California Company Specializes In “Old Grain”
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If you’re looking for heritage grain lines, Sustainable Seeds Co. (SSC) may have what you need. They offer more than 300 varieties of grain from sesame seed to amaranth to wheat. That’s in addition to the 1,400 varieties of vegetables, herbs and flowers they carry. Some of the grains, like Red Clawson wheat, are in such short supply that they are sold in packets of only 25 seeds. Others, like “Streaker” hulless oats, are available in 50-lb. bags.
“We evaluate old varieties for traits to see if they are worth putting into production immediately,” says John Fendley, Sustainable Seeds Co. “We may work on some to improve them as we have with Burbank Barley. It hadn’t been planted since the 1930’s. When we started, it would put out 2 heads per plant. Now we get 15 heads. It took time and a lot of work.”
Most of the varieties SSC works with haven’t been grown commercially in decades or longer and are hard to find. He gets seed from the USDA Seed Bank in Idaho, which he describes as “fantastic”. Other seed sources include various universities and private collectors, etc.
“Once we got into the business, we started finding people all over the world who would send us stuff, and we send back to them,” says Fendley. “We have a guy in Russia who sends us interesting varieties and people in the Mideast, where many of our grains originated, who send seed.”
Often there is a long process between getting seed and offering it for sale. In the case of the seed bank, they may only provide 30 to 40 seeds of a rare variety. Fendley starts them in a greenhouse and transplants them to a garden plot.
“We may get 1/4 lb. of seed the first year and then grow it out the second,” he explains. “If we see traits people will want, we continue to grow it out and offer it for sale.”
SSC offers mostly heritage varieties, often from the 1800’s. Some varieties are newer, like Lewjain wheat, developed in 1982, yet still rare. It’s available only in packets of 25 seeds each, and those are limited in quantity. Seed sells for as much as $7.99 per packet.
“When deciding what to order, consider the end use,” advises Fendley. “If the intent is to eat it, then in what? If it’s for livestock, what has the highest protein?”
He suggests checking with state universities for what varieties used to be grown in the area. Once a variety has been selected, if it’s rare, Fendley encourages customers to save back seed themselves to replant.
“We can only grow so many,” he says. “I always recommend saving seed for a rainy day.”
If a particular variety adapts well and has good flavor, it may prove popular with local bakers, brewers or livestock producers. Fendley suggests setting aside the highest quality seed for reseeding, the second rank seed for eating and the lower quality seed for animal feed. Some varieties simply may not work out in flavor, yield or other traits.
Because the company has such small quantities of some varieties in stock, Fendley advises placing orders in the fall. Fall seeding also may be recommended for some varieties in particular areas.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Sustainable Seed Co., P.O. Box 38, Covelo, Calif. 95428 (ph 707 703-1242; toll free 877 620-7333; support@sustainableseedco.com; www.sustainableseedco.com).
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California Company Specializes In “Old Grain” CROPS New Crops If you’re looking for heritage grain lines Sustainable Seeds Co SSC may have what you need They offer more than 300 varieties of grain from sesame seed to amaranth to wheat That’s in addition to the 1 400 varieties of vegetables herbs and flowers they carry Some of the grains like Red Clawson wheat are in such short supply that they are sold in packets of only 25 seeds Others like “Streaker” hulless oats are available in 50-lb bags “We evaluate old varieties for traits to see if they are worth putting into production immediately ” says John Fendley Sustainable Seeds Co “We may work on some to improve them as we have with Burbank Barley It hadn’t been planted since the 1930’s When we started it would put out 2 heads per plant Now we get 15 heads It took time and a lot of work ” Most of the varieties SSC works with haven’t been grown commercially in decades or longer and are hard to find He gets seed from the USDA Seed Bank in Idaho which he describes as “fantastic” Other seed sources include various universities and private collectors etc “Once we got into the business we started finding people all over the world who would send us stuff and we send back to them ” says Fendley “We have a guy in Russia who sends us interesting varieties and people in the Mideast where many of our grains originated who send seed ” Often there is a long process between getting seed and offering it for sale In the case of the seed bank they may only provide 30 to 40 seeds of a rare variety Fendley starts them in a greenhouse and transplants them to a garden plot “We may get 1/4 lb of seed the first year and then grow it out the second ” he explains “If we see traits people will want we continue to grow it out and offer it for sale ” SSC offers mostly heritage varieties often from the 1800’s Some varieties are newer like Lewjain wheat developed in 1982 yet still rare It’s available only in packets of 25 seeds each and those are limited in quantity Seed sells for as much as $7 99 per packet “When deciding what to order consider the end use ” advises Fendley “If the intent is to eat it then in what? If it’s for livestock what has the highest protein?” He suggests checking with state universities for what varieties used to be grown in the area Once a variety has been selected if it’s rare Fendley encourages customers to save back seed themselves to replant “We can only grow so many ” he says “I always recommend saving seed for a rainy day ” If a particular variety adapts well and has good flavor it may prove popular with local bakers brewers or livestock producers Fendley suggests setting aside the highest quality seed for reseeding the second rank seed for eating and the lower quality seed for animal feed Some varieties simply may not work out in flavor yield or other traits Because the company has such small quantities of some varieties in stock Fendley advises placing orders in the fall Fall seeding also may be recommended for some varieties in particular areas Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Sustainable Seed Co P O Box 38 Covelo Calif 95428 ph 707 703-1242; toll free 877 620-7333; support@sustainableseedco com; www sustainableseedco com
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