Influx of seed catalogs

This time of year is a gardeners dream.  At least this gardeners dream.  I love looking through the hundreds (literally) of catalogs at all the different varieties...the tips and tricks for each.  The colors are so amazingly vivid.  I have been known to spend weeks dreaming what the upcoming seed purchase was going to include.  This year has been no different - except this year we are taking it a bit more seriously.

In the past I have limited the amount of seeds that I purchase to common vegetables (corn, carrots, tomatoes, etc.).  However, this year I am going all out - for a few reasons.  

1.  We have a HUGE family.  Our average daily family size is 9 plus a newborn.  

2.  Most of our family has allergies or intolerances to one or more of the following foods:  processed corn, sugar, dairy, grains, fish, soy, peanuts, and a few other items that I am drawing a blank on.

3.  We would like to be self-sufficient.  Why rely on the grocery store if we don't have to?

4.  Money.  In order to get produce and meats to the grocery stores, the stores have to jack up their prices to pay for employees and transportation.  We can grow most of our produce for the price of a few seeds (if we don't get them for free) and the cost of water (wishing we had a well!).

5.  Variety.  Ok, this is probably one that only I would consider a valid reason.  There are hundreds if not thousands of different varieties of all plants out there - including some that have a much better flavor than what you could ever find in the store.  Most grocery stores in American have dumbed down the produce - only selling what people readily recognize.  You rarely will find Lilac Bell Peppers or Cherokee Tomatoes at your local store.  Let alone one of my favorites...the Kiwano Horned Melon.  Yum!

Unfortunately we have limited space (roughly 2500 square feet according to the planner I use) and not so great soil.  What all this comes down to is a lot of research on my end to plants that do well in our area, produce high yields, store well and (hopefully) will continue to produce year after year to save some moolah.  I also have to ensure I don't pick plants that are hard to grow - at least not until we get our soil up to par.

So I have ordered a lot of seed catalogs this year.  My favorites so far?  Glad you asked!  I have always been a fan of Pinetree Garden Seeds.  They have a good variety and great prices.  Their customer service has always been excellent and their shipping is decent.  I also like the look of their site.  It has a clean, crisp feeling to it.

Raintree Nursery is one of my favorite's as well. They are not far from us (a few hours drive) and they have a lot of plants native to the northwest.  I am very excited to try their paw paws which is high on my list this year.

This year I also checked out Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.  I LOVE that they are GMO free and that they have varieties that no one else offers.  Don't tell anyone, but I actually paid for their 2015 Whole Seed Catalog - the first time I have ever paid for a catalog.  I sometimes wish I had not because a similar (albeit smaller) catalog came in the mail for free a week or two later.  However, as soon as I open up the larger catalog, I am so impressed with what they offer that I forget that I ever thought I shouldn't have wasted the money.  It is beautiful and well worth the small amount I paid.

I have quite few other catalogs to look through, but I bet you that my seeds this year will come from some combination of those three companies.

On a side note, if you need help planning your garden, I highly recommend Smart Gardener.  It's an easy to use program that helps you lay out your garden.  It even sends weekly "to-do" emails to help you take care of your garden.

I still have a lot of planning to do though - so I'm off to do some more research!

-Liz