Happy Christmas All

2010 Catalogues Arrive

The fabulous 2010 Brown Envelope Seeds Catalogue has arrived! It looks really nice, printed by Matthew Walsh of Ecoprint Ltd. on recycled paper from Klee Paper, and full of handsome vegetable flower images created by the very handsome Mike Sweeney. It has of seedsaving tips too, to help me into an early retirement. If you ordered from us in 2008 or 2009 or have requested a catalogue, it should be on its way to you by the efficient An Post service very soon. If you don't think you are on the list and would like a copy email seeds@brownenvelopeseeds.com

Seed industry

I found this interesting diagram on the Agricultural Biodiversity Weblog It was created by Philip Howard, and you can see an animated version here. Funny, I can't find Brown Envelope Seeds on it anywhere.

Gift Boxes

All your Christmas shopping problems can be solved by the

Brown Envelope Seeds Gift Box. We have Children's boxes,

Very Easy Veg Boxes, Polytunnel Boxes, and Armageddon

Boxes.

Still stuck? Have a look at Paul and Jacinta's Woodkerne

Nurseries Catalogue

Events in 2010

We are still trying to get the 2010 catalogue to the printer. All going well, it will be tomorrow. It has focussed my mind on what events we want to hold on the farm next year, as that goes into the catalogue. And so we have decided to have an 'Open Day' on Sunday June 6th 2010 and a 'Seedy Weekend' over the August bank holiday weekend. We will have a beginners seed saving workshop on 31st of July, and on Sunday 1st August, a workshop on beginning plant breeding. Please email madsmckeever@eircom.net to book. If you want to buy a workshop voucher for someone special we can do that, at no extra cost. Cost €30 per day. (2days €50). Participants are welcome to camp on the farm. That leaves Monday the 2nd open for another event. Anyone want to run a seed related workshop? Or, would it be a nice day to have a gathering of seed savers who just want to hang out. What do you think?

And by the way, the cabbage is 'Gortahork' and we haven't got seed off it yet, ISSA probably do though. Hopefully we will this time next year.

Well done Sophie.

The wind is howling here, and its time for a bit of sofa gardening, or perhaps Sophie gardening. Last summer we sponsored the vegetable plants for a show garden at Bloom. There is an earlier post here. Last week the garden, designed by Sophie von Maltzen, has won the Irish Landscape Institute Design Award 2009 in the category of Residential Landscapes. It was filmed by TV3 which you can see here and view it 3D here. Perhaps a few of the design elements could go in your garden plan for next year. The garden is still looking for a permanent home where the maximum number of visitors could benefit from it. It could also act as a hub creating a community park around it. If anyone has any ideas, a transition town project perhaps, do get in touch.

New Catalogue Germinating.

This time of year is when we put the new cataolgue together and although there are still some aubergines and squash to be de-seeded, the growing season is officially over. The image below is probably going to be on the cover. It shows the old house on the farm where all the seeds are stored and where we have the office. In there, Ruth has tested and made an inventory all the seeds. Mike and Ruth have also been as busy as Santas elves, getting gift boxes ready to get in the shops for Christmas. Drop us an email, seeds@brownenvelopeseeds.com, if you would like a copy of the new catalogue.