"There can be a whole world contained in a greenhouse if only you gather up some soil, water, and a seed." - Shane Smith, The Greenhouse Gardener's Companion

Dear Organic Gardeners,

As the days grow longer and the sun grows stronger, we think of sowing seeds. The simple act of placing seeds, one by one, into our flats brings hope. Tender sprouts will emerge undaunted and get about their work of converting the earth's fertility and the sun's energy into beauty, sustenance and, again, more seeds. The cycle of life continues. We are a part of it.

Our 2003 seeds are cleaned, tested and packed. They are now finding their way into the hands of thousands of gardeners and market growers throughout the continent. As Jordan Rainwater points out in this month's Farm Report, the conference season is over and the growing season looms large. At our New Mexico research facility, signs of spring are everywhere. Cover crops show hints of green, wintered-over hardy greens are resuming growth, and the greenhouses are filling with freshly planted flats. Here in Maine, with our beds still nestled under a deep blanket of snow, it can be hard to conceive of the garden that will flourish in a few short months. Oddly, in both locations our transplanting dates for tender annuals are roughly the same, with the frosts generally threatening until the last week of May.

	Farm Report: Feb. 2003 All is well here at the Seeds of Change Research Farm. Those of us in Northern New Mexico, like much of the Southwest region, are thankful for the unusual amount of precipitation El Nino weather patterns have brought this month. Read More >
	Organic Seeds for Organic Growing What's happening with organic seed? This question is being asked throughout the organic farming industry and was a topic of heated discussion at this year's Ecological Farming Conference (Eco-Farm). Read More >
	Product Highlights Gettiing Started this year has never been so easy. We have all the products you need, from greenhouses to plant markers, to get your garden off to a great start. Read More >

At our Maine Trial Garden, the new 8' x 16' wood-frame greenhouse has quickly become an essential part of our operation. Last fall it provided an excellent place for drying our amaranth crop, curing tubers, and cleaning seeds. It also allowed us to extend our season for fresh peppers, greens, and herbs. Although we didn't heat it for the three coldest months, moving our potted herbs indoors, this winter the greenhouse stood up to the harshest weather and still provided a warm and welcoming sanctuary on cold sunny days (and a great place to dry clothes!). This spring our plans call for starting close to 200 Seeds of Change varieties, beginning in mid-March with peppers, eggplants and hardy greens. We are happy to be able to offer these beautiful greenhouses for sale this year as well as a wide array of seed-starting accessories.

Spring is coming. It is time to set seeds in the soil. I cannot think of a more positive act.

Scott Vlaun, Editor
editor@seedsofchange.com