Seed sources

[dominiquer60]

“Where do folks on DAP buy their farm seeds, hay, forage, spring oats and such?”

I wanted to reply to Jason without using the front porch.

We mostly use a former Agway that still sells Southern States and related products, as well as Nutrina, Purina, etc. They sell all types of forage seeds, potatoes, custom mixed grains and fertilizers, farm supplies and such.
It is one of the few great mom and pop farm supply places left in eastern NY. They are carrying more organic seeds due to demand, they can also try to order anything you want, it just may not be something that they can get. Hoosick Valley Farmers Exchange is the name of it. There is a similar place in Bennington VT called Whitmans.

A local sustainable vegetable group also does a group order for organic seeds from http://www.lakevieworganicgrain.com/, they are one of the largest organic grain farms in NY.

Erika

[jen judkins]

There is a good organic feed mill in Bethel, VT. Green Mountain Feed. http://www.greenmountainfeeds.com/

I like their stuff alot. Abit pricey, but avoiding by-products and pesticide processed grains is important to me.

[Happy When Hitched]

Over the decades, I’ve bought rare/organic seed from a lot of sources. Once I found Baker Creek, I’ve only glanced back in the most fleeting way.
Check these folks out! http://rareseeds.com/ Jere Gettle and his wife are amazing. Look around far enough to see their cowboy get-ups!
Were I closer to Missouri, I’d go visit.

[near horse]

Some of the seed sources listed are primarily veg seeds not much in heirloom grains etc BUT a link on the rareseeds website brought this site [HTML]http://www.prseeds.ca/[/HTML]. In Canada but looks like they’ve got some neat stuff. “Goodcompanion” – are you familiar with any of the heirloom wheat varieties listed? The internet never ceases to amaze one:)

[near horse]

New comment. I should have read further down the page of [HTML]http://www.prseeds.ca/[/HTML] Priced in small increments (5g to 50 g) and I didn’t see bulk amounts available. So I guess it’s more for gardens:o
Sorry.

[Crabapple Farm]

Unfortunately, there is a serious lack of availability of heirloom varieties of grain seed (except corn). I think because grains have been viewed so strongly as a commodity, the older landraces are almost all functionally extinct. There are probably fewer than a dozen old landrace wheats available in the US in quantity (Red Fife, Turkey, and Sonora are available if you search hard enough). And almost all the modern varieties (which is to say everything that is commercially available) are Patented, which imho is just wrong.
There are a few sources for small quantities of seed, http://www.sustainablegrains.org and http://www.growseed.org are two people I’ve gotten some wheat from, the first one has some varieties in quantity.
If anyone else knows of any sources for heirloom grains, I would love to hear about it.
Luckily the USDA gene bank has all the old varieties, so we and a few other folks have been trying to grow some out to make quantities available again.
On the larger seed question, Fedco is our main source (there’s a regional group order for cover crop/grain seed to cut down on shipping). Lakeview is a good source for organic seed in the Northeast.
-Tevis

[Robert MoonShadow]

Has anyone checked with ATTRA? They’ve been an excellent referral source for just about anything ‘heritage’ I’ve asked about –> poultry, veggies, pigs, etc.
http://www.attra.ncat.org
or perhaps try asking the landgrant university of one of the major grain-producing states such as Kansas?

[near horse]

Land-grant schools are some of the folks holding patents on grain. Most folks would consider “heirloom” varieties as junk – although they could have a gene or two worth swiping. Just been my experience. A good example of Univ interests, while not grain related, is a recent $400,000+ grant at a local land-grant school to identify the “genome” (genes) associated with better feed conversion. Come on.:eek:

[Robernson]

Good sites everybody!
~~R

[Gabe Ayers]

I recommend:

E and R Seed LLC
1356 E. 200 S.
Monroe, Indiana 46772

866-510-3337

email: eandrseed@yahoo.com

Write them and ask for a catalog. They have many products for organic production and some open pollinating heirloom varieties. They are an Amish company. I have been very satisfied with there customer service and prices.

~

[Robernson]

http://www.rhshumway.com/

They’re pretty good.
~~R

[LaNette]

I use the Roswell Seed Company out of Roswell, NM. They will be printing their 107th annual spring catalog in 2010. Not too many companies in this part of the world can boast having been established since 1898. Their selection is primarily customized to this region however.

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