Some Last Words

If anyone is interested in older varieties or ones not readily available commercially, I invite them to become members of Seeds of Diversity Canada (formerly Heritage Seed Program), Box 36, Station Q, Toronto, ON, M4T 2L7 (website: www.seeds.ca) I will send you our brochure on request. One of the activities promoted by SoDC is Seedy Saturdays (and Sundays), held in various locations throughout Canada in the winter and early spring. Each one is a day of buying, selling and swapping seeds as well as talks, displays and other educational events. I plan to attend the ones in Calgary on March 20 , 2010, Edmonton (March 21, 2010) and Saskatoon (March 13, 2010). I would be happy to meet any customers who come to these events, and will bring seed orders with me. For a listing of all Seedy Saturdays throughout Canada visit www.seeds.ca

SoDC offers the most recent edition of a 32 page booklet entitled How to Save your own Vegetable Seeds. Ce livre de 32 pages, Comment Produire et Conserver les Graines des Legumes, est aussi disponible en français. To purchase a copy visit www.seeds.ca or www.semences.ca

I am heading a Seeds of Diversity Canada initiative to grow and document all the Canadian tomato varieties, a project which will probably run for 5 years. We are hoping to enlist a group of volunteers to grow these varieties (some 125-150 of them) and will provide a reporting sheet to record observations on each of them. We will attempt to procure seed for any variety you would like to grow. You can also purchase seed from me and, if you do so, $1.00 from the purchase price of every packet of Canadian tomato seed goes to SoDC to help in our preservation and documentation projects. For more information on this project please contact me or visit www.seeds.ca

The SAFE SEED INITIATIVE has joined with a number of seed companies to create the Safe Seed Pledge, and I would like to add my voice to theirs. I do not grow or sell seeds of genetically engineered plants. I feel that genetically engineered varieties have been insufficiently tested prior to public release. More research and testing is necessary to further assess the potential risks of genetically engineered seeds. I wish to support agricultural progress that leads to healthier soils, genetically diverse agricultural ecosystems and ultimately, healthier people and communities.

All seeds are grown without agricultural chemicals
except those marked ( C ) (commercial seed).
All seeds are open pollinated,
untreated and not genetically modified.

I try to thank each person who sends me seed samples and used stamps (yes, I collect stamps as well as seeds!), but in case I forgot: THANK YOU. Every year a few new seeds find their way into my seed catalogue, many of which have been gifts from you who are reading this.

Our website address is: www.prseeds.ca This entire catalogue can be found there, including a somewhat longer list of flower seeds. You will have to print the order form, fill it out and send it in the mail with your payment. You may send your order via e mail as well (prairie.seeds@sasktel.net). However, you will still need to send payment via Canada Post, and orders will only be shipped once your payment is received. The cost of this catalogue is $2.00, so even if you request one via e mail, you will still have to send payment by mail.

A "thank you" is due to my sisters Betty Ternier Daniels and Judy Ternier. They have been very generous in providing seeds for my catalogue from their gardens. A final thank you goes to my wife Marie-Louise for all the work she has done with me on this catalogue, and for supporting and loving the farmer for the past 30 years.

Do you have seeds you would like to trade, or is there anything you would like me to offer in future years? If you do not see a seed you would like in our listing, ask and I might have a bit on hand. I am happy to have your comments on our seeds, or on any aspect of gardening on the prairies.

Looking forward to serving you,

Jim Ternier