As the end of the year approaches, we thought we would share our end of year wishlist with you. These are the gifts that Seed Savers Exchange employees will be giving to our friends and family this Winter. If you are looking to place gifts under the tree or in stockings, please order by December 14.

Flower Seeds

The days are short and the landscape is snowy at Heritage Farm. It gets us thinking about the bright pops of color that flowers bring to the garden. Here are two of our favorites:

'Globe Amaranth'

These half-hardy annual plants grow to 30 inches tall and contain a mixture of 5-7 colors. Butterflies are attracted to the flowers. They dry beautifully and will hold their shape and color.

This flower is native to Brazil but has adapted widely to grow in almost any climate.

'Teddy Bear' sunflowers

These organic annuals are a dwarf variety of sunflower and grow to only 18-24 inches tall.

Their double blossoms are golden-yellow and grow well in most regions of the United States.

During their growth sunflowers exhibit heliotropism, or the tendency to tilt during the day to face the sun. This trait normally subsides after the flower heads bloom at which point they usually face east.

Seed Savers Exchange 2016 Calendar

Enjoy the beauty of heirloom varieties every day of the year!

This 12-month calendar is 10.5"x10.5" and printed in the USA. Each month features stunning images of plants at various stages of seed development along with captions identifying each with its common and scientific name and a close-up photo of the harvested seeds.

All images in this calendar are taken from The Seed Garden: The Art and Practice of Seed Saving, which was published in 2015 by Seed Savers Exchange.

Books

Whether you are looking for a gift for the youngest seed saver or the most experienced, books are always a good choice. Here are two of our choices for Wintertime reading:

Oh Say Can You Seed?

From the "Cat in the Hat's Learning Center Library Series" comes "Oh Say Can You Seed?" a book all about flowering plants. With the able assistance of Thing 1 and Thing 2 - and a fleet of Rube Goldbergian vehicles - the Cat in the Hat examines the various parts of plants, seeds, and flowers, basic photosythesis and pollination, and seed dispersal. This book will help young children understand just how important plants and seeds are to their everyday life.

Heirloom Harvest: Modern Daguerreotypes of Historic Garden Treasures

By Amy Goldman

Photography by Jerry Spagnoli

From the home and gardens of America's premier gardener, Amy Goldman, comes a strikingly beautiful volume of heirloom plant portraits produced by photographer Jerry Spagnoli using daguerreotype, a similarly heirloom photographic technique. Heirloom Harvest presents stunning images of plant life – 'Fordhook Gem' melon, 'Marina di Chioggia' squash, 'Raritan Rose' peaches, 'Silverado' chard, and many more varieties – captured in a way that highlights their simple splendor.

SSE T-shirt

Show your support for our mission to protect heirloom seeds all year long with a SSE t-shirt.

100% Organic Cotton
Long or short sleeved
Made in the USA
Designed and printed in Iowa

This t-shirt features our logo on the front. Adult sizes are unisex and available in either Galaxy Blue or Natural colors.

Seed Savers Exchange Gift Membership

Help save and share America's heirloom seeds. The benefits of membership include:

Access to the Seed Exchange, to find more than 13,000 unique member-offered seeds, grains and fruit trees
A subscription to The Heritage Farm Companion magazine
Exclusive discounts on workshops at Heritage Farm and our annual Conference & Campout
Free or reduced admission to hundreds of other botanical gardens and conservatories

Giving a membership supports the preservation of our food supply and cultural heritage. You empower the most diverse seed exchange in the nation, connecting a community of gardeners, farmers, scientists, and chefs.