Heirloom Seed Shop

[winter_unfazed]

I just found out about it. They're in Mtn. Home, AR and support the Food Bank there.

www.heirloomseedshop.com

[bluelacedredhead]

Great Mission to be helping the Food Bank in the area.
I tried to find an online list of seeds to purchase, but I guess they don't have one?

[tashak]

Couldn't find seed listing either.
Has anyone used them, and have a list of what is available, price ranges etc.?
I've got a phone calling card, but try to restrict its use.

[zebraman]

Hey Guys;Read the information on their site.They are looking for Cash donations to fund their local seedbank.-

[GeorgeSims]

It'd be nice to know what they've got for sale.

[GeorgeSims]

Just gave the folks a call. The seed sales go to support their Food Bank. MOST of their seeds are from Baker Creek--they re-sell them; however, they do have a few from other sources.

No on-line catalog at present, but you can request a printed catalog from them at: (870) 499-7565, or by e-mailing foodbanknca@centurytel.net

[johno]

I have been using them for years. It's in Norfork, AR, about twelve minutes from my house. I know the person in charge, Sharon.

They have mostly seeds from Baker Creek. They don't keep a listing of what's in stock. But they do have good deals on seed that's a few years old and didn't sell. Otherwise, their prices are about the same as you'd get from Baker Creek. The difference is that the small difference left over from the "donations" goes to fund the food bank. As this is an economically depressed area, the food bank makes a big difference to a lot of families here. The seed shop is all about "teach a man to fish, and he'll eat for a lifetime..." They try to spread the word that Baker Creek does about non hybrid, non GMO food, etc., using the same literature.

Sharon at the food bank buys seed from Baker Creek based on what she thinks will sell, and it is by no means as extensive a list as through the catalog. But she is always happy to order whatever I want so I can buy it there and help feed local families. She also keeps gardening books, organic fertilizer, and some local crafts on hand, but it is a tiny one room building. She tells me a lot of the sales come from tourists passing by on their way to visit the historic Wolf House or some other Ozarks destination.

Questions?

[tashak]

the 50cent outdated seeds, they have flowers and some vegetables (tomatoes and onions were mentioned). They will email me tomorrow, as I contacted them at their close of day and they didn't have time then to check what outdated seeds they had. I will post (briefly) what outdated veggie seeds either late tomorrow or this weekend after I get the email, if anyone is interested.
My thanks to those who started this thread and supplied the link and phone number--I've written them in my notebook for future reference.
Friendly folk, helpful, and they let me get off the phone fast when I mentioned using a phone calling card--definitely a plus in their favor, and no if-topic-1-punch-3 automated answering system.

[bluelacedredhead]

Yes, pleez do post a list Tashak, if it's not too much trouble. TY
Johno, I just might have to add this to our list of places to visit next time around .. :)

[Gary]

What an interesting and creative way to make it possible for the disadvantaged to benefit from growing their own food. This is a wonderful and positive way of helping them gain a sense of accomplishment! I commend them! I participated in the Food Bank Program (Dare To Care) over the years as a participating agency. Not for profit programs benefit from such programs especially when income grows less each year.
I Thank You for sharing this information and look forward to learning more about what they have to offer.
Gary/Louisville

[tashak]

Haven't gotten outdated seed list email yet, but will post info when I get such.

[bluelacedredhead]

Thanks Tashak. I figured you hadn't heard back yet when I saw you online earlier and you didn't post..
If the seeds are from previous years, one or two more days isn't going to make much difference, :D

[johno]

They are only open Tues. through Fri. If you haven't recieved any information by Monday, I might be in the neighborhood on Tuesday...

[Jeannine]

Old seed is for sure something we here work with an a yearly basis as I always have seed left over from previous yrs.! Will they mail the seed if we buy? With added postage of course! I myself would love to see the list as well.....this could turn into something wonderful!

Jeannine

[tashak]

Yes, mailed "for minimum charge, seeds don't weigh much".
I'm excited, and obviously impatient--hoping to plant lots of greens and roots for fall and overwintering. Ordered some from BC recently, and eagerly awaiting them also.
Re older seeds: they grow for me, though germination rate might not be perfect all the time. When s/h fees started going up (BC excepted) a while back, I basically went to an every-2-0r-3-year order system when I could order.
Johno, thanks for offering to check next week if needed. (Late yesterday afternoon I sent another email saying some others on a garden board were interested in my posting what was available & I hoped that was okay with them.)
It's cool right now in the early morning, so I'm going out to prepare two beds near a fence for the blackberry and raspberry cuttings--found an old bamboo type window shade from thriftstore purchase some time back which I can use to shade the new babies, as it still is hot in low 90's later in the day. If they don't root, well, at least I'll have two more garden beds ready.

[tashak]

Tues. PM still haven't gotten email from Sharon at the seed shop. Maybe it is lost and drifting in cyberspace?

[johno]

I talked to Sharon this afternoon. They are looking for a volunteer to work in the seed shop and take an inventory. They have their hands full with the Food Bank and it might be a few days... But she's working on it and appreciates your interest! :)

[tashak]

Johno, thanks so much for the update. I appreciate it.
Can understand their being swamped with the food bank--people who haven't volunteered at one don't know how much work is involved in organizing and setting up the distribution, and then taking it down and packing away anything left after the day's distribution.
Last fall/winter when I had bumper crops of greens and roots for the local food bank, it would literally take me 3-4 hours plus just to pick, triple rinse, bundle and pack the stuff just from my place (okay, so I'm slow) before I even got in the car to drive it there.

[winter_unfazed]

Does BC mean Baker Creek, or British Columbia?

[tashak]

Winter, BC was used for Baker Creek. Apologies for my lack of clarity.

[johno]

I tried to send my teenagers to volunteer yesterday... you can guess how that worked out...

Maybe I'll get a chance to drop in on them this morning and take that inventory, we'll see...

[bluelacedredhead]

Gee "Dad", couldn't you think of any good reasons for them to volunteer, like
" if you don't go help count these seeds, they won't be able to sell them and so will be overstocked...we won't be able to order our seeds for next year ....and you won't get to eat in 2007" ;)

[johno]

Don't get me started...

[Jeannine]

Teenagers do anything that even closely resembles work......HA! That is funny-not. Been there, done that through three, have two left to go, but they aren't quite to that stage yet, Thankfully!

Jeannine

[tashak]

Okay, they've emailed me the 2004 seed update, and estimate the 2005 to be the first of next week.
The '04 emailed as attachment--unfortunately, my free trial that would allow me to access it has just expired. And I'm not sure I want to consider paying for whatever it is that would let me access it at home this month at this time.
I'll try going in to town to the library to see if their nonApple computers will let me access the info either tomorrow morning or (more likely) Weds. morning. (Library computers and printer are much in demand in the afternoon and during the limited Saturday open hours, and on Tues. mornings which are the first day of public library workweek, so not much sense in going to library to access and print if possible until then.)
Apologies for my being cause of delay in getting info to you all. Patience is a virtue in which I am sorely lacking, lol.

[Heirloom Seed Shop]

A great big THANKS to John & Kelsey for giving of their time to the seed project Thursday. We are trying to get an inventory of all of the '03, '04, '05, & '06 seeds at a discounted price so that we can start anew in 2007. I'll keep you posted on our progress. Sharon

[bluelacedredhead]

Welcome to iDig Heirloom Seed Shop and Thanks Sharon, John & Kelsey for your efforts!! Noble indeed.
Tasha, I know little about Apple puters except that sometimes they just aren't mainstream..Don't sweat it..

[johno]

A great big YOU'RE WELCOME Sharon. You've always been good to me in the past! And I may be a lot of things, but hungry isn't one of them - I enjoyed helping an effort to feed the hungry. Kelsea, on the other hand, never wants to see another seed package again :D

I'm really excited that this is getting underway, and I think a lot of people on this forum are going to be as well in the near future! It's unfortunate that the food bank is taking a loss on these seeds, but the people here will put them to good use. :)

[tashak]

Okay, the Silver Springs Library does have Microsoft Word, so I could access the attachment--here's the first part (abbreviated form) of the '04 vegetable seed inventory. (If any of you need more info like number of seeds in a packet, etc., feel free to email me.)

# of Pkts. Item
3 Bean Golden Wax
3 Bean Little White Ice
3 Bean Papa de Rola
2 Bean Royalty Purple Pod
2 Fava Broad Bean Broad Windsor
4 Fava BroadBean Purple Asian Lablab
2 Hyacinth Bean Purple Asian Lablab
3 Lima Bean Christmas Pole
1 Lima Bean Dixie Speckled Butterpea
3 Lima Bean King of the Garden
2 Runner Bean Sadie's Horse Bean
6 Soya Beans Butterbean Edamame
4 Soya Beans Envy
4 Soya Beans Shirofumi
1 Beet Early Wonder
2 Beet Mammoth Red Mangel
1 Broccoli Calabrese Green Sprouting
5 Broccoli Early Purple Sprouting
6 Broccoli Romanesco Italia
2 Cabbage Glory of Enkhuizen
2 Cabbage Henderson's Charleston Wakefield
1 Cabbage Mammoth Red Rock
2 Carrots Shin Kuroda 5"
4 Cauliflower Violetta Italia
1 Swiss Chard Flamingo Pink
4 Collards Georgia Southern (Creole)
1 Corn Clem Bennett
3 Corn Hickory King
2 Corn Lady Finger
2 Corn Stowell's Evergreen
5 Cowpeas Corrientes
3 Cowpeas Holstein
1 Cowpeas Purple Hull Pinkeye
7 Cowpeas Purple Hull Whippoorwill
4 Cowpeas Whippoorwill
4 Cowpeas White Whippoorwill
3 Cucumbers Longfellow
2 Cucumbers Marketmore
1 Cucumbers Snow's Fancy Pickling
1 Eggplant Black Beauty
4 Endive Batavian Full Heart

More later this afternoon--dog needs to go out, and I need lunch, lol.

[tashak]

2 Pepper Orange Sun
2 Pepper Tabasco Pepper
2 Pepper Thai Red chili
2 Pepper Thai Yellow Chili
2 Pumpkin Marina di Chioggia
2 Pumpkin Seminole Pumpkin
1 Pumpkin Young's Beauty
2 Radish Bartender Red Mammoth
1 Rutabaga American Purple Top
1 Squash Buttercup
2 Squash Long of Naples
2 Squash Sugar Loaf Delicata
3 Squash Table Gold Acorn
3 Summer Squash Bennings Green Tint Scallop
4 Summer Squash Crookneck Early Golden Summer

[Heirloom Seed Shop]

Thanks so much, Tasha for your work on listing the 2004 seeds on the forum. Your order is on its way! Sharon

[tashak]

Red:
2 Tomato Coustralee
2 Tomato Homestead
3 Tomato Red Fig or Pear-Shaped
2 Tomato Rutgers
Orange:
1 Tomato Kellogg's Breakfast
4 Tomato Dad's Sunset
2 Tomato Kentucky Beefsteak
Yellow:
4 Tomato Henderson's Golden Ponderosa

[tashak]

1 Turnip Amber Globe
1 Turnip White Egg
2 Watermelon Moon and Stars
2 Watermelon Charleston Gray
4 Watermelon Dixie Queen
2 Watermelon Early Crimson Treat
5 Watermelon Georgia Rattlesnake
5 Watermelon Jubilee
4 Watermelon Orange Flesh Tendersweet
2 Watermelon Orangeglo
3 Watermelon Sugar Baby
4 Watermelon Tom Watson

[tashak]

Oriental Greens & Cabbages:
2 Cabbage Chinese (Loose Leaf)
3 Cabbage Michili
3 Cabbage Wong Bok (Mandarin)
5 Mustard Japanese Giant Red
3 Mustard Pruple Wave
2 Pak Choy Chinese
3 Tendergreen Komatsuma

[tashak]

Herbs:
1 Lemon Basil
1 Lettuce Leaf Basil
2 Garlic Chives
6 German Chamomile
1 Echinacea Purpurea
2 Catnip
2 Curled Chervil
1 French Dandelion
1 Leaf Coriander
2 Garden Sorrel
3 Watercress
4 Chives
2 Dill
2 Sweet Fennel
5 Lovage
7 Chervil
22 Summer Savory
3 Baikal Skullcap
8 English Thyme
4 Sweet Marjoram
6 Menthol Mint
9 Greek Oregano
14 Curled Parsley
10 Italian Parsley
15 Chili Pepper
5 Rosemary
2 Garden Sage

[tashak]

Thanks, Sharon--it's a great way to get some of the possibly discontinued or rotating items of Baker Creek. There's such a wealth and abundance of items in their catalog, I know everything can't be offered every year, so it is great to have a chance to catch up on items.

Side Note: Computer seems to have eaten Endive through Squash listings; I'll repost them later today.

[tashak]

3 Gourds Bushel Basket
1 Gourds Calabash
2 Gourds Cypriot Long-Necked Bottle
4 Gourds Maranka (Caveman's Club)
1 Gourds Speckled Swan
4 Greens Arugula
4 Greens Arugula (Wild Rocket)
2 Greens European Mesclun Salad
1 Greens Garden Cress
7 Greens Mustard (Southern Giant Curled)
2 Kale Russian Red or Ragged Jack
2 Kohlrabi Early Purple Vienna
4 Leek Bulgarian Giant
4 Leek Giant Musselburgh
5 Lettuce Big Boston
1 Lettuce Little Gem
1 Lettuce Oak Leaf
2 Lettuce Sucrine
2 Lettuce Tom Thumb

[tashak]

1 Melon Amish
5 Melon Casaba Golden Beauty
4 Melon Emerald Gem
2 Melon Golden Honeymoon
2 Melon Golden Jenny
1 Melon Golden Sweet
2 Melon Hale's Best
4 Melon Hearts of Gold (Hoodoo)
4 Melon Honeydew Orange Flesh
6 Melon Honey Rock
1 Melon Iroquois
5 Melon Jenny Lind
4 Melon Plum Granny or Queen Anne's Pocket (grown for fragrance)
2 Snake Melon Oriental Serpent

[tashak]

1 Okra Emerald
3 Okra Perkins Long Pod
3 Okra Star of David
1 Onion Bennie's Red
1 Onion Crimson Forest Bunching
2 Onion Flat of Italy
2 Onion Red of Florence
3 Onion Tokyo Long White Bunching
2 Pepper Anaheim
2 Pepper Black Hungarian
8 Pepper California Wonder
2 Pepper Golden Cal Wonder


That's it, folks.
The '05 inventory probably won't get listed until after 9/25, as I probably won't be at the SS Library again before then to take advantage of their Microsoft Word to access next week's Seed Shop attachment for '05.

[tashak]

Sorry, that should read "until after 8/25" for posting '05 inventory here.

[mrtomatoexpres]

hello sharon great to see more gardeners on the site :)

[Jeannine]

Is there a perfered method of ordering that they would like us to use?

Jeannine

[tashak]

Jeannine, maybe email them Tues. early morning to ask?
They are open daytime Tues.-Fri.
Check or money order.
I don't know if they use several different methods of shipping or not, depending on size/weight of order and distance, but shipping for a huge order (gulp--48 packets for me and friends etc.) to NW NV is $4.05. They are sending the order express mail and want to be emailed when order arrives.
I'm off to the yard to plant some of the regular BC seeds which arrived this week, and to start planning where to put more fall and spring plots for the '04 seeds.

[bluelacedredhead]

The Heirloom Seed Shop (and their mission to help others) has given me an idea for a Christmas tree in a local Festival of Trees.
I saw a beautiful tree in a festival of trees in a library on the Mississippi Gulf in 2003 where the decorations were canned goods to be donated to the food bank.
But wouldn't a gardening theme tree be just as good an idea? Decorated with hand tools and seed packages that could be passed on to a local garden plot or school program to teach children how to grow their own food?
Thanks to the Heirloom Seed Shop for planting this "seed" in my mind.

[mrtomatoexpres]

hi blue what a great idea :) :) :) :)

[Heirloom Seed Shop]

That is a "great" idea. I might even do that for my Christmas display in the seed shop window this year. Of course I would give all of the recognition to you! I am always looking for new ideas to decorate the shop. Want to keep it interesting and unusual as I have a lot of out-of-town visitors stopping in since we are on a scenic hwy. (Hwy. 5 South from Mtn. Home, AR).

[bluelacedredhead]

Sharon, the tree I mentioned was wrapped in a soft green tulle...and the canned goods set on the folds of the fabric. It was so beautiful. I wish I had taken a picture, but I was afraid of disturbing the people in the library with the flash so I didn't even ask if it was permissible to snap shots of the festival there..
But if you can find it in the budget to use something like that to decorate this year, it really made for a soft, fluid display.
It would provide a cradle for the tools and the seed packets could be pinned easily to the fabric.
And TY, but no need to give me credit for the idea. I'm just happy that I mentioned it here and that in the long run, my idea will assist the Heirloom Seed Shop and benefit others wherever they may be..

[tashak]

Heirloom Seed Shop is reverting to $2.50 per order nonexpress shipping, and stated that due to a number of orders, the '04 seed inventory posted here now is a bit out of date.
I'll update inventory changes when information is received. Hope they have some more volunteers to do that update information sending!

[johno]

Anybody ordering neat seeds at deep discounts lately? If you don't, I'm gonna' run over there and snatch them all up now that I'm working again! This is a real bargain, folks.

[bluelacedredhead]

Jeannnine & I are splitting on an order. Due to the fact that shipping to me is a little trickier than shipping to her in OK, we are waiting to finalize the order until we see what is on the 2005 inventory list.

[Jeannine]

Any word on what is going on with the 2005 list? Sure would like to see what is on there....Always can use a few more seeds!

Jeannine

[Helen Wong-Joe]

Soon will be 2007 and are you talking about a catalog?????

[Heirloom Seed Shop]

Wow! I have so many people interested in this list ('05). I am just so short of help. I have been extremely busy with the foodbank work, that my days just zip by. I'll try to get this out by the end of next week. I really appreciate everyone that is wanting to participate in helping to feed the hungry. Don't give up, yet!

[Heirloom Seed Shop]

Hi Helen,

I have the '04, '05 & '06 heirloom seeds marked down to 50 cents per pkg., plus $2.50 per order on shipping & handling. You can go to the website, heirloomseedshop.com to see the list of the '04 seeds. I am going to try and have the '05 listed next week some time. As I order my 2007 seeds, I will post them also. You will be able to click on the seeds that you want & use the shopping cart method. Sharon

[Helen Wong-Joe]

Hi Sharon, okay, I certainly will check it out and thanks for explaining it to me.

[werecat]

I don't mean to be rude, I only ask cause I don't know and there are some seeds on that 2004 list that I do want, but will seeds 3 years old (07 growing season makes 3 years ;)) still grow ok? If so, can I send you a list to set aside for me and money to cover those but have you not ship my order till you get the list up for 05 and o6 discounted seeds as well. Might as well send the whole lot at once and save the handling and the envelope and gas going to the post and all.

[bluelacedredhead]

Sounds wonderful Sharon. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to purchase seeds and help out the foodbank in your area.

[bluelacedredhead]

I just saw Sharon online on here a few minutes ago? Has anyone heard anymore from her about the updates to her price list on her website?
I'm sure it must be a massive undertaking; just wondering.....

[Heirloom Seed Shop]

Hey, I'm still working on trying to get some help. I will eventually get them posted. I just don't know when. I've had several customers in at the shop, so that's good. Sure would like to get rid of these older seeds before I put my order in for 2007.

[bluelacedredhead]

Wish I were closer. I would love to help.
Maybe this isn't possible, but can you enlist the assistance of someone from the Food Bank that you are in business to help? Must be people out there that would take pride in doing something to help themselves??

[Joan]

A few schools in this area give extra credit to students who help out with local charities, since you are affiliated with the food bank, perhaps you could check and enlist some high school students to help you.

[GreenZone]

That could have the really wonderful spin-off of raising a few young peoples' awareness re sustainability, open-pollinateds, etc etc!

Randel

[Jeannine]

Another source of free help would be to check with your local 4-H group (call the county extension office they can tell you who), Many 4-H'ers are happy to do community service type projects and many are also old enough to be of help (can be in 4-H till youngster is 18)! Also, the local Girl/Boy Scout Troops could be another source of free help! They may not be able to do the updating of the list but I'd be willing to bet there are many jobs that a receptive youngster can handle. Example; at the begining of summer a few or our county wide 4-H'ers were asked to help out at a food bank here in OK. My figures may not be completely accurate but they bagged up somewhere in the neighborhood of 3000lbs of food to be distributed! in just a few hours!!! In return they get to use this act of helping as credit towards earning medals for community service....win-win if you ask me!

Jeannine

[tashak]

No word from Heirloom Seed Shop yet re '05 seeds.
I emailed them a day or two ago.
Wish I or others were close enough to help them with the inventory.

[johno]

I PMed them a week or so ago to check on the progress. She said they had one volunteer work on the 05s for two days, I think, and she's just trying to find the time to get them entered now.

[tashak]

Thanks, Johno.
Looking forward to that list!

[Jeannine]

WooHoo! Thanks for the update Johno!!

Jeannine