I first met fellow gardener and organic enthusiast Dana Smith years ago at Camp White Pine in Haliburton on an annual ten-day visual arts camp put on by the school board. I think we were both camp counsellors or C.I.T.s. It’s been a long time! We ran into one another again in 2008 at a monthly meeting of Durham Organic Gardeners, the local chapter of Canadian Organic Growers.
Dana grows seedlings every year and sells them. I have bought her plants at the COG plant auction and can tell you that they are beautiful, healthy, well cared-for seedlings. I have uploaded her catalogue so that other gardeners in Durham interested in purchasing her organic-grown seedlings can place an order!
Dana writes,
I am excited to offer my seedlings for sale again this year and hope that you’ll find something new in the catalogue to tickle your fancy – like Whippersnapper, a cherry tomato variety suitable for growing in pots, Sugar Baby Watermelon, small enough for the urban garden, or maybe Borage, a star shaped edible flower with a taste similar to cucumber. Before you peruse these pages, there are a few things I would like you to note:
Organic: All of my seedlings are grown using organic practices without any chemical based fertilizers or pesticides, and almost all are produced from certified organic seed, or at the very least organically grown seed.
Open-Pollinated: To the best of my knowledge, all varieties are open-pollinated and non-hybrid, which means that you can save seed from your plants for next year and they will continue to produce the same product for years to come.
Heirloom: Many varieties are heirlooms, having been grown for at least fifty years (some for hundreds), but are unfamiliar to the average consumer due to the limited choices offered in plant nurseries and grocery stores. So if you are looking for something a little more unusual, you’ll find it here.
Sound good? Click here to open the catalogue of available edibles and flowers and for information about ordering. Dana will even arrange delivery!
Organically-grown heirloom tomatoes from my garden.
I’ve sent Dana my order, and here’s what I’ve decided to purchase from her for my vegetable garden this year:
Black plum tomato (2)
Green zebra tomato
Kellogg’s breakfast tomato
Red grape tomato
Quadrato D’Asti Giallo pepper
Mini chocolate bell pepper
Black beauty eggplant (2)
Black beauty zucchini (2)
Butternut squash
All of these came to $24, which I think is a great deal for 12 healthy, organically-grown plants. I’m looking forward to receiving them!
