Sunday, February 7, 2010

Oh Heavenly Seed...oh February Fever!

It's one week into February and already Pauxatauny Phil has come from his lair to tell me that we will have six more weeks of winter. Luckily for us we have Queen Charlotte who lives in North Carolina (Charlotte, I believe...hence the name) and has called that Yankee upstart a dirty rotten liar and banished him from the Queendom. It was a close call, your Majesty.

It's now that time to get dirt beneath my nails, pull weeds from the flowerbeds and curl up with some of the best reading material around when the sun goes down and the heat goes on. I have already made the acquaintance of some great folks who provide us with the most wonderful heirloom seed for the many things we grow in our garden. We have been ordering from them for several years and when we heard that the company they represented were no longer going to be offering home gardeners this valuable seed source, we were heart broken. The cost was so very affordable and the quality so high that we were really wondering what we were going to do. Then I got this message from Pattie and Mike and was just overjoyed!

Hi Sandra,
Thank you so much for your order and for your kind words. Below is some information about how we got started:
My husband Mike had worked for the SC Foundation Seed Association (SCFSA) for 37 years and began the home garden vegetable seed program there (to promote heirloom, organically grown and open-pollinated varieties for home gardeners).. In October 2009, SCFSA merged with another non-profit organization and at that time Mike was told that they would no longer offer the home garden vegetable seed program. After much prayer, Mike made the decision to go ahead and retire from SCFSA and to start Heavenly Seed LLC so that the heirloom, organically grown and open-pollinated seed could still be offered to home gardeners. We are so excited about the positive response we have received.
(If you need more information, let me know) THANKS!
Pattie

We placed our seed order on a Tuesday and received the order on Friday. My fingers itch. We have decided to try a new cucumber called Armenian Melon...I love trying new "old" things. We will have five varieties of tomatoes, three different lettuce types, some really rad radishes...its time to plant cabbage and broccoli...sweet peas will need to be put into the ground...later on we will be getting our watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew seed to start. I'm trying to talk Mac into getting a small green house. Right now we use my 100 gallon fish aquarium to start seed. Okay, so it works well...but we need more room than it provides. I can not wait to get started. You know, when the seed catalogs start arriving, Spring can not be far behind.

I wish you happy gardening and lots of fun visiting Pattie and Mike at Heavenly Seed. You won't regret the visit. You don't have to live in South Carolina to take this trip. Man, I love the inter- net!


41 comments:

Sally said...

Happy planting, Sandi! Sounds like you've got big plans. That's wonderful!

Hope all is well now in your corner of the universe. ((((hugs))))

rosecreekcottage-carol.blogspot.com said...

Okay, Sandi...I am SO jealous you can already start digging down there in SC! We just got 12 inches of snow dumped on us~~Thank you so much for this link. I will definitely order from them. Yup....gotta LOVE this internet~

Vee said...

Will let your fingers do the itching for me. :D

Great to see a post here, my friend.

Donna said...

AN AQUARIUM!!! What a wonderful idea now that I've gotten RID of my 75gal one!!!LOLOL...Da*n!!!!
Oh well, I'll try to think of something else!!
I'm SO ready for Spring!!
Hugs to you Sweetie!!

Maggie May said...

Good on you for the planting.Hope everything comes up really lovely.
Many thanks for kind comments over at mine. Much appreciated.

Nuts in May

San said...

I look forward to the pictures you will post of all of these lush plantings. Your garden is a marvel, Sandy.

Finding Pam said...

Like you, we can't wait to get started on our garden. Here's to a wonderful and productive garden.

Finding Pam said...

Like you, we can't wait to get started on our garden. Here's to a wonderful and productive garden.

Finding Pam said...

Like you, we can't wait to get started on our garden. Here's to a wonderful and productive garden.

Finding Pam said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Akelamalu said...

I can't wait to get out in my garden now I'm retired! :)

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

I don't think there is a better way to spend the cold winter days than looking through a seed catalog.
Spring's around the corner!

cheshire wife said...

I am looking forward to getting out in the garden, getting my hands dirty and sowing some seeds but it is still too cold here. It will be another few weeks yet before we can expect to get outside.

The Muse said...

planting for us...a long time away...

please write more about that hope, that dream so i may see the future awaits!

Nessa said...

I think you are excited for Spring. I've had enough snow now so it's ok for Spring to come.

The Simple Things Challenge

♥ Boomer ♥ said...

I am so ready for spring, but it's a bit away. Your post gets me in the mood for planting!!

Hilary said...

Happy gardening. That season feels so far away for me but I'm glad you're enjoying. :)

Terri Steffes said...

I got my first seed catalog last week! I can't wait to look at Heavenly Seeds. What a great story!

NitWit1 said...

I can tell you have spring fever! Happy planting.

We are looking at more snow! So far the weather man may have missed us this time. But again, the time may be a tad off.

Lee said...

Delighted to hear that your garden plans are in development and I know that as soon as the temperatures reach that healthy range you'll be out there digging around and getting your hands deep into that moist earth.

Had a good chat with my Sis and we are going to try to get together but may not be able to when she comes to see the folks.

Hugs,
Lee

Pam said...

I'm anxious to start planting too sandi! We've had so much rain here. My aunt was laughing because she is starting to get a "pond" in her yard because of all the rain. She said, if the groundhog washes up does that mean 6 more weeks of rain? lol!

Kathy's Klothesline said...

I want to get started, too. I have to go help with my grands the last week of this month, but want to hit the ground running when I step off that plane! I have been on Craigslist looking for aquariums today. I am hoping to aquire at least two to get my seedlings going, but like you, I want a green house!

SandyCarlson said...

Ah, to defrost and be outside. What a beautiful idea. God bless, Sandi.

myonlyphoto said...

Sandi, you are getting ready for gardening, wow, but then you may be right, lol. And who is Pauxatauny Phil? Ground hog? Stay warm and hope all is well otherwise. Anna :)

Mickle in NZ said...

Isn't it exciting to plan for a new season. While I'm still in Summer here I'm already thinking to next Spring and Summer's garden too.

Your garden beds will look so pretty full of veg and fruit plants, and some flowers of course, all overseen and supervised by your kittycats, of course.

Super thanks for your comments - always so uplifting,

sending care and huggles (only snores coming from Zebbycat just now),

Michelle xxx

Jeni said...

As I sit here and look out my window and all I can see is snow, snow, and yes, more snow! We have about 14 inches of "new" snow -that arrived Friday evening and into Saturday morning this past weekend. My daughter is probably hoping she never has to pick up a shovel of any kind, ever again! But it's nice to stop from the reality and think about spring and gardening.

Suldog said...

I can't grow anything. I have a black thumb. The only plant I've ever had any success with was my poinsettia (rescued from work three years ago) and now it died, too :-(

CatHerder said...

my livingroom side table is full of seed catalogs and issues of mother earth news..i cant waiiiitttt till spring

Dr.John said...

I'm glad you can plant. I look out the window at all that snow and just shake my head.
Thank you for your comment on my Sunday blog. The image of conversion we hold best is always our own.

Jeanne said...

I'll live vicariously through you while we still have frozen ground here. Enjoy yourself! RYC: LOL at the throw another cat on comment.

SandyCarlson said...

That Yankee upstart has yet to set his paws in true Yankee country. What's up with that? Yeesh.

Anonymous said...

Dear Lord, Please bless Sandi with a hot house so I can get really good veggies from her. :)

Justabeachkat said...

Hi sweet friend!

I've been MIA from visiting my favorite blogs for a few weeks, but I'm back and having fun seeing what everyone has been up to.

I agree...I can't wait for Spring! My poor flower beds look so bad!

Hugs!
Kat

Anya said...

Nice to see a new post :-)

I love it also working in my garden
I must wait on spring ...... LOL

((hugs)) Kareltje =^.^=
Anya :-)

Tara said...

Hi S:

OK, so imagine if you have spring fever what it is like here in New York where school has already been cancelled for tomorrow as we are expecting about 18 inches. Put a fork in me, I'm done!!!! I want to throw off the blanket, put out the fire in the fireplace and get outside, but it is freezing! Got an extra seed catalog I can thumb through??

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Sandy: I'm sad to say Phil was right. All you have to do is look at DC or my front yard.

i beati said...

Fabulous music- amen on this post - the only thing to get me out of this freeze funk- to dig again and plant again nothing like it -- daughter of a farmer..sandy

Strawberry Jam Anne said...

You are gardening already Sandi or at least planning your planting. Wonderful that you have found a reliable source of seeds. Happy digging. A x

Jay said...

Oh, good luck with your seeds - and the plans for a greenhouse! I'm going to try raising some rose bushes from seed this year - I have a named rose, quite unique to me (in memory of my beloved Jim) and I've tried and failed with cuttings, so I've had a rose hip in the fridge for a couple of months now. I'll try with that! Wish me luck too! :)

Deb said...

Hi Sandi ~ Thank you for the link to this company which sells heirloom seeds. My son and I are planting a garden together this year and want to plant heirloom veggies. Am on my way to check out the link. Much appreciated and happy gardening !!

Nishant said...

I'll live vicariously through you while we still have frozen ground here.

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