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These collections are designed to give you a set of fabulous varieties at a reduced price.

Each variety is individually packaged. Substitutions may become necessary. Check ourwebsite for a complete list of seeds included.

Chiles A selection of chiles and chiltepinesrepresenting the diversity of shapes, colors and

heats within our offerings. 9 pkts $21.95

SC001

Hopi A selection of Hopi varieties renownedfor their hardiness. Includes amaranth, pump-

kin and mixed sunflower. A great selection forhigh desert locales. 9 pkts $21.95 SC002

Tohono Oodham Highlights remarkablyheat- and drought-tolerant varieties of low

desert crops such as tepary beans, devil's claw,and cowpeas. 9 pkts $21.95 SC003

Southwest Warm Season GardenPlanter's Jumbo melon, Texas Early Grano

onion, and Black Beauty eggplant highlight thiscollection for desert gardens maturing in the

warm season. 12 pkts $27.95 TS600

Southwest Cool Season GardenVarieties for desert gardens maturing in the

cool season, such as Scarlet Nantes carrot,Slo-Bolt cilantro and Red Russian kale.

12 pkts $27.95 TS601

Monsoon Great low-desert crops that per-form well during the summer monsoon.

8 pkts $19.95 SC004

Childrens Garden An easy-to-growselection of vegetables that are bound toinspire and thrill young gardeners. Includes a

packet of mixed native desert wildflower seeds.

9 pkts $19.95 SC005

Container Garden Herbs and vegeta-bles chosen for their suitability in container or

small gardens. 9 pkts $19.95 SC006

Herb Garden Herbs such as basil, cilantro and dill to bring beauty, fragrance and flavor to yourgarden and kitchen. 9 pkts $19.95 SC007

Start Your Seed Collections Here!

ON THE COVER: Ears of Glass Gem corn (page 20; photo courtesy of Greg Schoen), and elds of White Sonorawheat (WH001, page 41) at the NS/S Conservation Farm in Patagonia, Arizona.

Complete Garden CollectionEach waterproof, sealed, recycled plastic cancontains 29 individual packets of open-polli-

nated vegetable, herb and native wildflowerseeds selected for both winter and summer

gardens in the low or high deserts of the

Southwest. Suitable for other climates as well.Suitable for long-term storage and seed sav-

ing. Includes a copy of Basic Seed Saving.These are the seeds we would want in a sur-

vival situation. Seed packages are sized for an

average-sized family garden. $69.95 TS604

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Ancient Seeds forModern Needs...

Native Seeds/SEARCH (Southwest Endangered AridlandsResource Clearing House) is a nonprofit organization that con-serves, distributes and documents the adapted and diverse

varieties of agricultural seeds, their wild relatives and the rolethese seeds play in cultures of the American Southwest andnorthwest Mexico. We promote the use of these ancient cropsand their wild relatives by gathering, safeguarding, and distributingtheir seeds to farming and gardening communities. We also work to

preserve knowledge about their uses.We envision the Greater Southwest as a place where farms and gar-dens, kitchens and tables, stores and restaurants are brimming withthe full diversity of aridlands-adapted heirloom crops; people arekeeping the unique seeds and agricultural heritage alive; and thecrops, in turn, are nourishing humankind.

Join us in the important work of saving seeds and helping to pre-serve the crop heritage passed on to us by Native peoples, settlers,and explorers of the Greater Southwest. Become involved in our

efforts by joining or donating to Native Seeds/SEARCH. Membersreceive discounts on purchases in our retail store, catalog andonline. In addition, members receive our newsletter, the SeedheadNews. Please use the form on page 50 to join.

Board of DirectorsChair David Tiers

Vice-chair Sage GoodwinSecretary Kim Fernndez

Treasurer Jim Cook

Cynthia Anson, Muffin Burgess,

Barney T. Burns, Kevin Dahl,

Mahina Drees, Christopher

Fullerton, Sally Harris, Justine

Hernandez, Donna House,

Leticia McCune, Ronald Austin

Wells, Janos Wilder

Our FoundersBarney Burns, Mahina Drees,

Gary Nabhan, Karen Reichhardt

Clockwise from top right: Native Seeds/SEARCH Retail Store in Tucson,

a peek inside the store, the Conservation Farm in Patagonia, shelvesand shelves of seed in our Seed Bank, and the Conservation Center.

Visit ourRetail Store!

3061 N. Campbell Ave.(just south of Ft. Lowell)

Tucson, AZ 85719

Open DailyFor current hours please visit our

website or call us at 520.622.5561.

For more information or to order

online, visit our secure website:

www.nativeseeds.org

Email info@nativeseeds.org

Call toll-free 866.622.5561 x 6

Orders can also be faxed

to 520.622.0829

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Directors LetterWhat you hold in your hands is more than a simple seed catalog. Within these pages is atreasure chest of traditional seeds developed over millennia by indigenous peoples and

settlers across the Southwest. Rare and remarkable varieties await you at every turn. Theseeds for many unique plants are available nowhere else, like the gnarly but beautifuldevils claw and teosinte, the wild ancestor of modern corn. You will find a breath-takingnumber of unique varieties of corn, squash and beans, known collectively as the ThreeSisters, our specialty.

To fill out your gardening needs, you will also find a complete selection of your favoriteseeds including tomatoes, beets and lettuce. Delightful handcrafted gifts and delectablenative foods round out the catalog with the distinctive cultures and flavors of the South-west. With every purchase you make, you are directly supporting our mission to

conserve Southwestern crop diversity and strengthen regional seed systems through edu-cation and outreach.

Rest assured, all of the seeds we offer are non-GMO, open-pollinated, and sustainably grown. Infact, we are one of the few seed distributors toactually grow most of the varieties we offer. Come

visit our 60 acre Conservation Farm in Patagonia,Arizona and see the love and care that goes intoplanting, pollinating, nourishing and selecting thehighest-quality seed for genetic integrity andhealthy vigor.

These seeds are precious. Native Seeds/SEARCHhas worked tirelessly to preserve them fromextinction and distribute them to farmers andgardeners far and wide. By growing, saving andsharing these seeds yourself, you are playing a

vital role in ensuring this abundant and life-giving

diversity lives on.This work has never been more important. Underour industrial food paradigm, just 10 companiescontrol over 75% of the global seed market. Vastmonocultures dependent on toxic pesticides andfertilizers blanket the worlds farmlands. Genetic

diversity in our crops is disappearing and food security is being questioned.

Thankfully, we are seeing a shift. Seed libraries, seed swaps, and small bioregional seedcompanies are popping up everywhere. A seed saving renaissance is underway as peopleawaken to the need for regional, sustainable and diverse food systems. Native Seeds/SEARCH is dedicated to advancing this hopeful, inspiring movement. By supporting us,you are helping to create a more delicious, diverse and abundant worldone seed at atime.

Bill McDorman Belle Starr

Executive Director Deputy Director

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OurSeedlistingThis catalog represents our continuing effort to offer and distribute seeds adapted to aridenvironments within our region and around the world. That does not mean that they will

not work where you live. Please try various varieties and let us know! You will find plant-ing instructions provided for each crop. General guidelines have been developed for bothlow desert and high desert conditions based on our experiences in Tucson, Arizona, ourConservation Farm at 4,000 ft. in Patagonia, Arizona, and the feedback of our many

members, volunteers and customers.

Our Seed Policy

Limited Availability

When placing an order for seeds, please remember Native Seeds/SEARCH is a nonprofit con-servation organization. We have a limited quantity of some seeds. We sometimes limit regularorders to six packets each of certain varieties.

Substitutions

On occasion it may be necessary to substitute seeddue to lack of availability.

Native American Free Seed Program

We have a special seed policy for Native Americanfarmers and gardeners. (See page 47.)

Seed Quality

We are dedicated to selling the highest quality seedavailable. All Native Seeds/SEARCH seeds offeredhere have passed germination tests. Most of them arehand cleaned. They are stored in cool, dryconditions. Freezing is our only method of insectcontrol.

Untreated Seed

All of our seeds are untreated and allowable for usein certified organic programs.

Not seeing an old standby?

Our website lists hundreds of additional varieties we couldnt fit into this catalog, from Chi-laca chiles and Hopi Striped sunflowers to Hernandez Dipper gourds, Sangre de Toros beans

and Tarahumara Serape corn. Find them by visiting www.nativeseeds.org.

Larger Quantities

Bulk quantities are available for many of the seed varieties we offer. Please visit our website tocheck on the current availability of bulk seed quantities and to place bulk orders.

Our Guarantee

Every item in our catalog comes with our guarantee. Please contact us if there is any problem.We shall promptly and happily try to correct it. If not satisfied, we promise to replace any

item or refund the purchase price.

continued next page

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About the seeds we steward...

What is our stance on genetically modi-

fied and patented seeds?

NS/S is a member of the Safe Seed Initiative.We do not buy, sell or use genetically modifiedseeds, nor do we support patenting of seeds.We believe in free access to crop diversity andsupport the rights of indigenous communitiesto benefit fairly from the crops and associatedknowledge they developed. Any seedsobtained from Native Seeds/SEARCH are notto be used for commercial breeding purposeswith a patent outcome unless there are writtenagreements with the originators of the seedsin Native Seeds/SEARCHs collection.

Is our seed hybrid?

No and yes. No, our seeds are not hybrid inthe sense of being produced throughcontrolled pollination often with highly

inbred lines by modern plant breeders.Hybrids are typically developed for large-scalehigh input agricultural production systems. Inother words, we do not sell F1 hybrids.

However, natural hybridization the cross-ing of genetically distinct parents, both withinand between populations, varieties, andspecies has been important in the evolutionof crop diversity. It is a natural process, result-ing from open-pollination, and one thatfarmers have often used to their advantage.Thus, hybridization in this larger sense islikely reflected in much of our seed.

The seeds we offer were originally collectedfrom subsistence and small-scale farmers andgardeners. These are the food crops that havesustained traditional communities for

centuries. They have been selected and nour-ished by farmers over generations, becomingadapted to local environmental conditionsand cropping systems, and their individualflavors, odors, and textures have infused localculinary and ceremonial practices. They arethe result of much open-pollination, naturalhybridization, and subsequent selection (bothnatural and human-imposed). We celebrate

this diversity!

What about organic?

According to the USDAs National Organic Pro-gram, none of our seeds can be officially labeledas organic until we are certified organic. How-

ever, our growing practices meet and oftenexceed the standards for organic certification.We use no nitrogen-based commercial fertiliz-ers, relying instead on cover crops, greenmanures and crop rotations to maintain orimprove soil fertility. We are committed to theecologically sound stewardship of the Conserva-tion Farm, i.e., managing its soil, water, insectand plant resources in a manner that is rooted in

the understanding and application of sound eco-logical principles. It would not be consistentwith our long-term stewardship role to act in amanner that pollutes the water we use to irrigateour crops, or destroys pollinators, beneficialinsects or soil microorganisms that provideessential ecosystem services. We seek to leave asmall and unobtrusive footprint while steward-ing these precious resources.

While we support the certified organic program,purchasing only organically labeled seeds maysacrifice diversity. Over the last century, a largepercentage of the worlds crop diversity has beenlost. Much of the remaining diversity is not yetavailable as certified organic seeds. If you findseeds for your farm or garden that are notorganic, grow them organically, save the seeds,and in one season add another treasure to the

worlds growing collection of organic seeds!

OurSeedlisting continuedThe symbols H (high desert), L (low desert) andH/L (both high and low desert) are indicatedafter each variety description. These are merelyguidelines and based on our experience in Tuc-son and Patagonia. Often plants defy ourattempt to categorize their growing patterns.Plant what you like, experiment, track your suc-cesses and report back to us! The provenance ofeach variety is also indicated after its descrip-tion. Seed Bank indicates that a variety is alandrace, heirloom, or wild crop relative with along historical connection to the Greater South-west or adjacent regions. These varieties areformally conserved in the NS/S seed bank. Vari-

eties lacking that designation represent otheropen-pollinated varieties that can contribute tothe regions agricultural landscape.

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Community Seed GrantsSupporting education, food security, and community development

projects in the Greater Southwest through targeted donations of seeds.

Native Seeds/SEARCH is pleased to offer small donationsof our seeds to eligible organizations in the GreaterSouthwest region. These Community Seed Grants aredesigned to support the work of educators and thoseworking to enhance the nutritional, social, economic, orenvironmental health of underprivileged groups in theregion, while simultaneously keeping locally-adaptedcrop varieties alive and in active use in farms and gar-dens. Donations are open to organizations working oneducational, food security, or community development

projects. Strong preference is given to organizationsworking in the Greater Southwest region.

With your support, we recently donated nearly 1,100seed packets to 56 organizations working to enhancefood security, nutrition, education, or community devel-opment in the Southwest region and beyond.

Applications are reviewed three times each year in January, May and September.

Please visit our website for more information and to apply:

www.nativeseeds.org/index.php/resources/communityseedgrants

Three Sisters Garden planted and

maintained by the Seeds Community

Center at Peter Howell Elementary in

Tucson, a recipient of a 2012

Community Seed Grant.

Seed SchoolSeed School was developed to fill in the

missing link in the creation of a sustainable

agricultural system. This innovative educa-tional program held at the Native

Seeds/SEARCH Conservation Center in Tuc-son, Arizona guides students through the

history, science, business and craft of seeds.

Participants walk away with enough knowl-edge and inspiration to build new models

of regional seed production and distribu-tion where they live. Seed School has been

mentioned in the San Francisco Chronicle

and Los Angeles Times, and has graduatedhundreds of students from around the

world. Due to popular demand Seed Schoolhas expanded to a national program with

sessions in California and Montana. Seed

Keepers is a collaborative Seed School cre-ated with Native communities. Visit our

website to learn more about these ground-breaking educational opportunities in "all

things seeds." www.nativeseeds.org

We are a nonprofit organization

promoting seed conservation.

Your dollars help fund our mission.

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Growing healthy seed

Plant healthy, non-diseased seed. Thin plants toa recommended distance within and betweenrows most plants simply do better with a littlebreathing room and good air circulation canhelp prevent disease (see individual crops forrecommended planting distances). Rogue

(remove) plants that are diseased or otherwiseunhealthy looking. If youre trying to keep pureseed lines, also rogue out plants that dontappear true-to-type (what you know the plant to

look like).

Keeping lines pure

Growing more than one variety of the samespecies at a time may result in crossing. Plantingthe seeds from crosses may produce somethingentirely different than youre expecting whichis how we got all this wonderful diversity tobegin with! However, if you want to get the samecrop you did last year, then you may need toprevent cross-pollination from occurring. Thereare several ways to do this:

Spacing Plant different varieties at a suitabledistance to ensure insects or wind cannot effec-tively carry pollen from one variety toanother. See box to right for recommended stan-dard distances for some crops.

Timing Plant different varieties of the samespecies at different times so that they are not

flowering at the same time. This may involve anearly and late planting. Be sure there is enoughtime at the end of the season for the late plant-ing to mature before the first frost.

Isolation cages Physically prevent insects fromvisiting one variety or another by constructingscreen cages and placing them over one or more

varieties. This is best used for non-sprawlingcrops, such as tomatoes, beans (they can cross-

pollinate if insects are abundant), okra, cotton,and chiles.

Hand-pollinating Manually transfer pollenfrom one flower to another. Hand pollinationwill differ depending on the crop but essentiallyyou want to be sure that neither the flower beingpollinated nor the one used as the pollen source

have been previously pollinated.

Growing & SeedsavingInformation Visit www.nativeseeds.org for more information

Origin of Native Seeds/SEARCH

The Sonoran Desert has been home to the Oodham people for centuries. Following in the foot-steps of their ancestors, they perfected a system of agriculture including a palette of crops suited to the high temperatures and minimal rainfall characteristic of the region. As late as 1925the Tohono Oodham were cultivating 10,000 acres of their aridland-adapted crops with tradi-tional floodwater methods. In the early 1980s, only a few scattered plots remained. Recognitionof this dramatic loss in availability of crops adapted to the harsh environmental conditions of

the region resulted in the establishment of Native Seeds/SEARCH (Southwestern EndangeredAridlands Resource Clearing House) as a regionally-based seed conservation organization.

Early efforts focused primarily on visiting indigenous farming communities in the southwesternUS and northwestern Mexico, particularly the Sierra Madre, locating seeds of heirloom cropsand making them available to indigenous and other gardeners and farmers. Today, NS/S is amajor regional seed bank, dedicated to conserving the seeds of domesticated crops and cropwild relatives utilized by the cultures whose homelands include the arid deserts, coastal deltas,lowland plains, bajadas (lower slopes) and high mountain plateaus comprising the southwestern

U.S. and northern Mexico.

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Days to maturity

If you are accustomed to seed catalogs that pro-vide the number of days to maturity for theirseeds, you may wonder why we do not providethis data for many of the seeds offered here.Although the number of days can be a guide forselecting varieties suitable to your area, seedcompanies publish an average number of grow-ing days, using data from different areas andconditions. For example, a 75-day bean may

mature in 65 days in California, 85 days inMaine, and 79 days in Missouri.

We do not list days to maturity because we oftendont have reliable information. Some of our

varieties are from isolated regions with variedmicroclimates. Moreover, many of our cropsreach maturity in different lengths of time,depending on when they are planted e.g., in

the spring or with the summer rains.

Harvesting

Let seeds mature before harvesting. For mostcrops, this means leaving them in the field todry corn, beans, gourds, okra, devils claw,peas, chiles, etc. Some crops require after-ripen-

ing (e.g., squash) or fermentation (tomatoes).

Cleaning & saving seeds

Remove all plant material, including chaff,stems, or flesh from seeds and allow to dry thor-oughly. Use sealable plastic bags, paperenvelopes, jars with good lids or any airtightcontainer to store seed from one year to thenext. Spread wet seeds from squash, melons,tomatoes, etc., on clean dish towels. We do notrecommend paper towels (they stick) or news-paper (toxic print). Store seeds in a cool, dry

place, such as your hall closet or freezer.

Recommended distances to pre-

vent crossing between varieties

Appropriate distances to keep between varietiesof the same species may vary, depending on thesource. In general, wind pollinated crops (e.g.,corn) and crops visited by insect pollinatorscapable of traveling some distance (e.g., carpen-ter bees, honeybees) should be grown a mile ormore apart from each other. Self-pollinatedcrops (e.g., beans) may require as little as 20 ft.,depending on whats grown in-between or theabundance of insect pollinators present (themore insects, the more likely pollen may find itsway from one plant to another). See individualcrop descriptions for recommended isolationdistances.

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Amaranth Amaranthus spp. $2.95Grown by the Aztecs and by Southwest Indians for millennia, the

small grain is rich in lysine and the young leaves are high in calcium

and iron. Approx. 0.3g/50 seeds per packet.

Culture: Plant in spring or with summer rains by broadcasting and raking

in seeds, or plant 1/4" deep in basins or rows. Thin the edible seedlings to10-15" apart.

Seedsaving: As wind or insect-pollinated annuals, amaranth species willreadily cross. To prevent this, put paper or cloth bags over flower heads.

When ripe, cut off dried heads and lightly beat in a bag to remove seed.

Screen or winnow off chaff.

Alamos A. cruentus. A stunning amaranth from the colonial town of Alamos

in southern Sonora. The leaves are green with red-tinged veins and the bractsare bright fuschia-colored. Seeds are black. L Seed Bank C019

Guarijio Grain A. hypochondriachus x A. hybridus. "Guegui." From the RioMayo in Sonora, Mexico, a white-seeded grain used for tamales, pinole (a tra-

ditional Mexican drink) or popping. Try popping over a dry, hot pan and add

to granola, fruit salads, or mix with honey to make traditional Mexican alegria.Inflorescences range from light yellow-green to pink to fuschia. H/L Seed

Bank C005

Hopi Red Dye Top Seller! A. cruentus. Komo. The beautiful plant can grow

6' tall with a 1-2' long inflorescence and dark reddish-green leaves. Youngtender leaves are excellent in salads and the black seeds are also edible. The

Hopi make a scarlet natural food dye from the flower bract to color piki bread.In Hopi land, this readily crosses with wildA. powelli. Originally collected in

Lower Moenkopi. H/L Seed Bank C002

Mano de Gato Celosia cristata. Cats Paw. A beautiful cockscomb-type orna-

mental with bright fuchsia (occasionally yellow) bracts and black seeds.Leaves are bright green with red-tinged edges. From Alamos, Sonora. L Seed

Bank C013

Mayo Grain A. cruentus. Another gorgeous amaranth from Alamos, Sonora,with bright fuschia or scarlet inflorescences and dark reddish-green leaves,

which are used as quelites (greens). The black seeds are used for esquite

(parched), pinole and atole. L Seed Bank C003

Seeds

Alamos

Mano de Gato

Mayo Grain

Arugula Eruca sativa $2.95Favored by gourmets. Treasured by nutritionists. Wonderful,

peppery, distinct flavor. Approx. 1g/55 seeds per packet.

Culture: Provide nitrogen-rich soil. (Add extra compost or chickenmanure, if needed.) Water consistently in hot weather. Does exceptionally

well under mesquites.

Seed Saving: Flowers are perfect, most of which cannot be self-polli-nated. The stigma becomes receptive before the flower opens, andpollen is shed hours after the flower opens. Necessary cross-pollination isperformed by bees. Separate varieties by at least 1/4 mile.

Arugula Top Seller! Bushy, 1-2' plant. Grow year-round fresh greens in thedesert. Cold and heat tolerant. Easy to grow. H/L TS134

Arugula

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Common Bean Phaseolus vulgaris $2.95

Common beans are a diverse and important crop to Native Ameri-

can farmers throughout the Southwest. They are eaten young as

green beans or dried and shelled. Plants can be bush, semi-pole, or

pole. Approx. 15g/50 seeds per packet.

Culture: Beans need warm soil for best germination. Plant seeds in

spring or summer about 1" deep and 6" apart. If beans need a trellis, try

intercropping them with corn or sorghum.

Seedsaving: An annual that is generally self-pollinating, but can cross

with other plants. Dried pods can be harvested throughout the grow-ing season, or harvest whole plants. Separate varieties by 10 yards (9

meters).

Four Corners Gold Rounded gold bean from the Four Corners Region.Early-maturing, with excellent green beans, and a non-vigorous climbing

(pole) habit. Ancient bean used in honoring the Winter Solstice. H Seed

Bank PC124

Hopi Black Small, rounded, black pole bean, dry or runoff-farmed by Hopifarmers. Can be used for dye. Produces dark lilac flowers and purple mature

pods. Early-maturing, prefers monsoon rains. H Seed Bank PC068

Hopi Black Pinto Striking black and white/beige pinto. Dry farmed in Hopifields of northeastern Arizona. Early-maturing bushy-pole beans with color-

ful mottled pods. Produces white or lavendar flowers. High-yielding and

very popular! H Seed Bank PC018

Hopi Pink High-yielding, medium-large pink beans collected from dry-farm fields near Hotevilla. Early-maturing, good as a green bean. White

flowers. H Seed Bank PC020

Hopi Yellow "Sikya mori." Large bronze seeds, common in Hopi country,

may be dry farmed or irrigated. High-yielding pole type, delicious as agreen bean. White flowers. H Seed Bank PC019

Kentucky Blue Combines best qualities of the legendary Blue Lake and

Kentucky Wonder Pole. Comes early and produces over a long period, espe-cially if picked daily. 7" Pods. Resistant to Bean Mosaic Viruses. Pole bean.

H/L TS304

New Mexico Bolitas Pinkish-beige rounded beans grown for centuries by

traditional Hispanics of northern New Mexico in irrigated plots. Faster cook-ing and richer tasting than pintos, and early-maturing too. High protein

content. High-yielding pole bean with white flowers. H Seed Bank PC024

Oodham Pink "S-wegi mu:n." A pink bean from the desert borderlands of

Sonora and Arizona. Fast growing, the plants will sprawl and produce inearly spring or late fall in the low desert. Delicious and creamy-textured

when cooked. White flowers. H/L Seed Bank PC063

Bean Phaseolus spp.Native to the New World, beans are a traditional protein complement to corn, rich in

minerals, with a variety of tastes and colors. Members of the legume family, beans fix

nitrogen from the air if certain nitrogen-fixing bacteria are present in the soil. Beans

also contain soluble fiber helpful in controlling cholesterol and diabetes.

Hopi Black Pinto

Hopi Yellow

Oodham Pink

New Mexico Bolitas

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Royal Burgundy

Oodham Vayos Mixed gold and light-tan beans with a sweet, mild flavor and

creamy texture. Early-maturing. Good as a green bean. White flowers. H/LSeed Bank PC062

Provider Proven over decades to be a consistent producer, even in unpre-

dictable, adverse conditions. Compact plants dependably yield light-green, 5""pods. Resistant to Bean Mosaic Viruses and Powdery Mildew. Bush bean. Early-

maturing. H/L TS302

Rattlesnake Top Seller! A drought-tolerant pole bean. Produces 7-8"" round

pods are dark green with purple streaks. Harvest early for very sweet snapbeans. Allow to mature for delicious dry beans. H/L TS305

Royal Burgundy Easy-to-see, bright burgundy, 5"" pods. High yield, low main-

tenance upright plants that do not require staking. Pick on a daily basis for 2-3

weeks. Expect up to 7 lbs. from a 15 ft. row. Resists beetles. Bush bean. H/LTS303

Tarahumara Ojo de Cabra "Goat's eye." High-yielding pole bean producing

large seeds with diversely-colored dark stripes over a speckled lightbackground. Occasional red, pinto or gold beans mixed in. Plants produce

purple-striped pods. A sweet, mild staple of the Sierra Madre. H Seed Bank

PC054

Tarahumara Purple Medium-high yielding pole bean with gorgeous, large,shiny, deep-purple seeds. Sweet taste, smooth texture. From central (moun-

tainous) and eastern (high mesa) Tarahumara country in Chihuahua. H Seed

Bank PC130

Yoeme Purple String A prolific pole bean that can be eaten green or asshelled. Seeds are purple on beige. Plants are heat tolerant. Very productive

and very popular! H/L Seed Bank PC071

Seeds

Lima Bean Phaseolus lunatus $2.95

Growing as perennial vines in their native tropical environment, limabeans are broad, flat beans eaten green or dried. Plants are tolerant

of salt and alkaline soils. Approx. 20g/25 seeds per packet.

Culture: Plant in spring or with summer rains, 1 inch deep and 6 inches

apart or in basins. These long season plants will produce until frost,although production slows in the hot dry months. Trellis vines, or allow

room to sprawl.

Seedsaving:This annual is mainly self-pollinating. Varieties should be

separated by 40 yds (36 m). Dried pods can be harvested throughout the

growing season, or harvest whole plants.

Calico These large, heirloom beans are maroon with creamy white swirls.

Originally collected in Wild Horse, Colorado. Extremely prolific and early-maturing at the Conservation Farm (4,000'). H Seed Bank PL012

Hopi Gray "Maasi hatiko."The light beige beans can be plain or mottled with

black. The seeds are sometimes sprouted and used in ceremonies. May have

good resistance to Mexican Bean Beetle. H/L Seed Bank PL080

Hopi Red "Pala hatiko." Selected by the late Hopi artist Fred Kabotie, these

limas are prolific in the low desert. Tasty and meaty, the beans are solid red, ormay be streaked with black. H/L Seed Bank PL009

More Common Bean $2.95

Tarahumara Purple

Tarahumara Ojo de

Cabra

Calico

Hopi Yellow

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Tepary Bean Phaseolus acutifolius $2.95Cultivated in the Southwest for millenia, teparies mature quickly and

are tolerant of the low desert heat, drought and alkaline soils.

Approx. 28g/20 seeds per packet.

Culture: Plant seeds 1/2 inch deep and 4 inches apart with the summer

rains. If rains are sparse, irrigate when the plants look stressed. Teparies do

not tolerate overwatering.

Seedsaving: A self-pollinating annual. Harvest pods as they dry. Be care-

ful: mature pods will pop open and drop seeds if left on the plant. Analternative is to harvest the whole plants when pods are turning brown,

allow them to dry on a sheet, then thresh and winnow seeds.

Big Fields White From the Tohono O'odham village of Big Fields where an O'odham farmer maintainedthis white variety for years, but it is rarely found under cultivation anymore. H/L Seed Bank PT109

Black A rare black tepary selected from white teparies purchased many years ago in a Tucson Mexicanmarket. Similar to a historic Tohono O'odham and Yuma variety. L Seed Bank PT082

Blue Speckled Unique and beautiful tan beans with navy blue speckles. From highland areas of south-

ern Mexico, this variety is a Mayan folkrace. Does not tolerate low desert heat, but is otherwise prolific.Delicious a staff favorite. H Seed Bank PT079

Blue Speckled

13

Hopi Yellow "Sikya hatiko." Seeds vary from deep yellow to dark orange with

black mottling. During Spring ceremonies, the seeds are sprouted, attached tokatsina dolls, rattles, and bows and given to children. Sprouts are then

chopped, boiled and cooked in soup for feasting. H/L Seed Bank PL072

Pima Beige Originally collected from the Gila River Indian Community in Ari-zona. The light beige beans can be plain or mottled with black. Very drought-

and heat-tolerant. H/L Seed Bank PL010

Pima Orange Wonderfully orange-colored beans with black mottling. A gem from the Gila River Indian

Community in Arizona. Very drought- and heat-tolerant. A staff favorite! H/L Seed Bank PL011

Pima Orange

More Lima Bean $2.95

Runner Bean Phaseolus coccineus $3.95

Large and showy flowers make this an attractive garden plant. Thelarge pods can be eaten as green beans or you can use the beans

dried. Heat sensitive; not recommended for low desert. Approx.

28g/20 seeds per packet.

Culture: Plant 1 inch deep and 6 inches apart in the spring after danger of

frost is past. Plants can be bush or produce long vines which need to be

trellised. Flowers may drop with no pod set if daytime temperatures are

too high.

Seedsaving: An annual that is insect pollinated, so varieties will cross. Har-

vest dried pods throughout the growing season.

Aztec White White-flowered variety that produces giant white seeds. The fastest-maturing runnerbean at the Conservation Farm (4,000'). H Seed Bank PS003

Tarahumara Bordal Large white beans from the remote Tarahumara community of Otachique inChihuahua. H Seed Bank PS007

Aztec White

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SeedsBrown Speckled Very round beans with beige speckles on light gray. Origi-

nally selected out of Blue Speckled. High yielding. Does not tolerate low desert

heat. H Seed Bank PT089

Cocopah Brown Early-maturing, medium-sized, flattened orange-tan and

orange-speckled beans originating from along the lower Colorado River inSonora. H/L Seed Bank PT107

Colonia Morelos Speckled Colorful assortment of brown, black, beige, yel-low, and tan speckles on a tan background as well as gray-black speckles on

medium-sized flattened beans. Early-maturing with white and lilac flowers.

Originally collected in Colonia Morelos,Sonora. H/L Seed Bank PT118

Pinacate These beans are tan and slightly

mottled. Originally obtained form the most

arid runoff farm in Mexico, the Sierra ElPinacate Protected Zone. They have been

known to produce a crop from a singlestorm runoff. Extremely drought tolerant. LSeed Bank PT074

Sacaton Brown Soam bawi. Medium-

sized orange-tan seeds. Early-maturing.Commercially cultivated by the Gila River

Pima near Sacaton, Arizona. H/L Seed

Bank PT004

Tohono Oodham White O'odham legend

says the Milky Way is made up of white

tepary beans scattered across the sky. Early-maturing white beans from the Tohono

O'odham Reservation in southern Arizona.Smooth, rich flavor. The favored tepary by

many Native families. H/L Seed Bank

PT116

Tohono Oodham

White

Bean Common Mosaic Virus

Bean Common Mosaic Virus (BCMV) is a plant disease thatcan affect all New World beans (Phaseolus spp.), includingcommon beans, tepary beans, lima beans, and scarlet run-ner beans. It is not harmful to humans or other animals,but can cause decreased yield or death in beans.

Tepary beans may be carriers of BCMV, as they toleratethe disease with only minor symptoms if grown in aridregions. Because teparies may carry BCMV, do not growteparies near other species of beans that are more suscep-tible to the virus especially those to be saved for seed.

Signs of the virus include stunted plants, downward curl-ing and puckering of leaves, and yellow-green mottling ofleaves.

BCMV is a seed-borne disease, and seeds saved frominfected plants can pass the virus on to future crops.Healthy plants can be infected by aphids spreading thevirus from diseased to healthy plants, by infected leavestouching healthy ones, or by gardeners handling healthyplants after working with diseased plants. Diseased plantsshould be carefully rogued (removed) and discarded.

More Tepary Bean $2.95

Beet Beta vulgaris $2.95Native to Europe, beets can be boiled, baked, or pickled. Approx.

4g/58 seeds per packet.

Culture: Beets prefer deep, rich, well-composted soil with trace mineralsand plenty of sun. For larger, more uniform roots, thin to 1 plant every 4".

Tolerates moderate frosts. Expect slow growth until temperatures rise

above 60 F. Companion plants include: onions.

Seed Saving: Flowers contain both male and female parts, but do notself-pollinate before flowers open. As pollen is carried long distances bywind, grow seeds for only one variety at a time. Note: beets will crosswith Swiss chard.

Early Wonder Selected about 100 years ago from Crosby Egyptian for earli-

ness and vigorous, lush top growth making it a great choice for early beetgreens. Produces deep-red 3-4", exceptionally sweet globes. 45-50 days from

planting. H/L TS020

Early Wonder

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Red Cored Chantenay

Broccoli Brassica oleracea $2.95A wonderful vegetable that actually grows better in cooler climes and

higher altitudes than in warmer lowlands. Approx. 0.5g/69 seeds per

packet.

Culture: Demands soil high in nitrogen and phosphorus. Companion

plants include: dill, chamomile, sage, peppermint, beets and onions.

Seed Saving: Although broccoli flowers contain both female and male

parts, individual plants do not self-fertilize. Provide at least two or moreflowering plants to assure seed formation. Bees can cause cross-pollination with other

Brassica, so isolate varieties by 1,000 yards or more.

Waltham 29 Top Seller! Delicious and dependable broccoli bred to withstand especially cold

weather. Short 20" plants produce medium-large heads and lots of side shoots. H/L TS033

Golden Acre

Red Acre

Cabbage Brassica oleracea $2.95A versatile vegetable, used fresh, cooked or fermented. Approx.

0.5g/200 seeds per packet.

Culture: Demands soil high in nitrogen and phosphorus. Companion

plants include: dill, chamomile, sage, peppermint, beets, onions.

Seed Saving: Although cabbage flowers contain both female and male

parts, individual plants do not self-fertilize. Provide two or more floweringplants to assure seed formation. Since bees can cross-pollinate cabbagewith other Brassica, isolation distances should be 1,000 yards or more.

Golden Acre One of our favorite cabbages for winter desert gardens. Solid,round, 3-4 lb. grey-green heads on short-stemmed, erect plants. White interior

with tightly folded leaves. High yields. H/L TS058

Red Acre Beautiful, red version of the famous Golden Acre with larger, 2-3 lb.

heads. Red Acre takes 2 weeks more to mature, but stores better and longer in

root cellars or refrigerators. H/L TS059

Carrot Daucus carota prices as listedSmell the seeds and anticipate the sweetness of homegrown carrots.

Approx.2g/1200 seeds per packet.

Culture: Carrots do best in rich (high in phosphorus and potassium withonly moderate levels of nitrogen), uncompacted soil.

Seed Saving: Carrots are biennial with perfect flowers (each flower has

both male and female parts). As insects are a major pollinating agent,

separate different varieties at least 100 yards if some crossing is tolerable.

Red Cored Chantenay Our farm crew all rated it at or near the top for eating

quality; great for consuming fresh or cooked. An excellent performer in heavyas well as loamy soils; broad (1.5-2") shoulders, 4-6" long roots that have a a

blunt tip. Strong, bushy, 2' tops are effective for competing with weeds andmake for easy pulling. H/L $2.95 TS068

Waltham 29

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Seeds

Chile/Pepper Capsicum annuum $2.95One of the great Native American contributions to the cuisines of the

world. A widely used fruit high in Vitamin C. Domesticated chiles vary

profoundly in shape, size, color, pungency and flavor. Fruit are red whenmature unless otherwise noted. Average length and a letter correspon-

ding to their general shape follow each description All shapes in the key

may not be currently available. Approx. 0.1g/25 seeds per packet.

In the following descriptions, mild, medium, and hot are relative

heat ratings, while sweet refers to a sugary taste. Even chiles listed as"mild" may contain some heat. Bell peppers are heat-free.

Culture: Start seeds inside 8-10 weeks before last frost. Seeds are slow to ger-

minate and need warmth. Sow 1/4 inch deep in sandy soil. Transplantseedlings 12-16 inches apart.

Seedsaving:The insect-visited flowers can self-pollinate or cross. Grow onlyone variety at a time or isolate flowers. Allow fruit to ripen and mature on the

plant. Chiles turn red or dark brown when mature. Take care not to touch

your eyes when removing seeds from hot chiles.

Alcalde A native chile from northern New Mexico at 6,300'. Relatively early-maturing. Mild-medium heat, with a complex, slightly sweet flavor when red. 4"

long. (i) H Seed Bank D054

California Wonder Bell Top Seller! An exceptional strain of this treasured heir-loom bell pepper from the 1920's. Vigorous, 24-48" plants produce thick-walled,

blocky 4" green fruits which turn red if allowed to mature fully. H/L TS325

Chimayo Top Seller! From the farming town in northern New Mexico at 5,900'

famous for its local chile. Relatively early-maturing. Mild. 3.5-5" long. (i) H SeedBank D018

Cochiti Originally collected at Cochiti Pueblo (5,200'), where loss of farmland has

threatened this and other Cochiti crop varieties. Sweet when green and flavorful

when mature. Mild to medium. 3.5-4 long. (i) H Seed Bank D021

Del Arbol Tree chile. A long, thin, red, pungent chile used for salsa or added toany dish to increase heat level. Dries well and is a good choice for ristras. Among

the most productive chiles in our 2012 trials in Patagonia, Arizona. Also thetoughest variety in our punishing 2012 summer test plot in Tucson. 2.5-4" long.

(d) H/L Seed Bank D001

Isleta Exceptionally tasty native chile. Traditionally strung into ristras, then

ground. Broader shoulders, less fleshy than Isleta Long. Mild-medium. 4-5 long. (i)

H Seed Bank D015

Chimayo

Alcalde

Kinko 6

Kinko 6 We have yet to find a better open-pollinated carrot than the originalKinko. First to mature; best performance in tough soil! Short, tapered roots are

crisp and flavorful. Deep, red-orange. Rare and hard to find elsewhere. Approx.

2g/55 seeds per packet. H/L $3.95 TS060

Scarlet Nantes A timeless heirloom favorite. Bright-orange, very sweet, slightlytapered, 6-7" roots with characteristic nantes rounded tip. A good keeper. Excel-

lent for juice. H/L $2.95 TS061

More Carrot prices as listed

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Jemez Grown in Jemez Pueblo in northern New Mexico along the Rio Jemez, atributary of the Rio Grande. Relatively early-maturing. Medium heat. 3-4.5

long. (i) H Seed Bank D019

Mirasol Looking at the sun, yet these chiles from southern Chihuahua hangdown on the branches. This chile is called guajillo when dry. Used in soups,stews, and chicken dishes. One of the most productive varieties in our 2012

chile trial in Patagonia, Arizona. Mild to medium. 1 wide and 5 long. (g) H/L

Seed Bank D005

Negro A sweet and flavorful chile from Chihuahua. Usually black or richbrown, but may contain an occasional plant bearing red or differently-shaped

fruit. Medium heat. 3-6 long. (j) H/L Seed Bank D002

Negro de Valle First collected in 2000 north of Buenaventura on the plains of

Chihuahua. Similar to Vallero, but contains only the darker "native, old type"chiles. Some cooks select only these dark brown chiles to make the best chile

colorado. Very productive. Mild to medium heat. 6 long. (j) H/L Seed BankD052

Ordoo Top Seller! A stunning ornamental chile from Batopilas Canyon, Chi-

huahua. The small upright fruit mature from purple through yellow, orange,and finally red. Heat and drought tolerant and extremely prodoctive. Good for

container gardening. Hot and edible. 0.5 long. A staff favorite! (f ) H/L Seed

Bank D009

Patagonia An Hispanic heirloom grown in Patagonia, Arizona. The cone-shaped chiles stand up on the plants, and are yellow with some purple

mottling, ripening to orange then red. Used to make a thin hot sauce by blend-

ing with vinegar. Medium-hot. 1 long. (f) H Seed Bank D059

Pico de Gallo Roosters Beak. A very prolific and slender narrow-leafed salsachile from Sonora. Very hot. 3 long. (d) H/L Seed Bank D003

Quatro Milpas Large fleshy chiles grown in the mountain village of Quatro

Milpas, Sonora. Ripe fruits are dark brownish red and mild flavored. 5" long. (j)

H/L Seed Bank D031

Sandia Collected in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where it is used for rellenos,enchilada sauces and stews. Medium to hot. 6-9" long. (j) H/L Seed Bank

D004

Sinahuisa From a Mayo ejido (communal farm) in Sonora. The fruit are veryfleshy and similar to serranos. Good for container gardening and extremely

high-yielding. Medium to hot. 1.5 long. (e) H/L Seed Bank D006

Tabasco C. frutescens. Hot, prolific, and hardy, this is the famous ingredient in

Tabasco sauce. Narrow 1" fruits are yellow or orange maturing to red. Good for

container gardening. (c) L Seed Bank DF001

Vallero Originally from the lovely, productive Buenaventura Valley in

Chihuahua. Used by the favorite chile colorado restaurant of NS/S co-founders

Barney and Mahina. Fleshy when green, rich brownish-black to reddish-brownwhen mature. Medium heat, but can vary. 6 long. (j) H/L Seed Bank D020

Wenks Yellow Hots A beautiful chile selected by one of the last large truck

farmers in Albuquerque's South Valley. Very fleshy and excellent en escabeche. Early-maturing and very prolific, with outstanding taste. Waxy yellow fruit have a pronounced

(and very tasty) orange phase before turning red. Medium-hot to very hot. 1.5" wide, 3"

long. A staff favorite. (h) H/L Seed Bank D030

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Del Arbol

More Chile $2.95

Negro de Valle

Pico de Gallo

Sinahuisa

Wenks Yellow Hots

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Mother ChiltepinFor at least 8,000 years, humans have spiced their food with chiles. The

tiny wild chiles we call chiltepines are the closest living relatives of the

earliest form of domesticated Capsicum annuum chiles. When we hold thisround chile and feel its smooth skin, smell its rich chile fragrance, we join

with ancient people who also picked and ate wild chiles.

To grow chiltepines successfully at home, its important to understand

how it grows in the wild. Chiltepin seeds should not be sown directly inthe ground under full sun like other domesticated chiles. Plant yourchiltepin seed or seedling under a nurse plant, or plant them in pots,which allows you to move the plant as needed. Keep the chiles moist, butdont overwater as chiltepines have not evolved with regular irrigation.Whether you harvest in the wild or in your own yard, its best to pick thechiles in their green, unripe stage or wait until the fruit is fully mature andbright red. If you harvest them during the in between period, they willspoil. Just like our friends in Mexico, you can dry the fruit on a screen orcloth out of direct sunlight.

When you harvest, do so with a sense of reverence and respect for theplant. Be present. Feel the chiles. Smell them. Taste them right off theplant. Savor the connection you have to all the wild chile plants and har-

vesters before you.

Adapted from an article by Linda McKittrick in Native Seeds/SEARCHs Seed-head News, Issue 104 (Fall/Winter 2009). Visit www.nativeseeds.org/index.php/about-us/seedheadnews to read the full article.

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Seeds Chiltepin Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum $4.95The wild relative of most cultivated chiles. Native to North America,

chiltepines are attractive perennial landscape plants for shady to

filtered light areas in the low desert. They will freeze back in the win-

ter. The pea-sized fruits are very hot. Approx. 0.3g/25 seeds per

packet.

Culture: Start seeds inside 8-10 weeks before last frost. Seeds are slow to

germinate and need warmth. Sow 1/4 inch deep in sandy soil. Transplant

seedlings 12-16 inches apart.

Seed Saving: Protect mature fruit from birds. The insect-visited flowerscan self-pollinate or cross. Grow only one variety at a time, or isolate flow-

ers. Allow fruit to ripen and mature on the plant. For best seed results,

fruit should be almost dry.

Sonoran Wild-harvested from central Sonora, Mexico. Small fruit that packs apunch. Try them sprinkled over vanilla ice cream. H/L Seed Bank DC080

South Texas Chile Piquin Originally collected along the Lower Rio Grande

Valley near McAllen, Texas. Plants were growing naturally in the brush along

cultivated fields. H/L Seed Bank DC027

Texas From Wimberley, Texas, on the Edwards Plateau, west of Austin. Theprolific plants produce somewhat elongated fruit. H/L Seed Bank DC012

Sonoran

South Texas Chile

Piquin

Texas

Salsa Casera

1 c chiltepines4-5 cloves garlic

tsp salt

tsp Mexican oregano

tsp coriander seed

c cider vinegar

c water

Combine all ingredients in a

blender and puree on highfor 3-4 minutes. Refrigerate

one day to blend flavors.

Keeps indefinitely in the

refrigerator. Use in soups,

stews, eggs, beans, tacos, or

tostadas most people

serve it with an eyedropper!

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Corn/Maize Zea mays $2.95Unless otherwise indicated

Domesticated in Mexico by 6,700 B.C., corn is a staple food and has

many ritual uses.

Dent corns are used for elote (roasted), tamales, tortillas, corn beer

and animal feed; the mature kernels are dented due to their flourhearts and flint sides. Flour corns are soft grinding corns used for corn-

meal, elote and hominy (masa or nixtamal). Flour/flint corns may be

either a hard, flinty texture or soft and floury. When dry, flints gener-

ally store better and have greater resistance to insect damage.Popcorns are flint corns used for pinole (toasted and ground) and aspopped corn. Sweet corns are used for pinole, roasted and reconsti-

tuted, or fresh boiled. Kernel colors develop when the corn is past milk

stage. Approx. 1018g/50 seeds per packet.

Culture: In early spring or with summer rains, plant seeds 1 inch deep inrows, clumps, or basins. Needs rich soil and moisture. Heat, aridity and high

winds can all reduce pollination.

Seedsaving: An annual, corn is wind-pollinated, and all varieties will cross.

Hand-pollination (with bagging) or staggered planting times is necessaryto keep seeds pure if multiple varieties are grown. Allow ears to mature

and dry on the plant. However, do not let sweet corn varieties dry on the

stalk during high temperatures because they can ferment, ruining the

seed.

Chapalote "Pinole Maiz" Top Seller! Popcorn. A stunning corn variety that

at one point was widely grown from southern Arizona to Sinaloa, Mexico. One

of the four most ancient corns. A gorgeous deep brown color (the only browncorn), ranging to a light tan color. Small-kerneled, with slender ears. Plants are

very tall and late-maturing. Makes a sweet meal excellent for pinole. Can alsobe popped. A staff favorite! L Seed Bank ZP090

Cochiti Popcorn. Red, yellow, brown or striped kernels on small ears (4-6").

Fast maturing. Great as "ornamental" corn during the fall holiday season but

also makes great popcorn. Originally from Cochiti Pueblo in northern NewMexico. Extremely beautiful, tasty, and easy to grow. H Seed Bank ZP091

Gila Pima A:al Hu:n Flour/flint corn. Cream-colored and clear kernels on

smallish cobs. Matures quickly and with minimal irrigation. From the Gila RiverPima Reservation in central Arizona. Ears are relatively resistant to fungal dam-

age. Plants are 5-7 tall. 65 day to pollination, 111 days to dried ears from

planting, in Patagonia, Arizona (4,000). H/L Seed Bank ZL060

Golden Bantam Improved Sweet corn. The most improved stain of this leg-endary sweet corn. Large ears with 12 rows on tall plants. Vigorous, early

growth. Genuine, old-fashioned corn flavor. 80 days. H/L $4.95 TS360

Hopi Blue Sakwapu Flour corn. Blue kernels are ground to make ceremo-

nial piki bread. Dry-farmed below the Hopi mesas. Plants tend to be short (lessthan 5 tall with tassels) and early-maturing. 62 days to pollination, 106 days to

dried ears from planting, in Patagonia, Arizona (4,000). H/L Seed Bank

ZF029

Hopi Greasy Head Wekte Flour corn. Often planted early by Hopi farmers

so the harvest can be used for the Home Dance ceremony in July. Plum-col-

ored kernels on 10-12" ears. Plants are very short (3). 56 day to pollination, 103

days to dried ears from planting, in Patagonia, Arizona (4,000). H/L ZF051

Gila Pima A:al Hu:n

Hopi Greasy Head

Mayo Batchi

Chapalote

Hopi Blue

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Hopi Sweet Tawaktchi Top Seller! Sweet corn. Small white ears. Harvestedin the mild stage, it is dry-roasted in a pit oven and then rehydrated when

ready to use. Very short plants. Rapidly maturing and very prolific. A stafffavorite! H/L Seed Bank $4.95 ZS101

Maricopa Sweet corn. Grown along the Gila River in the late 1800s and col-

lected by early prospectors. Medium length ears in 75 days. Multi-colored

yellow, chinmark, and blue. H/L Seed Bank $4.95 ZS127

Mayo Batchi Dent corn. A desert staple of Sonora's Mayo River heartland.The short fat ears have clear white/yellow kernels with some red cobs. Dryfarmed. H/L Seed Bank ZD081

Mayo Tuxpeo Dent corn. Originally collected in Saneal, Sonora, Mexico.Large fat ears on 10-12' tall plants with yellow, blue and yellow, or pink ears.

H/L Seed Bank ZD083

Mountain Pima Yellow Sweet corn. Dulcillo del noroeste, a folkrace fromwestern Chihuahua, Mexico, at 5000'. Grow with summer rains in the lowdesert due to day-length requirements. H/L Seed Bank $4.95 ZS114

Paiute Sweet corn. Collection made by an early prospector. Kernels arewhite in the milk stage, maturing to white, blue and red striped. H SeedBank $4.95 ZS104

Santo Domingo Posole Flour/flint corn. Large white, flatkernels used for posole (hominy). Also excellent for fresh

roasting and tamales. Grown in the pueblo in northernNew Mexico. Hefty ears. Plants are 8-9 tall. 63 day to polli-

nation, 111 days to dried ears from planting, in Patagonia,

Arizona (4,000). H Seed Bank ZL126

Stowell's Evergreen Sweet corn. Popular for more than160 years. "King of All White Sweet Corn Varieties." Sweet,

10' ears on 7' stalks. 90+ days. H/L $4.95 TS361

Tarahumara Popcorn. From the bottom of Copper

Canyon in Chihuahua. The large, flinty, pale yellow kernelsare produced on thin, slender cobs reminiscent of 'reven-

tador, referring to the popping nature of the corn. Groundand used for pinole or popped." H/L Seed Bank ZP101

Tarahumara Apachito Flour/flint corn. One of the most

common types of corn grown by the Tarahumara. Kernels

are typically a pearly light pink to dark rose and occasion-ally pearly white or yellow. H Seed Bank ZT033

Tarahumara Maiz Azul Flour corn. Large blue-black (and

some white) kernels on medium large ears. This corn iswidely used in the barrancas of the Sierra Madre. Used to

make tortillas and tamales during first harvest ceremonies.

H/L Seed Bank ZF021

Tarahumara Rsari Flour corn. A colorful version ofTarahumara Gordo. The beautiful kernels are white with

plum/lavendar speckles, solid rose to blue and white.

Good for tortillas and flour. H Seed Bank ZF011

20

Seeds

Mayo Tuxpeo

Tarahumara Serape

Glass Gem CornGlass Gem is a stunning corn variety

selected by Carl Barnes, a part-Cherokeefarmer, in Oklahoma. One of his students,

seed-saver Greg Schoen, entrusted NS/S tosteward his remarkable rainbow corn vari-

eties, including Glass Gem. It was

developed by crossing many native vari-eties of varying colors. It became a global

sensation in 2012 when the photo abovewent viral online. We couldnt be more

excited about the attention Glass Gem is

bringing to seed saving and diversity. Expe-rience the magic for yourselfplant some

of this one-of-a-kind corn and see whatpops up! Supplies are limited. Please check

our website (shop.nativeseeds.org) for cur-

rent availability and to order.

More Corn $2.95Unless otherwise indicated

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Homer Owens Enduring GiftSince Native Seeds/SEARCH began almost 30 years ago, some truly inspiring stories have come our way.

These almost mythic tales of stalwart seed-savers and their priceless collections are perhaps just as impor-tant to preserve as the seeds themselves. One such tale that is central to Native Seeds/SEARCHs history is

of Arizona seed-saver Homer Owens. In 1986, Homer shipped our fledgling seed bank a box containing 30

jars of rare and otherwise unknown corn and bean seeds collected over the last century from Native com-munities throughout Arizona. It was an astonishing find!

The story of how he came by these seeds is classic seed-saver lore. As a child, he became friends with a

part-Comanche prospector, much older than himself, who passed on a collection of Arizona-based NativeAmerican crop seeds to the nine-year-old Homer. The seeds had long been his own charge of responsibil-

ity, entrusted to him by another seed-saver decades earlier. Over the years, Homer preserved the seeds bygrowing out the corn and saving seed, even segregating the crops to reduce cross-pollination. Thanks to

his extraordinary commitment, these heirloom seeds live on in the Native Seeds/SEARCH collection and in

the soil of native tribes and gardeners around the world. We are fortunate to offer three varieties from

Homer Owens's collection here: Maricopa, Paiute, and Yuman Yellow.

21

Tarahumara Serape Flour/flint corn. This gorgeous Cristalino de Chihuahualandrace has beautiful long slender ears with pearly white, red or striped

kernels. H Seed Bank ZT044

Tohono Oodham 60-Day Top Seller! Flour corn. Extremely fast-maturingdesert-adapted corn traditionally grown with the summer rains in the 'ak chin'

floodwater fields of the Tohono O'odham. Produces short (6-10") ears with

white kernels on short plant stalks. Usually roasted and dried before beingground into flour. The plants are remarkably tough in our 2012 growout in

Tucson, this variety produced on rainwater alone. H/L Seed Bank ZF024

Yuman Yellow Sweet corn. From an extensive collection made by an earlyprospector. Yellow kernels on small ears. Originally grown by the Yuman

(Quechan) Indians along the lower Colorado River. Delicious roasted a staff

favorite! L Seed Bank $4.95 ZS112

Tohono Oodham60-Day

More Corn $2.95Unless otherwise indicated

Yuman Yellow

Teosinte Zea mays mexicana $4.95

Teosinte is currently believed to be the wild progenitor of modern

corn. Native to Mexico, wildZea species are shortening-day plants:

flowering is initiated as day length begins to shorten in the fall. Plantsproduce tassels and small spikelets of seeds. Approx. 1.5g/25 seeds

per packet.

Culture: Seeds have hard seed coats, which need to be scarified (soaked,

filed or sanded) so water can be absorbed. Plant as for corn.

Seedsaving: Plants will not flower until fall, making it difficult to harvestmature seeds unless you have a late frost or frost-free environment.

Northern Tepehuan Maizillo Annual Teosinte Found in Nabogame, southern Chihuahua,

where the plants begin to flower in September. Native farmers say growing this near cultivatedcorn makes their crops "stronger." Native wild stands are prolific producers of seed. Plants tend to

tiller (produce side shoots) more in the northern United States. Green stems are chewed for thesweet juices. H Seed Bank Z121

Northern TepehuanMaizillo Annual

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Hopi Short Staple

Sacaton Aboriginal

Bisbee Black

Bisbee Red

Seeds Cotton Gossypium spp. $3.95Cultivated since ancient times, people have utilized the lint for spin-

ning and weaving. In frost free areas, cotton can be a perennial shrub

or small tree. Approx. 2g/20 seeds per packet.

Culture: Plant in spring after last frost, 1/2 inch deep, 12 inches apart.Plants need a long season for bolls to mature.

Seedsaving: An annual, mainly self-pollinating but with large showy

flowers that attract insects which will cross varieties. Harvest dried pods

as they mature. Remove bad seeds and cotton fiber before storing.

Cotton seeds can only be shipped to AZ, NM, TX and OK addresses.

Hopi Short Staple G. hirsutum var.punctatum. Originating in Central America

and traded north, this variety was prehistorically grown by the Hopi. It has a

short growing season (100 days). Our original seed came from a USDA

research geneticist. H/L Seed Bank H001

Sacaton Aboriginal G. hirsutum var.punctatum. Grown by the Pimans for

food and fiber until 1900. Padre Kino noted its use for weaving into clothingand blankets. This variety, related to Hopi cotton, was maintained by the Field

Station in Sacaton, Arizona, for many years under the name "Sacaton Aborigi-

nal." Pimans planted cotton "when the mesquite began to leaf out. Astunningly beautiful plant. H/L Seed Bank H002

Cowpea Vigna unguiculata $2.95An introduced legume from Africa that tolerates high heat and

drought. A good producer in the low, hot desert. Peas can be eaten

green (immature) or dry. Approx. 5g/25 seeds per packet.

Culture: Plant 1 inch deep and 6 inches apart, or in basins, in the spring

or with summer rains. Plants sprawl.

Seedsaving: An annual that is mainly self-pollinating. Dried pods should

be harvested throughout the growing season. Mature pods will split open

if left on the plant.

Bisbee Black Original seeds came from a Native American in Bisbee, Arizona,

who gave them to a truck driver, who passed them on to an NS/S member inMissouri. Solid black seeds, a good producer in the low desert. H/L SeedBank V001

Bisbee Red Same story as Bisbee Black. Does well in the low desert, produc-

ing long pods with dark red seeds. H/L Seed Bank V002

Mayo Speckled The pinto-bean of cowpeas! A colima variety with pinto beanmottling over light chocolate-covered seeds. From Los Capomos, Sinaloa. H/LSeed Bank V015

Photos of all varieties, and seeds of many more,

are available at www.nativeseeds.org

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Tarahumara From a remote village in Batopilas Canyon in the Sierra Madre.The seeds are predominantly cream to biege with occasional brick or black-

colored seeds. H/L Seed Bank V019

Texas The color of red sandstone, this cowpea is from the Eagle Pass area of

Texas. A heat-tolerant "pole bean" with superior flavor. H/L Seed BankV020

Tohono Oodham Uus mu:n. A gorgeous black and white bean with vari-

able mottling, may be all black (occasionally brown) or splotched on white.Excellent for green beans in the low desert. A staff favorite! H/L Seed BankV006

Yori Cahui Collected from the village of Ahome, near Los Mochis in Sinaloa.

Our demonstration garden growout produced lots of "yard long" beans thatthrived in our record breaking heat. Great low desert green bean. H/L Seed

Bank V014

Tohono Oodham

Yori Cahui

More Cowpea $2.95

Cucumber Cucumis sativus $2.95Approx. 1g/50 seeds per packet.

Culture: Cucumbers prefer direct sun and warm growing conditions.

Plant in rich, warm, not necessarily deep, soil. Companion plants include:

sunflowers, corn, peas, beans, radishes. Dislikes: aromatic herbs and pota-toes.

Seed Saving: Cucumbers produce separate male and female flowers.

Females can be recognized by their ovaries which look like small cucum-

bers inside the blossoms. Unless hand-pollinating techniques are used,

bees are primary pollinating agents. Provide at least 1/4 mile between

different varieties.

Marketmore 76 Top Seller! Consistently produces, through hot and cool weather, 8-9" crisp, crunchy,

slicing cucumbers! Disease resistant. Approx. 1g/76 seeds per packet. H/L TS315

SMR 58 Top Seller! The best open-pollinated pickling cucumber. 6". Resistant to scab spot rot andcucumber mosaic.". Approx. 1g/58 seeds per packet. H/L TS316

SMR 58

Elevation Guidelines for SeedsGeneral guidelines have been developed for both low desert (3,500, marked by an H) conditions, based on our experience in Tucson and at

the Conservation Farm (4,000). Please keep in mind that these are only guidelines. We encourage you totry all different kinds of seeds at all different elevations, bioregions and microclimates.

In the low desert, summer rains come in July or early August, summer temperatures regularly exceed100F and remain high during the night, and planting for the cool season can be anytime from September

to November. In the high desert, summer rains can begin in June, summer temperatures often reach 100Fbut cool off considerably during the night, and planting for the cool season usually begins in February. For

warm weather crops, the low desert has eight frost-free months, which include extremely hot and dry con-

ditions. The Conservation Farm sits in a cold air drainage and has about six frost-free months. Gardeners inother climates will need to adjust their planting times. It is helpful to know your average last frost dates;

ask experienced gardeners or the agricultural extension agent in your area.

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Seeds Devils Claw Proboscidea spp. $4.95Cultivated by many Southwest tribes. The black fiber of the fruit or"claw" is used in basketry. Seeds are rich in oil and protein, and dried

seeds can be peeled and eaten. Very heat tolerant, the flowers and

foliage make these attractive landscape plants. Approx. 1.5g/25seeds per packet.

Culture: Presoak seeds for better germination. Plant with summer rains,1/2 inch deep, and allow 2-4 feet between plants. Plants respond to hot,

humid conditions of the summer monsoons.

Seedsaving: Varieties of this insect-pollinated annual will cross. Allow

pods to dry and mature on the plant; harvest when they begin to open.

Seeds can be removed with ice picks or pliers; be careful not to get pokedby the razor-sharp claws.

Eagle Creek P. parviflora var.parviflora. Grown out from a single claw foundby hikers at the Eagle Creek/ Gila River confluence. Medium-length claws,

white seeds. H/L Seed Bank R009

Morelos P. parviflora var. hohokamiana. From Morelos in southern Mexico. A

wild annual with small, 3-4" claws and black seeds. Plants are large andsprawling and produce violet flowers which are very fragrant. H/L Seed BankR007

San Carlos Apache Domesticated P. parviflora var. hohokamiana. Moderate-

sized claws and white seeds. Collected from plants growing in fields of bluecorn. The claws are typically used in basketry. H/L Seed Bank R016

Tohono Oodham Domesticated P. parviflora var. hohokamiana. I:hug (ee

hook ). Selected by basket makers for the extremely long claws (up to 15").Claws saved for basketry are sometimes buried to keep the black color from

fading. White seeds. H/L Seed Bank R004

Eagle Creek

Morelos

Tohono Oodham

Domesticated

Black Beauty

Eggplant Solanum melongena $2.95Eggplant is native to the Indian subcontinent. It has been cultivatedin southern and eastern Asia since prehistory, but appears in the

Western world around 1500 AD. Approx. 0.25g/60 seeds per packet.

Culture: In the spring after soil reaches at least 70 F, plant seeds directly

in the garden 1/4" deep, or start indoors and transplant after all danger of

frost. Allow 15" spacing between plants.

Seedsaving: Save seeds from at least 6 plants to insure diversity. Allow

fruits to mature past eating stage till they begin to turn brown. Cut lowerhalf of the fruit into 1" squares and blend or food process. Add water and

stir. Good, clean seeds will sink to the bottom. Rinse and dry on a paper

towel.

Black Beauty Black Beauty was introduced in 1902 and remains the world's

common market eggplant because of its large size, 6", and earliness, 74 daysto maturity. Black, shiny fruits. H/L TS321

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Gourd Lagenaria siceraria $2.95The earliest known domesticated plant. Used for ladles, rattles, can-

teens or containers, as well as musical instruments. Can be carved,

burned or painted. Approx. 2.5g/15 seeds per packet.

Culture: Sow 1 inch deep in the warm spring (presoak for better germina-tion). The long climbing vines require plenty of room. Plant next to a

fence or trellis, or in basins under a tree. Requires plenty of water through-

out the long growing season.

Seedsaving: Annual. Varieties will cross-pollinate. The night-blooming

white flowers are moth-pollinated. Fruits should mature on the plant untilthe stems are brown and the fruit lightweight, or until frost. Dry until the

gourds are beige and the seed can be loosened by shaking. Interior of

fruits are toxic, so gloves and masks are recommended when processing

gourds

Letters at the end of descriptions refer to the key (below).

All shapes in the key may not be currently available.

Hopi Rattle Tawiya. Flat-bulbed ceremonial dance rattle of the Hopi. Large

ones may also be used to make women's rasp instruments for Home Dance.

Plants are prolific. (h) H/L Seed Bank M022

Mayo Warty Bule Grown in Piedras Verdes, Sonora. Unique gourds, usedfor canteens or water jugs, have "warts" or pebble-like knobby growths

around the bulbs. (f) L Seed Bank M028

Oodham Dipper Top Seller! This was our first dipper gourd collection madein 1982 at Topawa on the Tohono O'odham Nation. Gourds vary from 8" to 18"

long and have a long thin neck and small bowl. Trellis the plants (or allow

them to climb trees) to obtain straight-necked fruit. (g) H/L Seed BankM020

Peyote Ceremonial Top Seller! A very small (2-4") bilobal or dipper gourd

used for crafts and as rattles by the Native American Church. Plants are incred-

ibly prolific. An extremely popular gourd! (e) H/L Seed Bank M029

Tepehuan Canteen Teardrop-shaped fruits originally collected at Santa Ros-alia, Chihuahua, a Tepehuan village in a remote area of the Sierra Madre of

Mexico. (d) H/L Seed Bank M034

Hopi Rattle

Mayo Warty Bule

Oodham Dipper

San Juan Mix

Share Your Experiences with UsWe are eager to obtain, summarize and share the experiences of gar-

deners growing seeds from our collection. Plants can respond

remarkably differently under varied environmental conditions andgrowing practices. You can help us curate our collection by sharingyour successes and failures. Please email them to

curator@nativeseeds.org. New NS/S website tools under

development will provide powerful ways for you to learn about ourcollection, get guidance on what varieties might perform well in your

area, and allow you to share your results so that we can all get toknow these plants better. Check our website for updates.

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Seeds

Herbs $2.95Most herbs are easy to grow and are quite happy in poor, gravelly

soils. Besides being essential to fine cuisine, herbs are used medici-

nally and are effective insect repellents. See listing for packet size.

Culture: See individual seed descriptions for growing information.

Seedsaving: Herbs are insect pollinated so members of the same specieswill cross. Harvest dried seed stalks, and hang upside down for complete

drying. Crush to remove seeds, and winnow off chaff.

Corrales Azafrn Carthamus tinctorius.This red/orange thistle-like flowerwas used in cooking as a saffron substitute. A sunflower relative, azafrn canbe grown as an annual flower and keeps well as a dry flower (though veryprickly). Collected in Corrales, New Mexico. Plant seed with the summer rainsabout 1/4 inch deep. Approx. 1g/25 seeds per packet. H Seed Bank HB014

Epazote Top Seller! A commonly used herb in southern Mexico. The

aromatic foliage has a distinct and delicious flavor, and is used to season beans(it is said to reduce the flatulence caused by beans). A staff favorite! Plant seed

with the summer rains about 1/4 inch deep. Approx. 0.1g/200 seeds perpacket. H/L Seed Bank HB015

German Thyme One of the most popular culinary herbs. Aromatic leaves and

small, pink flower spikes on a short, creeping plant. A long history of medicinal

use: thyme oil is antiseptic, tea is mineral-rich, anti-spasmodic. 6-12". Startindoors or direct-seed outdoors in early spring. Tolerates relatively poor soil

and prefers full sun. Approx. 0.1g/300 seeds per packet. H/L TS522

Corrales Azafrn

Guarijio Conivari

Greens $2.95Greens are excellent sources of vitamins, calcium and iron.

Culture:The small seeds should be broadcast or raked in.

Seedsaving:These annuals are insect pollinated; do not grow different

varieties of the same species if saving seed. Seed pods form along theflower stalk. Allow to mature and dry before harvesting. Place dried seed

heads in a paper or cloth sack, strip off seeds, and winnow out chaff.

Chichiquelite S. melanocerasum. From Piedras Verdes, a Mayo community inSonora. Commonly called the garden huckleberry, the leaves are cooked (do

not eat the leaves raw!) and the shiny black berries are delicious andproduced in great abundance over a long season. From the tropics of western

Africa. Approx. 0.1g/25 seeds per packet. H/L Seed Bank GR012

Mostaza Roja Top Seller! Brassica sp. Mequasare. A wild mustard withtender, mild flavored leaves. Use in salads or as cooked greens. Plant in fall inthe low desert. Very productive. Approx. 0.2g/100 seeds per packet. H/LSeed Bank GR008

Orach Atriplex hortensis. Also known as mountain or wild spinach. Cultivated

in northern New Mexico and used as a summer green. Plants grow 2-5' tall.Leaves are good raw or cooked. Originally collected growing wild at Taos

Pueblo. A good volunteer plant: will self-sow in your garden. Approx. 1g/100seeds per packet. H Seed Bank GR006

Mostaza Roja

Orach

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True Greek Oregano

Mrs. Burns Famous

Lemon Basil

More Herbs $2.95

Guarijio Conivari Hyptis suaveolens. A cooling drink is made from the jelled,

chia-like seed which has high-fiber mucilage. Mayo Indians use it for an eye

remedy and to control diarrhea. For summer gardens. Plant seed with thesummer rains about 1/4 inch deep. Approx. 0.3g/50 seeds per packet. H/L

Seed Bank HB008Italian Parsley Flat leaves. The preferred parsley for cooking. Great dried. Pro-vides a winter long supply of fresh nutritious greens. 2-3' tall. Prefers full sun or

partial shade, and rich soil. Approx. 0.5g/80 seeds per packet. H/L TS160

Mayo/Yoeme Basil Ocimum basilicum.

A strong smelling medicinal herb com-monly grown in Sonora. Good for

cooking and flavoring vinegars and oils.The white and pink flowers make it an

attractive garden plant. Plant in springand summer. Plant seed in spring orwith the summer rains about 1/4 inch

deep. Approx. 0.2g/50 seeds perpacket. H/L Seed Bank HB004

Mrs. Burns Famous Lemon Basil TopSeller! Ocimum basilicum. This famous

basil variety was grown for 60 years insoutheastern New Mexico by the

mother of NS/S co-founder Barney

Burns. Readily self-seeds. Amazinglemon flavor. Heat and drought toler-

ant. One of our best sellers, and a stafffavorite! Plant seed in spring or with the

summer rains about 1/4 inch deep.Approx. 0.2g/50 seeds per packet. H/LSeed Bank HB003

Slo-Bolt Cilantro Top Seller! Corian-

der. Whisper the words "fresh cilantro."

Your mouth will water! Indispensible forChinese, Thai and Southwest recipes.

Produces incredibly fragrant, glossy,bright green leaves. This durable new

strain resists bolting. 6-20" tall. Plant infall through early spring in the low

desert, spring through summer in

colder climates. Approx. 2g/200 seedsper packet. H/L TS509

Swain Heirloom Dill Anethum graveolens. This dill may have arrived in Para-

dox Valley, Colorado, with immigrants from England who homesteaded thearea. Good for pickling. Freely seeding: once you plant it, you're likely to

always have it in your garden. Large aromatic heads. Plant seed with the sum-

mer rains about 1/4 inch deep. Approx. 0.2g/200 seeds per packet. H SeedBank HB016

Tarahumara Chia Salvia tiliafolia. A plant native from southeastern Arizona to

South America. The cute flowers and foliage make it an attractive landscapeplant for summer gardens. Gathered and used medicinally by the Tarahumara.

Plant seed with the summer rains about 1/4 inch deep. Approx. 0.2g/50 seeds

per packet. H/L Seed Bank HB007

A Short History of Mrs. BurnsFamous Lemon BasilMy Mom, Janet Ann Burns, and I moved into our first real home

in 1951 on Tracy Place in Carlsbad, New Mexico. The backyardbecame the site of Moms new garden. She consulted with a Mrs.

Clifton, one of the areas most successful gardeners, who gave us

lemon basil seed she had saved from her last harvest and whichshe had grown since the 1920s. While this unique variety has

possible origins in England, Thailand, or India, I never discoveredhow it came to New Mexico; it remains a mystery.

Over the years, we continued to grow and save seed from this

special herb. Moms basil became an essential element for the

Burns cuisine. When I entered the University of Arizona in 1963, Iplanted some of the basil seeds as my first solo gardening effort.Years later, Mom lost all her plants in a late frost. A similar inci-

dent had occurred with Mrs. Clifton. Luckily I had some seed

reserved and quickly sent Mom some. The loss of this uniquebasil variety by both Mrs. Clifton and my Mom demonstrates

how a rare plant variety is at great risk.

Without a backup source of seed, this unique type of basil would

have been lost forever. When I co-founded Native Seeds/SEARCH

in 1983, Mrs. Burns Lemon Basil was one of the first seeds

added to the collection. Today, this incredible variety is beinggrown widely in gardens around the world, keeping the treas-ured plant alive and abundant.

Adapted from an article by Barney T. Burns in Native Seeds/SEARCHs

Seedhead News, Issue 103 (Winter Solstice 2008). Visit

www.nativeseeds.org/index.php/about-us/seedheadnews toread the full article.

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Seeds

Indigo Indigofera suffruticosa $4.95A shrub, native to the New World and valued for its blue pigment,

indigo is perennial in frost-free areas of the Sonoran Desert. Beauti-ful clusters of small pink flowers make this an attractive ornamental.

Approx. 0.2g/150 seeds per packet.

Culture: Soak seeds in warm water overnight to soften the seed coat.

Plant swollen seeds 1/2 inch deep in warm garden soil (spring) or in con-

tainers. Allow 12 inches between plants. Mature shrubs can be 3-6 ft. tall.Plants thrive in hot weather and can be set back by cool weather.

Seedsaving: Self-pollinating. Harvest the small dried pods, crush and usea small gauge screen to winnow off chaff.

Mayo Indigo From a Mayo village near Navojoa, Sonora, where it growsalong the irrigation canals and on sand bars in the Rio Mayo. Frost sensitive at

high elevations. A spectacular plant. H/L Seed Bank ID001Mayo Indigo

Yoeme Alvaaka Basil

True Greek Oregano Taste the best strain of any oregano we have found!

Deep, genuine, oregano flavor! Pinkish-white flowers decorate this herb that

doubles as a perfect ground cover with soft gray-green leaves. 12-18" tall.Plant in fall through early spring in the low desert, spring through summer in

colder climates. Approx. 0.1g/800 seeds per packet. H/L TS516Yoeme Alvaaka Basil Ocimum basilicum. A small seed sample was collectedfrom a woman at New Pascua who uses the foliage to make a tea which is

"good for the stomach and as a general tonic." The plants have a strong licorice

aroma. Plant about 1/4 inch deep in spring or with the summer rains. Approx.0.2g/50 seeds per packet. H/L Seed Bank HB013

More Herbs $2.95

Kale Brassica oleracea $2.95In high and low elevations alike, kale is one of the most dependable

sources of vitamins and minerals. Approx. 0.5g/150 seeds per

packet.

Culture: Kale handles heat well. Frost improves its already rich flavor.Mark in fall to facilitate finding delicate fresh greens in waist-deep snow.

Short varieties are protected by snow.

Seedsaving: Although kale flowers contain both female and male parts,

individual plants do not self-fertilize. Provide at least two or more flower-

ing plants to assure seed formation. Since bees can cross-pollinate kalewith other Brassica, isolation distances should be 1,000 yards or more.

Dwarf Siberian Blue-green leaves are ruffled and delicately flavored. Plants

are compact, approximately 1'. Hardy variety, perfect for small gardens. H/L

TS103

Lacinato Ready 50-60 days from transplanting. Dark blue-green savoyed

leaves. Winter and summer hardy. Highly adaptable and can be grown almost

year-round in many locations. Tender, succulent and sweet as steamed greensor in a stir-fry. A reliable workhorse. H/L TS107

Red Russian

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More Kale $2.95

Lettuce Lactuca sativa $2.95To assure a steady supply of fresh tender greens, stagger plantings every ten days, planting

smaller amounts more often as the weather becomes hot. Approx. 1g/700 seeds per packet.

Culture: Water lettuce at base to avoid rot. Stagger plantings every ten days, planting smaller

amounts more often as weather becomes hot. For full heads, thin to 8". Companion plants include:

carrots, radishes.

Seed Saving: Lettuce produces perfect yellow flowers on tall, bushy seed

stalks. Since flowers self-pollinate, there is less chance of cross-pollinationbetween varieties. For purity, separate at least 25 yards with other crops.

Black-Seeded Simpson Looseleaf Sets the standard by which to measure alllooseleafs. Large, light-green, broad, frilled leaves with exceptionally crisp,

fresh flavor. H/L TS120

Buttercrunch Bibb Butterhead Dark-green leaves form small, compact

rosettes around yellow, blanched hearts. Sweet and crisp leaves have a richbuttery flavor and texture. H/L TS125

Cimarron Romaine Adds color to salads along with the unmistakable texture

of a delicious romaine. Broad, flat, crisp, sweet and juicy leaves range from darkred to bronze. Very attractive. H/L TS124

Red Saladbowl Looseleaf Top Seller! The beauty, flavor and tenderness ofSaladbowl with solid red color, fuller head and slightly more compact shape.

Delicious. Withstands hot weather as well as the green saladbowl. Excellentflavor! H/L TS127

Summertime Crisphead A reliable offering for crisp heads even after summer

temperatures begin to rise. No bitterness. H/L TS233

Red Saladbowl

Looseleaf

Cimarron Romaine

Red Russian Top Seller! Dark green oakleaf-cut leaves, may be richer in vitamins and minerals than

other greens. Red and purple hues intensify after fall frosts, giving way to tender and sweet rich dark

green kale when cooked. Also good raw. Very disease resistant. H/L TS105

Seed LibrariesIn January of 2012, Native Seeds/SEARCH opened Arizonas firstseed library at our retail store. Seed libraries function similarly to

book-lending libraries. People check out seeds for free, grow

them in gardens, and keep a few plants in the ground to go toseed. Some of the saved seed is then returned to the library, ide-

ally twice as much as was borrowed. As this process continuesyear after year, the seeds in the library become more productive

and hardy because of selection and adaptation to local growing

conditions. This is what true sustainability and seed sovereigntylooks like! Pima County Library System has taken the lead nation-

wide by opening up several seed libraries in branches throughoutTucson. Inter-library loans are available to those community

members without seed libraries in their own branches! If you don't live near a seed library, start one!

Visit www.richmondgrowsseeds.org to jump-start your own seed library.

Above The seed room at the Native Seeds/SEARCH retail store.

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Hopi Casaba

Isleta Pueblo

Melon Cucumis melo $2.95An early introduction by the Spanish into the Greater Southwest.

The fruits are varied, with orange, green or white flesh and skinsthat are smooth, ribbed or netted skins. A summertime favorite.

Approx. 1g/25 seeds per packet.

Culture: A warm-season crop. Plant 3-5 seeds 1/2 inch deep directly in

basins, 24 inches apart with plenty of room for sprawling vines. Overwa-

tering can dilute flavor of fruit.

Seedsaving: Annual plants are insect pollinated. Male and female flow-ers form on each plant. Ripe fruits often have a distinct aroma. Removeseeds from cut fruit, wash off fibers, and spread seeds on paper or clothto dry. Dry thoroughly.

Coch