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3,70 $
Antoine D'Avignon was a ancient vegetable lover. A pioneer in Quebec for heirloom seed saving, he grew, harvested and shared the seeds of numerous varieties that would have otherwise been forgotten by now. Notably, Louis-Marie's Crotte d'ours potato, Suzanne Bourgeois's Ice Grow tomato, Huron wheat, and... this corn.
In an interview in the late 1990s he reached out for help to the public: the Quebec corn that our grandmas used to cultivate has disappeared. Nobody is growing flour corn anymore. After the interview, a lady called the radio station claiming that she did have seeds of a flour corn that had been grown by her family for ages.
This is how she came into contact with Antoine and shared with him her precious treasure. Then, during that summer, Antoine ends up mentioning the corn to a friend, Mrs. France Bouffard. She is really interested and ask for a couple seeds. Reluctant as he as only a few, he ends up giving her 6 seeds. She grew those and multiplied them, enough to make flour for her pancakes. The story could have ended there. Sadly it did not as Antoine died still young and took with him the corn story.
More recently, Mrs. Bouffard reached out to me while I was working for Seeds of Diversity. We chatted, and she ended up mentioning the corn. She then sent me some seeds by the mail. We had a good first harvest from those seeds and, thanks to that, we can now share this variety with you. Luckily, Antoine has also gifted a few to another one of his friends, René Paquet, who has since carefully kept the envelope. On it, a name:
Anita Fournier, from Nicolet.
We are looking for this lady (probably deceased by now) or her offsprings. Please let us know if you know her.
Please note that some of the seeds have been sent to Seeds of Diversity for preservation. With the hopes that you might also contribute to writing a chapter of this story.
For more information, please visit (in French): Antoine d'Avignon (1948-2003), jardinier de la dernière chance"
Please send us pictures of your crops and harvests! We will share them!
Package: 40 seeds
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3,55 $
Spice up movie night with your own homegrown popcorn! This variety is crunchy and has a rich taste, making it ideal for a healthy snack as well.
The seeds are lustrous and black, and pop into appetizing white popcorns.
This variety was developed by the Prairie Road Organic Seed Farm in North Dakota, to our taste buds' greatest pleasure!
Adapted to colder climates and easy to grow, unless you have some hungry birds roaming around your garden! (in which case we recommend using nets)
Package: Around 35 seeds
If you struggle getting your corn to pop: https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/why-popcorn-sometimes-doesnt-pop/
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3,55 $
This little plant is usually found in prairies or abandoned lands. Its leaves are edible; they're slightly sweet and taste a bit like green peas.
Brother Marie-Victorin writes in Flore Laurentienne 'the leaves get soapy juste like soapweed.' The melliferous flowers attract varied pollinators.
Its common names in French refer to kids have fun bursting the flowers to create an explosion sounds. Just pinch the opening between two fingers to trap the air, and smack it against the back of your hand.
Package: 100 seeds
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3,55 $
This hardy perennial can decorate your garden as nicely as your salads, with its striking dark red veins. It is also great with sandwiches, omelettes, quiches, and most other egg-based dishes. Slightly more tangy than common sorrel, bloody dock is the first to show up in the spring.
Package: 35 seeds
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3,50 $
Ancient corn variety introduced in the U.S. during the 1890s. The plant can reach more than 2 m in height, and produces 2 to 3 cobs of 20 cm. The long and white grains are not organized in rows, but instead in a completely irregular way.
The taste is delicate and sweet. Requires a longer cooking time to fully bring the flavour out. Delicious on the BBQ.
Package: 60 seeds
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3,55 $
French sorrel is a perennial that grows into a ground cover that establishes nicely along paths and beds, or on rocky soils. The small leaves of this sorrel variety are light green with occasional silver specks. They taste a little tangy and lemony. They are well-loved by kids, and are delicious in salads, sandwiches or sauces. The leaves can be harvested young in which case they are delicious eaten raw, or later to be cooked like spinach. Once harvested, the leaves can be stored frozen for a long time.
Package: 55 seeds
Photo credit: https://www.andrewsgarden.be/en/exotis-spices-medicinal-plants/rumex-scutatus-silver-leaf-french-sorrel/a-559-13
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3,70 $
There are very ancient mentions of this corn which grew in the region of Gaspé (in Gaspésie, Eastern Quebec) and all over the East coast of Canada. It was originally cultivated by the First Nation Mi'gmaq. History says that Jacques Cartier had observed this crop back in 1534. This small sized corn is a popping corn type. A particularly early crop, its cobs form in no more than 3 months. The cobs measures between 10-12 cm (4-5 inches) and have 8 rows of grains.
Package: Around 35 seeds
If you struggle getting your corn to pop: https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/why-popcorn-sometimes-doesnt-pop/
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3,55 $
While sorting the beans, Geneviève slipped and spilled them all! We are now happy to introduce you our best climbing bean varieties, of all colors and tastes: Skunk, True Red Cranberry, Kahnawake Mohawk, Turkey craw, Goose, Mennonite, Mayflower, and Grand-mère.
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3,55 $
This very ancient variety was supposedly brought to the U.S. on the Mayflower boat in 1620. The boat was carrying English religious dissidents, the Pilgrim fathers, and other European people seeking a land where they could fully enjoy religious freedom. This variety was widely grown in the Carolinas region.
Despite this nice story, and considering most beans are originally from America, it is more likely that the colonizers 'borrowed' this variety from First Nations and named it after their boat. Perhaps.
Their pods are small, and contain squarish beans, sprinkled with pink and white marks. Can be eaten as green beans when still young, or as dry beans when they reach maturity after 85 days. Mayflower beans are part of the SlowFood USA's Ark of Taste.
Package: 30 seeds
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3,55 $
Coy in the garden, salsify can be mistaken for grass when still young. But its hardiness and lack of pests makes it a wise choice for enthusiasts of curiosities. Not the highest-yielding plant but its taste, somewhere between hazelnut and parsnip, widely makes up for it. It's also a true sundial: as soon as the first lights of the sunrise appear, the flowers will open towards the sun, and will then follow it for the whole day, until it sets. It is from the same family as dandelions.
The roots are tender and do not have a hint of bitterness, as long as harvested before the flowering stem starts to grow. The leaves are also edible. When the flower buds start appearing, on the second year, it is possible to eat them just like with viper's grass.
Culinary uses:
-raw roots chopped for salads,
-cooked roots sliced (with white wine to avoid blackening),
-young leaves in a salad,
-cooked leaves as vegetables,
-raw flower buds in a salad, or cooked as vegetables.
Package: 25 seeds
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3,55 $
Originally from Europe, rose campions can be a great addition even to North American gardens. It is easy to grow, being able to establish itself in very difficult soils, on top of being pretty. Its soft-to-touch, silver foliage highlights nicely its deep pink flowers. It produces flowers over a long period, and reseeds itself.
Short-lived perennial, biennial.
Package: 100 seeds
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3,70 $
This rare corn variety was shared with us by Steve McCumber, founder of the Haudenosaunee seed saving group. It comes from the Winnebago nation, who has been cultivating it for generations on their land, now known as Wisconsin and Illinois.
The Winnebago corn is a flour variety. The kernels are creamy white, sprinkled with blue spots. You can try to eat it fresh if you wish, but the taste won't be as sweet and the texture will be more fibrous than the corn cobs you usually find at summer corn stalls. It will however be best used to cook cornbreads, polenta or hominy.
Ancient and rare variety, please share!
Package: 40 seeds
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