Is there anyone who didn't think. . .

[SelfSufficientOne]

:eek: that when they joined,seeing this site in the catalog that Baker Creek would NOT be here to answer questions about the vegetables in the catalog.
I for one am disappointed that the site seems to be opened as just another way to advertise the seeds. I was hoping to get answers like how they could be sure what was grown in another country wasn't just an heirloom or just known by another name in this country and how they knew it would perform like their discription when they usually don't grow them themselves.(What percentage of what is in the catalog? ASk them, bet they don't answer,they didn't for me). They come off as the perfect hometown/homeschooled company but it is all business now. Buy cheap sell for more.

[lovetogarden]

I doubt if any seed company grows all the seeds they sell. Most of the growing is contracted out to reliable growers.

Some of these other issues that you mention has been addressed-especiially at SSE. I believe SSE tries to weed out duplicate names for the same vegetables, but they have found that there are differences, albeit slight for some veggies that are thought to have more than one name.

I personally have been very pleased with Baker Creek and their mission-to promote seed saving and bringing awareness to consumers about GMO's and other institutions trying to patent and control seed supplies. And what really impresses me is that Jere Gettle is young and so focused on his mission. Most young men his age still have not picked careers out, much less own a business.

Anyway, I hope you find out the answers to any particular questions you may have regarding some of these veggies.

[Silent]

I thought, when I discovered this site, that it was a thoughtful idea....setting up a forum where the gardeners could discuss the problems/joys inherent in gardening, etc... Perhaps it is an assumption on my part, but I did assume that someone very involved in running their own business probably wouldn't be online all day waiting for questions but would delve into them when/if they had the time.

If I recall correctly there was also a post in another part of the forum stating that Jere Gettle was on a working 'vacation' in Mexico....investigating and collecting seed from varieties we might otherwise lose. Seems like a very worthwhile use of one's time. Hope this settles some of your concerns...

[GreenZone]

Hi all, I now have a few minutes free to answer these posts.

Self sufficient one, I try always to answer direct questions that are asked. I havent seen the questions you raise asked until now, in your post complaining that they havent been answered...? Perhaps you asked elsewhere in a post I havent seen yet....??

As far as ID's go, it is widely known that there are in fact probably many varieties known by multiple names. We don't know which ones thay might be, to our knowledge no one does. You cannot tell by looking. Genetic testing would reveal what's what. Maybe eventually this will get done.

As to how they'll perform. we gather data from a lot of different sources including a lot of Seed Savers literature and the data furnished by the supplier. Over time Jere has seen a lot of them grown, but you are right, we haven't grown everything we sell. I wonder what supplier does? We routinely grow the cowpeas, long beans, one melon, one watermelon, one cucumber, one of each species of squash each year. Much of our stock we get from contract growers who grow seed specifically for us.
The rest we buy on the open market just like any other company. Since we are NOT a registered not for profit organization, it stands to reason that we DO operate for profit. Who has claimed otherwise? If we operated at a loss, we'd eventually run out of money, right? Then we'd have to close down. That said, Jere seem to be about the least profit-oriented entrepreneur I've ever worked for, and Ive worked for quite a few. Including myself.

Anyway, I am here to monitor the forum. It's my job. I am PAID for doing it. (There, I said it!) So if we arent answering your questions adequately, to the best of our ability, it means I'm not doing my job. Since I take this seriously, I'd like to be treated fairly. So please don't criticize when I fail to answer questions that you haven't asked!

Whew. What a long post. Sorry if i got a little defensive.Thanks for writing.
--Randel

[SelfSufficientOne]

Um, I did ask a question about what tomatoes were indeterminate. Guess what? You aren't doing your job. I specifically mentioned that I was talking about the tomatoes in the catalog, at this time of posting it is above this post however of course that will change as soon as I make this one. Guess you didn't read the other posts when you were reading this one. You are good at noticing the bad posts though. I did notice several other posts also on things in the catalog with no answer.
Since the catalog mentions so many great results from growing trials I am very surprised at how little you actually grow there. (Lots and Lots of them mention great taste and wonderful yeilds, how do you know?).
I really think genetic testing [B]should[B] be done since you could be selling seeds from other companies that might not be all that different from what we already have. Some look a lot different but if you aren't checking how they grow I am not sure how you would know.
I myself have had great experiences with Baker Creek as well. I wantto order from them this year but of course I need my question answered first.

[Jim]

Since I had the same question - but prefer indeterminate varieties, I thought Scakya and GreenZone answered the question reasonably well.

I would expect the best answers on a forum like this to come from the users - not necessarily from the moderators (as knowlegeable as they may be). The value of a forum like this is in the members - so keep posting, asking questions and refer your friends.

Hang in there and keep checking your thread - I bet you'll get pointed in the right direction eventually.

And even non-profits have to generate as much or more money than they spend!!

[schuyler gardener]

SelfSufficientOne, you asked. I didn't join this forum because I thought it would be a place for the host to answer questions about their products. A forum is and has been for a couple of thousand years now a place for discussion. I'm grateful that this site has been made available to me to discuss my gardening interests with like minded people. I would expect to see advertisements. Someone, somewhere, is footing the cost of the forums that you and I have been allowed free access to.
I think sharing the knowledge you do have of subject threads is a benefit to all forum members, and their posts will help you and me find answers to the questions we have about our gardening questions. I wouldn't expect the host to answer these questions for me.

[Pharmerphil]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/chobb/sast.gifI came here cause I'm just a sic garden forum Junkiehttp://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/chobb/sast.gif
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/chobb/sast.gif
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/chobb/1hoani1.gif

[GreenZone]

Self sufficient one you say you need your question answered first, by which I assume you mean the detrminate-indeterminate question. Well it has been answered to the best of my ability....on the appropriate thread. Which I didn't see till after I saw your post above...Sorry.

[LoreD]

Hi SelfSufficientOne,

This is a forum for an exchange of information between gardeners. If you wanted immediate information about the seeds you should have contacted the company directly.
I have found that the people at Baker Creek are very good at answering questions when asked over the phone. They are very nice people.
When I informed them that I needed some tomato seeds rushed because I gave the plants away in order to promote heirloom seeds, they not only sent the seeds within days, they gave me a HUGE packet of seeds for the price of a small packet.
Have you any idea how much genetic testing costs and how much it would add to the price of the seeds. You don't expect much do you.
I grow tomatoes and vegetables because I enjoy it. If I get an occassional surprise, that is a part of the joy of it.

[AndrewK]

Yes, it is true that customer service via telephone takes precedence over service on the forums. I think you'll find that true with just about any company that offers both.

The advantage to using the forum when you ask a question is the diversity in responses you'll get, which can only be attained with the community environment. If you want a question specifically answered by us, you are better off contacting us by phone or email. Customer service on this forum is provided as time permits, which means that things will slip through the cracks.

That said, this is not the place for calling into question our practices such as genetic testing. If there are any more concerns on this matter, feel free to send us an email, or private message me here on the forums.