In the Garden with Pat Rubin

Bee garden writer Pat Rubin writes about everything that grows, from flowers and trees to vegetables and lawns. Pat volunteered for several years as a Placer County Master Gardener and has written about gardening for many national and regional publications. In addition to gardening, she spends time raising and showing miniature horses and miniature donkeys.

In the Garden will include news, events, advice and other gardening tidbits. Pat will also answer reader questions.

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September 13, 2007

Seed Savers Exchange

When I was new to vegetable gardening many years ago, I discovered the Seed Savers Exchange. I joined the organization, grew heirloom varieties of vegetables and traded seeds with other members.

I lost track of the organization after a few years until Home & Garden reader and avid gardener Paul Williams loaned me an extra Seed Savers Exchange catalog. I was struck by how things have both changed since the group’s inception in 1975 and at how things have stayed the same.

Members still offer rare varieties of seed to each other, and the group still works to preserve heirloom varieties of vegetables and flowers. They still produce an annual yearbook that lists all the seeds members have to offer.

SSE also publishes a free full color catalog of seed available for sale to the public. It was exciting and inspiring to browse through its pages and reading the stories behind the many varieties of vegetables and flowers. To my surprise and delight, I found a variety of garlic, Chet’s Italian Red, I’d grown for 20 years, but, due to life’s many twists and turns, I wasn’t able to keep it going the past couple of years. I sent an order in immediately for it, and plan to reintroduce it to the garden this fall.

You don't have to be a member to order from SSE's color catalog, but if you're interested in helping the group in its efforts to preserve heirloom crops, membership is $35 per year. There’s also a flower and herb exchange for $10 annually that lists 3,000 varieties of old time flowers and herbs offered by members.

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