IT’S AN UNASSUMING little catalog; even in its printed incarnation, five-year-old Peace Seedlings is more a 20-page flyer than flashy or magazine-like. In its third season on the web, the company’s whole description and 2013 seed listing fits on one super-long, scrollable page, and you have to order by mail, with a check. Peace Seedlings makes me think of simpler days when there were more such treasure troves to discover as a gardener. It’s a list of what my retro-home-blogging friend Pam would call “woddities,” or wonderful oddities, and it makes me happy. I spent a delightful tea time yesterday imagining every plant in it in my mind’s eye, savoring each description from edible Andean tubers to a Hutterite bush bean that “makes epic creamy bean soup,” to purple-podded vining snap peas (‘Sugar Magnolia’ photo below) and long-stemmed marigolds and oh, those bodacious tomatoes up top. I’ll buy two lucky winners $20 worth of woddities from Peace Seedlings, in my latest giveaway.
When I began to garden, the really unusual stuff was always in unpretentious lists, un-fancy “catalogs” often organized by botanical Latin names, such as the famous one from the enigmatic J.L. Hudson Seedsman, or John Jeavons’ early offerings at Bountiful Gardens, or Dr. Alan Kapuler’s Peace Seeds. In more than 30 years of breeding plants, Kapuler has done it for the public domain—not to try to own or patent the resulting genetics, but to make available good crops to help feed people and the planet—making a little bit of peace.
No surprise that Corvallis, Oregon-based Peace Seedlings is an offshoot of his work, the undertaking of Alan and Linda Kapuler’s youngest daughter, Dylana, and her partner, Mario DiBenedetto.
I got my new-favorite beet, 3 Root Grex, from Peace last season; you might recall my article about that multi-colored wonder. Now I’m taken in at the possibility of other “grex” listings—grex means “flock” in Latin, and is not a true mix but an interbreeding population. The current catalog includes K-S Grex onions, in beautiful pinks and light yellows, and a turnip called 6 Root Grex—all Kapuler originals.
As are the crazy determinate tomato called ‘Geranium Kiss’ in that top photo of Dylana, described as, “stocky 2-foot determinate plants, w/ hyper-tresses of 20-70, 1-oz. fruits, 3-4 sets, a ‘one-stake wonder.’” Oh, my.
This is the place to explore unusual unusual edible roots and tubers, such as yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius, the “apple of the Andes”); or bright-colored varieties of oca (Oxalis tuberosa); or mashua (Tropaeolum tuberosum var. pilifera), a nasturtium relative with an anise flavor, whose flowers attract hummingbirds…and listen to this:
“Traditionally grown in polycultures of potatoes, oca, ulluco in Andean South America because the tubers contain aromatic mustard oils that discourage rodents.” Any gardener who has harvested her potatoes only to find them chewed up by voles and the like should perk up at such a companion-planting possibility.
An excellent article in the “Corvallis Advocate” newspaper thoroughly details these interesting crops, and the Peace team’s work with them. That’s a mandala of them in the photo above, arranged by Mario.
I felt positively summery reading about big, bushy marigold plants covered in orange flowers that Alan Kapuler found in Baja, Tagetes erecta ‘La Ribera,’ or another shrubby-sized marigold with long stems and burgundy flowers edged in gold called Tagetes patula ‘Frances’s Choice.’ The Peace team strings them into leis for sale at the local farmers’ market (those are leis made from the China Cat Mix, above).
As you can see, this little list has me in deep trouble. I think the same will happen to you if you pay a visit, maybe over a cup of tea. Remember to close your eyes after reading each description and just imagine!
more from peace seedlings
- Browse the 2013 online catalog now
- Order a 2013 list by sending a SASE to 2385 SE Thompson St., Corvallis OR 97333
- Orders are placed the old-fashioned way, by mail–again, bringing me back to my happy recollections of my origins as a gardener!
how to win the peace seedlings gift certificates
TO ENTER TO WIN one of two $20 gift certificates I’ll purchase for you from Peace Seedlings, simply comment below by answering this question:
How many seed catalogs–in print, or online–have you found yourself browsing through this winter, and how many total places are you ordering from?
(My answer: More than 20, since I have lost count by now, and probably 5.)
If you’re feeling shy or just prefer not to say, simply comment with “Count me in” or some such answer, and you’ll be in the running. No worry.
I’ll select two winners after entries close at midnight Thursday, February 21. Good luck to all.
(All photos copyright Peace Seedlings.)
So far just 2. :) I’ll probably end up buying from 3 or 4.
Sad to say, None yet this year. Have just moved to a new property and have not yet established my garden beds and greenhouse. Hope to have the greenhuse up soon. Maybe I’ll get some tomatoes out of it later this year.
Browsing 5, ordering from 2…
Seven catalogs, purchased from 3
I browsed about five or six both in print and online. I ordered from three. My biggest bounty was from a local seed exchange. From these sources I’ve wintersown about 92 containers which sit outside waiting to germinate flowers and veggies. I have seedlings in about 10 – lettuce, spinach, mustard green and the like. Can’t wait for sping!
Twenty sounds about right, maybe more. I order from only three regularly, and maybe one other for “specialty” items. Beautiful marigold leis!
Oh gosh, maybe 3 browsing and buy from one. (I’m just getting started here.) :) xo!
I must be pretty modest–browse 3-4 and buy from one!
Browsing lots. It seems like there are more and more that I didn’t know where out there. Ordering from 2 currently.
About 15 catalogs so far and I’ve pared my orders down to 4! (Although THAT could change at any minute!!!)
Looking through 6 so far, and will probably order from 1-2.
Another interesting catalogue to check out. I’ve looked at more tham 10, but have only ordered from 2……so far! ;)
I’ve perused through about 15 catalogs, probably another dozen websites, yet always return to some of my favorites. Some, I know will give me quality seed. Some, I know, might not grow in my specific location, but I’m willing to try. Some, I will try because of the quantity of seed vs. other suppliers for a similar order. Hard to purchase 10 seeds for $3 when you can get 50 same seeds from another supplier for the same price.
But there is one website/business I will always order from no matter what. Why? For the past 7 years, every time I’ve placed an order, whether it’s for Spring seeds or Fall planting, the invoice is ALWAYS returned with a HAND-WRITTEN thank you from the owner of the business. That personal touch alone makes it worth purchasing from them. They care. They are in touch with the customer. That matters to me, the purchaser.
My guess is about 14 catalogs, and I’ve ordered from 2 so far.
Check out more than I should. Love to look at the new selections and old favorites in each and every catalog. Some have beautiful artwork and photography in them now.
I really only order out of about 3 or 4. Wish I could order from more!
Jasmin, that’s awesome to hear about your winter-sowing!! I have eleven containers filled (soybean oil containers from Costco) and are hoping to fill up many more. I’m ordering from three or four and hoping a couple companies will donate to our school garden.
Count me in, just love there little catalog!
I look thru 5 catalogs, online&print total. I buy only from baker creek heirloom and our local stores here in Portland, oregon. Peace seedlings would be an amazing new adventure!
I have scoured through about 8 catalogs & already received seeds from the 3 I ordered from!
In my case too, I won’t be ordering anything from a catalogue for this year, because I’ve been blessed by about 40 gardeners from all over Europe with their favourite seeds ; it was a great , cheerful and inspiring experience !!! I can’t wait to see these little pieces of their hearts growing into my garden ;-)) !!!
I’ve looks at at least 10 but will probably order from 4.
Count me in!!
I have read catalogs mailed to me & some online this winter. I was given a gift certificate to Wayside Gardens for Christmas & have spent many precious hours “rating” desired plants to try to whittle down & make decisions. Love these kind of challenges! ;)
I’m being really good this year!
(that’s one New Years Resolution)
I have looked through all my gardening subscriptions and several catalogues and your great blog and I have made the mammonth decision NOT to buy any new seedlings or bulbs as I have actually collected my own seeds and dug up my existing tubers, bulbs and labelled them and stored them for when I move into my new home in March AND THEN I WILL GO COMPLETELY MAD in plantings……
So looking forward to gardening this spring! Three summers ago my husband helped me build the garden of my dreams – but the next summer I was extremely pregnant and could barely bend over and last summer my baby wouldn’t allow me the free time. I’ve been browsing a couple sites and just ordered my first seeds of the season from Baker Creek. Spent this afternoon building a small greenhouse. Very intrigued by the tomatoes pictured in this post.
Looking through seed and bulb catalogs was one of my favorite winter things to do as a child. I still enjoy flipping through the pages as an adult. I think this year i looked through 20+ catalogs, but only ordered from 3. I swear the Baker Creek Catalog is gardener porn.
I received 9 catalogs and ordered from 3.
Probably a dozen and I think all suggested by A Way to Garden!
We moved, and only 5 catalogs found their way to my new address!
browsed through a couple in print, and more online…ordering from 3.
I recently made a big move from the East Coast to AK and many of my seeds (packaged, seed saved, etc) are ill-suited to the new climate and growing zone. It’s been a learning curve! I’ve checked out probably 12 catalogs but will primarily using Territorial, Victory and D. Landreth seeds this year. Getting excited for the new venture into cold weather/hoop house gardening!
Love getting seed catalogues. Will be picking up 2 weeks worth of mail on Tues. after grand time in Florida. I would love to have flowers all year like they do. We were also there during strawberry season and eat our share. Restaurants were featuring strawberries as well.
A couple to both questions. Although I’m going to check this out for sure now! Thanks!
I have browsed about 2, thinking of more, then get overwhelmed. Please count me in!
I receive atleast 10-15 catalogs in print and look through more online. I typically buy from 2-3 of them each year.
I’ve been so busy this year starting a new company that I’ve missed one of the pleasures of life: reading the Fedco catalogue! Looks like Johnnie’s for me this year… a lovely fall-back, but not as much fun as the others. But I’m writing for Peace Seedlings now… I want those purple snap peas!
Wow such unusual vegetables. Hope to win some seeds. Thank you.
I’ve browsed about five and purchased from one…with tempatations poking at me from a couple of others!
Two catalogs. Will order from 1 ~~ maybe.
count me in :)
Haven’t had as much time for browsing catalogs this year, but still managed to get an order in. Between saved and swapped seeds, and one seed order I’m almost set.
I’d love to try some Peace Seedlings seeds! It’s always so fun trying new and unusual varieties, and they sound like a really neat little company.
Probably 8 so far but I’m sure there will be more in the near future! I’m not sure how many I’ll be ordering from (depends on how well I can contain myself). I’m so thankful they exist as looking through is absolutely one of my favorite activities. Such a great chance to dream of the perfect garden!!
Count me in!!!
Please count me in. I’m just getting back into gardening this year & so far have read Johnny’s from cover to cover making lots of plans as the snow continues to fly. Here’s to an early growing season.
Count me in!
Count me in, they are not far from me and I did not even know they existed!
Still debating just what to order from the dozen or so I’ve received. Plant Delights new catalog just arrived today….Whoo Hoo!!!
I’m spending more time enjoying the backyard parables, but have browsed about 8 and only ordered from 1 so far–
Just one so far. Haven’t gardened in a long time, looking to change that this season.
I have at least ten catalogues and I will order from 3 or more.