One of the things I have been in a passive search for over the last 5-6 months is an alternative or additional seed supplier.
Multiple suppliers is a good thing, of course - and especially given the current supply chain challenges. What added to the need was that my current supplier did a thing that I detest: they made a political statement about something that had precisely zero to do with seeds. Make a statement related to what you do, that I can handle. Make a statement about something that has nothing to do with how you make your money...it is a free market.
After some random searching (literally random: entered "Open Pollinated Seed Suppliers/Heirloom Seed Suppliers" and seeing what came up), I stumbled across Baker Creek Seeds
There is never not a good time to order seeds, right? So I went through and found three packs (leeks, spinach, and barley) and ordered.
One immediate good point: They do not charge for continental U.S. Shipping. So that is already a plus and saves me from buying "extra" to fill out an order.
The seeds came in fancy envelope:
With a fancier back!
When I opened my package, low and behold, I had not three but four seed packets - a free extra (the lettuce below). When was the last time that happened to me?
Back side of the packets:
My only grouse at the moment is they do not seem to have a lot of grain related seeds (I have this weird interest in grain growing. Color me silly), but maybe it was the season. Certainly a company I will be going back to come Spring.
I've ordered from them off and on over the years. Always the extra packet.
ReplyDeleteBe safe and God bless.
Thanks for the feedback Linda. It is good to know people whose opinions I value have had such good experiences.
DeleteWe will keep them in mind for the future.
ReplyDeleteWeird interests. I'm not going to tell anybody to go against the grain.
The list of my interests is long and odd.
John, they were timely in their order, the free seed packet was great, and the free shipping is amazing. They do have a surprising range of flowers as well if one is not into vegetable gardening.
DeleteGee. I think I know exactly what seed company you are referring to. That annoyed me too, and like you, I've turned to Baker Creek instead. I've always loved their seeds (and prices). I used to try to support several companies with my spring orders, but that list has been getting shorter. And you can't beat Baker Creek's variety and free shipping!
ReplyDeleteLeigh - One of the things that I think drives some people to annoyance about me is that I do not get visibly upset or vocal about being upset. I will simply disengage and walk away. Part of it is that I find confrontation about as enjoyable as preparing for colonoscopy. The other part is that I "vote", if you will, with my time, interest, and money. This are the only factors that count in the public arena (if one is not getting the time, interest, and money of the public, one will not have a viable group, movement, or enterprise).
DeleteI am glad to hear you have had such good experiences with Baker Creek. My first one was very nice; I look forward to more.
TB, I'm not convinced that talking is a productive method of producing change. Not anymore, anyway. Especially nowadays, when too many folks seem only to complain or adopt an ongoing adversarial attitude. That, and I don't think many people actually understand the difference between fact and opinion.
DeleteAn eye opener for me was my sister-in-law. I used to be willing to discuss a number of issues with her, until one day she admitted that she wasn't interested in what I was actually saying, she just loved sparring. I've since realized that a number of other acquaintances are the same way.
"Activism" is popular now, as a supposed means of change. Except that my observation is that it has little to do with action. It seems to be more about attacking anyone with a question or different viewpoint. If we really take problems and their solution seriously, then we need to reach across the aisle and work with others, even if we have differences. I just don't see that happening, which is a lot of why I think "talk" is fruitless.
Leigh, I agree with you. Fact and opinion are so intertwined in a way to "deliver" the result desired. We have lost the ability to differentiate between the two.
DeleteI, too, have noticed that more and more people enjoy "sparring" for the sake of sparring, not the sake of getting to a resolution or conclusion. To the point that outside of a narrow circle (incredibly narros) in the real world and the blog sites I frequent (including here), I rarely if ever discuss opinions or even problems, because it becomes a discussion not about how to solve the issue, but "how could you believe that?".
I think you see an analogy in the work world today in the current trend of "quiet quitting": Individuals who essentially are doing as little as possible beyond their basic task execution or even working below where they might be able to work because they reject the current demands of the workplace, which anymore far outstrip hours and effort". Likewise, lots of discussion and resolutions have gone underground as well - a sort of a parallel resoultion, as it were. I think, for example, Permies is a great example of this (although not really "underground" of course, it is not where most of civilization would go).
We use Baker Creek quite a bit too. We also used another more mainstream one in the past but we've had nothing but problems from them the last couple years so we have pledged to no longer order anything more from them.
ReplyDeleteEd, only an n of one order so far, but very pleased. I am also very happy that people whose opinion I value (all of you) have equally positive feedback.
DeleteThanks for the recommendation!!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome STxAR. Hopefully we can make good people supporting good people a thing.
DeleteAlmost all my seeds come from there TB and I have visited the farm a few times over the years. I just got an order from them last week AMF. They do often get rare seeds from local places around the world. I was dismayed they currently do not have the Black Truffle Tomato seeds in stock though as they are the best!!
ReplyDeleteI was referring to Bakers Creek BTW sorry.
DeleteOh ya and I got some Buckwheat this time around speaking of grain.
DeletePP, thank you for the feedback. It comforts me that you have been there and seen the operation. I did see the buckwheat listed; I am hoping they do (or can do) grains as well.
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