Touchstone Gold Beet

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

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

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

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

Originally from the Doe Hill region in Virginia, this variety produces round and small sweet peppers. Its flesh is thick and it's skin very thin. It is perfectly adapted to our Northern climate as it produces early and abondant orange fruits. They can be eaten raw, stuffed or cooked. Their taste is refreshing and sweet.

Package: 25 seeds

Photo credit: https://www.vivavera.be/fra/legumes-fruits/poivron_orange

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/