Fireweed is one of Alaska’s most memorable wild flowers… for its spear shaped blooms that line the most picturesque landscapes in the last frontier.

Rhizomes and wind borne seed help fireweed blanket the wild spaces throughout our great land. Fireweed can easily take over a growing space is left to its own devices…management should be used if adding Fireweed for landscaping purposes.

Fireweed seeds and extremely small and can be challenging to start indoors. A magnifying glass works perfectly for this task.

Shop our fireweed seed here: https://seedsandsoilorganics.com/product/seed-alaska-wildflower-fireweed-epilobium-angustifolium/

Alaska Seeds

We are a ecological farm located on beautiful Lazy Mountain in Palmer, Alaska. We save seed in this great land. Vegetable, flowers and herbs from our farm to your garden.

Giant Red Mustard is a staple green in our kitchen. This is my husbands favorite leafy green by far!

Perfect for companion planting with slow growing vegetables or flowers, mustard is a true “cut and come again”. Harvest individual leaves for sandwiches, salads or a stir fry. The large leaves can be used as wraps for a low carb and gluten free bread replacement.

Mustard is excellent combined with sweeter greens in “wilted” salads and perfect for some flavor in smoothies.

This variety is very cold hardy and withstands frosts with ease. Mustard is perfect for shade gardens and those that are a bit cooler.

Fall in love with flavor with an old fashioned green.

Shop now: https://seedsandsoilorganics.com/product/seed-mustard-giant-red-brassica-juncea-var-integrifolia/

Alaska sown-Alaska grown

Alaska Tomato Seeds

Many tomatoes are long season fruits with large amounts of plant material. I have grown tomatoes outside in Southcentral Alaska but there are a few rules for survival that I have observed:

Starting seeds at the right time. I transplant them outside after June 1 and hence they should be of manageable size so they do not break or are in a reproductive stage such as flowering. Starting them between the 2nd or 3rd week of March allows roughly 2.5 months of vegetative growth before being transplanted.

Locating a microclimate that is warm and dry. Typically near buildings, stone walls, protective spaces that reduce the amount of water/moisture that plant receives.

Pruning at least the bottom foot for both indeterminate/determinate types as tomatoes are susceptible to soil borne diseases.

Watering constantly throughout the growing season. I do my best to never allow tomatoes to go through a drought period until their fruit is set and blushed.

Tomatoes are heavy feeders and should be fed every 2-3 weeks throughout the growing season with a reduction in nitrogen once flowering begins.

If the season is coming to a close and the fear of frost is approaching, the plants can be topped so that further flowering/vegetative growth ceases. Water can also be restricted once the fruit has blushed. Tomatoes can be harvested at the blush stage and allowed to ripen off vine.

Shop tomato seeds here: https://seedsandsoilorganics.com/product-category/shop-seeds/

Alaska Seeds

Bush beans- what does it take to grow beautiful beans in Alaska? For Southcentral Alaska my favorite place to grow bush beans is in a warm and dry microclimate. Beans appreciate warm temperatures and are susceptible to molds in moist conditions.

Beans are relatively light feeders and do not require an abundance of fertility throughout the growing season. Beans are prolific…the more you harvest- the more they will produce.

Shop our beans here: https://seedsandsoilorganics.com/product-category/shop-seeds/

Alaska Seeds-My journey to seed from the soil

I started saving seeds about 10 years ago from various plants on my landscape. I was fascinated by the life cycle of perennial plants. I started to allow cultivated varieties to continue to seed in the fall and I fell in love.

After taking a Master Gardener course, then a Permaculture Design Course and a Permaculture Teaching certification, countless books, lectures and podcasts I realized none of my studies prepared me for actually growing to seed in mass…

It has been nature that has been my greatest teacher and in fact has taught me everything I know about growing seed.

To grow mixed vegetables, flowers and herbs seeds in the far North takes tenacity, resilience and the acceptance of failure. I have lost hundreds of feet of biennial crops in their second year- year after year since 2019. 

Yet, the successes outshine the failures and it has taken ingenuity, innovation and sheer will power to continue to grow to seed in one of the most challenging and unreliable growing seasons in agriculture.

There are many times I want to give up, throw in the towel and find another passion/profession. 2022 was one of the most challenging years as we received 7” of rain just when the seed was drying on the crops. After almost two years of effort for a seed variety to not mature is near heartbreak. 

Here I am though, showing up another season with optimism, courage and an unbreakable spirit regardless of the circumstances that may arise. 

Loss has taught me the lesson of gratitude. 

Please know that everytime you purchase seeds from us, you are supporting Alaskan Agriculture and a spirit of hard work, strength and creativity.

From Seed to Seed: Alaska Seeds

Alaska Seeds:

Our seeds are Heirloom (a seed passed down through generations) and/or open pollinated (pollinated naturally). 

Our seed packets are printed locally in Anchorage, Alaska

Seeds ship within 3-5 business days. 

Save big on our custom seed blends. Twice as nice with 2 varieties per packet…enjoy the savings:

https://seedsandsoilorganics.com/product-category/shop-seeds/alaska-seed-blends/

The very best savings for our curated seed bundles: 

https://seedsandsoilorganics.com/product-category/shop-seeds/save-on-seed-bundles/

Shop seeds for your cool weather garden

https://seedsandsoilorganics.com/product-category/shop-seeds/

Classes:

Registration is Open

Grow with us…we share over 21 years of successes, failures and fun within our workshops and  online events. Transform your garden!

https://seedsandsoilorganics.com/product-category/2023-classes/

How we grow:

What does it mean to be an “ecological farm”? We do not use any pesticides, herbicides, fungicides (organic or inorganic), single use plastics to grow our seeds, vegetables, flowers, herbs, roots, tubers and bulbs. Our growing spaces are ecologies in which all aspects of the system are honored.

Our focus is minimal soil disturbance without tillage…meticulous care of the soil.

We are a small and “by hand” farm- a family business. We do not have the liability insurance for farm tours, volunteers, work trades, farm pickups or visits. Thank you so very much for your interest. 

Alaska’s Seed Story: The Art and Science of Regional Adaptation

Stepping into the world of seed saving is like stepping into a dance. A dance with Mother Nature, where she leads and we follow. This dance has led me down a path of discovery and wonder, particularly when it comes to the concept of regional adaptation of seeds. And folks, there’s no better place to learn this intricate dance than here, in the far-flung reaches of Alaska.

You see, the idea of regional adaptation is all about matching the seed to the soil, the plant to the place. It’s about understanding that the seeds that thrive best in our gardens are those that have adapted to the rhythm of our seasons, the nuances of our climate, and the specific challenges of our region.

So, how does this play out in Alaska, you ask? Well, it’s a tale of resilience, patience, and a dash of stubbornness. Alaska’s extreme conditions – the long, harsh winters, short summers, and unpredictable weather – require seeds of a different kind.

We need plants that can handle the frosty bite of a cold spring morning and still bloom with all the gusto of a midsummer day. Plants that can race against the clock to germinate, grow, and go to seed all within our blink-and-you-miss-it growing season. And let’s not forget about the long daylight hours in the heart of summer. We need plants that are day-neutral, not put off by the sun hanging around longer than it does in most other places.

It’s a tall order, but you know what? I’ve found that nature is up to the challenge. Over the years, I’ve seen plants that initially struggled gradually become stronger, more robust, more… Alaskan. It’s like they’ve learned to dance to the beat of our unique drum.

But let me tell you, it’s not a quick process. It takes years, often decades, of careful observation and selection. It’s about noting which plants do well and saving their seeds, year after year. It’s about embracing the failures, learning from them, and then rolling up your sleeves and getting back to work.

Sure, there have been moments of frustration. Times when I’ve looked at a field of failed crops and thought about calling it quits. But then, I remember the successes. The plants that shrugged off a late frost, the ones that produced a bountiful harvest despite an early fall, the seeds that germinated despite a cold, wet spring. Those are the moments that fuel my passion for seed saving.

So, next time you sow a seed, take a moment to appreciate the journey it’s been on. If it’s an Alaskan seed, know that it carries within it the spirit of this land. It’s more than just a seed; it’s a tiny bundle of resilience, adaptability, and tenacity.

Please review the seven years of information, tips, handouts, photos and fun here:

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We are so grateful for each and every purchase. Thank you for choosing us and supporting ecological farming and gardening.