Final seed order for Spring

This is the last of the Spring planting seed I am buying from the Internet for this year:

Sugar Baby Watermelon, organic Item :VWA-6020 Price : $1.75
$3.50
Sunset Dwarf Grain Amaranth Item :GAM-7195 Price : $1.95
$1.95
Golden Giant Amaranth Item :VAM-2010 Price : $1.95
$1.95
Multi-hued Quinoa Item :GQU-7360 Price : $1.95
$1.95
Iroquois Melon Item :VME-4380 Price : $1.95
$3.90
Charentais Melon Item :VME-4350 Price : $1.95
$1.95
Ireland Creek Annie's Bean, Dry, Bushsorry, organic not available at this time Item :VBE-2186 Price : $2.50
$2.50

Subtotal:
$17.70

This is from www.bountifulgardens.org, who are a bunch of freaky, nutjob hippies, to judge by their catalog, but seem to know their stuff when it comes to offering and growing heirloom seeds in a sustainable manner. They are the best place I have found when searching for unusual seeds like quinoa and amaranth, which you won't be able to find at your local hardware store unless you live in San Francisco.

The watermelon and cantaloupe are for sale at the roadside stand I am going to try this Summer in a desperate attempt to generate some income (I am buying Hallowe'en pumpkin seed from another supplier to sell also). The rest is for the use of my family. I would love to get some of bountiful garden's open-pollinated alfalfa seed, but I am having to cut every corner I can find economically, and I will just have to rely on the clover and buckwheat I already have for green manuring.

The only other seed I really need for this year is corn, and I am waiting to find out what variety my buddy RL is planting in the market garden so that I can be sure to plant the same kind. I don't want to screw up the marketability of our corn and the non-hybrid status of my family's future crops all at the same time. I also need potato sets (Yukon Gold and Pontiac Red), but those I can find locally for cheaper than internet prices.

I am taking two weeks off in March to get the garden ready. I'm sure there will be plenty posted here once I get started.

In other food production news, I am having a problem finding bees at prices I can afford. I really would prefer to start with nucs, but can't find any for less than $125, which is just out of the question this year. Packages seem to be sold out everywhere I look. I will be calling a local beekeeper tomorrow, to see what he has and to offer him sites for his hives on my land, if he wants them.

An e-mail newsletter I get about beekeeping had the news today that losses this year of hives due to CCD and other causes equal about 30%. I have not heard this from other sources, but it would explain the prices I am seeing.

A feedstore near the Freehold is advertising baby chicks for sale for Easter, and I am seriously tempted to buy a couple and try to get them to thrive in my largest Havahart trap until I can get something else built for them. I am going to stop in and see what variety the chicks are and what they want for them.

Pray for Israel,
Gallowglass