Ready to Order Seeds? Check out our Offerings.
Now that we are all well into the swing of the new year, many of us are thinking of our gardens and planning for the upcoming growing season. That means we're looking through seed catalogues and browsing websites in search of what we want to plant this spring. At Stellar Seeds we're busy packing seeds to ship out to you, our customers, and to stores across BC and Alberta that carry our seed racks. Want to know if there is a retailer near you with our seeds? Just click on the "Stores" tab in the top menu and scroll down our list of retail outlets.
Or you can order directly from us, right here on this website using the convenient shopping cart system. Oh, happy day!
What makes our seeds different from others? Firstly, they are organically grown, and that means they will respond better to organic growing conditions in your garden or fields. Plus you're supporting a method of producing the seeds that doesn't involve use of synthetic chemicals and that does involve sustainable, integrated crop production methods. Secondly, all our seeds are open-pollinated which means you can save seeds from them that will come true-to-type if you want, unlike hybrid seeds. Our seeds are also part of the public domain and not subject to patents or plant-breeders rights. They are part of a rich public inheritance that farmers can rely on to maintain seed and food sovereignty, even in times of increased corporate control of our food system. Thirdly, they have been grown by farmers right here in British Columbia on small-scale, mixed farms. Your purchase of these seeds directly supports the livelihoods of small-scale organic farmers and strengthens local seed systems. Fourthly (is that even a word?), many of our seeds are heirloom or rare varieties and growing these seeds ensures a vibrant maintenance of our agricultural heritage which is particularly important in these times of decreasing access to agricultural diversity. Have I said enough about these seeds yet? I could go on, but suffice to say that we think you'll be happy growing these seeds. We strive for high quality, vigorous growing, high-germinating seeds that will help you have a successful harvest this season, be it in your farms, gardens or window-boxes.
Happy garden planning, we hope you choose to grow some Stellar Seeds this season!
Happy Holidays. New Seeds for 2012 just about Ready!
Merry Christmas and holiday season to all our friends and customers. While you're relaxing with family and contemplating the year past and the next one about to begin we're getting seeds ready to hand over to you in the coming year. Our full listing will be up on the website by January 1st, but if you want to get a sneak peak at what we have to offer just click on the "Download Our 2012 Seed List" icon in the top right corner of this page. You'll also get our newsletter with updates about the farm and pictures of our new seed packet designs for 2012.
Thanks to the dedicated work of many of our farmer-partners we have a great lineup of seeds for you in 2012 - available in both packet and bulk sizes. And we'll be offering new "Seed Collections" where you can save money on our individual packet prices by buying a gang of seed packets all with themes like "Medicinal Herb Garden", "Salad Lovers Mix" and so on.
We'll be updating the website over the next week with all our new seed listings for 2012, including full descriptions, photos, and even some planting instructions. Look for us on Facebook by searching for Stellar Seeds/Kootenay Joe Farm and enjoy our Photo of the Week plus updates on important food and seed issues.
May your holidays be restful, and have a Happy New Year's too!
Seeds being readied for 2012!
Look at this wonderful photo of Colleen O'Brien harvesting carrots. These are the beautiful Nantes Coreless variety that we've been growing and selecting for over six years now. We're really proud of how they look, grow, and especially taste. We've been working on improving this seed stock so that you can have the finest carrots growing in your garden. And the seed will be available for you in packet and bulk sizes in 2012.
It takes two years to grow carrot seed, and this picture shows the culmination of the first years' work - growing a perfect root. Then we store them for the winter, and eventually transplant them back into the ground next spring. They sprout leaves again, and send up stalks over 1m tall, loaded with flowers that eventually produce our high quality, locally grown, organic seed.
We're also working with other farmers in BC to bring ever more quantity of seeds to you, our customers. As you read this we're receiving seeds from different parts of the province, testing them for germination rates, and cleaning them up in preparation for sale this winter. It's really important that networks of farmers and seed companies work together like this. In fact, it's the best way to ensure a strong and independant seed supply that meets the needs of local agriculture. By growing the seed within our own farming communities we can decide what varieties to grow, the manner in which they're grown, and ensure that we don't use genetically modified seeds. If we rely on large, multinational seed companies to service our seed needs, we have little or no control over what is available. Keep it organic and keep it local! That's a central tenet for food, and it's the same for seed. We hope you enjoy growing Stellar Seeds and wish you a bountiful harvest for 2012.
Cooler NIghts, Autumn Moods
While the days are still hot and summery, there is no doubt that the cooler nights herald the nearness of autumn. Like many of our customers and friends, we're busy harvesting the bounty of our gardens, and tending to the fields on our farm. Cover crops of oats, peas and clover are growing thick and beautiful, promising a great feed of organic matter and nutrients for our soil. Infrastructure projects such as our goat barn and greenhouse are underway, and root crops like carrots, potatoes and beets (see photo) are swelling in their underground homes, just waiting to be forked and stored away for wintertime meals.
We've been on the phone with many of our farm friends who grow and provide seeds for us, and while this years challenging weather has certainly caused a few seed crop failures, many of them are growing well. Some of those seeds have already been harvested and are being cleaned right now. Others are still maturing, or are in the drying down phase, nearing the ideal time to be harvested. It makes us proud to think of all the farmer-partners we have that are out there making the dream of a local, organic seed supply a reality. Thank you seed growers!
May all of you who grow and support organic and local seeds have a great fall harvest. We wish you an abundance of nourishing food for your larders, cellars and shelves. Keep checking in with us, we'll be posting updates on new seed crops available in 2012 this fall. We hope you'll plan to make Stellar Seeds a part of your farm or garden again next year!
Springing into Summer
As we near summer solstice there is no doubt that spring has rushed by in a blur and the serious business of summer is soon to come. Serious fun that is, as we continue to develop our new farm property here in the West Kootenays. In the short time since winter and the later-than-usual snows finally left we've been busy working on critical tasks like deer-fencing projects and building a chicken coop and yard to house our flock of layers. Colleen, as you can see, is welcoming them into their new home. We've also been tilling up our fields that are currently growing a nice crop of garlic and will eventually be producing our beloved seeds.
We've had excellent help this spring from great volunteers lending their hands. We can now count new friends from France, England and Canada as part of the special magic that happens when people work together towards a long-term vision. Ten years from now I know we'll look back at all the little things (and a few big things too) on this farm and remember the people who passed through here helping it all become a reality. Thanks to Brad, Lydia, Frances, Alex, Martin, Anne et Mathieu. It's been a great start to our new farm.
To all our friends, and to customers both new and old, who purchased from us this spring, we thank you for choosing our seeds to plant in your gardens. It's been a cold and wet and late start for most of you, as we keep hearing when you speak to us on the phone or by email. Summer is coming! So is the heat! And we will all reap great, tasty rewards from the earth...soon. I know from our own experience, as well as your stories, how well these locally grown seeds will grow - even with the challenges of a late start. Enjoy your time in the gardens and fields, be it the backyard, or the back forty. Share the abundance that you'll harvest, share meals with your friends, and have a great summer tending your crops.
Happy Spring!
Ahhh ... spring! It's time to get outside and plant your gardens and grow beautiful, healthy food to satisfy your cravings during the summer and maybe into the winter. It's been a super late spring here (we hear we're about a month behind schedule), as it sounds like it has been in many other places across the province. But, just in the past week it finally feels like spring may be here! The bud are starting to blossom and the garlic quickly growing. It feels great.
We had a super busy, exhausting winter this year. We were started off way behind from our usual schedule because of our move - who knew moving a farm took so long??? But, we're finally feeling caught up and are trying to get back to a more sustainable work schedule. We did have a great winter though making new contacts and meeting new faces, as well as renewing our friendships with other farmers, gardeners and seed savers across the province.
Our new property is starting to take shape and feel like home. We have made the tough decision to greatly decrease the number of seeds we will be producing this year (but will be back full swing next year) in order to work on weed pressure and fertility in our main field. So, we will be spending this season working on our field, growing a small amount of seed and growing some fresh veggies in a neighbour's garden for our own eating. We will also be focusing on putting up some infrastructure at our farm. We have just finished putting up our first deer fence (around about 2 acres) and it has been successful in keeping out deer so far! We are also going to work on projects like creating a greenhouse, tool shed, a wood shed and maybe a cabin for our amazing WWOOFers that visit us during the season to stay in. We have also just purchased our own tractor to help us out with many of our big farm tasks ahead of us and to keep weeds under control in our field. There are many other things that we have to figure out at our new place, as it hasn't been in production for many years. We are also hoping to get some small livestock this year and are hoping to chickens and ducks.
We are really happy where we are and are looking forward to creating our farming space with our own vision. We want to wish everyone a happy gardening season. Happy planting!
Seedy Saturdays 2011 A Great Success
Well, we're almost done Seedy Saturdays for the season. While we've had a blast seeing old friends and making new ones across the province, we're so excited to be home and sleeping in our own bed for more than a couple of nights in a row. The events that we went to (Victoria, Kalso and Enderby) were fantastic and we have heard from friends that did others for us that they were great as well. Maybe we'll be able to check them out at some point in the future. We have our last Seedy Saturday of the season this upcoming Sunday in Nelson, BC from 11-2. Make sure to come out if you're in the area to trade your own seeds, pick up some new ones and to meet and support other local growers.
We are still super busy putting together seed orders that are streaming in and are getting more and more antsy by the day to start growing, get our hands dirty and work on our piece of land. We have decided that we will probably spend this summer focusing on infrastructure, getting up a deer fence and greenhouse and hopefully an outbuilding or two, and doing some soil building. We are also seriously entertaining the idea of getting some small livestock ... rabbits and chicken/ducks. They can help us fertilize our fields as well as provide some nutrition. Just a start to what we envision in the future. We are also feeling the pressure to grow even more of our own food for summer eating and storage crops, with the increasing cost of food. As well as grow some seeds, of course. It's shaping up to be a busy and exciting summer that we're both really looking forward to.
We hope you all enjoy the rest of your winter and embrace spring once it starts. Happy growing!
Permaculture Course Being Offered in the West Kootenays, BC
This is a great sounding course that our friend Susan Grimble is putting together. It looks amazing.
Fry Creek Permaculture Design Course, March 10-22
In beautiful Johnsons Landing, BC (2 hours north of Nelson)
“Permaculture helped me understand that everything is a living organism. I now use permaculture principles in everything; with my family, with people I work with and in running our business, in my garden and even in how I set up my living space.” Rachel Ross, Non Violent Communications Facilitator
The teachers:
Zia Parker has lived a permaculture based life for 20 years, taught in Africa and the US and runs the Willow Way Permaculture Farm in Colorado.
Jim Gibson is a friend of Paul Stamets and a graduate of the Stamets schools for Mushroom Cultivation and Mycorestoration. He is the fungi man and teaches soil building courses.
Gregoire Lamoureux is a respected permaculture teacher in the Slocan Valley.
All of them have a vast array of skills and they want to share them with you!
Check out this video to find out more about Permaculture and meet Zia and Jim.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-siFJK686I
Zia’s website is www.willowwaywellness.com
This will be a hands-on-class designed for farmers and gardeners of all skill levels, urban and rural.
CURRICULUM
• Permaculture Principles and Ethics
• Permaculture Design Method
• Observing Nature, Site Analysis, Designing
for Diverse Climates, Creating Microclimates
• Nutrient Cycling in Water & Soil
• Gardening: maintaining soil fertility,
exploring the wisdom of plants, Seed saving.
• Season Extension: four season gardening,
cold frames, hoop houses and greenhouses
• Forest gardens, agroforestry, fruit trees
• Multiple Benefits of Fungi: agricultural
applications; cultivation for medicinal & culinary use
• Renewable Energy
• Ecological Building including building with earth materials
• Wise Water use: bioremediation with constructed wetlands, rainwater harvesting, greywater systems, aquaponics, aquaculture
• Incorporating animals into your system: poultry, fish, bees, others
• Urban Permaculture
• Sustainable Community Design
• Group Design Projects
Certification
Our Curriculum is internationally-recognized by the Permaculture Academy. A Permaculture Design Certificate is given upon course completion.
“I have been gardening in the Kootenays for 39 years. I am new to Permaculture but what I have learned has made gardening so much easier. Learning to grow more of our own food and working in alignment with nature will be the foundation for our security in the future.
I look forward to sponsoring this Course, assisting Zia and Jim and creating a safe, comfortable space for you.”
Susan Grimble, Feldenkrais Practitioner
For more information contact me at 250 366-4395 or 352-3449 or email frycreek@kootenayjoe.net
Orders Going Out!
Well, after lots of hard work and long days, seed orders are finally going out the door, from us to you! We sent out our first orders this week on Monday and took another big load to the Post Office today. It feels so good to see all of our hard work being sent to our customers. We're still behind on our orders, but want to thank everyone for their patience - I think we will probably be caught up next week at some point, so we're getting there. We're still working really hard to get everything done and in place and the orders will be sent out as quickly as possible. Again, thank you for your support and patience, we're getting things out as quickly as possible.
Other big news from North Kootenay Lake is the 4th annual KALSO SEEDY SATURDAY has just been announced for FEB 27, 2011. We're really excited to be working with the wonderful Aimee Watson of the Kaslo Food Hub to put on this fantastic event. We are planning on including a variety of seed, agriculture and farm-based vendors with fantastic products from the north end of Kootenay Lake, as well as interesting documentaries and a seed saving workshop by Colleen during the day. It's shaping up to be a quite an event and we really encourage you to come check it out, if you're in the area. It will be from 10-2. Keep and eye out for more information in the Pennywise and posters in the surrounding areas. We hope for a good turn out to support local growers and artisans in the area. If you would like more information on the event, please feel free to contact us at info@stellarseeds.com.
Seedy Saturdays/Sundays
We have had some requests for a list of the Seedy Saturdays/Sundays across the province, as well as the ones we will be at this year. Below is a list of the ones we know about. There is an * next to the ones we and/or our seeds will be at.
Feb 5 - Qualicum Beach *
Feb 12 - Lillooet *
Feb 13 - Salt Spring *
Feb 19 - Victoria *
Feb 19 - Port Alberni
Feb 26 - Vancouver *
Feb 26 - Kamloops
Feb 27 - Kaslo *
March 5 - North Vancouver
March 5 - Courtney *
March 5 - Enderby *
March 6 - Slocan Valley
March 6 - Nanaimo *
March 6 - Rossland
March 12 - Kelowna *
March 12 - Cobble Hill *
March 26 - Duncan
April 2 - Penticton *
April 2 - Mission *
This is what we are confirmed to be at right now. We may add more as they get closer. We will update this blog as that happens. Hope to see many of you at Seedy Saturdays/Sundays across BC soon!