I recently placed an order of seeds and tubers with the Real Seed Catalogue in the UK, and I was really impressed.
On the left side of the picture you can see my order receipt. Printed on this receipt (double sided to save paper) are both personalized seed saving and cooking instructions for each item I purchased.
Inserted into each plastic seed bag are very detailed planting instructions, together with common mistakes, problems and general advice. Far more than the usual planting date range, spacing and depth information you usually get.
Literally, every bit of useful information they could have sent me they did. When is the last time you bought a packet of seeds and got cooking instructions?
Not to be missed was also the following on their receipt:
“This is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, so there are no shares, and therefore no shareholders to siphon off funds – instead, all spare income is invested back into our vegetable seed research and breeding work.”
So, while we all refer to them as a seed company, we need to keep in mind they are a little more than that. I think Europe is very lucky to have a seed company like them.
I’ll second that. They are truly inspiring. I have been ordering from them for a couple of years and they give a great service, and care very deeply about the plants they offer. As you say, it’s extremely rare for a seed supplier to give you detailed instructions on how to save your own seed, the kind of specialist information you normally only get from seed saver organisations. They genuinely care more about promoting seed saving than about making money.
Pretty cool! I wish more companies put that much detail on their seeds.
Weird. I just did exactly the same thing at the same time, Patrick. Real Seeds are fantastic.
I’ve bumped into this seed company and was pretty fascinated by it but I didn’t look in too much detail as I wasn’t sure if they shipped over to Canada.
Must just add another plaudit for Real Seeds – they really are fantastic, with very generous packets and so much useful information. I particularly love their squash collection. And their website’s good too!
So … my next question. Did you order some of the ulluco?
I did! It’s one of the brown paper bags on top. If it does well, I’ll have some to share…
I do agree, realseeds is the best, I have some sort of an exchange program with Ben, growing seeds for him (and sometimes supplying him new seeds or oca or for the next years some other ullucus and ocas); I’m trying to convince Ben to grow some yacon…
Frank
Hi Frank,
Thanks for leaving a comment!
They have yacon in their catalog now! I just noticed it a few days ago.
The yacon crowns you gave me are already started in pots, and I’ll set them out in several weeks. I’m really looking forward to growing them.