Seeds, Chickens and Monte Rio

Last Saturday my wife and I decided to take a break from the city and go on a day trip with our dog to wine country. While it wasn't one of those sunny, dreamy days, one often experiences up there, the rain didn't dampen our spirits as we drove along the Russian River. Passing through the lush, forested scenery on Old River Road, we stumbled upon a small, unassuming store in the town of Monte Rio.

On the building a hand-painted sign read simply: Vegetable Seeds.

Turns out we stumbled upon the Sustainable Seed Company. It has an old-timey feel, and it's filled with organic heirloom seeds packs, incubating chicken eggs, various organic soil amendments, books and other organic gardening-related stuff. It's the brain-child of a guy named Farmer John with the help of his partner Theo (guy in photo below).


They are passionate preservationists of the genetic heritage of open-pollinated seeds and ardent supporters of local organic farmers, who supply them with some of their seed stock. I spoke briefly with Theo about gardening in the city, picked up seed packets of beet, radish, fennel, chard and kale and invested in a couple of shares of a local chicken farm.

If you are thinking about starting a garden, please check out their website and purchase your seeds from the Sustainable Seed Company. www.sustainableseedco.com

"A seed is hope. It contains the possibility of a new life and great abundance. Hope and possibility not only lie in seeds, but in the soul of every person. With your help we will begin to build these communities and you will be the richer for “our” seeds…our very souls will lie in the heart of your gardens."

Love, Farmer John

Amen.