PLANT for the BEES and BUTTERFLIES

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Mary's Heirloom Seeds Newsletter Plant for Pollinators and Increase your Yields! April 28, 2015 Education is a priority here at Mary's Heirloom Seeds. We're here to help! GROWING TIPS ~~~~~~~~~~~ SUPPLIES Organic Plant Food Heirloom BEANS Heirloom BEETS Heirloom CABBAGE Heirloom CARROTS Heirloom CORN Heirloom CUCUMBER Heirloom FRUIT Heirloom GREENS Heirloom ONIONS Heirloom PEAS Heirloom PEPPERS Heirloom RADISH Heirloom SEEDS SQUASH & PUMPKIN Heirloom TOMATOES HERB Seeds Organic Wildflowers Specialty Heirlooms Seed Pack Combos SPROUTS A few favorites Cherokee Purple Tomato VISIT OUR SEED STORE!  www.marysheirloomseeds.com A few thing before we get started... -ALASKA and HAWAII will be added to our next Seed Planting Guide....Sending out tomorrow! -Please share this very important newsletter.  You'll find out why in the info below. It's best if you use the share tool at the bottom (it keeps the email in it's original format) Click "Forward Email" in blue at the very bottom. We do not store or keep your friend's info. Are you READY??? What's the Big Deal about BEES? Have you heard about CCD or Colony Collapse Disorder? "Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is a phenomenon in which worker bees from a beehive or European honey bee colony abruptly disappear. While such disappearances have occurred throughout the history of apiculture, the term colony collapse disorder was first applied to a drastic rise in the number of disappearances of Western honey bee colonies in North America in late 2006. Colony collapse is significant because many agricultural crops worldwide are pollinated by bees." English Lavender One possible theory... Honeybee Deaths Linked to Corn Insecticide:   New research shows a link between an increase in the death of bees and insecticides, specifically the chemicals used to coat corn seeds.    Source FREE Seeds for the BEES   and BUTTERFLIES! From a customer,   "Monarch Butterflies are about the be placed on the Endangered Species list (thanks Monsanto!).  If we all bought at least one package of these (Milkweed) with every order maybe we could help." TROPICAL MILKWEED AWESOME idea!!!  Mary's Heirloom Seeds wants to help save the BEES and the BUTTERFLIES!  From NOW thru May 3rd, ALL orders will include a FREE PACK of MARIGOLD or Butterfly-Garden Mix...Your Choice! Just leave a comment with your order! **Order with COCONUT COIR PELLETS and we'll include 2 Free Seed Packs** **Minimum $10 Order with free shipping on heirloom seeds within the 50 United States and US Territories** What to Plant and WHY? The simplest way to increase crop yields is to encourage pollinators to your garden.  It's simple to do, easy to grow and eco-friendly. BASIL and BORAGE produce flowers and are both companion plants for Tomatoes, Peppers, Squash and Eggplant. Marigold is another companion plant AND it deters nematodes! MILKWEED is the perfect addition if you're looking to attract Bees and Butterflies. HERBS: Lavender, Lemon Bee Balm, Anise Hyssop, Caraway, Chives, Chamomile and Yarrow are all Flowering Herbs and what I call "Double Duty Herbs."  These "double duty" varieties encourage pollinators to your garden AND are useful in herbal home remedies as well as home-cooking recipes.    SUNFLOWERS are an excellent addition to your garden for the bees and other pollinators.  For multiple flowers, try Mexican Sunflower! Nasturtium is another edible flower that attracts pollinators.  Pretty flowers with a delicious flavor!  As a companion plant, Nasturtium deters Squash Vine Borers!  For a basic list of Crops and Companion Plants, read Top 10 Crops with Companions. For a detailed list, read   COMPANION PLANTS 101  We found a helpful article:  Pollinators More important to Crop Yields than Fertilizer  "The critical importance of pollinators is exemplified in a recent study out of the University of California, Berkeley. Not only do pollinators help increase crop yields, they may be even more important than fertilizers, according to the study suggests." "Scientists concluded that an almond tree can compensate for the lack of nutrients and water in the short term by storing the nutrients and water in the fruits instead, but cannot compensate for insufficient pollination"   Have you seed our VIDEO? Many of you have asked for information we have been sharing during our free workshops in our local community.  Here's the first of many! *Click the picture below* Seed Starting Made Simple More Helpful Links: SEED Terms Explained OUR SEEDS HAVE A HISTORY MORE Nutritional Info on Sprouting More about Nitrogen   More about Phosphorus Nutrients that Give Your Soil a Boost