2013 Seed and Root Catalog
Updated March 13, 2012
[ Our Growing Practices | Important Ordering Information ]
2006JHMD.jpg "heirloom beans (c)2006 JHMD")
Seed Availability
The seed availabilities have been updated as of March 13, 201
Seed Orders to Canada and Other Foreign Countries
We have always requested that orders from Canada and other foreign countries be sent to us with payment in U.S. DOLLARS ONLY. We have continued to receive foreign orders in Canadian funds and in Euros. It has been very difficult for us to get these payments converted to U.S. dollars, sometimes receiving a 10% to 15% discount for the conversion. THIS MEANS THAT WE HAVE BEEN LOSING MONEY ON FOREIGN SEED ORDERS. We have been notified by our bank this week that as of March 1, 2009, the fees for converting foreign funds to U.S. dollars are increasing greatly (sometimes up to $100.00 US per request).
Therefore, WE WILL NO LONGER ACCEPT ANY FOREIGN ORDER FOR SEEDS WHICH IS ACCOMPANIED BY A PAYMENT IN FOREIGN FUNDS. If you send us a foreign order with payment in anything other than US dollars, your order will be returned to you immediately. We are very sorry for this situation and for any inconvenience that it may cause. We were informed by our bank that "US Dollars" must be pre-printed on the check or money order and that it may not be written in by hand. It is our understanding that most any foreign bank (or possibly your local postal facility) is capable of selling you an "International Money Order" made out in U.S. Dollars. We just can not continue to incur this loss any more.
2013 Seed Order Form
You must scroll to the bottom of this page and click on the link that says "Go to seed and root catalog". When you get to the seed index page, then chose a vegetable/fruit. When you get to that vegetable's/fruit's page, you will see the link to the Seed Order Form.
Our growing practices
We grow over 90% of the varieties listed here. These are grown on our farm, either through controlled hand pollinations or by isolations. We have 10 acres in seed production and evaluation. Under no circumstance are any of our seeds chemically treated.
Organic Certification Update: We were able to get organic certification on part of our farm this year (more information on that in the 2008 update). We have many varieties in this year's catalog which are being offered as CERTIFIED ORGANIC If the item is being offered as CERTIFIED ORGANIC, it will have an OG after the price of the seeds.
Safe Seed Pledge: We will never offer any genetically engineered varieties. We have a firm commitment to traditional plant breeding techniques and are adamantly opposed to moving genes from one species to another through biotechnology. Please see this pledge in it's entirety on the Resources and Links page.
Availability of varieties
Though we don't discontinue varieties, the nature of our company means that we will have temporary crop failures. Please don't interpret a crop failure as a varietal weakness. We have so many projects that sometimes factors such as not enough hours in the day, rodents, late plantings, weather, etc. can ruin a seed crop for a particular season. In spite of this, our seed listings have continued to expand to include a broader variety of items.
Dates when seed may be ordered
Seed orders are filled year-round. If you need the seed to plant for a fall garden, it is imperative that we receive the order in our office prior to August 15. You may experience delays in processing your orders in January and early February due to the great number of orders coming in to our office right after the catalog is mailed out. From January through March, orders are processed and shipped several times a week. There can also be some delays in filling orders from October through December while we are harvesting and processing the new seeds from the garden. Most of the seed is grown by us here on our farm so it does take a lot of time to pick, dry, clean, and shelve all of the newly grown seed. From August through December we try to send out seed orders about once every two weeks.
Germination-tested seeds
All seed is germination tested to ensure that it meets Federal Standards. We always try to include extra seed to allow for any occurrence that might leave you short. As genetic preservationists, we are very concerned that our seed does germinate. If any should fail to germinate please let us know and we will be happy to replace it. We cannot guarantee the germination of seeds purchased one year and not planted until the next year (or later). Seeds must be stored under the proper conditions to remain viable past the purchase year. Under no circumstance can we be held liable for more than the purchase price of the seeds.
Shipping and Handling
Orders sent to addresses within the United States: Postage for the shipment of seeds is included in the price of the seeds, except for small orders. There is an additional $2.00 shipping and handling fee for all orders under $20.00.
Canadian orders: We can not ship bulblets, plants or roots to a Canadian address. Seed orders to a Canadian address must add $4.00 (American) for each order to cover the added postage costs.
International orders: We can not ship bulblets, plants or roots to addresses outside the United States. Please add $5.00 (American) to each order shipped to a foreign address (other than Canada). We will not ship more than packet quantities (no pound quantities, etc.).
Iowa Sales Tax
Only Iowa residents must include a 7% sales tax on seeds, bulblets, roots, books and sweet potatoes.
Standard Delivery
Standard Delivery Service: There is no postage or handling on orders greater than $20.00. Orders under $20.00 require $2.00 for postage and handling. Orders are filled in the order received in our office. Payment must be enclosed with your order. During peak season it can take up to three weeks to turn around an order from the time the order is received in our office to the time the order is shipped.
Ordering Tips
Be patient: We do this in addition to another full time job and this is still just a hobby business for us. If you must have your seeds by a certain date, then we are not the company for you. We work with living organisms and controlled amounts of seed. I would love to have the time to answer each and every letter and e-mail that is sent, but some e-mails have such detailed questions that it would take days to answer these. We will try to get to your questions and concerns, but be aware that we sometimes get way behind in correspondence.
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