Back in college, I discovered something amazing: seed catalogues. I had no idea there was any such thing. Then, Martha Stewart did an article in her magazine about seed companies. There were so many great options. I think I ordered any catalogue I could get for free. My favorite became Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company.
I always sign up to get one of their catalogues, and I save their catalogues from previous years to use for planning or to give to friends. The arrival of the Baker Creek seed catalogue gets me excited for spring and all things “garden”.
Of course you can buy seed packets at any number of stores. I can and do buy seeds from local stores, but not everyone has purple carrots, green and purple beans, striped tomatoes, or strange and wonderful squashes that I’ve read about in the pages of books.
The only downside of all these super-cool vegetables, fruits, and herbs is that I have a hard time narrowing my focus. Even after I eliminate some of my ideas, I still tend to have so many things I want to try that it can get a bit crazy. (One year I got really enthusiastic and started over 200 tomato plants from seed. It was actually a relief when some of them got destroyed in an accident. 😦 Consider yourself warned!!!) If, however, you want to cook with things you can’t easily find in stores, here’s your chance to grow your own.
My one regret on this topic is that I didn’t post this sooner. Unless they’ve reprinted, I think they may have run out of free catalogues for this year, but sign up for next year’s or look at their offerings online if you are thinking about what to plant this year. I CAN’T WAIT FOR SPRING!!!! 😉
Pattern and Branch 
Ahhh, I’ve not heard of them….looks fun! I’ll have to check them out on line. Thanks Lisa, happy planting!!!!
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You, too!
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I love Baker Creek! We have ordered from them the last 3 years for our garden. As you said, it is impossible to stay focused. Unlike your tomatoes, we ordered four different kinds of beets one year, and planted all the seeds. Our garden was a third full of beets! It was fun, but *way* too many beets 🙂
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That is so awesome! 😀 Have you ever tried one of the red velvet cake with beets recipes? They’re not bad. 😉
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I haven’t! I’m not sure I could convince my husband to even get it near his mouth, haha! I will take your word for it! 😉
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🙂
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Oh my god, I am a Baker Creek fan too!! They have the coolest tomatoes ever. And the mouse melons… look for the tiny watermelon shaped cucumbers. THEY ARE AMAZING. Also, I just love reading the catalog.
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Oooh. I have to look those up!
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