This is my kitchen table.  My husband, Bruce, loves the fact that we cant use it since the seeds have taken over.  Every winter one of my favorite things to do is seed orders.  It is quite the process!  First I must take inventory on the seeds that we already have.  This year we got to add the element of making a spread sheet with all the info about each packet of seeds.  The variety, quantity, certifing agent and date for each and every one.  I guess in the long run it will be beneficial to just be able to go in and update the sheet.  

It is always fun to dig through the catalougs each spring.  Some of them are very entertaning and contain precarious information the items.  FedCo is the best for odd info about seed.  For instance there is a pepper called Beaver Dam.  The following is the description from the catalogue: "Drenched and desolate? Leave it to Beaver! The only pepper to produce for Emily Cates in this challenging season, Beaver Dam set several pendulous shiny horn-shaped 6" red-orange fruits per plant, 3" wide at the shoulders, tapering to a blunt point.  Early for its size and a heavy producer in more normal years.  With Beaver Dam you can have it both ways: sweet or with heat.  Most of its mild spice is in its seeds and ribs so you can excise those if you wish.  Or leave them in to enjoy its nice peppery flavor.  Heirloom brought to Beaver Dam, WI, in 1912 by the Joe Hussli family.  Emily's favorite for roasting over hot coals in the wood stove."  

Such a joy to learn so much about each item while getting the jist of what is to come from the seed.  Seed hunting can be quite time consuming.  I started taking my pile of catalogs with me to great-grandmas, the greenhouse, the car, for when the girls are sleeping or just playing for a few minutes, I can get some done.  Usually its about one or 2 items, but more than I would have if I hadn't brought it along.  Seize the moment! 

When thinking seed, I have to give thanks for our dedicated CSA members who sign up early.  You really are the glue that holds this operation together.  I would not be able to order seed if it wasn't for your early renewals!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!