grey-green foliage with large flowers in a range of colours, from purple and pink and red to white. Blooms are a mix of singles and doubles. Grown by FCT in Les Cèdres, QC. A=$3.75 (1g)

5019 DANISH FLAG 90 days. The origins of the Danish Flag poppy, or “Danebrog,” predate 1888. The white spots at the base of the red frilled petals form a cross in the centre of the blooms, resembling the flag of Danmark. Single blooms on blue-green foliage about 2' high. Seedpods are ideal in dried flower arrangements. A=$3.50 (1g)

COSMOSCOSMOSCOSMOSCOSMOS

NIGELLA/LOVENIGELLA/LOVENIGELLA/LOVENIGELLA/LOVE----ININININ----AAAA----MISTMISTMISTMIST

POPPY POPPY POPPY POPPY (~500 seeds/pack)(~500 seeds/pack)(~500 seeds/pack)(~500 seeds/pack)

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While the flowers on our vegetables are lovely, they usually don’t last long

enough or aren’t showy enough to attract pollinators the way that a planting of

flowers will. Annual and perennial flow-ers can also attract beneficial insects and act as natural pest control. Plus, many of

the ones we offer are edible!


...FLOWERS...FLOWERS...FLOWERS...FLOWERS

5021-CO AUTUMN BEAUTY 70-90 days. A Hope Seeds favourite! 5'- high plants with flower heads approx. 6" across. Several blooms per plant, in shades of yellow, purple, brown, rust, red, and cream. ~120 seeds A=$3.50 (3g)

5022-CO ITALIAN WHITE 65 days. An heir-loom from Italy; makes excellent cut flowers. Pale yellow (almost white) blooms with a chocolate eye averaging 4" across, starting with one large central head followed by branches of smaller blooms. Grows to 4' tall; tolerant of dry soils. ~200 seeds A=$3.50 (1g)

5023-CO MAMMOTH GREY STRIPE (Edible seed) 120 days. Our replacement for Giganteous; this is the big guy! Mammoth is a traditional sun-flower, growing single heads on 6'-12' stalks—although we’re sure some of you out there will do better than that! Grey- and black-striped seeds on big heads, excellent variety to attract and feed birds (and people!). ~45 seeds A=$3.50 (5g)

*NEW! 5036-CO SWEET PEA MIX—PAINTED LADY 85 days. A mid-1700s variety with extraordi-nary fragrance. Lovely pale to bright pink flowers with purple wings. A=$3.50 (3g)

6008-LO SWAMP MILKWEED Asclepias incarnata Habitat reduction has put intense pressure on Monarch butterfly populations. Monarch cater-pillars rely solely on milkweed as their food source in northern climates. While caterpillars feed on common milkweed as well, it is generally considered a noxious weed. This swamp milkweed variety is also native to Canada and a great choice for butterflies and garden-ers alike! Growing 30"-50" tall with small, fragrant, pink flowers in umbel clusters, swamp milkweed prefers wet, heavy soils (good news for clay gar-dens!) around the edges of ponds and other wetlands. Beautiful seed pods open when ripe in the fall to allow the wind to catch hundreds of silky seed strands. Grown by Wild Rose Farm. ~80 seeds A=$3.75 (0.5g)

Sweet peas are beautiful, flowering stalks with a fragrance that captivates any passers-by. They’re native to Sicily, dating back to 1699, when monk and amateur botanist Francis Cupani first publicly shared seed from his namesake variety. Sweet peas make delicate cut flowers, lasting only a few days in a vase, but their fragrance fills the room. Takes patience and dark, cool conditions to germinate them—soak seed overnight before planting. Likes full sun but cool roots, so mulching is recommended.

SWEET PEASSWEET PEASSWEET PEASSWEET PEAS SUNFLOWERSSUNFLOWERSSUNFLOWERSSUNFLOWERS

PERENNIALPERENNIALPERENNIALPERENNIAL

39393939

Let us know as you grow! We love to hear grow-ing stories. Feel free to write to us or post a review of an item on our website.

SEED POTATOES...SEED POTATOES...SEED POTATOES...SEED POTATOES...


40404040

Hope Seeds is pleased to offer certified-organic, CFIA-certified seed potatoes! Grown in NB & PEI!

Why choose double-certified seed? 1. Minimize disease in your crop through lab-verified clean stock. 2. Minimize chemical use/exposure and maximize ecosystem health in

agriculture by choosing product from verified organic producers. 3. Grow tubers that naturally express resilience to climate stress, rather than

reliance on chemical controls. 4. Grow food that has superior flavour and nutrients—grow organic!

Information to increase order satisfaction: • Earliest shipping date is APRIL 15th. The risk of spuds freezing in

transit limits how early we can ship—we want you to get tubers that will grow!

• Planting information will be included in each shipment.

• Please use the separate POTATO/JA Order Section on the back of the order form in the middle of the catalogue, then apply the correct S&H surcharge.

• Note to International Customers: You guessed it—we can’t ship ’em! Sorry, but we do not send our potatoes cross-border shipping . . . For an excellent source of double-certified seed potatoes across the line, check out our friends Jim & Megan Gerritsen of Wood Prairie Farm www.woodprairie.com.

7099-CO MIX-IT-UP! Can’t decide? Choose 3 different varieties and we’ll send you 1 lb of each for a bargain! You can pick an early, mid-season and a late. And how about a red, yellow, and white? It’s

up to you! Please specify the varieties you would like. *Pink Fir & Swedish Peanut not included* Price: A=$16.00 (3 lbs)

Karen and Brock Davidge of Good Spring Farm in Keswick Ridge, NB have been growing top-notch organic produce, poultry, and seed potatoes for decades, and

we’re happy to continue including this family farm’s superior, double-certified seed potatoes in our catalogue. Find GSF at the Boyce Market in Fredericton, NB.

Our Gold Rush variety comes from Craig Potato in Tryon, PEI. The land, now farmed by Lester Craig, wife Sharon, and their two sons, Mark (with wife Tammy) and Brent (with wife Lauren), goes back six generations. Craig Potato received its organic certification in 2005. Attuned to the importance of crop rotation, buffer zones, and erosion-control on a hilly terrain, the Craig family is tending the land with a sense of stewardship for future generations.

...SEED POTATOES...SEED POTATOES...SEED POTATOES...SEED POTATOES


7010-LO NORDONNA Good Spring Farm tried this variety in 2011 as a replace-ment for “Norland.” It has a similar red skin and white flesh, but it doesn’t break dormancy as easily (waiting to sprout till it’s time to plant). A=$6.50 (1 lb) B=$13.00 (3 lb) C=$27.50 (10 lb)

7003-LO CAROLA Its lovely, sun-yellow flesh, with a nice creamy texture, makes this variety a smooth one for frying or in German-style potato salad. Originally from Germany; similar to Rhine Red. My favourite all-purpose. A=$6.50 (1 lb) B=$13.00 (3 lb) C=$27.50 (10 lb)

7004-LO KENNEBEC Bred in 1941 in Presque Isle, Maine. A common variety, it’s one of Good Spring Farm’s best sellers. Prefers close spacing; excellent stor-age potato. White oblong tubers and white flesh. Fluffy texture gives great culinary versatility. A=$6.50 (1 lb) B=$13.00 (3 lb) C=$27.50 (10 lb)

7006-LO RHINE RED Much like the more popular variety Chieftain, Rhine Red has red skin and white flesh; a good one for baking and mashing. A=$6.50 (1 lb) B=$13.00 (3 lb)

7009-LO YUKON GOLD A success-spud-story from the University of Guelph in 1966. Oblong yellow tubers with pink eyes and yellow flesh. Its dry texture is excellent for boiling, baking, and frying. Excellent stor-age variety. A=$6.50 (1 lb) B=$13.00 (3 lb) C=$27.50 (10 lb)

7014-LO GOLD RUSH (Russet) A vigorous spud bred to deal with scab, wilt, and drought. It has a smooth, russeted skin, shallow eyes, and dry, white, tasty flesh. A=$6.50 (1 lb) B=$13.00 (3 lb) C=$27.50 (10 lb)

7015-LO SWEDISH PEANUT/ALMOND (Fingerling) Prized for their extreme productivity, these heritage fingerlings are similar to the pink fir apple but with a golden, buttery-flavoured flesh. These oblong potatoes are about 1½"-long. Good for quick pan-frying or they can be baked or boiled. A=$8.00 (1 lb) B=$20.00 (3 lb)

7007-LO PINK FIR APPLE (Fingerling) Our favourite fingerling potato, hands down. Why? Let me count the ways: prolific producer (heavy yields per plant); excel-lent storer; shows resistance to blight; unique shape; gorgeous, blush-pink skin around sunny-yellow flesh. Great boiler and an excellent roaster! Heritage. A = $8.00 (1 lb) B = $20.00 (3 lb) C = $50.00 (10 lb)

41414141

EARLY EARLY EARLY EARLY (70(70(70(70----90 days)90 days)90 days)90 days)

MIDMIDMIDMID----SEASON SEASON SEASON SEASON (90(90(90(90----110 days)110 days)110 days)110 days)

LATE LATE LATE LATE (110(110(110(110----130 days)130 days)130 days)130 days)

JERUSALEM ARTICHOKESJERUSALEM ARTICHOKESJERUSALEM ARTICHOKESJERUSALEM ARTICHOKES

WWWWWWWWWWWW....HHHHOOOOPPPPEEEESSSSEEEEEEEEDDDD....CCCCOOOOMMMM———— PPPPllllaaaacccceeee yyyyoooouuuurrrr oooorrrrddddeeeerrrr oooonnnnlllliiiinnnneeee!!!!

42424242

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF JAs A testament to their tenacity, these crops continue to be pest- and disease-free,

stunning 8'- to 10'-tall plants with abundant, nutritious, tasty tubers for harvest . . . not to mention lovely, yellow flowers! The JA patch here at Hope Seeds survived spring flooding and toddler trampling. We like them as a living hedge, too.

Definitely THE crop for homesteaders and food self-sufficiency.

Originating in North America, this perennial relative of the sun-flower has nothing to do with the holy city of Jerusalem. The “Jerusalem” is likely a corruption of the Italian work girasole (sunflower) and “artichoke” may stem from its similarity in taste to real artichokes (although not everyone would agree!). North American natives wild-collected and cultivated these tubers ex-tensively, eating them boiled, roasted, or sometimes raw.

Tubers are cut into seed pieces (much like potatoes) and planted 18” apart in-row and between rows. Shoots emerge in 10-14 days and grow sunflower-style stalks between 4’ and 10’ tall. Mulch if you can for weed control; plants don’t need to flower for tuber-set. Harvest after at least one fall frost, but they are best if left over winter for a spring harvest treat!

7053-LO CLEARWATER A local heirloom of Maine. Clearwater comes from Will Bonsall’s Scatterseed collection of JAs—the largest in the world—and this is one of his favourites, dug up from a patch in a neighbour’s yard. Smooth, oblong tubers with ivory skin and white crisp flesh. Slow to break dormancy in the spring, but holds up well into the fall. A=$8.00 (1 lb) B=$20.00 (3 lb)

7054-LO SKOROSPELKA A beauty of a JA from a Soviet breeding program aimed at compact tuber-set and smooth tubers. Very pretty rose skin and white flesh. Large tubers; high-yielding. The most vigorous variety in our production plots, with great height and the earliest flowers. A=$8.00 (1 lb) B=$20.00 (3 lb) C=$50.00 (10 lb)

7051-LO STAMPEDE This is a common variety, with yellow skin and white, crisp flesh. Tubers are not that knobby in the first couple of seasons, which makes them great to work with in the kitchen (especially if you’re big on peeling your veggies). Tubers set 4"-6" deep; easy to harvest; higher yield than PP. Flavour is slightly sweet, even coconutty. A=$8.00 (1 lb) B=$20.00 (3lb)

7052-LO PASSAMAQUODDY POTATOES Wow, what a story! A few years ago, Sharon Greenlaw of Grand Manan, NB sent a parcel of 8-10 tubers, along with this tid-bit about her native heritage: “My grandmother used to harvest Jerusalem artichokes, but she called them Passamaquoddy Potatoes. She told me that their wig-wams were often made of mats woven from JA stalks, and that the tuber was good for diabetics to eat with sweets.” (She did make the disclaimer that she’s never had that last remark verified, so take it with a grain of salt.) Many thanks to Sharon and her family for tending these JAs and their story. Tubers set 6"-8" deep, spread out under-ground, and yield about 3 or 4 lb per plant. A=$8.00 (1 lb) B=$20.00 (3 lbs)

No international orders; sorry! Shipped in April/May with potatoes for spring planting. All JA orders are subject to heavy item shipping surcharges. Please use

the “Potato/JA” section of the order form; thanks!

SEED GARLICSEED GARLICSEED GARLICSEED GARLIC


All varieties available are hardneck types that send a central flowering stalk up through the leaves mid-spring, developing their bulbil capsules if left on the plant (most growers pick these flower stalks off to encourage larger bulb growth under-ground). Each type stores quite well and is hardy in our colder growing climates. Garlic growing info and further descriptions can be found on our website!

Rocamboles have an average of 6-11 cloves per bulb, somewhat flattened bulb shapes, and brownish to red-purple clove skins that are easy to peel. Varieties offered: Marino, French, Italian Purple

Porcelains are big plants with big bulbs and cloves. Wrappers are typically all-white, while clove skins range from yellow or tan to reddish-purple. There are, on average, 3-6 cloves per bulb, with 4 most common. Varieties offered: Music, Moravia

GROW GREAT GARLIC! After some time, Hope Seeds is pleased to welcome seed garlic back to our catalogue. We’ve been working with Al Picketts of Eureka

Garlic in Kensington, PEI to offer 5 hardneck varieties for 2015. While Eureka Garlic hasn’t gone through the process of organic certifica-tion, each bulb has gone through Al's expert hands and scrutinizing

heart. Al knows something about soil nutrients, too, finding the right mix of ma-nure, mussel shells and mulch to make his “Music” (and other varieties) sing!

Order online for Fall Planting.

No international orders; sorry! Shipped in late September/early October for fall planting (Maritime-grown garlic usually matures one to three weeks later than garlic grown in Southern ON, or in BC). ONLINE ordering only, starting Feb. 1st.

43434343

WHAT MAKES “SEED GARLIC”?

Garlic is garlic, right? Can’t you just plant the stuff you get in the grocery store? Well, when you choose our Seed Garlic, you’re choosing garlic that has been:

• Screened by expert garlic grower Al Picketts for signs of disease (e.g., fusarium, basal rot, white rot); don’t spread these crop killers!;

• Sized for optimal growth performance when planted;

• Reviewed for field performance over several years’ plantings and adapted to local growing conditions;

• Grown for food and seed (some garlic found in grocery stores has been treated to prevent sprouting).

OUR GROWERSOUR GROWERSOUR GROWERSOUR GROWERS


Our dedication to improving the production and availability of high-quality, or-ganic seed from Eastern Canada has brought out these fine people. All use organic methods and some are certified. We have visited these farms and farmers, become

friends with their families, and are proud to share their seeds with you.

Peter Gerber and family of Community Produce in Richmond Corner, NB are probably the hardest-working and most down-to-earth folks we know. A Mennon-ite family that uses horse-power, they make the most of every season, every field, and every person in the household. Find them at the Boyce Market in Fredericton.

Tim Livingstone of Strawberry Hill Farm in Pembroke, NB is responsible for growing Jolly Farmer’s CSA program from an idea into 200+ members in under three years. Tim and his family now operate their own farm and CSA, serving 300 families in the Fredericton area. His extensive organic-production knowledge and high quality standards are evident in the seed he grows.

Mark and Sally Bernard of Barnyard Organics in Summerside, PEI are first-rate, up-and-coming organic producers on the island. With field crops, livestock, and a growing family to tend, we’re very impressed by their work and lifestyle.

Gilberte Doelle of Wild Rose Farm in Gilbert’s Cove, NS operates the only certified-organic farm in Digby County. Her “French Intensive” planting methods make her ½-acre garden in the front yard a work of art. Gilberte is definitely a seed enthusiast, bringing many local Acadian varieties to Hope Seeds.

Joel Huntley and Ann Doyle of Moon Tide Farm in Scots Bay, NS are bustling market gardeners committed to supporting healthy local foods and biodiversity for their family, land, and community. They attend Wolfville Farmers’ Market, run a CSA and roadside stand, and enjoy making their business and gardens grow.

Steph Warr of Twisted Brook Farm in Lawrencetown, NS popped up at the market down the road from Hope Seeds last year. As it turns out, Steph not only makes incredible garlic scape pesto but is a passionate seed-saver, with quality-seed-growing experience fine-tuned from her time as a grower in Notch Hills, BC.

Greta Kryger of Greta’s Organic Gardens in Ottawa, ON has been growing seeds for at least two decades. She’s now a regular at Seedy Saturdays across Ontar-io and is coordinating the main event in Ottawa. Greta sits on the steering commit-tee of Eastern Canadian Organic Seed Growers Network (ECOSGN).

Dan Brisebois of Ferme la Co-opérative Tourne Sol, QC has been dedicated to expanding his own practice in seed production since his first farm apprenticeship in 2001. Dan is now a steering committee member of ECOSGN, president of Cana-dian Organic Growers, and seed farmer and breeder extraordinaire.

Brian Creelman in Ouest Bishopton, QC has a passionate interest in home-steading, rustic woodworking, heritage breeds, and seeds. A self-described perfec-tionist, Brian’s exacting standards are clear from the seeds he shares with us.

♫ Andrea Berry of Hope Seeds in Belleisle, NS has put thirteen years of seedy experience into growing in Zones 3B through 5B—with all the challenges that en-tails! She sits on the ECOSGN steering committee and passes on her expertise through on-farm mentorship. See our seed potato and garlic growers on page 40-41, 43

44444444


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SPREAD THE SEEDSPREAD THE SEEDSPREAD THE SEEDSPREAD THE SEED

Hope Seeds actively supports the development and sharing of organic farm-ing and seed saving information and skill through our membership in and volunteering with organizations such as:

♦ Seeds of Diversity Canada (SODC) www.seeds.ca — An excellent source of beginner seed saver information, SoDC loosely coordinates Seedy Saturday seed-exchanges across Canada and formalizes the preservation of rare and endangered seeds in their seed library (Seed Savers Exchange—www.seedsavers.org—is SoDC’s sister organization in the US);

♦ USC Canada www.usc-canada.org — Works to support the revitalization of community seed banks and grassroots seed-preservation around the world; runs a large campaign against Monsanto’s “terminator technology” (to make seeds bred to be sterile) and GMOs;

♦ Atlantic Canadian Organic Growers Net-work (ACORN) www.acornorganic.org — A non-profit organization that serves the organic sector in Atlantic Canada (based in Sackville, NB). They organize many events (annual conference, provin-cial workshops) and offer many different re-sources to organic-minded folks;

♦ Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Associa-tion (MOFGA) www.mofga.org — What ACORN will be in 10 years! MOFGA has done and contin-ues to do some incredible work to support the development of what is now a rich, diverse, and abundant organic-farming scene in Maine;

♦ Canadian Organic Growers (COG) www.cog.ca — An education and advocacy organization for organic growers across Canada.

Encouraging your family, friends, and community to celebrate fresh, nutritious, and diverse food is a great way to participate in a sustainable food system. You can start by sourcing local seed (thanks!), planting a garden, growing a bit of your own food,

and, of course, sharing your harvests with others.

Hope Seeds is passionately dedicated to increasing the level of knowledge, skill, and practice of organic seed production in East-ern Canada, and we encourage those interested to become in-volved with the Eastern Canadian Organic Seed Growers Net-work (ECOSGN). Learn more about ECOSGN workshops and

learning resources at www.seeds.ca/ecosgn

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Suzana Herceg trialed 50 varieties of beans this year for Hope Seeds. From field to thresher to pressure

cooker, she was busy!

Ashlea Hegedus-Viola (L) and Andrea Berry (R) winnowing

Maine Sunset beans.

Documents

NEWS FOR THE SEASON - Hope · PDF fileNEWS FOR THE SEASON NEWS FOR THE SEASON ... CCCCOOOO ==== cccceeeerrrrttttiiiiffffiiiieeeedddd oooorrrrggggaaaannnniiiicccc ((