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Frequently Asked Questions:
Organic Seeds & Gardening

What is organic gardening?
Organic gardening is the practice of producing crops by avoiding the use of synthetic chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, and growth regulators. Instead, through sustainable agriculture, organic growers incorporate crop rotation, cover crops(green manures), aged animal manures, compost, composting techniques, and natural biological cycles.

Do you need organic seed to have an organic garden?
Yes. 100% certified organic seeds are harvested from plants grown without synthetic chemical fertilizer, pesticide, and fungicide and therefore, harbor no residues from these chemicals. As an organic gardener, you are supporting the entire cycle of sustainable organic agricultural practices, which begins with organically grown seed. In October of 2002, the USDA established the National Organic Program which states that by the year 2004, organic farmers must use certified organic seeds to grow crops.

Why does Seeds of Change only list zone information for perennials and not annuals?
Annual seed can generally be planted in any garden in any area of the world. The maturity of the plant will depend on the length of the growing season in specific areas. If you know how long your growing season is you can choose plants that have enough time to mature by looking at "Days to Maturity" listed on each seedpack and in each seed description, for example (60-90 days).

Successful perennial gardening requires an understanding of the hardiness zone in your specific microclimate. An easy way to find your zone is by knowing what your minimum temperature is during the wintertime. Once you know your zone you'll know if your perennial plant will be able to over-winter in your garden without dying. To see a Zone Chart and an extended answer to this question click here.

Is all the seed grown by Seeds of Change?
The majority of the seed offered by Seeds of Change is grown by our network of certified organic farmers throughout the USA. Seeds of Change is the only middleman between the grower and consumer. We do not buy seed from wholesale seed distributors. We do grow a few seed crops at our research farm in New Mexico.
The primary functions of the farm include:
A. Growing all seed varieties offered to check for seed purity.
B. Research and development of potential new varieties.
C. Seed cleaning.
D. The practice of sustainable organic farming techniques and testing new ones.
E. Public relations.
F. Education.

Who certifies our farmers?
Seeds of Change and many of our growers are certified by Oregon Tilth, which is an accredited certifying body under the USDA National Organic Standards Program. Some of our growers are certified by their state organic certifying agencies which is an extension of the USDA.

What is the difference between open-pollinated and F1 Hybrid seed?
Open pollinated varieties, which is all that we sell, are pollinated naturally by insects, wind, and birds. Upon harvest of fruit or flowers, open-pollinated varieties will produce offspring which is true to type of the parent plant. F1 hybrids refers to the first generation of offspring plants produced by a cross of two or more genetically different varieties of plants. F1's are bred for vigor, homogeneity, and resistance to disease. However, seed saved from F1 hybrids are unpredictable (not growing true to type) and sometimes sterile. For more information on saving seed from open-pollinated varieties buy our book Seed to Seed, Item #S12248.

Is all of your seed non-hybrid (F1) and Non-GMO?
Gardeners Catalog: Yes. All of the varieties offered are open-pollinated, i.e. non-hybrid and Non-GMO. (GMO stands for genetically modified organism).
Professional Seed Catalog: We practice and encourage conservation by selling open-pollinated seeds that reproduce true to form... helping to preserve genetic diversity worldwide. Yet we realize that hybrids also have their place on organic farms—so our Professional Seed Catalog offers the most exceptional hybrid varieties that organic growers have asked for. All of the varieites are non-GMO.

What can you use for organic pest management?
Today, there are many products that meet the USDA National Organic Standards Program to combat pests and disease. To name a few which are available nationally:
A. Insecticidal soaps. Some come pre-mixed while others are just mixed with water and sprayed on plants.
B. Diatomaceaous earth. A fossilized shell which when ground-up, breaks the outer layer of an insect and dessicates them externally on contact or internally by digestion.
C. BT - Bacillus Thuringiensis. This is a naturally occuring bacteria with many powerful insect specific strains of which there exists over 300 different forms. This is usually applied to plants and then ingested by pests.
D. Beneficial Insects: We offer several different beneficial insect packages.

Also, the age-old practice of companion planting is another method used to repel and deter pests. Certain flowers and herbs grown in companion with other crops are known to deter pests, improve the vigor, and increase yields. Books about companion planting: Carrots Love Tomatoes, Great Garden Companions, and Insects and Gardens.

What can be used for organic fertilizers?
There are many organic fertilizers on the market today, and sustainable agricultural methods, such as cover cropping, composting, and rotating crops will provide most of a plant's nutritional needs. Some certified organic supplements are:
A. Maxicrop- which is derived from Norwegian Ascophyllum Kelp
B. Earth Juice
C. Organic Gem Liquid Fish Fertilizer
D. Rock Flour - which is derived from natural Basalt and Andesite rock deposits
E. Kelp - Algamin, a Norwegian Ascophyllum Kelp
F. Alaskan Fish fertilizer
G. Compost

What organic material can be used in composting?
Nature provides most of the organic material you need to build your own compost pile such as: leaves, twigs, plant material, dirt and water. In addition, the organic gardener can add kitchen waste from fruits and vegetables, eggshells, coffee grounds, tea bags, wood ash, and grass clippings. Through composting, you can improve soil with the natural process of micro-organisms decomposing organic matter into humus. Humus is the by-product of the compost process. It is a rich, dark material that enriches soil, boosts fertility, and retards erosion.

Two compost preparation methods:
A. Bio-dynamic preparation. Layers of compost materials with layers of soil. Each layer is sprinkled with lime or rock powders and then preparations from plants, (nettle, yarrow, horsetail, and valerian) are added as an activator or innoculant. The completed 6 foot high entirely covered with soil and in 4-6 months is turned and mixed. Bio-dynamic preparations are applied to soils and plants.

B. Indore preparation. A layer of brush forms the base of the pile followed by a layer of green or dry vegetable matter, then a layer of manure, and a sprinkling of soil is added. The layers are repeated until the pile is 4-5 ft. high.

Does Seeds of Change offer organic sprouting seeds?
No. Seeds of Change is a backyard gardening company offering 100% certified organic seed for planting in soil to produce crops of vegetables, flowers, and herbs. An organic sprout seed source is The Sprout House, 1-800-SPR-OUTS.