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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 $
Wild pepper originally from the Peruvian Jungle. Aji Charapitas are known to be among the rarest and most expensive peppers in the world. The fruit is tiny and orange, and taste fruity with hints of citrus. Its flavor will be a great addition to your salsas, rice meals and sauces.
Rare.
Our Aji Charapita plants have been isolated.
Package: Around 12 seeds
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3,55 $
Sesame has been grown for ages, so much that we cannot find its wild ancestor anymore.
Archaeological digs did however find that sesame seeds and oil were part of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 5,000 years ago, and of the Indian one, 7,500 years ago.
Black sesame seeds are rich in iron, magnesium, manganese, copper, and calcium. They are also full of antioxidants. Black sesame is much less common than white sesame, so please sow it and save some seeds! You'll still be able to eat most of them... toasted in a skillet, delicious!
Package: 20 seeds
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3,55 $
Despite its name, the bulbous chervil should not be mixed with the common chervil (also known as French parsley or garden chervil). Only the root, which looks like a spinning top, is eaten; the leaves and the stem are toxic. This forgotten tuber has been grown in Central Europe since Antiquity. The flavour is sweet and delicate, reminiscent of potatoes and chestnut. It is usually cooked just like parsnip, as a side dish or as purée. However, overcooking it might render its flesh mealy.
Bulbous chervil can be harvested when the leaves start to turn yellow and touch the ground. It is advised to wait a few weeks after harvest before eating the tuber, to give the time to the flavour to reach its full potential.
The seeds are viable for about a year.
Package: About 150 seeds
Photo credit: https://www.fermedesaintemarthe.com/A-1380-cerfeuil-tubereux-ab.aspx
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3,70 $
Indeterminate cherry tomato variety. Grows clusters of small elongated orange fruits. Wild variety that grew on the Galapagos Islands' shores.
Rare.
Package: 30 seeds
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3,55 $
The Comtesse de Chambord bean is a very ancient variety, from the 1880's. As its name hints, it comes from the Chambord region, in France.
Its small pods of exceptional quality have a very thin skin contain elongated white beans, making it a highly-valued variety.
Branched plant with late maturity.
Package: 30 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 $
The smallest tomato you will ever eat!
Currant tomatoes are cousins with the common tomato we all know, both originally from Central and South America. The plants grow clusters of several tiny sweet fruits. The seeds we are selling however have a peculiar story...
Léon was a grumpy gardener who didn't like kids. Always a smoke between his lips, he would chase them with the back of his hand whenever they got too close to his parcel in Montreal community garden. Yet the kids couldn't help but want some of his tomatoes, which were shining under the sun just like rubies. Truth be told, Léon didn't really like anyone regardless of age... but how did we love his tomatoes! So, under the full moon (for real!), I sneaked into the garden, and stole a couple seeds.
Ever since I've been growing them, and my kids love them!
Package: Around 35-40 seeds
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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 $
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Grosse Blonde Paresseuse lettuce (Large Lazy Blonde Lettuce).
Mentioned in 1904 by Vilmorin, a French seed saver, this ancient variety grows into a large head with crunchy blond green leaves. It is hardy, and doesn't bolt easily. It gave us a nice harvest this summer.
Package: 200 seeds
3,55 $
Graceful with its dark red leaves, this lettuce is nonetheless fierce. It has a high resistance to bolting as well as to insects and other pests. The leaves are wavy and crunchy. The lettuce is often described as semi-romaine, as the head is a bit loose and ruffled. Great taste. Rare. A special thanks to Mr. Paquet for sharing it with us.
Package: 200 seeds
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3,55 $
This spinach variety is hardy and slow to go to seed. Its large triangular leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. They can be harvested as you need, as it is recommended to consume them shortly after harvest. However they can also easily be frozen.
Can be sown at intervals if you prefer baby spinach.
Package: 130 seeds
Photo Credit: https://www.graines-baumaux.fr/169388-epinard-matador-ou-viking-bio.html
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