In honor of the arrival of spring, I have partnered with
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds for a giveaway valued at $48! Baker Creek is a provider of rare and unique seeds that we have used in the past (last year we yielded our body weight in
striata d'Italia zucchini after sowing right in the ground) and continue to use, so I'm very excited about this giveaway. Here are my 5 favorite things about Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds:
{1} The seed type and selection. Baker Creek carries non-GMO heirloom and hybrid seeds. What this means is that a lot of their seed varieties are 50+ years old--some as old as 500+ years--and you can harvest your own seeds from the plants you've grown to successfully replant in subsequent years (the heirlooms). None of their plants are genetically modified and any hybrids that they carry have occurred naturally. Then there's the fact that a lot of these seeds are so rare - these aren't plants you can get at your local hardware store (or even nursery). For instance, check out these
chocolate pear tomatoes or this
mini pink popcorn. You don't grow vegetables? That's fine - there are rare fruit varieties such as
this pineapple assortment that can be grown in containers anywhere in the country, herbs such as this
Corsican basil, or flowers like this
Pink Senorita Zinnia. There are over 2,000 rare seed varieties from all over the world to choose from. It may be the hipster in me, but I can totally get on board with growing something that no one else in my neighborhood does.
{2} Customer service. I am not exaggerating when I say Baker Creek has some of the best customer service around. If you have poor germination rates of your seeds they have been known to send you new packets, no questions asked. Any issues whatsoever and Baker Creek works diligently to resolve them.
{3} Cheap shipping and bonus seeds! How many times have you gone to order something that you
know couldn't cost more than a dollar or two to ship and yet the seller charges $10+ for it? At Baker Creek, you are charged a flat rate of $3.50 regardless of what you order (and they even ship live plants!). If you register during checkout, you will also get 6 months of free shipping on all future orders. Then there's the bonus seeds - each order includes at least one pack of a free seed variety chosen by Baker Creek and the more you spend the more free seeds you get. Jon and I placed an order last month and got 2 free seed varieties!
{4} Philanthropy. Have you ever heard of a seed library? I hadn't either until Jon introduced me to it. A seed library is exactly what it sounds like - a place you can go to borrow or donate seeds. The goal is often to encourage people to get out and plant some of their own food, but it is also beneficial in the event a critical plant species were to somehow go extinct, there to be global crises, etc. An aside / fun fact is that the world's largest seed bank is the
Svalbard Global Seed Vault located just 812 miles from the North Pole where seeds are stored in a similar manner as a bank safe deposit box. I digress, but it's really interesting stuff. Baker Creek donates seeds to seed libraries--including
one of our more local seed libraries.
{5} Their packaging. This is probably really shallow, but I am a major sucker for a good packaging job. Baker Creek packages their seeds in really fun envelopes that give me warm fuzzies inside. I get really excited when new varieties arrive because I can't wait to see what the envelope looks like.
So now, for the good stuff! Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter to win an
heirloom seed collection from Baker Creek valued at $48! The giveaway will close on 3/31 and the winner will be contacted.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclaimer: Baker Creek offered to give away an heirloom seed collection
at no cost to me as part of this blog post. All opinions and thoughts are my
own.
I want to try growing pineapple now! We eat a lot of pineapple; it'd be fun to grow it ourselves.
ReplyDeleteMe too! Seeing that little pineapple plant filled me with whimsy!
DeleteJust started my tomatoes and peppers indoors (in Connecticut). I'm planting costoluto, grappoli di inverno, German Johnson, Martino's Roma, Principe Borghese, King of the North, and Quadrato d'Asti. :)
ReplyDeleteCome back and let me know how the Quadrato d'Asti peppers grow! I am considering adding these too!
Deleterainbow swiss chard and sweet potatoes
DeleteTomatoes Turnip Greens Collard Greens Squash
ReplyDeleteWhen I get a greenhouse built I want to try growing a Dwarf Moringa. I also want to grow the enormous beets at some point.
ReplyDeleteOh are you going to DIY your greenhouse!? We have been talking about finding some greenhouse solutions but we live in an HOA so we have to be really choosy.
DeleteI'd love to plant some Jutrzenka Radishes, Ostra-Cyklon Peppers, Nimba Zucchini, Makaronowa Warszawska Squash, Monika Cucumbers, Tresca Garden Strawberries, and so much more from my home. Chwała Polsce!
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't already tried it, I highly recommend their striata d'Italia zucchini!
DeleteNot yet, but this year I will for certain be trying out the Lebanese White Bush Marrow Squash, which is zucchini-like, the reviews for it are great!
DeleteI could have written your post word for word. There is no other company like Baker Creek.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway! We were able to visit baker creek in person a couple of weeks ago! :)
ReplyDeleteI am so jealous! I think we will have to add it to our vacation bucket list!
Deletei also love the variety baker creek supplies.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway. Trying Artichokes for the first time this year
ReplyDeleteWhat zone do you live in? I would love to give artichokes a try but I'm worried they wouldn't do well here (we are zone 6).
Deletethank you for doing this giveaway
ReplyDeleteI have always enjoyed Baker Creek Seeds. Love the variety.
ReplyDeleteI just started using Baker Creek Seeds in my little garden this year, and I am so excited to see the results! I am also planning on a trip to their Heritage Days Festival on Sunday.
ReplyDeleteHow nice of you to do this! I have been a fan of gardening my whole life!! Hope you can continue to garden also <3
ReplyDeleteMe too! We are done having biological kiddos so hopefully over the next four years we will have more time to garden.
DeleteI am trying the Ajvarski pepper, I am planting a couple of different cowpeas for the first time this year, and star of david okra. I am going to trellis the tigger melon from them as well. I have had really great success with their seeds!
ReplyDeleteI just checked out the tigger melons - these are awesome! I hope you have success with them!
DeleteI am looking forward to trying pak choy and some garden huckleberries!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I was eyeballing the Canton bok choy this year.
DeleteI have already ordered from Baker Creek, but every time I visit their site there's always more awesome seeds calling my name! Have planted cocona, early purple Vienna Kohlrabi, Brad's atomic grape tomatoes, Pusa meghna cauliflower, grandpa's home pepper and a few others from them this year so far!
ReplyDeleteThis year is our first year trying the pusa meghna cauliflower and I am SO EXCITED! I highly recommend this soup recipe for it: https://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=817157
DeleteSo many new things this year! I'm growing the pusa asita carrots, dragons egg cucumber, white watermelon, kiwano and several others!
ReplyDeleteWe got the pusa asita carrots this year too!
DeleteI am trying dragon egg cukes and Malaga radishes. Radishes are planted and I'm excited to see what spring rain asndvsun bring!
ReplyDeleteMy husband is most excited about the malaga radishes he bought this year!
DeleteLooking forward to planting soon, lettuce and herbs from Baker Creek this year and okra seeds from them saved from last year !
ReplyDeleteI can't say enough good things about Baker Creek! Absolutely love their selection and I want to grow everything! :)
ReplyDeletethanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI only buy my seeds each year from Baker Creek. The seed quality is unmatched by any other seller.
ReplyDeleteI have purchased this year golden beets, yard long armainian cucumbers, giant pumpkin, patty pan squash, and several other wonderful seed types.
I am on a budget so some of the seeds I wanted are waiting on my list to purchase the red Rossi Sicilian Tomatoe is definitely on my list to buy along with the yellow Monster peppers! It would be great to win some of these. Love ❤️😘 you Baker Creek Seeds! Your all the best!
Our family loves Baker Creek Seeds always have the best and highest quality! This year we are trying our hand at growing more natural beneficial plants/flowers. We've added radio calendula, tansy and chamomile. We also are trying Jersey yellow and Okinawa purple sweet potatoes.
ReplyDeleteGood to see this fb page. Have Baker Creek catalog but have not tried their products.
ReplyDeleteSome varieties I'd love to try: Love Lies Bleeding red amaranth, Mary Washington Asparagus, Choiggia Beets, Jackson wonder Bush Lima Beans, Aunt Molly's Ground Cherry. I love Baker Creek! ☺
ReplyDeleteWe're new to gardening and would be thrilled to try anything this year!
ReplyDeleteI love baker creek! I've planted their seeds for the last several years...one of my favorite is violet jasper tomato. Thank you for this giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI'm dying to try tumeric and saffron, along with a few other spices and herbal medicinals...
ReplyDeleteWe are looking forward to lots and lots of beans!
ReplyDeleteWe want to grow "Collective Farm Woman" melons, "Berkeley Tie-Dye" tomatoes, and mini pink popcorn!
ReplyDeleteGlass Gem Corn! Well, that among a million other things but that's what I'm most excited for currently.
ReplyDeleteI have so many on my wish list on their site!! Have to expand the garden first though! I have another package in the mail full of seeds from m them too. Can't wait to start saving my own seeds this year.
ReplyDeleteHi I am Sarah Stogsdill , I Can't wait to try our the tomatoes I ordered. I have 18 different varieties.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying several Baker Creek varieties this year: Little Marvel Peas, Blauhilde Beans, and Brunswick Onions. I'm also trying several flowers including Toothache Plant, German Chamomile, Love-in-a-Mist, and Yarrow. Baker Creek is one of my favorite sources for seeds!
ReplyDeleteJust noticed that showed up as Anonymous... This is Jess McGuire :)
DeleteAm a newbie gardener and had so much fun ordering seeds from Baker Creek. I am trying to build a butterfly garden. Thank you for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteWe recently planted our first garden in raised cedar beds. I'm looking into adding heirloom varieties. The striped tomatoes are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWe are building raised beds for the first time this year - do you have any tips?
DeleteI love a pineapple tomato, but it's hard to make it inside with any chocolate cherry tomatoes-they're snacking heaven!!!!
ReplyDeleteWe are growing the chocolate tomatoes for the first time this year! I am so excited.
DeleteI love Baker Creek Seeds!!
ReplyDeleteWould love some fall gold raspberries and some goji berries! I've already ordered from Baker Creek twice this year, but still need chives, amaranth, rhubarb and tomatillos.
ReplyDeleteI've never grown rhubarb - would love to try so I can make pies with it.
DeleteAll the tomatoes!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance!Happy spring!
ReplyDeleteI love Baker Creek seeds! We ordered from them last year and they were amazing, what a wonderful giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI love growing from seed!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy Baker Creek and want to plant Orangeglo watermelon!
ReplyDeleteI am so jealous! We don't have enough room for melons in our garden but I would love that.
DeleteI have an Edith too! She'll turn 7 in a month. Thanks for offering this exciting giveaway :)
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful! We obviously love the name so you have excellent taste :)
DeleteI want to grow everything! Too much? LOL
ReplyDeleteWe're planting, bell peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, potatoes, corn, okra, green beans, peas, onions, pumpkins, watermelon, cantaloupe....
ReplyDeleteWe're staying everything from seed this year, wish us luck! ;)
I would love to grow the purple tomatillos!
ReplyDeleteI would love to plant many of their zinnias; polar bear, envy and the giant ones. Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to try the Blue Hokkaido Squash.
ReplyDeleteI would love to plant any veggies and herbs as well as pollinator supporting plants!
ReplyDeleteI love different tomato varieties. The Cosmic Eclipse looks great.
ReplyDeleteLove the blog and love Baker Creek! We would really like a bunch of different things to try down in Florida. I'm a big fan of greens and fruits.
ReplyDeleteCool!
ReplyDeleteI tried commenting twice from my phone but I don't see it above. Sorry if this is a big repeat. We're planting tomatillos for the first time. I seen lots of green enchilada sauce in our future!
ReplyDeleteI want to grow 'Orange Banana' tomato this year! It sounds delicious by itself and I want to make orange pizza sauce and marinara!
ReplyDelete