So, on the coldest day of this winter, I am gazing at my recently arrived Fedco seed order. Super stoked, I got Gustus Brussels sprouts, Maxibel organic haricots verts, a Deluxe Summer lettuce mix, and Snow Mystique cauliflower. Pat wanted red kidney beans and I have cannellini from last year. Tyee spinach that I'll plant right after  St. Patrick's Day, and Sugarsnap peas, that will go into the ground a week or 2 after that. My new winter squash is called Candy Roaster, I mean come on, how can that not be good? I got the striped Pineapple heirloom and Green Zebra tomatoes for sheer beauty, and also the heirloom Cocozelle zucchini. My Red cored Chantenay carrots did well last year and I have some of that seed left, I also got Scarlet Nantes to help break up my clayey soil and give me a second variety of carrot. 

I am super excited for my fragrance seeds; I love scent, it is the strongest nostalgia trigger (and Lord knows I am a sucker for nostalgia), and walking through parts of the garden while sniffing memories thrills me. Really. So, I ordered Marine Heliotrope, Tangerine Gem Marigold–this will also help kill off whiteflies and harmful nematodes, and Mignonette, which I'm not familiar with but is supposed to have this antique, Victorian strong scent. Of course, I got nasturtium and French marigold as well to combat pests and aid in vegetable pollination and growth. Companion planting is where it's at.

I got 2 additions for my medicinal herb garden, too: Valerian and Arnica Chamissonis, both perennials. When we bought the property, I spent a spring digging up an old flower bed overgrown with weeds and bought seeds like feverfew, echinacea, horehound, yarrow, blue vervain, lemon balm, and comfrey root to begin our homeopathic herb garden. I am happy to say that they all survived and are now thriving. I have not made any medicine from them yet, but once I research this area, I will. Anything to keep from giving the pharmaceutical companies more money. And hey, don't get me wrong, I am all for necessary medicines like antibiotics, pain killers, and my kids are definitely vaccinated. I just get depressed when I see ads on tv regarding women who took some type of anti-depressant or mood stabilizer while pregnant and now have children with birth defects. Maybe there's a more natural way to balance out one's chemistry without the wicked side effects of heavy prescriptions, you know?

Anyhoo,http://www.fedcoseeds.com  is my favorite seed co-op for selection, prices, and honestly produced and collected seed. They also sell supplies and books, all pertaining to the organic and self-sustaining garden.