Hi Loamy,

Thank you SOOO much. You are always so supportive and insightful--have you considered being a gardening teacher, or a life coach, or something?? :x

I still have some heirloom seeds (you sent me a lot LOL!), and the back-up seedlings are all heirlooms that you sent me, so I think I'm okay this season.

However, if I don't manage to bring any green zebras to seed, I will definitely want to try again next year.

I also saw a write-up in Mother Earth News on heirloom tomatoes, and now I am dying to try a variety called "Black Krim" (I think??). It's supposedly a black tomato with a salty flavor, from Russia. It sounds amazing--ever tried it?

Anyway, if I can bring even some of these to fruit, I'll at least have gotten a taste for heirlooms this year, an idea of which do well for me, which I like best, and LOTS of experience in dealing with the vagaries of fate LOL. Education is expensive, my dad always says. And if all it costs is a few months in the garden, well, I guess that's a pretty good deal, I say.

Thanks again, and good luck with the puppy!!!!

Blessings,

Heather

Well, last year my Plan A was seedlings from Home Depot. So don't feel bad. LOL

I'm so sorry about your childhood gardening experience!! That stinks! At least the one sunflower survived... I had a bout with planting trees in Iowa, and we hired someone to mow our lawn (we were grad students, busy, and stupid). Despite the markers and the (small) cages around the baby trees, the morons mowed over ALL my trees. Geez.

As for gardening on someone else's property--BTDT too. One of the worst things that happened was when the landlord's father came by while I was at work, and, in a battle against carpenter bees, sprayed the house--directly above my organic garden--with Raid.

The other bad experience was with a different landlord, whose agent sent me a nasty letter telling me to dispose of the "trash" behind the house--i.e. my bags of composting leaf litter and kitchen scraps, that were kept in bags because I didn't want them to have to look at a wire compost bin. I wouldn't have minded him stopping by to ask about it (he lived two houses down), but the nasty letter was a bit over the top.

Anyway, good luck, and I'll keep my fingers crossed the dogs leave well enough alone.

Blessings,

Heather

Heather -
I have Black Krim seeds! And Black Sea Man, Black Prince, Black Pear, Black Plum,...
In fact, whilst doing an inventory for the Seed Bank, I have 50, that's right, 50 heirloom tomato varieties (plus one hybrid, Park's Whopper). And there are more coming in from swaps that I don't know the names of yet.
When you are ready, I am here with any seed you may need or want. I think I've found my calling, at age 45. Took awhile, but I found it.
Life-teacher/coach? Isn't that called a 'mother'? Got to meet a couple of the students working at the Co-Op today. They all need a mother - they've got biological ones, yes, but far out of town. I can see my house becoming a oasis/diner/laundromat very soon.

Oooo... maybe I'll try some black krim next year. Save some for me? :x I have always loved salt on my fresh home-grown tomatoes, so the idea of a salty flavor already in the tomato is extremely appealing to me. Have you heard whether they do all right in zone 7? Coming from Russia, they probably prefer the Canadian climate, but maybe I can get them to go down here. After my crash course in heirloomers this year, I'm ready to tackle anything next year! LOL

Do go take care of those Co-op youngsters. You're the nurturing type. It's good for your soul. But pleeeeeeease don't forget to take care of yourself, too. We need you here!

My mom and dad were always taking someone in--whether it was the troubled teenager in need of guidance, the homeless man looking for a new life, or just friends from out of town needing a place to stay for a few days or weeks, our house was always open. Apparently, my brother is much the same.

My mom laughed at me recently because I was pointing this out, and saying that I hoped some day to live up to my upbringing. She said I must not have noticed that we already had given up our guest room on several occasions for a friend (the step-daughter of my friend who was dying of cancer) who was between locations and needed a place to stay, and that I often take care of the neighbor's nieces during the day, and so on... and she was right--because I was raised in that environment, it hadn't occurred to me that I was doing the same thing. It just becomes a way of life, and you don't think twice about it.

Point being (I'm getting there!) that I understand that drive, and I also know that what you are doing will be marvelous for your already amazing children (at least, we know the one is pretty amazing, having "met" him here), who are absorbing your lifestyle without even really realizing it.

Thanks again, and when you begin posting your seed list again, I'll be sure to nab some Black Krim if you have them.

Thank you,

Heather

yeah the bird that took my pansy seedlings to line its nest, and hte new leaves off my emerging columbine tried its best to pull all the leaves off my Bloody Butcher Tomato X-( I have one leaf left...

I am haveing the worst of luck with that tom! I never have a hard time with tomatoes but tha kind...shesh. I could never keep it alive long enough to get seeds from it in CA (it hated hot weather and seemed very weak) the seeds are slower to germinate (a week longer then other toms) and seedlings tend to grow slower at first. It is a cooler weatehr, short season indeterminate dark red tomato( it hated zone 9!) - reaches maturty in 55 days, and I only had a few seeds left so it is important it survives this year. I erected protective shelter over it today to prevent any further damage by critters. :_| I really like the flavor so I am trying my best to save the seeds off this one, its my last chance!