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In this issue...

• Dear Organic Gardeners
• Farm Report
• Seed Cleaning Season
• Jerzy Boyz: Fuji and Braeburns for the Holidays
• Great Gift Ideas from Seeds of Change
• Permaculture Books
• Biodiversity Poster Collection
• Holiday Book Sale
• Letters to the Editor

We've just finished printing our 2002 Annual Seed Book and we're pretty excited about it. It is much expanded and, for the first time in years, includes our entire selection of 582 varieties, most with vivid color photographs. We've also added many wonderful new gardening tools and books in an effort to provide the small-scale organic grower with everything necessary to produce a bountiful, diverse, and sustainable organic garden.

Our Research Farm and Gardens are mostly sown to cover crops or mulched down for the winter, but we're still digging fresh root vegetables from under heavy mulches and harvesting gourmet greens from our coldframes. However, the major activity around here these days is cleaning and packing seeds for the coming season and putting the finishing touches on our most comprehensive bulk seed list ever.

In light of how busy we've been, this is a somewhat pared down eNewsletter. Steve Peters and Micaela Colley have combined to briefly share some of their ongoing research and highlight our new seed collections, while Emily Skelton shares her thoughts about seed cleaning and the cycles of the seasons. We're also having our first ever Big Book Sale and offering some of our favorite gift items for last minute holiday shopping.

Thank you all for a great year and be sure to request our free 2002 Annual Seed Book if you're not already on our mailing list. If you are, it should be in your mailbox the last week in December.

May peace bless you and your garden in the New Year,
Scott Vlaun, Editor

In the midst of winter celebrations, we are already planning and preparing for the 2002 growing season. As we reflect on 2001 at Rancho la Paz, the Seeds of Change Research Farm, we would like to share some exciting new developments. As in past years, we grew most of our own varieties to gather and share cultural and culinary information with our fellow gardeners. We have improved a few of these crops with classical breeding techniques. We also grew hundreds of varieties for only the first or second time, looking for those with outstanding beauty, vigor, and taste. As we produce sufficient quantities of seed, the very best of these varieties will be to added to our seedlist. The result of our trials this year was a bountiful harvest and lots of food for thought. We hope that 2001 was as fruitful for you as it was for us and that you are already dreaming your next garden.

Starting with high-quality organic seed is the first step in growing healthy organic produce. Currently, the quantities of organically grown seed needed for large-scale gardeners and farmers are largely unavailable. This year, in response to this growing demand, we are pleased to offer our largest selection of bulk seed ever. We are refining our list, which will be available on our website in mid January. More than ever, we've been scrutinizing varieties for characteristics suitable for larger scale production. This year we grew our root crops in extensive plantings to check for uniformity and trueness to type and completed preliminary screening for seedling vigor and productivity.

The next step is to trial our best varieties on working farms, side-by-side with some of the top commercial varieties. This past summer, for example, we tested our favorite cut flowers at Four Sisters Farm, an organic cut-flower operation in California. Reports were positive. The growers at Four Sisters found that our varieties germinated faster, grew larger, and lasted longer than other commercial varieties, thus confirming our belief that seed lines developed and grown under organic conditions are better adapted to organic cultivation.

Offering the best strains of each variety requires continual field selection to maintain, or even improve, desired characteristics. Each year in our growers' fields and here at Rancho la Paz, populations of plants are "rogued" by removing individuals that do not exhibit the archetypal form. Periodically a variety may require more extensive selection to keep the genetics on track. For example, over the past few years our Oxheart carrot line began to stray from its true form. The Oxheart is short and stocky with a broad shoulder, which makes it ideal for growing in heavy soils. Two years ago we grew this line and selected around half of the over one thousand roots for replanting. This past spring, we made a further selection and planted the best roots for a seed crop. While a portion of the harvested seed will be the foundation planting stock for future grow-outs, we are thrilled to offer this new and improved strain in our new catalog.

New variety development is always exciting at the research farm. We search out and grow unique varieties from around the world, including those offered in our Deep Diversity Collection. Among hundreds of varieties grown each year we collect seed from only a handful of our very favorites. The past couple of years we've been focusing on expanding our offerings of ornamental perennials. Several intriguing species have emerged. One that we are pleased to introduce this year is the Double Gold Rudbeckia. This season we also grew two unusual and very promising carrot varieties, one from China, the other from India. In 2002 we will harvest our first seed crops from them and anticipate offering these varieties over the next few years. In addition, one of the most hardy and vigorous kale varieties we've seen is overwintering at the farm. This spring we will collect seed from hundreds of Vates Blue Curled Kale plants and plan to offer it in our 2003 catalog. Another project that has captivated us is what we call the Three Sisters Tomato (No relation to the Four Sisters Farm!). This strain currently produces three different fruit types. In conjunction with one of our most experienced growers, we are close to developing an early, prolific Three Sisters subline, with excellent flavor in a round, smooth, single-pleated fruit.

Our research has also led us to new plant combinations to generate healthy and nurturing garden environments. Our Diversity Seed Collections are designed to enhance garden ecology and uplift the spirit. They include the Beneficial Insect Attracting Flower Collection, the Pollinator Attracting Flower Collection, and Micaela's Cut Flower Collection. In addition, for salad lovers we've created several new gourmet greens collections, tailored to individual palates. These include an Early Salad, Spicy Salad, Braising Blend, Lettuce Heaven, and our World Tour Salad. Our goal is to encourage diversification in the garden while offering significant savings over single pack prices.

Research is an ongoing process. We look forward to continuing our explorations and sharing our findings with our fellow gardeners. Please join us in learning and growing.

The Staff of Rancho la Paz

Seed cleaning season is in full swing at our seed cleaning facility in New Mexico, with new seed arriving daily from our growers. It is an exciting time for seed enthusiasts. Running my hands through the seed as it dries on the tables, I feel profoundly connected to the web of life and the magic of its cycles and seasons.

Seeds of Change is unique in that we know our growers personally and contract directly with them every year, rather than purchasing our seed from wholesale warehouses. Many growers have been with us since Seeds of Change began, and they are highly experienced at producing seed from open-pollinated varieties. Steve Peters works closely with our growers to coordinate which varieties to grow and how much seed from each variety is needed.

After the seed is harvested, and is fairly clean and dry, the growers send it directly to our seed cleaning facility. As soon as the seed is checked it in, we lay it on screens to dry even further. New Mexico's low winter humidity is ideal for this purpose. Thorough drying increases the seed's longevity by preventing mold growth, which causes the seed to deteriorate. In a week of drying, some varieties can lose up to a pound of moisture per twenty-five pounds of seed. When properly dried, cleaned, and stored, most seed can remain viable for years.

Once the seed is dry, we begin to clean it. No seed is packed to sell until it is free of impurities, such as sticks, leaf material, and weed seed. To help achieve our strict purity standards, we have several machines that separate seed based on weight and size, but we also still hand pick many varieties if they need it. For instance, we pick out stained or broken beans, which cannot be removed by machine because they are the same weight and size as good beans. To assure the highest germination rates we separate the seed by weight, selecting the heaviest seed to pack and sell. Heavier seed has a more developed embryo, which makes it more viable than lightweight seed.

Next, we send samples from each seed lot to an independent, private laboratory to be tested for germination and purity. The USDA sets minimum germ requirements, but we aim for higher germination rates than required. Once a variety meets or exceeds these requirements it is ready to pack and sell.

After being outside all summer, it takes some time to get used to working indoors. However, seeing all the fantastic seed coming from these dedicated farmers is truly awe-inspiring. I imagine the beautiful fields full of squash and tomatoes, or cosmos and sunflowers. I look at table after table covered with hundreds of pounds of certified organic, pure seed, and I feel blessed to be a part of this earth's astounding bounty.

Emily Skelton,
Seeds of Change Research Farm Staff

PLEASE ORDER BY DECEMBER 21st, 10 PM MST FOR 2nd DAY DELIVERY.
AND ORDER BY DECEMBER 22nd, 10 PM MST FOR OVER NIGHT DELIVERY.

These certified organic Apple Gift Boxes from Seeds of Change and the Jerzy Boyz Organic Orchards are the perfect gift of health and taste for the holidays. See eNewsletter 21 for more information about the amazing Jerzy Boyz Organic Apples. Mouth watering Fujis and Braeburns are now available.

Developed in Japan in 1962, our Fuji's are crisp, sweet, fruity, juicy, slighty sub-acid and aromatic with white flesh and outstanding texture. Our Braeburns have a sweet tart flavor with crisp and juicy flesh. They have won the Northwest Fruit Tasting for four years running.

Finest Forks Found
The Digging Fork is the organic gardener's essential tool. Your gardeing friends will enjoy a long and intimate relationship with this superb quality, hand-forged, "lifetime" tool. Carbon steel tines just won't bend. Rugged D-handles are quality, straight-grained ash.

Visit our website for more great gifts for gardeners.

eNewsletter Contents | Seeds of Change Homepage

We are happy to announce that Seeds of Change is now a U.S. distributor of Tagari Publications. We are now able to offer these groundbreaking publications, including Bill Mollison's seminal "Permaculture: A Designers Manual," at lower prices.

The concept of permaculture, short for permanent agriculture, was developed by Bill Mollison in the 1960s and 70s and has spread throughout the world as a force for ecological development. Mollison, who was recently declared "Ecologist of the Century" in Australia, conceived permaculture as the conscious design of our infrastructure to emulate the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems, while providing our food, energy, shelter, and other needs in a sustainable fashion. True permaculture stems from protracted and thoughtful observation. Its goals are water conservation, local food production, and regional self-reliance, constituting a sustainable earth-care system. A Designer's Manual is the bible of the worldwide permaculture movement. Also by Bill Mollison, "Introduction to Permaculture" covers the fundamentals.

Books by Bill Mollison
Permaculture: A Designer's Manual (hardcover, 576 pages) $33.25
Introduction to Permaculture (softcover, 216 pages) $15.20
Permaculture Two $17.10
Ferment and Human Nutrition (hardcover) $22.80
Ferment and Human Nutrition (softcover) $17.10

The Power of Duck by Takao Furuno, $16.15

Look for our exclusive interview with Bill Mollison and reviews of the Tagari Publications listed above in upcoming eNewsletters.

Asian Vegetables $18.05
Berries $18.05
Besler Chile Peppers $18.05
Citrus $18.05
Classic Apples $18.05
Corn $18.05
Cultivated Edible Mushrooms $18.05
Edible Flowers $18.05
Eggplant $18.05
Fresco Chile Poster (Black) $18.05
Garden of Herbs $18.05
Grains $18.05
Herbs $18.05
How Hot is Your Chile? $8.55
Medicinal $18.05
Modern Apples (Black) $18.05
Pasta $18.05
Pears $18.05
Red Wine Grapes $18.05
Seco Chile (Dried) $18.05
Southwest Cocina $18.05
Squash $18.05
Subtropical Fruit $18.05
Sunflower $18.05
Sunflower (slim) $8.55
Tomatoes (horizontal) $18.05
Tropical Fruit $18.05
White Wine Grapes $18.05

Closeout sale on all Poster Mate Frames Display your posters quickly and easily. Magnetic poster holders require no tools. Holds all 24" (wide) or 12" (slim) posters and hangs straight on the wall.

If you've followed Seeds of Change over the years you probably noticed that we love books. Our extensive library forms an integral part of our ongoing research. We've even written a few books ourselves. Our book list now includes everything from popular how-to books for organic gardeners to obscure reference books for plant identification. We also offer interesting cookbooks, collections of essays, and guides to medicinal plants, chiles and garlic.

As with many independent booksellers who build their lists around topics they are passionate about, we have found it increasingly difficult to compete with national chain stores and Internet behemoths. While we remain committed to searching out and offering important books related to our mission, we are refining our list to the essentials and reducing prices where possible. Selling enough of a single book enables us to buy the books at a discount (like the national chains) and, in turn, to offer the books at competitive prices.

Consequently, To make room for new books, we're offering many older titles at greatly reduced prices So now's the time to beef up your collection as well as to get some great deals on gifts for the gardeners in your life. Please note that quantities are limited on sale items.

The Edible Pepper Garden by Rosalind Creasy $11.00
The Flower Farmer by Lynn Byczynski $18.05
Organic Farming by Nicolas Lampkin $30.00
The Quick and Easy Organic Gourmet by Leslie Cerier $8.00
Hot Wok by Hugh Carpenter and Teri Sandison $8.00
The Pepper Garden Book $17.00
Edible Flowers by Rosalind Creasy $6.00
The Vegetarian Grill by Andrea Chesman $8.00
Garlic is Life by Chester Aaron $7.00
The Edible French Garden by Rosalind Creasy $7.00
The Great Tomato Book by Gary Ibsen $7.00
The Great Chile Book by Mark Miller $7.00
The Edible Italian Garden by Rosalind Creasy $7.00
The Tofu Tollbooth $7.00
The Great Garlic Book by Chester Aaron $7.00
The Edible Heirloom Garden by Rosalind Creasy $7.00
Hummingbird Gardens by Nancy Newfield and Barbara Nielsen $10.00
The Beetless Garden Book by Chris Roth $5.00
The Contrary Farmer by Gene Logsdon $7.00

Staying in the Global Garden
Thanks for your newsletter. It moved me in a way I find hard to explain. I found myself getting teary while reading; especially articles that seem to have no relation to our current global predicament.

I had just had a quick email exchange with a dear friend about, among other things, diverting ourselves from terror, immoral acts of war, and activism against these things through cooking and picking fruit and canning and then I read your newsletter.

I think the article on making tortillas was the one that really moved me, as did the article on collecting seed. I can not explain this emotional welling other than to say that there are things so basic to being human that should never be lost in how we relate to and interact and take gifts from our small planet. We in the US, I think, are in constant danger of losing them, and are constantly attacking or trying to change what is left of societies that are in a position to teach us so much about how we must remain in intimate relationship with our world, through growing things, through seed and harvest, through respectful nurturing of the dirt, water and sky and our partners, the other beasts.

I will be digging onions and potatoes this weekend. Though far north, we just recently had our first frost (after the day before when we woke to a little snow on the ground but with the nasturtiums still airy and standing unfazed). We are so close to Lake Michigan that our first and last frost dates are often three to four weeks or more different than those for people even five miles inland. I may go pick some more pears from an old tree on some land of ours that has a number of apple trees as well... old old varieties I have not been able to find the names for... they give me a bounty of cooking apples every other year or so and I do nothing to them. The pear and apple butter are heavenly!

Again, thanks for the newsletter: a nondiversion: a reminder of what we must do to stay in the global garden.
Bob Vance
Petoskey, Michigan

Dear Editor,
I am very proud of my organic vegetable and butterfly gardens and normally love your newsletters. #23 was no exception except for a small piece of dangerous, incorrect information. Apparently you have been fed a load of manure. I might be an organic gardener but it is supported by my real job at an insurance company. I can tell you for a fact that neither we nor any other insurer are invoking the very legal war and terrorism exclusions that are standard on all policies. This will be at the expense of our bonuses, our stock value, and some of our jobs. The employees here view those losses as the least of what we can do to help. We are also sponsoring blood drives, taking collections for the Red Cross, and matching any contributions that are made by employees to all of the organizations that are helping.

We are in this together as we are all targets now. It is not the time to spread hurtful misinformation even against as unpopular an industry as insurance might be. It is still made up of people trying to help other people the best way they can. There were major insurers and related business partners such as agents located in the WTC that suffered heavy losses of employees. The rest of the industry immediately rallied around them to make sure that everyone's claims would be processed without delay. In the future, please do a little more research before forwarding on potentially damaging information to your wide customer base. I think of Seeds of Change as such a caring organization that anything less is beneath you.
Sue Klen
Joliet, IL

Dear Sue,
We apologize for any mis-information that was included in the piece about the World Trade Center Farmers' Market and commend your work and generosity. We pretty much ran the information verbatim from the Farmers' Market Federation of New York website and will check our facts more carefully in the future. S.V.

Hey Everyone,
I am a gardener both at home and for a living. I tend gardens in a public garden outside of Washington, D.C. in the Maryland suburbs. I have grown your seeds for several years. I especially love the Marketmore cucumber, as it is a prolific producer and a tough plant, and I had my first job in agriculture being a field hand for Dr. Henry Munger, the man who bred the Marketmore and other cucurbits. My real reason for writing is to pass on my experience with one of my garden areas this summer. I did a display in the Fragrance garden of plants indigenous to North, Central, and South America. I included 'Butter and Eggs' Marigold, quillquina, 'Bolivian Rainbow' peppers, moon vine, heliotrope, petunias, centratherum, several other chiles(NuMex Twilight is a beautiful plant!), lemon verbena, Lippia dulcis, etc. It was a colorful display, and the reaction I got from the public was great! Everyone loved the chiles, from kids to grandparents visiting with their families. Latinos, Asians, Anglos, Europeans, whatever the ethnicity, the response was enthusiastic. The day we were planting the beds, a school group was walking through and one of the parents recognized quillquina (Porophyllum ruderale). She was so excited, she stopped and told me about how it is used in her native Bolivia, and that she grows it in her garden here in Maryland. It made my day to say the least. The more I garden, the more I realize that it is a way to connect with people in a deep way, in a way that is meaningful and positive, just the same as through other cultural arts like music, etc. We need more ways to become aware of our similarities and share our joys, so that our differences become less obvious.
Sincerely,
Kathy Stevens
Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, Maryland

Dear Seeds of Change,
I want to thank you for your last newsletter. It was informative and enjoying to read.

I must concur with a person named Diane who wrote about our being delicate with the earth and each other. And growing everything in our garden to help a peaceful world evolve from these chaotic times. If the creatures can live in balance then surely so can the "advanced" human species. I am saving seeds for the next planting season and looking forward to my next organic garden in the spring of 2002. Hopefully it will be a much more peaceful world by then and much more balanced than it is now.

By worshipping earth, sky, water and all of the creatures, we can have a peaceful harvest time. God bless you all. Pray for and more importantly, practice peaceful ways of living.
E.W. Murphy