Sunday, December 22, 2013

2014 Planting Guide: USDA Plant Hardiness Map

In the next few days I'm going to share more planting info.  It is difficult to share state-specific planting info since it would take me over a month to compile and post all of the info.  So I've decided to make it simple and share by region.

The USDA Plant Hardiness map is a great place to start.





I'm sharing several variations...



Another great resource (and simpler map) is from Mother Earth News:

This is the map I have used in the past and it's fantastic.  It does not include Hawaii and Alaska which have completely different state-specific planting guidelines.  Hawaii is tropical and Alaska has a very short growing season.

This is the beginning of our 2014 Planting Guide for Mary's Heirloom Seeds
Like us on Facebook!
Sign up for our E-Newsletter



Wednesday, December 18, 2013

From Arugula to Zucchini ... Plant Non-GMO Seeds!

Have you read my latest post "What is TPP? How Does it Effect You?"  
The short explanation is that it's a trade agreement between 11 countries.  
A BAD trade agreement.  It makes "Label It" laws and initiatives obsolete.  It means Americans will no longer have the right to know what is in our food due to corporate bullying.

Does this sound like a good thing?  Does it make you want to grow your own food?
http://marysheirloomseeds.com/heirloom-beans-and-corn.html

There are advantages of growing Heirloom Seeds.  From Mother Earth News:
1. Exceptional taste is the No. 1 reason many gardeners cite for choosing heirloom varieties.
2. Heirloom vegetables are likely to be more nutritious than newer varieties.
3. Many gardeners prefer heirloom vegetables because they are open-pollinated, which means you can save your own seed to replant from year to year. 
4. The fourth advantage of heirloom vegetables is that they are “less uniform” than hybrids, which means they often don’t ripen all at once.
5.heirloom open-pollinated vegetables are almost always less expensive than hybrids.
6. Many heirlooms have wonderful stories of how they came to America.
“A particular variety can stay in a family for many generations and have quite a history,” Kaiser says. “They can be passed down just like other heirlooms — like a grandfather clock.”


Organic Authority sums up my feelings perfectly: "When it comes to flavor, many people say that little compares to heirloom foods. Those big, juicy tomatoes are worlds apart from the dry, mealy offerings in supermarkets. Peppers, melons, squash, lettuces and on, all have taste and flavor some people have never really experienced with food before. And when we eat foods that taste alive and vibrant, it can connect us more deeply to the many reasons that real food is real important."

Growing Your Own Saves Money!!!

Food Security

Variety in produce isn't just fun or a novelty; in the most extreme cases, it can help offset famine. Heirloom advocates point to the Irish potato blight of the 1800s as a prime example of a single crop failure causing the deaths of millions of people. Had more than one kind of potato been planted, the blight specific to that single variety would not have been so devastating, and the starvation deaths would have been far less pervasive.

http://marysheirloomseeds.com/herb-seeds.html

Heirloom seeds are Non-GMO Seeds.  Not sure about GMOs?  Read What is a GMO?
Not all non-GMO seeds are Heirlooms; Some are Hybrids or cross-breeds.

If you just started following my blog...Here's a quick "About Me"
My name is Mary and I own and operate on online Heirloom Seeds Company.  Mary's Heirloom Seeds offers open-pollinated, non-gmo and non-hybrid, non-patented,  untreated, heirloom garden seeds.

I don't sell anything I wouldn't grow in my own garden.  No gmo-franken-seeds!

Stop by and check out Mary's Heirloom Seeds.  
There are over 100 Non-GMO, Heirloom seed Varieties on our website.
If you have any questions please feel free to ask!
Like us on Facebook!
Sign up for our E-Newsletter



Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Tuesdays with a Twist #37 GROWING Edition

Good Morning and Happy Tuesday!
THIS WEEK...I've announced New Heirloom Seeds
@ Mary's Heirloom Seeds!
Hopi Blue Corn   *Non-GMO*
 If you grow from seed I'd like to hear from you!

Back to the Basics

Welcome to another No Rules Party!
We're your hosts 
Joyce @ It's Your Life! 
and me...Mary @ Back to the Basics and Mary's Kitchen
And your Co-Hosts
Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
And please Welcome Jenn @  Endlessly Inspired

Features!  
Each co-host will be sharing her own picks for Features. This gives everyone a better chance of being featured. Be sure to check all of our blogs to see if you were featured!
 
My Features this Week are:

Frosty the Fridge from The (Mis) Adventures of a "Born" Again Farm Girl




Homemade Granola from Simple Mama

Cranberry Orange Marmalade from On the Home Front

The party starts every Tuesday at 7am EST and will continue until Friday at 11:59pm.  Feel free to stop back any time and "like" your favorites.  Please visit other blogs if you have a moment. 
Share older posts as well as new ones.  No limit on links!
*Pictures should be your own* 
By linking up you give us permission to use these photos
 (with proper link backs) in our features.   And now for the party!

Before you go...Please Read!
Our Goal is to raise GMO Free awareness through social and educational programs throughout the country. We would like to build GMO-Free Gardens in schools and for Food Banks to provide nutrients for those in need.We currently work with several local schools to share growing information as well as donations of non-gmo seeds to teachers, students and school staff.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Seeds of the Month Club


This is definitely one of the most popular items this year for Christmas!
Give the gift of Life and Sustainability to the gardener in your life.
AND...If it's a last-minute gift, we'll email the Certificate!!!

Welcome to

Mary's Seeds of the Month Club


My favorite Heirloom GREENS Varieties

How does the Seeds of the Month Club Work?

All of our seed  varieties are open-pollinated, Non-GMO Heirloom Seeds.  
The "SUPER" membership options also includes 4 extra packets of Organic Wildflower seeds with your first month.

Your first shipment is sent out within 48 hours of you ordering. We ship via the United States Postal Service. The length of delivery time will be based on your location. You can expect your first shipment to arrive within 7 to 10 business days from the date you place your order.

Your first 8 or 4 packs of seeds are mailed right away. Then each month you will receive 4 packs of seeds by the last Friday of each month for the month in which they are due.


There are 4 options to join the Seeds of the Month Club:

12 Month SUPER Membership - Seeds of the Month Club
The 12 Month SUPER Membership includes 8 seeds packs the first month and 4 seed packs each month for a full 12 months.  Excellent gift Idea!
That's 52 packs of Heirloom, Non-GMO seeds with FREE Shipping!

*Plus 4 packs of Organic Wildflowers*  That's 56 Seed packs!

12 Month Seeds of the Month Club Membership
The 12 Month Membership includes 4 seeds packs the first month and 2 seed packs each month for a full 12 months. Excellent gift Idea!
That's 26 packs of Heirloom, Non-GMO seeds with FREE Shipping!
 

6 Month SUPER Membership - Seeds of the Month Club
The 6 Month SUPER Membership includes 8 seeds packs the first month and 2 seed packs each month for 6 months. Excellent gift Idea!
That's 18 packs of Heirloom, Non-GMO seeds with FREE Shipping!

*Plus 4 packs of Organic Wildflowers*  That's 22 seed packs!

6 Month Seeds of the Month Club Membership
The 6 Month Membership includes 4 seed packs the first month and 2 seed packs each month for 6 months.  Excellent gift Idea!
That's 14 packs of Heirloom, Non-GMO seeds with FREE Shipping!


**When checking out: Please let us know the address to send these to, if they are a gift or for yourself, what month you would like your subscription to start. We would be happy to include a note in the first shipment and we always include a card introducing the subscription. 


Sunday, December 15, 2013

It's the SEED-Y Time of Year! NEW Heirloom Varieties!

Are you signed up for our e-newsletter?  Why not? It's a GREAT way to get FREE info on gardening, growing from seed AND you get the latest info right to your inbox.  Go on...Sign Up!
I've been working on increasing our heirloom seed varieties this past year.  When we first opened Mary's Heirloom Seeds back in 2011 we offered 20 varieties.  By mid-2013 we offered over 70.  Now, I am please to announce we offer 105 varieties with several more on the way!
Shipping on Heirloom Seeds is FREE!!!  
Check out Mary's Seeds of the Month Club.  It's a 6 or 12 month membership and make a Spectacular Christmas gift!
All NEW Varieties  December 2013
 
It's Official, We now offer over 100 Seed varieties!
Check out our New Arrivals Just in Time for delivery before Christmas!
Russian Red "Ragged Jack" Kale
55-60 days.  A tender and mild, a pre-1885 heirloom variety. Oak type leaves have a red tinge, and stems are a purplish-red.
Great flavor.  A hardy plant that fares well in cold weather, often thriving through the winter.     Check it Out!
Hopi Blue Corn   *Non-GMO*
90-110 days.   Considered a staple corn of the Hopi people, this corn can be eaten as a sweet corn when young, or allowed to dry it can be used to make flour.
Hopi Blue has a higher protein content than a dent corn and makes wonderful tortillas. The 7 inch, dried blue ears also make great autumn decorations. Plants are 5-6 feet tall.         Check it Out!
Catnip!
Catnip grows to a height of three or four feet, and features downy, light green foliage with small lavender flowers that grow on spikes up to five inches long.
The vibrant green leaves of catnip are not only attractive to cats but are popular in tea for people as well.     Check it Out!
Thai Holy "Kaprao" Basil
A stronger-flavored basil than sweet basil, Thai Basil also has a hint of licorice flavor.
The leaves, which are about half the size of sweet basil, have purple stems and make pretty garnishes.

Plant Size: 1 to 2 feet tall and wide. 

Check it Out!
Purple Coneflower
Open Pollinated. Also called Echinacea. Lovely wildflower native to North America with lavender petals surrounding a reddish-orange cone center. Parts of this flower have purported medicinal benefits.
Check it Out!
This weekend we have decided to donate a portion of all seed sales to 2 local non-profit rescues.  The cutoff is Monday, December 16th @ 10am EST
Why? because we ship within 24 hours and this will get your order to you by Christmas AND these babies need our help!   Read more for Details

Have a wonderful weekend!
Mary                           Like us on Facebook

Visit Our Blog
 
 

Great for a beginner or seasoned gardener.  The All-In One is a great garden starter kit.   
Makes a GREAT gift! 
This pack includes one full-sized packet of every veggie seed we carry. 
Includes New Arrivals!         (Save over $100)

 
 
Like us on Facebook


Helpful Links
 

The last Creative Home & Garden Hop

Good Morning and Happy Sunday!

This is the last Creative Home & Garden Hop.  Not to worry...You can still party with me @ Tuesdays with a Twist and Real Food Fridays!

We've had an AMAZING week here.
The Seeds of the Month Club has been a HUGE success so far!
AND...We just announced NEW seed varieties!

RUSSIAN RED KALE

CATNIP
HOPI BLUE CORN...and More!
I sent out a bunch of new orders yesterday of Heirloom Seeds.  I am thrilled that more and more people are learning about the dangers of GMOs.

And now for the Party? 

The Creative Home & Garden Hop hosts:

Alison from Mumtopia
Mary from Back to the Basics and Mary’s Kitchen
and Lisa from Little Homestead on the Hill and The Self Sufficient HomeAcre

Featured Posts

Each host will share her own features each week. This means you have an even better chance of being picked! Be sure to visit all of our hosts to see if your post was featured!
My Features this week are: 


Best Dairy Goat Breeds for Small Farms from The Free Range Life


How to Make Holiday Sugar Scrubs from My Lamp is Full

If you were featured, feel free to grab the button and share it on your blog!


The Little Homestead on the Hill
<div align="center"><a href="http://littlehomesteadonthehill.blogspot.com/" title="The Little Homestead on the Hill"><img src="http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/featured-e1374073492382.jpg" alt="The Little Homestead on the Hill" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Now, on to your latest creations!
  • Share up to 3 of your Creative Home and Garden posts. Etsy sellers are welcome to share here too. :)
  • Please link back to the hop in your post. If you don’t take a couple of seconds to do this, you won’t be featured. You can grab our cute button or use a text link in your post. Thanks for sharing the hop with others!
  • Pretty please, with cherries on top, go visit as many of the other bloggers posting as you can! The whole point of a hop is to build a community of like minded bloggers who share and support each other. :) We all love to hear from our visitors, so please leave thoughtful and kind comments when you visit!
  • Link your posts once. Please do not link the same post you linked last week! Let’s keep it fresh and fun!
  • By linking your posts here you are assuring us that all images and contents are your own, or you have permission to share them. You are also agreeing to let us share your post and images on social media and our blogs.
  • Happy hopping!

Little Homestead on the Hill
<div align="center"><a href="http://littlehomesteadonthehill.blogspot.com/" title="Little Homestead on the Hill"><img src="http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/IMG_7782-001-e1374069167884.jpg" alt="Little Homestead on the Hill" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Friday, December 13, 2013

**BREAKING NEWS** Update

I had intended to share info on NEW Heirloom Seed varieties @ Mary's Heirloom Seeds but something VERY important has come up.

I follow Spots and Stripes Exotic Rescue on facebook.  This week one of their babies has fallen ill and needed LOTS of medical attention.  
We've been there!   So... My husband and I have decided to donate
 $1 from each Wheatgrass Kits AND $1 from each Heirloom Seed pack from our sales this weekend.  

The cutoff is Monday, December 16th @ 10am EST
Why? because we ship within 24 hours and this will get your order to you by Christmas AND these babies need our help!

Wheatgrass Kit #3 with Container  (3 kits=$3 donation)
Grow your own non-GMO, soil-free Cat Grass!!!
Kit #3 includes:
1 re-useable tray
3 - 4in x 5in coconut coir mat
3 ozs. Organic Hard Red Wheat, non-GMO

Only Kit  #3  includes a re-useable tray.  The first 2 kits ship for less because they are less bulky. Kit #3 makes a great gift for the animal lover in your life!  $13.50 plus shipping




Wheatgrass Kit #2  (3 kits=$3 donation)
Picture Grow your own non-GMO, soil-free Cat Grass!!!
Kit #2 includes:
3 - 4in x 5in coconut coir mat
3 ozs. Organic Hard Red Wheat, non-GMO
*container not included*
$9.50 plus shipping

 check out our Kits


Wheatgrass Kit #1  (1 kit= $1 donation)
Picture Grow your own non-GMO,  soil-free Cat Grass!!!
Kit #1 includes:
1 - 4in x 5in coconut coir mat
1 oz. Organic Hard Red Wheat, non-GMO
*container not included*
$4.50 plus shipping




If you have questions please feel free to ask!


Sign up for our E-Newsletter



Thursday, December 12, 2013

What is TPP? How does it Effect YOU?

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use
 to change the world.” ― Nelson Mandela

TPP stands for Trans-Pacific Partnership.  
From Eff.org "The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a secretive, multi-national trade agreement that threatens to extend restrictive intellectual property (IP) laws across the globe and rewrite international rules on its enforcement. The main problems are two-fold:
(1) IP chapter: Leaked draft texts of the agreement show that the IP chapter would have extensive negative ramifications for users’ freedom of speech, right to privacy and due process, and hinder peoples' abilities to innovate.
(2) Lack of transparency: The entire process has shut out multi-stakeholder participation and is shrouded in secrecy."


My thoughts: Any Multi-Nation "deal" that might take away more of our rights as Free American People is a bad idea.  The US is riding the razors-edge at the moment but it could tip in either direction.  Civil Wars have been fought over less.

Here's what I mean... from Expose the TPP 

The Trans-Pacific Partnership Would Undermine Food Safety


The TPP would require us to import meat and poultry that do not meet U.S. food safety standards. 

The TPP would require us to allow food imports if the exporting country claims that their safety regime is "equivalent" to our own, even if it violates the key principles of our food safety laws. These rules would effectively outsource domestic food inspection to other countries.  



Under TPP, any U.S. food safety rule on pesticides, labeling or additives that is higher than international standards would be subject to challenge as "illegal trade barriers." The U.S. would be required to eliminate these rules and allow in the unsafe food, or we would face trade sanctions.



The U.S. Food and Drug Administration already inspects less than 1% of all seafood imports for health hazards. Entering into the TPP with Malaysia and Vietnam, both TPP negotiating parties and major seafood exporters, would increase seafood imports and further overwhelm inspectors' limited ability to ensure the safety of our food. Some TPP countries have serious shrimp and fish safety issues. For example, even with the minimal inspections, high levels of contaminants have been found in Vietnam's seafood.



Under the TPP, food labels could also be challenged as "trade barriers." The TPP would impose limits on labels providing information on where a food product comes from. The TPP also would endanger labels identifying genetically modified foods and labels identifying how food was produced. TPP would expand the limits on consumer labels already included in existing "trade" agreements, like the World Trade Organization (WTO). But already under the WTO, the U.S. dolphin-safe tuna fish label and our country-of-origin meat and poultry labels have been successfully attacked by other countries. And, under TPP, a foreign meat processing or food corporation operating within the United States could directly challenge our policies that they claim undermine their expected future profits - meaning a barrage of new attacks. 



Maybe you have seen the "March Against Monsanto" signs, petitions and events that happen around the world in May and October every year.  Maybe you've thought "well this doesn't effect me so I won't worry about it."  
Well, it effects YOU.  It effects ME.  It effects OUR FAMILIES!

The TPP takes away rights that are protected under the Constitution.  THE SAME CONSTITUTION THAT OUR BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN FIGHT AND DIE FOR. 

I urge you to learn more about the TPP and SHARE.  If you're a blogger PLEASE share the info on your own blog and invite others to learn and share.
 “I am not a teacher, but an awakener.” ― Robert Frost