How about a CSA With a Twist?

Any of my CSA farmer friends who had or are having trouble filling subscriptions might want to read about this novel concept my buddy Alan Bishop is using.

"...This year Bishop’s Homegrown is looking to create a viable alternative to the traditional CSA program by creating a farm stand coupon program which will allow customers to still share in helping us get our business going during the part of the season in which seed and implements and other essentials are being purchased while also making the relationship more convenient for the farmer and the shareholders.

In this arrangement, instead of the farmer putting together a box of produce weekly he has selected for you you will instead receive “credit” from our farm which will allow you to visit our farm stand or farm where you can make your selection of produce that we have available including also a selection of seedlings, nursery stock, seeds, compost, poultry, meat, animals and other items from our farm. This gives you the opportunity to decide what you want instead of us deciding what you want. Every $100 you invest will also get you a 10% discount which means that you will actually get 10% more produce for your food dollars."


You can read the entire post by following the link below:
http://homegrowngoodness.blogspot.com/2011/01/2011-bishops-homegrown-farmstand-credit.html

Don't forget to check out Alan's open source vegetable seed catalog:
http://faceoftheearthseed.blogspot.com/

And last, but not least, his very informative and friendly horticultural/agricultural/cultural bulletin board:
http://alanbishop.proboards.com/index.cgi

Bishop's Homegrown 2011 Face of the Earth Seed Catalog

Well, Alan Bishop (my friend, super farmer, plant breeder and social activist) of Bishop's Homegrown finally managed to get a seed catalog of sorts together for 2011.

http://faceoftheearthseed.blogspot.com/

I can't recommend his seeds highly enough. Alan is offering seeds from stable and unstable plant lines in his seed rack. While growing unstable lines may not be for everyone, the benefits of growing from seed like Alan's (as well as seed from the Ken Ettlinger Long Island Seed Project, Tom Wagner of Tater-Mater Seeds and others) are many.

Most importantly you are helping independent seedsmen who are busting their tails to ensure the supply of new, diverse and non-patented seeds.

You will have the ability to select individual plants that bear favorable traits for your specific garden, climate, taste or breeding project.
You'll have a garden full of interesting and surprising things that will taste better than anything you can find in a store.
You'll be contributing to the future of our nation's food system security.

Some of the finest tasting and most beautiful fruits and vegetables I have ever grown came from Alan, Tom and Ken.

I know there are many great companies out there, but here's a short list of folks I have personally done business with and highly recommend to get you started.

• Abundant Life Seed Co.
• Adaptive Seeds - The Seed Ambassadors Project
• Amish Land Heirloom Seeds
• Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
• Bountiful Gardens Heirloom & Open Pollinated Varieties
• Bunch Grapes - Lon J. Rombough, Grape Grower Extraordinaire
• Fedco Seeds
• Fillaree Farms
• Franchi Seeds
• Full Circle Seeds
• Garlicsmiths
• Gourmet Garlic Garden
• Gourmet Seeds Intl.
• High Mowing Seeds
• Hip-Gnosis Seed Development Project (Alan Bishop)
• Horizon Herbs
• Irish Eyes & Garden City Seeds
• JL Hudson Seedsman
• Kitazawa Seeds - Asian Specialty
• Kusa Seed Society - Grains
• Marianna's Heirloom Seeds
• Moose Tubers (Fedco)
• Mother Earth's Seed & Plant Finder
• Native Seeds/SEARCH
• Nichols Garden Nursery
• One Green World - Fruit Trees & Berries
• Peace Seeds - Alan Kapuler
• Peter's Seed Research
• Pinetree Garden Seeds
• Prairie Garden Seeds
• Rain Tree Nursery - Fruit Trees, Berries & Other Edible Bush/Vine Fruits
• Redwood City Seed Co.
• Sandhill Preservation Center
• Seed Savers Exchange
• Seeds of Change
• Sourcepoint Seeds - Grains & Legumes
• Sustainable Mtn Agriculture Center Inc. - Heirloom Beans
• Tater-Mater's Seed Potatoes (Tom Wagner)
• Tatiana's Tomato Seeds
• Territorial Seed
• The Italian Cook's Seed Co.
• Trees of Antiquity - Huge Selection of Fruit Trees
• Turtle Tree Seed
• Uprising Seeds
• Victory Seed Co.
• Wild Garden Seed