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These collections are designed to give you a set of fabulous varieties at a reduced price.Each variety is individually packaged. Substitutions may become necessary. Check ourwebsite for a complete list of seeds included.

Chiles A selection of chiles and chiltepinesrepresenting the diversity of shapes, colors andheats within our offerings. 9 pkts $21.95SC001

Hopi A selection of Hopi varieties renownedfor their hardiness. Includes amaranth, pump-kin and mixed sunflower. A great selection forhigh desert locales. 9 pkts $21.95 SC002

Tohono O’odham Highlights remarkablyheat- and drought-tolerant varieties of lowdesert crops such as tepary beans, devil's claw,and cowpeas. 9 pkts $21.95 SC003

Southwest Warm Season GardenPlanter's Jumbo melon, Texas Early Granoonion, and Black Beauty eggplant highlight thiscollection for desert gardens maturing in thewarm season. 12 pkts $27.95 TS600

Southwest Cool Season GardenVarieties for desert gardens maturing in thecool season, such as Scarlet Nantes carrot,Slo-Bolt cilantro and Red Russian kale.12 pkts $27.95 TS601

Monsoon Great low-desert crops that per-form well during the summer monsoon.8 pkts $19.95 SC004

Children’s Garden An easy-to-growselection of vegetables that are bound toinspire and thrill young gardeners. Includes apacket of mixed native desert wildflower seeds.9 pkts $19.95 SC005

Container Garden Herbs and vegeta-bles chosen for their suitability in container orsmall gardens. 9 pkts $19.95 SC006

Herb Garden Herbs such as basil, cilantro and dill to bring beauty, fragrance and flavor to yourgarden and kitchen. 9 pkts $19.95 SC007

Start Your Seed Collections Here!

ON THE COVER: Ears of Glass Gem corn (page 20; photo courtesy of Greg Schoen), and fields of White Sonorawheat (WH001, page 41) at the NS/S Conservation Farm in Patagonia, Arizona.

Complete Garden CollectionEach waterproof, sealed, recycled plastic cancontains 29 individual packets of open-polli-nated vegetable, herb and native wildflowerseeds selected for both winter and summergardens in the low or high deserts of theSouthwest. Suitable for other climates as well.Suitable for long-term storage and seed sav-ing. Includes a copy of Basic Seed Saving.These are the seeds we would want in a sur-vival situation. Seed packages are sized for anaverage-sized family garden. $69.95 TS604

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Ancient Seeds for Modern Needs...

Native Seeds/SEARCH (Southwest Endangered AridlandsResource Clearing House) is a nonprofit organization that con-serves, distributes and documents the adapted and diversevarieties of agricultural seeds, their wild relatives and the rolethese seeds play in cultures of the American Southwest andnorthwest Mexico. We promote the use of these ancient cropsand their wild relatives by gathering, safeguarding, and distributingtheir seeds to farming and gardening communities. We also work topreserve knowledge about their uses. We envision the Greater Southwest as a place where farms and gar-dens, kitchens and tables, stores and restaurants are brimming withthe full diversity of aridlands-adapted heirloom crops; people arekeeping the unique seeds and agricultural heritage alive; and thecrops, in turn, are nourishing humankind.Join us in the important work of saving seeds and helping to pre-serve the crop heritage passed on to us by Native peoples, settlers,and explorers of the Greater Southwest. Become involved in ourefforts by joining or donating to Native Seeds/SEARCH. Membersreceive discounts on purchases in our retail store, catalog andonline. In addition, members receive our newsletter, the SeedheadNews. Please use the form on page 50 to join.

Board of DirectorsChair David Tiers

Vice-chair Sage GoodwinSecretary Kim Fernández

Treasurer Jim Cook

Cynthia Anson, Muffin Burgess,Barney T. Burns, Kevin Dahl,Mahina Drees, Christopher

Fullerton, Sally Harris, JustineHernandez, Donna House,

Leticia McCune, Ronald AustinWells, Janos Wilder

Our Founders Barney Burns, Mahina Drees,

Gary Nabhan, Karen Reichhardt

Clockwise from top right: Native Seeds/SEARCH Retail Store in Tucson,a peek inside the store, the Conservation Farm in Patagonia, shelvesand shelves of seed in our Seed Bank, and the Conservation Center.

Visit our Retail Store!

3061 N. Campbell Ave.(just south of Ft. Lowell)

Tucson, AZ 85719

Open DailyFor current hours please visit our

website or call us at 520.622.5561.

For more information or to orderonline, visit our secure website:

www.nativeseeds.orgEmail info@nativeseeds.org

Call toll-free 866.622.5561 x 6

Orders can also be faxedto 520.622.0829

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Directors’ LetterWhat you hold in your hands is more than a simple seed catalog. Within these pages is atreasure chest of traditional seeds developed over millennia by indigenous peoples andsettlers across the Southwest. Rare and remarkable varieties await you at every turn. Theseeds for many unique plants are available nowhere else, like the gnarly but beautifuldevil’s claw and teosinte, the wild ancestor of modern corn. You will find a breath-takingnumber of unique varieties of corn, squash and beans, known collectively as the ThreeSisters, our specialty.To fill out your gardening needs, you will also find a complete selection of your favoriteseeds including tomatoes, beets and lettuce. Delightful handcrafted gifts and delectablenative foods round out the catalog with the distinctive cultures and flavors of the South-west. With every purchase you make, you are directly supporting our mission toconserve Southwestern crop diversity and strengthen regional seed systems through edu-cation and outreach.

Rest assured, all of the seeds we offer are non-GMO, open-pollinated, and sustainably grown. Infact, we are one of the few seed distributors toactually grow most of the varieties we offer. Comevisit our 60 acre Conservation Farm in Patagonia,Arizona and see the love and care that goes intoplanting, pollinating, nourishing and selecting thehighest-quality seed for genetic integrity andhealthy vigor. These seeds are precious. Native Seeds/SEARCHhas worked tirelessly to preserve them fromextinction and distribute them to farmers andgardeners far and wide. By growing, saving andsharing these seeds yourself, you are playing avital role in ensuring this abundant and life-givingdiversity lives on.This work has never been more important. Underour industrial food paradigm, just 10 companiescontrol over 75% of the global seed market. Vastmonocultures dependent on toxic pesticides andfertilizers blanket the world’s farmlands. Genetic

diversity in our crops is disappearing and food security is being questioned. Thankfully, we are seeing a shift. Seed libraries, seed swaps, and small bioregional seedcompanies are popping up everywhere. A seed saving renaissance is underway as peopleawaken to the need for regional, sustainable and diverse food systems. Native Seeds/SEARCH is dedicated to advancing this hopeful, inspiring movement. By supporting us,you are helping to create a more delicious, diverse and abundant world—one seed at atime.

Bill McDorman Belle StarrExecutive Director Deputy Director

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Our SeedlistingThis catalog represents our continuing effort to offer and distribute seeds adapted to aridenvironments within our region and around the world. That does not mean that they willnot work where you live. Please try various varieties and let us know! You will find plant-ing instructions provided for each crop. General guidelines have been developed for bothlow desert and high desert conditions based on our experiences in Tucson, Arizona, ourConservation Farm at 4,000 ft. in Patagonia, Arizona, and the feedback of our manymembers, volunteers and customers.

Our Seed PolicyLimited AvailabilityWhen placing an order for seeds, please remember Native Seeds/SEARCH is a nonprofit con-servation organization. We have a limited quantity of some seeds. We sometimes limit regularorders to six packets each of certain varieties.

SubstitutionsOn occasion it may be necessary to substitute seeddue to lack of availability.

Native American Free Seed ProgramWe have a special seed policy for Native Americanfarmers and gardeners. (See page 47.)

Seed QualityWe are dedicated to selling the highest quality seedavailable. All Native Seeds/SEARCH seeds offeredhere have passed germination tests. Most of them arehand cleaned. They are stored in cool, dryconditions. Freezing is our only method of insectcontrol.

Untreated SeedAll of our seeds are untreated and allowable for usein certified organic programs.

Not seeing an old standby?Our website lists hundreds of additional varieties we couldn’t fit into this catalog, from Chi-laca chiles and Hopi Striped sunflowers to Hernandez Dipper gourds, Sangre de Toros beansand Tarahumara Serape corn. Find them by visiting www.nativeseeds.org.

Larger QuantitiesBulk quantities are available for many of the seed varieties we offer. Please visit our website tocheck on the current availability of bulk seed quantities and to place bulk orders.

Our GuaranteeEvery item in our catalog comes with our guarantee. Please contact us if there is any problem.We shall promptly and happily try to correct it. If not satisfied, we promise to replace anyitem or refund the purchase price.

continued next page

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About the seeds we steward...What is our stance on genetically modi-fied and patented seeds?

NS/S is a member of the Safe Seed Initiative.We do not buy, sell or use genetically modifiedseeds, nor do we support patenting of seeds.We believe in free access to crop diversity andsupport the rights of indigenous communitiesto benefit fairly from the crops and associatedknowledge they developed. Any seedsobtained from Native Seeds/SEARCH are notto be used for commercial breeding purposeswith a patent outcome unless there are writtenagreements with the originators of the seedsin Native Seeds/SEARCH’s collection.

Is our seed “hybrid”?

No and yes. No, our seeds are not “hybrid” inthe sense of being produced throughcontrolled pollination — often with highlyinbred lines — by modern plant breeders.Hybrids are typically developed for large-scalehigh input agricultural production systems. Inother words, we do not sell F1 hybrids.However, natural hybridization — the cross-ing of genetically distinct parents, both withinand between populations, varieties, andspecies — has been important in the evolutionof crop diversity. It is a natural process, result-ing from open-pollination, and one thatfarmers have often used to their advantage.Thus, hybridization in this larger sense islikely reflected in much of our seed.The seeds we offer were originally collectedfrom subsistence and small-scale farmers andgardeners. These are the food crops that havesustained traditional communities forcenturies. They have been selected and nour-ished by farmers over generations, becomingadapted to local environmental conditionsand cropping systems, and their individualflavors, odors, and textures have infused localculinary and ceremonial practices. They arethe result of much open-pollination, naturalhybridization, and subsequent selection (bothnatural and human-imposed). We celebratethis diversity!

What about organic?

According to the USDA’s National Organic Pro-gram, none of our seeds can be officially labeledas “organic” until we are certified organic. How-ever, our growing practices meet and oftenexceed the standards for organic certification.We use no nitrogen-based commercial fertiliz-ers, relying instead on cover crops, greenmanures and crop rotations to maintain orimprove soil fertility. We are committed to theecologically sound stewardship of the Conserva-tion Farm, i.e., managing its soil, water, insectand plant resources in a manner that is rooted inthe understanding and application of sound eco-logical principles. It would not be consistentwith our long-term stewardship role to act in amanner that pollutes the water we use to irrigateour crops, or destroys pollinators, beneficialinsects or soil microorganisms that provideessential ecosystem services. We seek to leave asmall and unobtrusive footprint while steward-ing these precious resources.While we support the certified organic program,purchasing only organically labeled seeds maysacrifice diversity. Over the last century, a largepercentage of the world’s crop diversity has beenlost. Much of the remaining diversity is not yetavailable as certified organic seeds. If you findseeds for your farm or garden that are notorganic, grow them organically, save the seeds,and in one season add another treasure to theworld’s growing collection of organic seeds!

Our Seedlisting continued

The symbols H (high desert), L (low desert) andH/L (both high and low desert) are indicatedafter each variety description. These are merelyguidelines and based on our experience in Tuc-son and Patagonia. Often plants defy ourattempt to categorize their growing patterns.Plant what you like, experiment, track your suc-cesses and report back to us! The provenance ofeach variety is also indicated after its descrip-tion. ‘Seed Bank’ indicates that a variety is alandrace, heirloom, or wild crop relative with along historical connection to the Greater South-west or adjacent regions. These varieties areformally conserved in the NS/S seed bank. Vari-eties lacking that designation represent otheropen-pollinated varieties that can contribute tothe region’s agricultural landscape.

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Community Seed GrantsSupporting education, food security, and community developmentprojects in the Greater Southwest through targeted donations of seeds.Native Seeds/SEARCH is pleased to offer small donationsof our seeds to eligible organizations in the GreaterSouthwest region. These Community Seed Grants aredesigned to support the work of educators and thoseworking to enhance the nutritional, social, economic, orenvironmental health of underprivileged groups in theregion, while simultaneously keeping locally-adaptedcrop varieties alive and in active use in farms and gar-dens. Donations are open to organizations working oneducational, food security, or community developmentprojects. Strong preference is given to organizationsworking in the Greater Southwest region.

With your support, we recently donated nearly 1,100seed packets to 56 organizations working to enhancefood security, nutrition, education, or community devel-opment in the Southwest region and beyond.

Applications are reviewed three times each year in January, May and September. Please visit our website for more information and to apply:

www.nativeseeds.org/index.php/resources/communityseedgrants

Three Sisters Garden planted andmaintained by the Seeds CommunityCenter at Peter Howell Elementary inTucson, a recipient of a 2012Community Seed Grant.

Seed SchoolSeed School was developed to fill in themissing link in the creation of a sustainableagricultural system. This innovative educa-tional program held at the NativeSeeds/SEARCH Conservation Center in Tuc-son, Arizona guides students through thehistory, science, business and craft of seeds.Participants walk away with enough knowl-edge and inspiration to build new modelsof regional seed production and distribu-tion where they live. Seed School has beenmentioned in the San Francisco Chronicleand Los Angeles Times, and has graduatedhundreds of students from around theworld. Due to popular demand Seed Schoolhas expanded to a national program withsessions in California and Montana. SeedKeepers is a collaborative Seed School cre-ated with Native communities. Visit ourwebsite to learn more about these ground-breaking educational opportunities in "allthings seeds." www.nativeseeds.org

We are a nonprofit organizationpromoting seed conservation.

Your dollars help fund our mission.

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Growing healthy seedPlant healthy, non-diseased seed. Thin plants toa recommended distance within and betweenrows — most plants simply do better with a littlebreathing room and good air circulation canhelp prevent disease (see individual crops forrecommended planting distances). Rogue(remove) plants that are diseased or otherwiseunhealthy looking. If you’re trying to keep pureseed lines, also rogue out plants that don’tappear true-to-type (what you know the plant tolook like).

Keeping lines pure Growing more than one variety of the samespecies at a time may result in crossing. Plantingthe seeds from crosses may produce somethingentirely different than you’re expecting — whichis how we got all this wonderful diversity tobegin with! However, if you want to get the samecrop you did last year, then you may need toprevent cross-pollination from occurring. Thereare several ways to do this:

Spacing Plant different varieties at a suitabledistance to ensure insects or wind cannot effec-tively carry pollen from one variety toanother. See box to right for recommended stan-dard distances for some crops.

Timing Plant different varieties of the samespecies at different times so that they are notflowering at the same time. This may involve anearly and late planting. Be sure there is enoughtime at the end of the season for the late plant-ing to mature before the first frost.

Isolation cages Physically prevent insects fromvisiting one variety or another by constructingscreen cages and placing them over one or morevarieties. This is best used for non-sprawlingcrops, such as tomatoes, beans (they can cross-pollinate if insects are abundant), okra, cotton,and chiles.

Hand-pollinating Manually transfer pollenfrom one flower to another. Hand pollinationwill differ depending on the crop but essentiallyyou want to be sure that neither the flower beingpollinated nor the one used as the pollen sourcehave been previously pollinated.

Growing & SeedsavingInformation Visit www.nativeseeds.org for more information…

Origin of Native Seeds/SEARCHThe Sonoran Desert has been home to the O’odham people for centuries. Following in the foot-steps of their ancestors, they perfected a system of agriculture — including a palette of crops —suited to the high temperatures and minimal rainfall characteristic of the region. As late as 1925the Tohono O’odham were cultivating 10,000 acres of their aridland-adapted crops with tradi-tional floodwater methods. In the early 1980s, only a few scattered plots remained. Recognitionof this dramatic loss in availability of crops adapted to the harsh environmental conditions ofthe region resulted in the establishment of Native Seeds/SEARCH (Southwestern EndangeredAridlands Resource Clearing House) as a regionally-based seed conservation organization. Early efforts focused primarily on visiting indigenous farming communities in the southwesternUS and northwestern Mexico, particularly the Sierra Madre, locating seeds of heirloom cropsand making them available to indigenous and other gardeners and farmers. Today, NS/S is amajor regional seed bank, dedicated to conserving the seeds of domesticated crops and cropwild relatives utilized by the cultures whose homelands include the arid deserts, coastal deltas,lowland plains, bajadas (lower slopes) and high mountain plateaus comprising the southwesternU.S. and northern Mexico.

Days to maturityIf you are accustomed to seed catalogs that pro-vide the number of days to maturity for theirseeds, you may wonder why we do not providethis data for many of the seeds offered here.Although the number of days can be a guide forselecting varieties suitable to your area, seedcompanies publish an average number of grow-ing days, using data from different areas andconditions. For example, a 75-day bean maymature in 65 days in California, 85 days inMaine, and 79 days in Missouri.We do not list days to maturity because we oftendon’t have reliable information. Some of ourvarieties are from isolated regions with variedmicroclimates. Moreover, many of our cropsreach maturity in different lengths of time,depending on when they are planted — e.g., inthe spring or with the summer rains.

Harvesting Let seeds mature before harvesting. For mostcrops, this means leaving them in the field todry — corn, beans, gourds, okra, devil’s claw,peas, chiles, etc. Some crops require after-ripen-ing (e.g., squash) or fermentation (tomatoes).

Cleaning & saving seeds Remove all plant material, including chaff,stems, or flesh from seeds and allow to dry thor-oughly. Use sealable plastic bags, paperenvelopes, jars with good lids or any airtightcontainer to store seed from one year to thenext. Spread wet seeds from squash, melons,tomatoes, etc., on clean dish towels. We do notrecommend paper towels (they stick) or news-paper (toxic print). Store seeds in a cool, dryplace, such as your hall closet or freezer.

Recommended distances to pre-vent crossing between varietiesAppropriate distances to keep between varietiesof the same species may vary, depending on thesource. In general, wind pollinated crops (e.g.,corn) and crops visited by insect pollinatorscapable of traveling some distance (e.g., carpen-ter bees, honeybees) should be grown a mile ormore apart from each other. Self-pollinatedcrops (e.g., beans) may require as little as 20 ft.,depending on what’s grown in-between or theabundance of insect pollinators present (themore insects, the more likely pollen may find itsway from one plant to another). See individualcrop descriptions for recommended isolationdistances.

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Amaranth Amaranthus spp. $2.95

Grown by the Aztecs and by Southwest Indians for millennia, thesmall grain is rich in lysine and the young leaves are high in calciumand iron. Approx. 0.3g/50 seeds per packet.

Culture: Plant in spring or with summer rains by broadcasting and rakingin seeds, or plant 1/4" deep in basins or rows. Thin the edible seedlings to10-15" apart.

Seedsaving: As wind or insect-pollinated annuals, amaranth species willreadily cross. To prevent this, put paper or cloth bags over flower heads.When ripe, cut off dried heads and lightly beat in a bag to remove seed.Screen or winnow off chaff.

Alamos A. cruentus. A stunning amaranth from the colonial town of Alamosin southern Sonora. The leaves are green with red-tinged veins and the bractsare bright fuschia-colored. Seeds are black. L Seed Bank C019

Guarijio Grain A. hypochondriachus x A. hybridus. "Guegui." From the RioMayo in Sonora, Mexico, a white-seeded grain used for tamales, pinole (a tra-ditional Mexican drink) or popping. Try popping over a dry, hot pan and addto granola, fruit salads, or mix with honey to make traditional Mexican alegria.Inflorescences range from light yellow-green to pink to fuschia. H/L SeedBank C005

Hopi Red Dye Top Seller! A. cruentus. “Komo.” The beautiful plant can grow6' tall with a 1-2' long inflorescence and dark reddish-green leaves. Youngtender leaves are excellent in salads and the black seeds are also edible. TheHopi make a scarlet natural food dye from the flower bract to color piki bread.In Hopi land, this readily crosses with wild A. powelli. Originally collected inLower Moenkopi. H/L Seed Bank C002

Mano de Gato Celosia cristata. “Cat’s Paw.” A beautiful cockscomb-type orna-mental with bright fuchsia (occasionally yellow) bracts and black seeds.Leaves are bright green with red-tinged edges. From Alamos, Sonora. L SeedBank C013

Mayo Grain A. cruentus. Another gorgeous amaranth from Alamos, Sonora,with bright fuschia or scarlet inflorescences and dark reddish-green leaves,which are used as quelites (greens). The black seeds are used for esquite(parched), pinole and atole. L Seed Bank C003

Seeds

Alamos

Mano de Gato

Mayo Grain

Arugula Eruca sativa $2.95

Favored by gourmets. Treasured by nutritionists. Wonderful,peppery, distinct flavor. Approx. 1g/55 seeds per packet.

Culture: Provide nitrogen-rich soil. (Add extra compost or chickenmanure, if needed.) Water consistently in hot weather. Does exceptionallywell under mesquites.

Seed Saving:  Flowers are perfect, most of which cannot be self-polli-nated. The stigma becomes receptive before the flower opens, andpollen is shed hours after the flower opens. Necessary cross-pollination isperformed by bees. Separate varieties by at least 1/4 mile.

Arugula Top Seller! Bushy, 1-2' plant. Grow year-round fresh greens in thedesert. Cold and heat tolerant. Easy to grow. H/L TS134

Arugula

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Common Bean Phaseolus vulgaris $2.95Common beans are a diverse and important crop to Native Ameri-can farmers throughout the Southwest. They are eaten young asgreen beans or dried and shelled. Plants can be bush, semi-pole, orpole. Approx. 15g/50 seeds per packet.

Culture: Beans need warm soil for best germination. Plant seeds inspring or summer about 1" deep and 6" apart. If beans need a trellis, tryintercropping them with corn or sorghum.

Seedsaving: An annual that is generally self-pollinating, but can crosswith other plants. Dried pods can be harvested throughout the grow-ing season, or harvest whole plants. Separate varieties by 10 yards (9meters).

Four Corners Gold Rounded gold bean from the Four Corners Region.Early-maturing, with excellent green beans, and a non-vigorous climbing(pole) habit. Ancient bean used in honoring the Winter Solstice. H SeedBank PC124

Hopi Black Small, rounded, black pole bean, dry or runoff-farmed by Hopifarmers. Can be used for dye. Produces dark lilac flowers and purple maturepods. Early-maturing, prefers monsoon rains. H Seed Bank PC068

Hopi Black Pinto Striking black and white/beige pinto. Dry farmed in Hopifields of northeastern Arizona. Early-maturing bushy-pole beans with color-ful mottled pods. Produces white or lavendar flowers. High-yielding andvery popular! H Seed Bank PC018

Hopi Pink High-yielding, medium-large pink beans collected from dry-farm fields near Hotevilla. Early-maturing, good as a green bean. Whiteflowers. H Seed Bank PC020

Hopi Yellow "Sikya mori." Large bronze seeds, common in Hopi country,may be dry farmed or irrigated. High-yielding pole type, delicious as agreen bean. White flowers. H Seed Bank PC019

Kentucky Blue Combines best qualities of the legendary Blue Lake andKentucky Wonder Pole. Comes early and produces over a long period, espe-cially if picked daily. 7" Pods. Resistant to Bean Mosaic Viruses. Pole bean.H/L TS304

New Mexico Bolitas Pinkish-beige rounded beans grown for centuries bytraditional Hispanics of northern New Mexico in irrigated plots. Faster cook-ing and richer tasting than pintos, and early-maturing too. High proteincontent. High-yielding pole bean with white flowers. H Seed Bank PC024

O’odham Pink "S-wegi mu:n." A pink bean from the desert borderlands ofSonora and Arizona. Fast growing, the plants will sprawl and produce inearly spring or late fall in the low desert. Delicious and creamy-texturedwhen cooked. White flowers. H/L Seed Bank PC063

Bean Phaseolus spp.

Native to the New World, beans are a traditional protein complement to corn, rich inminerals, with a variety of tastes and colors. Members of the legume family, beans fixnitrogen from the air if certain nitrogen-fixing bacteria are present in the soil. Beansalso contain soluble fiber helpful in controlling cholesterol and diabetes.

Hopi Black Pinto

Hopi Yellow

O’odham Pink

New Mexico Bolitas

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Royal Burgundy

O’odham Vayos Mixed gold and light-tan beans with a sweet, mild flavor andcreamy texture. Early-maturing. Good as a green bean. White flowers. H/LSeed Bank PC062

Provider Proven over decades to be a consistent producer, even in unpre-dictable, adverse conditions. Compact plants dependably yield light-green, 5""pods. Resistant to Bean Mosaic Viruses and Powdery Mildew. Bush bean. Early-maturing. H/L TS302

Rattlesnake Top Seller! A drought-tolerant pole bean. Produces 7-8"" roundpods are dark green with purple streaks. Harvest early for very sweet snapbeans. Allow to mature for delicious dry beans. H/L TS305

Royal Burgundy Easy-to-see, bright burgundy, 5"" pods. High yield, low main-tenance upright plants that do not require staking. Pick on a daily basis for 2-3weeks. Expect up to 7 lbs. from a 15 ft. row. Resists beetles. Bush bean. H/LTS303

Tarahumara Ojo de Cabra "Goat's eye." High-yielding pole bean producinglarge seeds with diversely-colored dark stripes over a speckled lightbackground. Occasional red, pinto or gold beans mixed in. Plants producepurple-striped pods. A sweet, mild staple of the Sierra Madre. H Seed BankPC054

Tarahumara Purple Medium-high yielding pole bean with gorgeous, large,shiny, deep-purple seeds. Sweet taste, smooth texture. From central (moun-tainous) and eastern (high mesa) Tarahumara country in Chihuahua. H SeedBank PC130

Yoeme Purple String A prolific pole bean that can be eaten green or asshelled. Seeds are purple on beige. Plants are heat tolerant. Very productiveand very popular! H/L Seed Bank PC071

Seeds

Lima Bean Phaseolus lunatus $2.95Growing as perennial vines in their native tropical environment, limabeans are broad, flat beans eaten green or dried. Plants are tolerantof salt and alkaline soils. Approx. 20g/25 seeds per packet.

Culture: Plant in spring or with summer rains, 1 inch deep and 6 inchesapart or in basins. These long season plants will produce until frost,although production slows in the hot dry months. Trellis vines, or allowroom to sprawl.

Seedsaving: This annual is mainly self-pollinating. Varieties should beseparated by 40 yds (36 m). Dried pods can be harvested throughout thegrowing season, or harvest whole plants.

Calico These large, heirloom beans are maroon with creamy white swirls.Originally collected in Wild Horse, Colorado. Extremely prolific and early-maturing at the Conservation Farm (4,000'). H Seed Bank PL012

Hopi Gray "Maasi hatiko."The light beige beans can be plain or mottled withblack. The seeds are sometimes sprouted and used in ceremonies. May havegood resistance to Mexican Bean Beetle. H/L Seed Bank PL080

Hopi Red "Pala hatiko." Selected by the late Hopi artist Fred Kabotie, theselimas are prolific in the low desert. Tasty and meaty, the beans are solid red, ormay be streaked with black. H/L Seed Bank PL009

More Common Bean $2.95

Tarahumara Purple

Tarahumara Ojo deCabra

Calico

Hopi Yellow

Tepary Bean Phaseolus acutifolius $2.95Cultivated in the Southwest for millenia, teparies mature quickly andare tolerant of the low desert heat, drought and alkaline soils.Approx. 28g/20 seeds per packet.

Culture: Plant seeds 1/2 inch deep and 4 inches apart with the summerrains. If rains are sparse, irrigate when the plants look stressed. Teparies donot tolerate overwatering.

Seedsaving: A self-pollinating annual. Harvest pods as they dry. Be care-ful: mature pods will pop open and drop seeds if left on the plant. Analternative is to harvest the whole plants when pods are turning brown,allow them to dry on a sheet, then thresh and winnow seeds.

Big Fields White From the Tohono O'odham village of Big Fields where an O'odham farmer maintainedthis white variety for years, but it is rarely found under cultivation anymore. H/L Seed Bank PT109

Black A rare black tepary selected from white teparies purchased many years ago in a Tucson Mexicanmarket. Similar to a historic Tohono O'odham and Yuma variety. L Seed Bank PT082

Blue Speckled Unique and beautiful tan beans with navy blue speckles. From highland areas of south-ern Mexico, this variety is a Mayan folkrace. Does not tolerate low desert heat, but is otherwise prolific.Delicious — a staff favorite. H Seed Bank PT079

Blue Speckled

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Hopi Yellow "Sikya hatiko." Seeds vary from deep yellow to dark orange withblack mottling. During Spring ceremonies, the seeds are sprouted, attached tokatsina dolls, rattles, and bows and given to children. Sprouts are thenchopped, boiled and cooked in soup for feasting. H/L Seed Bank PL072

Pima Beige Originally collected from the Gila River Indian Community in Ari-zona. The light beige beans can be plain or mottled with black. Very drought-and heat-tolerant. H/L Seed Bank PL010

Pima Orange Wonderfully orange-colored beans with black mottling. A gem from the Gila River IndianCommunity in Arizona. Very drought- and heat-tolerant. A staff favorite! H/L Seed Bank PL011

Pima Orange

More Lima Bean $2.95

Runner Bean Phaseolus coccineus $3.95Large and showy flowers make this an attractive garden plant. Thelarge pods can be eaten as green beans or you can use the beansdried. Heat sensitive; not recommended for low desert. Approx.28g/20 seeds per packet.

Culture: Plant 1 inch deep and 6 inches apart in the spring after danger offrost is past. Plants can be bush or produce long vines which need to betrellised. Flowers may drop with no pod set if daytime temperatures aretoo high.

Seedsaving: An annual that is insect pollinated, so varieties will cross. Har-vest dried pods throughout the growing season.

Aztec White White-flowered variety that produces giant white seeds. The fastest-maturing runnerbean at the Conservation Farm (4,000'). H Seed Bank PS003

Tarahumara Bordal Large white beans from the remote Tarahumara community of Otachique inChihuahua. H Seed Bank PS007

Aztec White

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SeedsBrown Speckled Very round beans with beige speckles on light gray. Origi-nally selected out of Blue Speckled. High yielding. Does not tolerate low desertheat. H Seed Bank PT089

Cocopah Brown Early-maturing, medium-sized, flattened orange-tan andorange-speckled beans originating from along the lower Colorado River inSonora. H/L Seed Bank PT107

Colonia Morelos Speckled Colorful assortment of brown, black, beige, yel-low, and tan speckles on a tan background as well as gray-black speckles onmedium-sized flattened beans. Early-maturing with white and lilac flowers.

Originally collected in Colonia Morelos,Sonora. H/L Seed Bank PT118

Pinacate These beans are tan and slightlymottled. Originally obtained form the mostarid runoff farm in Mexico, the Sierra ElPinacate Protected Zone. They have beenknown to produce a crop from a singlestorm runoff. Extremely drought tolerant. LSeed Bank PT074

Sacaton Brown “S’oam bawi.” Medium-sized orange-tan seeds. Early-maturing.Commercially cultivated by the Gila RiverPima near Sacaton, Arizona. H/L SeedBank PT004

Tohono O’odham White O'odham legendsays the Milky Way is made up of whitetepary beans scattered across the sky. Early-maturing white beans from the TohonoO'odham Reservation in southern Arizona.Smooth, rich flavor. The favored tepary bymany Native families. H/L Seed BankPT116

Tohono O’odhamWhite

Bean Common Mosaic VirusBean Common Mosaic Virus (BCMV) is a plant disease thatcan affect all New World beans (Phaseolus spp.), includingcommon beans, tepary beans, lima beans, and scarlet run-ner beans. It is not harmful to humans or other animals,but can cause decreased yield or death in beans.

Tepary beans may be “carriers” of BCMV, as they toleratethe disease with only minor symptoms if grown in aridregions. Because teparies may carry BCMV, do not growteparies near other species of beans that are more suscep-tible to the virus — especially those to be saved for seed.Signs of the virus include stunted plants, downward curl-ing and puckering of leaves, and yellow-green mottling ofleaves.

BCMV is a seed-borne disease, and seeds saved frominfected plants can pass the virus on to future crops.Healthy plants can be infected by aphids spreading thevirus from diseased to healthy plants, by infected leavestouching healthy ones, or by gardeners handling healthyplants after working with diseased plants. Diseased plantsshould be carefully rogued (removed) and discarded.

More Tepary Bean $2.95

Beet Beta vulgaris $2.95

Native to Europe, beets can be boiled, baked, or pickled. Approx.4g/58 seeds per packet.

Culture: Beets prefer deep, rich, well-composted soil with trace mineralsand plenty of sun. For larger, more uniform roots, thin to 1 plant every 4".Tolerates moderate frosts. Expect slow growth until temperatures riseabove 60° F. Companion plants include: onions.

Seed Saving:  Flowers contain both male and female parts, but do notself-pollinate before flowers open. As pollen is carried long distances bywind, grow seeds for only one variety at a time. Note: beets will crosswith Swiss chard.

Early Wonder Selected about 100 years ago from Crosby Egyptian for earli-ness and vigorous, lush top growth making it a great choice for early beetgreens. Produces deep-red 3-4", exceptionally sweet globes. 45-50 days fromplanting. H/L TS020

Early Wonder

Red Cored Chantenay

Broccoli Brassica oleracea $2.95

A wonderful vegetable that actually grows better in cooler climes andhigher altitudes than in warmer lowlands. Approx. 0.5g/69 seeds perpacket.

Culture: Demands soil high in nitrogen and phosphorus. Companionplants include: dill, chamomile, sage, peppermint, beets and onions.

Seed Saving:  Although broccoli flowers contain both female and maleparts, individual plants do not self-fertilize. Provide at least two or moreflowering plants to assure seed formation. Bees can cause cross-pollination with otherBrassica, so isolate varieties by 1,000 yards or more.

Waltham 29 Top Seller! Delicious and dependable broccoli bred to withstand especially coldweather. Short 20" plants produce medium-large heads and lots of side shoots. H/L TS033

Golden Acre

Red Acre

Cabbage Brassica oleracea $2.95

A versatile vegetable, used fresh, cooked or fermented. Approx.0.5g/200 seeds per packet.

Culture: Demands soil high in nitrogen and phosphorus. Companionplants include: dill, chamomile, sage, peppermint, beets, onions.

Seed Saving:  Although cabbage flowers contain both female and maleparts, individual plants do not self-fertilize. Provide two or more floweringplants to assure seed formation. Since bees can cross-pollinate cabbagewith other Brassica, isolation distances should be 1,000 yards or more.

Golden Acre One of our favorite cabbages for winter desert gardens. Solid,round, 3-4 lb. grey-green heads on short-stemmed, erect plants. White interiorwith tightly folded leaves. High yields. H/L TS058

Red Acre Beautiful, red version of the famous Golden Acre with larger, 2-3 lb.heads. Red Acre takes 2 weeks more to mature, but stores better and longer inroot cellars or refrigerators. H/L TS059

Carrot Daucus carota prices as listed

Smell the seeds and anticipate the sweetness of homegrown carrots.Approx.2g/1200 seeds per packet.

Culture: Carrots do best in rich (high in phosphorus and potassium withonly moderate levels of nitrogen), uncompacted soil.

Seed Saving:  Carrots are biennial with perfect flowers (each flower hasboth male and female parts). As insects are a major pollinating agent,separate different varieties at least 100 yards if some crossing is tolerable.

Red Cored Chantenay Our farm crew all rated it at or near the top for eatingquality; great for consuming fresh or cooked. An excellent performer in heavyas well as loamy soils; broad (1.5-2") shoulders, 4-6" long roots that have a ablunt tip. Strong, bushy, 2' tops are effective for competing with weeds andmake for easy pulling. H/L $2.95 TS068

Waltham 29

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16

Seeds

Chile/Pepper Capsicum annuum $2.95

One of the great Native American contributions to the cuisines of theworld. A widely used fruit high in Vitamin C. Domesticated chiles varyprofoundly in shape, size, color, pungency and flavor. Fruit are red whenmature unless otherwise noted. Average length and a letter correspon-ding to their general shape follow each description All shapes in the keymay not be currently available. Approx. 0.1g/25 seeds per packet.

In the following descriptions, “mild,” “medium,” and “hot” are relativeheat ratings, while “sweet” refers to a sugary taste. Even chiles listed as"mild" may contain some heat. Bell peppers are heat-free.

Culture: Start seeds inside 8-10 weeks before last frost. Seeds are slow to ger-minate and need warmth. Sow 1/4 inch deep in sandy soil. Transplantseedlings 12-16 inches apart.

Seedsaving: The insect-visited flowers can self-pollinate or cross. Grow onlyone variety at a time or isolate flowers. Allow fruit to ripen and mature on theplant. Chiles turn red or dark brown when mature. Take care not to touchyour eyes when removing seeds from hot chiles.

Alcalde A native chile from northern New Mexico at 6,300'. Relatively early-maturing. Mild-medium heat, with a complex, slightly sweet flavor when red. 4"long. (i) H Seed Bank D054

California Wonder Bell Top Seller! An exceptional strain of this treasured heir-loom bell pepper from the 1920's. Vigorous, 24-48" plants produce thick-walled,blocky 4" green fruits which turn red if allowed to mature fully. H/L TS325

Chimayo Top Seller! From the farming town in northern New Mexico at 5,900'famous for its local chile. Relatively early-maturing. Mild. 3.5-5" long. (i) H SeedBank D018

Cochiti Originally collected at Cochiti Pueblo (5,200'), where loss of farmland hasthreatened this and other Cochiti crop varieties. Sweet when green and flavorfulwhen mature. Mild to medium. 3.5-4” long. (i) H Seed Bank D021

Del Arbol “Tree chile.” A long, thin, red, pungent chile used for salsa or added toany dish to increase heat level. Dries well and is a good choice for ristras. Amongthe most productive chiles in our 2012 trials in Patagonia, Arizona. Also thetoughest variety in our punishing 2012 summer test plot in Tucson. 2.5-4" long.(d) H/L Seed Bank D001

Isleta Exceptionally tasty native chile. Traditionally strung into ristras, thenground. Broader shoulders, less fleshy than Isleta Long. Mild-medium. 4-5” long. (i)H Seed Bank D015

Chimayo

Alcalde

Kinko 6

Kinko 6 We have yet to find a better open-pollinated carrot than the originalKinko. First to mature; best performance in tough soil! Short, tapered roots arecrisp and flavorful. Deep, red-orange. Rare and hard to find elsewhere. Approx.2g/55 seeds per packet. H/L $3.95 TS060

Scarlet Nantes A timeless heirloom favorite. Bright-orange, very sweet, slightlytapered, 6-7" roots with characteristic nantes rounded tip. A good keeper. Excel-lent for juice. H/L $2.95 TS061

More Carrot prices as listed

Jemez Grown in Jemez Pueblo in northern New Mexico along the Rio Jemez, atributary of the Rio Grande. Relatively early-maturing. Medium heat. 3-4.5”long. (i) H Seed Bank D019

Mirasol “Looking at the sun,” yet these chiles from southern Chihuahua hangdown on the branches. This chile is called guajillo when dry. Used in soups,stews, and chicken dishes. One of the most productive varieties in our 2012chile trial in Patagonia, Arizona. Mild to medium. 1” wide and 5” long. (g) H/LSeed Bank D005

Negro A sweet and flavorful chile from Chihuahua. Usually black or richbrown, but may contain an occasional plant bearing red or differently-shapedfruit. Medium heat. 3-6” long. (j) H/L Seed Bank D002

Negro de Valle First collected in 2000 north of Buenaventura on the plains ofChihuahua. Similar to Vallero, but contains only the darker "native, old type"chiles. Some cooks select only these dark brown chiles to make the best chilecolorado. Very productive. Mild to medium heat. 6“ long. (j) H/L Seed BankD052

Ordoño Top Seller! A stunning ornamental chile from Batopilas Canyon, Chi-huahua. The small upright fruit mature from purple through yellow, orange,and finally red. Heat and drought tolerant and extremely prodoctive. Good forcontainer gardening. Hot and edible. 0.5” long. A staff favorite! (f ) H/L SeedBank D009

Patagonia An Hispanic heirloom grown in Patagonia, Arizona. The cone-shaped chiles stand up on the plants, and are yellow with some purplemottling, ripening to orange then red. Used to make a thin hot sauce by blend-ing with vinegar. Medium-hot. 1” long. (f ) H Seed Bank D059

Pico de Gallo “Rooster’s Beak.” A very prolific and slender narrow-leafed salsachile from Sonora. Very hot. 3” long. (d) H/L Seed Bank D003

Quatro Milpas Large fleshy chiles grown in the mountain village of QuatroMilpas, Sonora. Ripe fruits are dark brownish red and mild flavored. 5" long. (j)H/L Seed Bank D031

Sandia Collected in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where it is used for rellenos,enchilada sauces and stews. Medium to hot. 6-9" long. (j) H/L Seed BankD004

Sinahuisa From a Mayo ejido (communal farm) in Sonora. The fruit are veryfleshy and similar to serranos. Good for container gardening and extremelyhigh-yielding. Medium to hot. 1.5“ long. (e) H/L Seed Bank D006

Tabasco C. frutescens. Hot, prolific, and hardy, this is the famous ingredient inTabasco sauce. Narrow 1" fruits are yellow or orange maturing to red. Good forcontainer gardening. (c) L Seed Bank DF001

Vallero Originally from the lovely, productive Buenaventura Valley inChihuahua. Used by the favorite chile colorado restaurant of NS/S co-foundersBarney and Mahina. Fleshy when green, rich brownish-black to reddish-brownwhen mature. Medium heat, but can vary. 6” long. (j) H/L Seed Bank D020

Wenk’s Yellow Hots A beautiful chile selected by one of the last large truckfarmers in Albuquerque's South Valley. Very fleshy and excellent en escabeche. Early-maturing and very prolific, with outstanding taste. Waxy yellow fruit have a pronounced(and very tasty) orange phase before turning red. Medium-hot to very hot. 1.5" wide, 3"long. A staff favorite. (h) H/L Seed Bank D030

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Del Arbol

More Chile $2.95

Negro de Valle

Pico de Gallo

Sinahuisa

Wenk’s Yellow Hots

Mother ChiltepinFor at least 8,000 years, humans have spiced their food with chiles. Thetiny wild chiles we call chiltepines are the closest living relatives of theearliest form of domesticated Capsicum annuum chiles. When we hold thisround chile and feel its smooth skin, smell its rich chile fragrance, we joinwith ancient people who also picked and ate wild chiles.

To grow chiltepines successfully at home, it’s important to understandhow it grows in the wild. Chiltepin seeds should not be sown directly inthe ground under full sun like other domesticated chiles. Plant yourchiltepin seed or seedling under a nurse plant, or plant them in pots,which allows you to move the plant as needed. Keep the chiles moist, butdon’t overwater as chiltepines have not evolved with regular irrigation.Whether you harvest in the wild or in your own yard, it’s best to pick thechiles in their green, unripe stage or wait until the fruit is fully mature andbright red. If you harvest them during the “in between” period, they willspoil. Just like our friends in Mexico, you can dry the fruit on a screen orcloth out of direct sunlight.

When you harvest, do so with a sense of reverence and respect for theplant. Be present. Feel the chiles. Smell them. Taste them right off theplant. Savor the connection you have to all the wild chile plants and har-vesters before you.

Adapted from an article by Linda McKittrick in Native Seeds/SEARCH’s Seed-head News, Issue 104 (Fall/Winter 2009). Visit www.nativeseeds.org/index.php/about-us/seedheadnews to read the full article.

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Seeds Chiltepin Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum $4.95

The wild relative of most cultivated chiles. Native to North America,chiltepines are attractive perennial landscape plants for shady tofiltered light areas in the low desert. They will freeze back in the win-ter. The pea-sized fruits are very hot. Approx. 0.3g/25 seeds perpacket.

Culture: Start seeds inside 8-10 weeks before last frost. Seeds are slow togerminate and need warmth. Sow 1/4 inch deep in sandy soil. Transplantseedlings 12-16 inches apart.

Seed Saving: Protect mature fruit from birds. The insect-visited flowerscan self-pollinate or cross. Grow only one variety at a time, or isolate flow-ers. Allow fruit to ripen and mature on the plant. For best seed results,fruit should be almost dry.

Sonoran Wild-harvested from central Sonora, Mexico. Small fruit that packs apunch. Try them sprinkled over vanilla ice cream. H/L Seed Bank DC080

South Texas Chile Piquin Originally collected along the Lower Rio GrandeValley near McAllen, Texas. Plants were growing naturally in the brush alongcultivated fields. H/L Seed Bank DC027

Texas From Wimberley, Texas, on the Edwards Plateau, west of Austin. Theprolific plants produce somewhat elongated fruit. H/L Seed Bank DC012

Sonoran

South Texas ChilePiquin

Texas

Salsa Casera1 c chiltepines4-5 cloves garlic¼ tsp salt½ tsp Mexican oregano½ tsp coriander seed½ c cider vinegar½ c water

Combine all ingredients in ablender and puree on highfor 3-4 minutes. Refrigerateone day to blend flavors.Keeps indefinitely in therefrigerator. Use in soups,stews, eggs, beans, tacos, ortostadas… most peopleserve it with an eyedropper!

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Corn/Maize Zea mays $2.95Unless otherwise indicated

Domesticated in Mexico by 6,700 B.C., corn is a staple food and hasmany ritual uses.

Dent corns are used for elote (roasted), tamales, tortillas, corn beerand animal feed; the mature kernels are dented due to their flourhearts and flint sides. Flour corns are soft grinding corns used for corn-meal, elote and hominy (masa or nixtamal). Flour/flint corns may beeither a hard, flinty texture or soft and floury. When dry, flints gener-ally store better and have greater resistance to insect damage.Popcorns are flint corns used for pinole (toasted and ground) and aspopped corn. Sweet corns are used for pinole, roasted and reconsti-tuted, or fresh boiled. Kernel colors develop when the corn is past milkstage. Approx. 10–18g/50 seeds per packet.

Culture: In early spring or with summer rains, plant seeds 1 inch deep inrows, clumps, or basins. Needs rich soil and moisture. Heat, aridity and highwinds can all reduce pollination.

Seedsaving: An annual, corn is wind-pollinated, and all varieties will cross.Hand-pollination (with bagging) or staggered planting times is necessaryto keep seeds pure if multiple varieties are grown. Allow ears to matureand dry on the plant. However, do not let sweet corn varieties dry on thestalk during high temperatures because they can ferment, ruining theseed.

Chapalote "Pinole Maiz" Top Seller! Popcorn. A stunning corn variety thatat one point was widely grown from southern Arizona to Sinaloa, Mexico. Oneof the four most ancient corns. A gorgeous deep brown color (the only browncorn), ranging to a light tan color. Small-kerneled, with slender ears. Plants arevery tall and late-maturing. Makes a sweet meal excellent for pinole. Can alsobe popped. A staff favorite! L Seed Bank ZP090

Cochiti Popcorn. Red, yellow, brown or striped kernels on small ears (4-6").Fast maturing. Great as "ornamental" corn during the fall holiday season butalso makes great popcorn. Originally from Cochiti Pueblo in northern NewMexico. Extremely beautiful, tasty, and easy to grow. H Seed Bank ZP091

Gila Pima “A:al Hu:n“ Flour/flint corn. Cream-colored and clear kernels onsmallish cobs. Matures quickly and with minimal irrigation. From the Gila RiverPima Reservation in central Arizona. Ears are relatively resistant to fungal dam-age. Plants are 5-7’ tall. 65 day to pollination, 111 days to dried ears fromplanting, in Patagonia, Arizona (4,000’). H/L Seed Bank ZL060

Golden Bantam Improved Sweet corn. The most improved stain of this leg-endary sweet corn. Large ears with 12 rows on tall plants. Vigorous, earlygrowth. Genuine, old-fashioned corn flavor. 80 days. H/L $4.95 TS360

Hopi Blue “Sakwapu” Flour corn. Blue kernels are ground to make ceremo-nial piki bread. Dry-farmed below the Hopi mesas. Plants tend to be short (lessthan 5’ tall with tassels) and early-maturing. 62 days to pollination, 106 days todried ears from planting, in Patagonia, Arizona (4,000’). H/L Seed BankZF029

Hopi Greasy Head “Wekte” Flour corn. Often planted early by Hopi farmersso the harvest can be used for the Home Dance ceremony in July. Plum-col-ored kernels on 10-12" ears. Plants are very short (3’). 56 day to pollination, 103days to dried ears from planting, in Patagonia, Arizona (4,000’). H/L ZF051

Gila Pima “A:al Hu:n”

Hopi Greasy Head

Mayo Batchi

Chapalote

Hopi Blue

Hopi Sweet “Tawaktchi” Top Seller! Sweet corn. Small white ears. Harvestedin the mild stage, it is dry-roasted in a pit oven and then rehydrated whenready to use. Very short plants. Rapidly maturing and very prolific. A stafffavorite! H/L Seed Bank $4.95 ZS101

Maricopa Sweet corn. Grown along the Gila River in the late 1800s and col-lected by early prospectors. Medium length ears in 75 days. Multi-coloredyellow, chinmark, and blue. H/L Seed Bank $4.95 ZS127

Mayo Batchi Dent corn. A desert staple of Sonora's Mayo River heartland.The short fat ears have clear white/yellow kernels with some red cobs. Dryfarmed. H/L Seed Bank ZD081

Mayo Tuxpeño Dent corn. Originally collected in Saneal, Sonora, Mexico.Large fat ears on 10-12' tall plants with yellow, blue and yellow, or pink ears.H/L Seed Bank ZD083

Mountain Pima Yellow Sweet corn. “Dulcillo del noroeste,” a folkrace fromwestern Chihuahua, Mexico, at 5000'. Grow with summer rains in the lowdesert due to day-length requirements. H/L Seed Bank $4.95 ZS114

Paiute Sweet corn. Collection made by an early prospector. Kernels arewhite in the milk stage, maturing to white, blue and red striped. H SeedBank $4.95 ZS104

Santo Domingo Posole Flour/flint corn. Large white, flatkernels used for posole (hominy). Also excellent for freshroasting and tamales. Grown in the pueblo in northernNew Mexico. Hefty ears. Plants are 8-9’ tall. 63 day to polli-nation, 111 days to dried ears from planting, in Patagonia,Arizona (4,000’). H Seed Bank ZL126

Stowell's Evergreen Sweet corn. Popular for more than160 years. "King of All White Sweet Corn Varieties." Sweet,10' ears on 7' stalks. 90+ days. H/L $4.95 TS361

Tarahumara Popcorn. From the bottom of CopperCanyon in Chihuahua. The large, flinty, pale yellow kernelsare produced on thin, slender cobs reminiscent of 'reven-tador,’ referring to the popping nature of the corn. Groundand used for pinole or popped." H/L Seed Bank ZP101

Tarahumara Apachito Flour/flint corn. One of the mostcommon types of corn grown by the Tarahumara. Kernelsare typically a pearly light pink to dark rose and occasion-ally pearly white or yellow. H Seed Bank ZT033

Tarahumara Maiz Azul Flour corn. Large blue-black (andsome white) kernels on medium large ears. This corn iswidely used in the barrancas of the Sierra Madre. Used tomake tortillas and tamales during first harvest ceremonies.H/L Seed Bank ZF021

Tarahumara Rósari Flour corn. A colorful version ofTarahumara Gordo. The beautiful kernels are white withplum/lavendar speckles, solid rose to blue and white.Good for tortillas and flour. H Seed Bank ZF011

20

Seeds

Mayo Tuxpeño

Tarahumara Serape

Glass Gem CornGlass Gem is a stunning corn varietyselected by Carl Barnes, a part-Cherokeefarmer, in Oklahoma. One of his students,seed-saver Greg Schoen, entrusted NS/S tosteward his remarkable rainbow corn vari-eties, including Glass Gem. It wasdeveloped by crossing many native vari-eties of varying colors. It became a globalsensation in 2012 when the photo abovewent viral online. We couldn’t be moreexcited about the attention Glass Gem isbringing to seed saving and diversity. Expe-rience the magic for yourself—plant someof this one-of-a-kind corn and see whatpops up! Supplies are limited. Please checkour website (shop.nativeseeds.org) for cur-rent availability and to order.

More Corn $2.95Unless otherwise indicated

Homer Owens’ Enduring GiftSince Native Seeds/SEARCH began almost 30 years ago, some truly inspiring stories have come our way.These almost mythic tales of stalwart seed-savers and their priceless collections are perhaps just as impor-tant to preserve as the seeds themselves. One such tale that is central to Native Seeds/SEARCH’s history isof Arizona seed-saver Homer Owens. In 1986, Homer shipped our fledgling seed bank a box containing 30jars of rare and otherwise unknown corn and bean seeds collected over the last century from Native com-munities throughout Arizona. It was an astonishing find!

The story of how he came by these seeds is classic seed-saver lore. As a child, he became friends with apart-Comanche prospector, much older than himself, who passed on a collection of Arizona-based NativeAmerican crop seeds to the nine-year-old Homer. The seeds had long been his own charge of responsibil-ity, entrusted to him by another seed-saver decades earlier. Over the years, Homer preserved the seeds bygrowing out the corn and saving seed, even segregating the crops to reduce cross-pollination. Thanks tohis extraordinary commitment, these heirloom seeds live on in the Native Seeds/SEARCH collection and inthe soil of native tribes and gardeners around the world. We are fortunate to offer three varieties fromHomer Owens's collection here: Maricopa, Paiute, and Yuman Yellow.

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Tarahumara Serape Flour/flint corn. This gorgeous Cristalino de Chihuahualandrace has beautiful long slender ears with pearly white, red or stripedkernels. H Seed Bank ZT044

Tohono O’odham 60-Day Top Seller! Flour corn. Extremely fast-maturingdesert-adapted corn traditionally grown with the summer rains in the 'ak chin'floodwater fields of the Tohono O'odham. Produces short (6-10") ears withwhite kernels on short plant stalks. Usually roasted and dried before beingground into flour. The plants are remarkably tough – in our 2012 growout inTucson, this variety produced on rainwater alone. H/L Seed Bank ZF024

Yuman Yellow Sweet corn. From an extensive collection made by an earlyprospector. Yellow kernels on small ears. Originally grown by the Yuman(Quechan) Indians along the lower Colorado River. Delicious roasted — a stafffavorite! L Seed Bank $4.95 ZS112

Tohono O’odham 60-Day

More Corn $2.95Unless otherwise indicated

Yuman Yellow

Teosinte Zea mays mexicana $4.95Teosinte is currently believed to be the wild progenitor of moderncorn. Native to Mexico, wild Zea species are shortening-day plants:flowering is initiated as day length begins to shorten in the fall. Plantsproduce tassels and small spikelets of seeds. Approx. 1.5g/25 seedsper packet.

Culture: Seeds have hard seed coats, which need to be scarified (soaked,filed or sanded) so water can be absorbed. Plant as for corn.

Seedsaving: Plants will not flower until fall, making it difficult to harvestmature seeds unless you have a late frost or frost-free environment.

Northern Tepehuan Maizillo — Annual Teosinte Found in Nabogame, southern Chihuahua,where the plants begin to flower in September. Native farmers say growing this near cultivatedcorn makes their crops "stronger." Native wild stands are prolific producers of seed. Plants tend totiller (produce side shoots) more in the northern United States. Green stems are chewed for thesweet juices. H Seed Bank Z121

Northern TepehuanMaizillo — Annual

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Hopi Short Staple

Sacaton Aboriginal

Bisbee Black

Bisbee Red

Seeds Cotton Gossypium spp. $3.95

Cultivated since ancient times, people have utilized the lint for spin-ning and weaving. In frost free areas, cotton can be a perennial shrubor small tree. Approx. 2g/20 seeds per packet.

Culture: Plant in spring after last frost, 1/2 inch deep, 12 inches apart.Plants need a long season for bolls to mature.

Seedsaving: An annual, mainly self-pollinating but with large showyflowers that attract insects which will cross varieties. Harvest dried podsas they mature. Remove bad seeds and cotton fiber before storing.

Cotton seeds can only be shipped to AZ, NM, TX and OK addresses.

Hopi Short Staple G. hirsutum var. punctatum. Originating in Central Americaand traded north, this variety was prehistorically grown by the Hopi. It has ashort growing season (100 days). Our original seed came from a USDAresearch geneticist. H/L Seed Bank H001

Sacaton Aboriginal G. hirsutum var. punctatum. Grown by the Pimans forfood and fiber until 1900. Padre Kino noted its use for weaving into clothingand blankets. This variety, related to Hopi cotton, was maintained by the FieldStation in Sacaton, Arizona, for many years under the name "Sacaton Aborigi-nal." Pimans planted cotton "when the mesquite began to leaf out.” Astunningly beautiful plant. H/L Seed Bank H002

Cowpea Vigna unguiculata $2.95

An introduced legume from Africa that tolerates high heat anddrought. A good producer in the low, hot desert. Peas can be eatengreen (immature) or dry. Approx. 5g/25 seeds per packet.

Culture: Plant 1 inch deep and 6 inches apart, or in basins, in the springor with summer rains. Plants sprawl.

Seedsaving: An annual that is mainly self-pollinating. Dried pods shouldbe harvested throughout the growing season. Mature pods will split openif left on the plant.

Bisbee Black Original seeds came from a Native American in Bisbee, Arizona,who gave them to a truck driver, who passed them on to an NS/S member inMissouri. Solid black seeds, a good producer in the low desert. H/L SeedBank V001

Bisbee Red Same story as Bisbee Black. Does well in the low desert, produc-ing long pods with dark red seeds. H/L Seed Bank V002

Mayo Speckled The pinto-bean of cowpeas! A colima variety with pinto beanmottling over light chocolate-covered seeds. From Los Capomos, Sinaloa. H/LSeed Bank V015

Photos of all varieties, and seeds of many more, are available at www.nativeseeds.org

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Tarahumara From a remote village in Batopilas Canyon in the Sierra Madre.The seeds are predominantly cream to biege with occasional brick or black-colored seeds. H/L Seed Bank V019

Texas The color of red sandstone, this cowpea is from the Eagle Pass area ofTexas. A heat-tolerant "pole bean" with superior flavor. H/L Seed BankV020

Tohono O’odham “U’us mu:n.“ A gorgeous black and white bean with vari-able mottling, may be all black (occasionally brown) or splotched on white.Excellent for green beans in the low desert. A staff favorite! H/L Seed BankV006

Yori Cahui Collected from the village of Ahome, near Los Mochis in Sinaloa.Our demonstration garden growout produced lots of "yard long" beans thatthrived in our record breaking heat. Great low desert green bean. H/L SeedBank V014

Tohono O’odham

Yori Cahui

More Cowpea $2.95

Cucumber Cucumis sativus $2.95

Approx. 1g/50 seeds per packet.

Culture: Cucumbers prefer direct sun and warm growing conditions.Plant in rich, warm, not necessarily deep, soil. Companion plants include:sunflowers, corn, peas, beans, radishes. Dislikes: aromatic herbs and pota-toes.

Seed Saving:  Cucumbers produce separate male and female flowers.Females can be recognized by their ovaries which look like small cucum-bers inside the blossoms. Unless hand-pollinating techniques are used,bees are primary pollinating agents. Provide at least 1/4 mile betweendifferent varieties.

Marketmore 76 Top Seller! Consistently produces, through hot and cool weather, 8-9" crisp, crunchy,slicing cucumbers! Disease resistant. Approx. 1g/76 seeds per packet. H/L TS315

SMR 58 Top Seller! The best open-pollinated pickling cucumber. 6". Resistant to scab spot rot andcucumber mosaic.". Approx. 1g/58 seeds per packet. H/L TS316

SMR 58

Elevation Guidelines for SeedsGeneral guidelines have been developed for both low desert (<3,500’, marked by an “L” in seed descrip-tions) and high desert (>3,500’, marked by an “H”) conditions, based on our experience in Tucson and atthe Conservation Farm (4,000’). Please keep in mind that these are only guidelines. We encourage you totry all different kinds of seeds at all different elevations, bioregions and microclimates.

In the low desert, summer rains come in July or early August, summer temperatures regularly exceed100°F and remain high during the night, and planting for the cool season can be anytime from Septemberto November. In the high desert, summer rains can begin in June, summer temperatures often reach 100°Fbut cool off considerably during the night, and planting for the cool season usually begins in February. Forwarm weather crops, the low desert has eight frost-free months, which include extremely hot and dry con-ditions. The Conservation Farm sits in a cold air drainage and has about six frost-free months. Gardeners inother climates will need to adjust their planting times. It is helpful to know your average last frost dates;ask experienced gardeners or the agricultural extension agent in your area.

24

Seeds Devil’s Claw Proboscidea spp. $4.95

Cultivated by many Southwest tribes. The black fiber of the fruit or"claw" is used in basketry. Seeds are rich in oil and protein, and driedseeds can be peeled and eaten. Very heat tolerant, the flowers andfoliage make these attractive landscape plants. Approx. 1.5g/25seeds per packet.

Culture: Presoak seeds for better germination. Plant with summer rains,1/2 inch deep, and allow 2-4 feet between plants. Plants respond to hot,humid conditions of the summer monsoons.

Seedsaving: Varieties of this insect-pollinated annual will cross. Allowpods to dry and mature on the plant; harvest when they begin to open.Seeds can be removed with ice picks or pliers; be careful not to get pokedby the razor-sharp claws.

Eagle Creek P. parviflora var. parviflora. Grown out from a single claw foundby hikers at the Eagle Creek/ Gila River confluence. Medium-length claws,white seeds. H/L Seed Bank R009

Morelos P. parviflora var. hohokamiana. From Morelos in southern Mexico. Awild annual with small, 3-4" claws and black seeds. Plants are large andsprawling and produce violet flowers which are very fragrant. H/L Seed BankR007

San Carlos Apache Domesticated P. parviflora var. hohokamiana. Moderate-sized claws and white seeds. Collected from plants growing in fields of bluecorn. The claws are typically used in basketry. H/L Seed Bank R016

Tohono O’odham Domesticated P. parviflora var. hohokamiana. “I:hug” (“eehook “). Selected by basket makers for the extremely long claws (up to 15").Claws saved for basketry are sometimes buried to keep the black color fromfading. White seeds. H/L Seed Bank R004

Eagle Creek

Morelos

Tohono O’odhamDomesticated

Black Beauty

Eggplant Solanum melongena $2.95

Eggplant is native to the Indian subcontinent. It has been cultivatedin southern and eastern Asia since prehistory, but appears in theWestern world around 1500 AD. Approx. 0.25g/60 seeds per packet.

Culture: In the spring after soil reaches at least 70° F, plant seeds directlyin the garden 1/4" deep, or start indoors and transplant after all danger offrost. Allow 15" spacing between plants.

Seedsaving: Save seeds from at least 6 plants to insure diversity. Allowfruits to mature past eating stage till they begin to turn brown. Cut lowerhalf of the fruit into 1" squares and blend or food process. Add water andstir. Good, clean seeds will sink to the bottom. Rinse and dry on a papertowel.

Black Beauty Black Beauty was introduced in 1902 and remains the world'scommon market eggplant because of its large size, 6", and earliness, 74 daysto maturity. Black, shiny fruits. H/L TS321

25

Gourd Lagenaria siceraria $2.95

The earliest known domesticated plant. Used for ladles, rattles, can-teens or containers, as well as musical instruments. Can be carved,burned or painted. Approx. 2.5g/15 seeds per packet.

Culture: Sow 1 inch deep in the warm spring (presoak for better germina-tion). The long climbing vines require plenty of room. Plant next to afence or trellis, or in basins under a tree. Requires plenty of water through-out the long growing season.

Seedsaving: Annual. Varieties will cross-pollinate. The night-bloomingwhite flowers are moth-pollinated. Fruits should mature on the plant untilthe stems are brown and the fruit lightweight, or until frost. Dry until thegourds are beige and the seed can be loosened by shaking. Interior offruits are toxic, so gloves and masks are recommended when processinggourds

Letters at the end of descriptions refer to the key (below). All shapes in the key may not be currently available.

Hopi Rattle “Tawiya.” Flat-bulbed ceremonial dance rattle of the Hopi. Largeones may also be used to make women's rasp instruments for Home Dance.Plants are prolific. (h) H/L Seed Bank M022

Mayo “Warty” Bule Grown in Piedras Verdes, Sonora. Unique gourds, usedfor canteens or water jugs, have "warts" or pebble-like knobby growthsaround the bulbs. (f ) L Seed Bank M028

O’odham Dipper Top Seller! This was our first dipper gourd collection madein 1982 at Topawa on the Tohono O'odham Nation. Gourds vary from 8" to 18"long and have a long thin neck and small bowl. Trellis the plants (or allowthem to climb trees) to obtain straight-necked fruit. (g) H/L Seed BankM020

Peyote Ceremonial Top Seller! A very small (2-4") bilobal or dipper gourdused for crafts and as rattles by the Native American Church. Plants are incred-ibly prolific. An extremely popular gourd! (e) H/L Seed Bank M029

Tepehuan Canteen Teardrop-shaped fruits originally collected at Santa Ros-alia, Chihuahua, a Tepehuan village in a remote area of the Sierra Madre ofMexico. (d) H/L Seed Bank M034

Hopi Rattle

Mayo “Warty” Bule

O’odham Dipper

San Juan Mix

Share Your Experiences with UsWe are eager to obtain, summarize and share the experiences of gar-deners growing seeds from our collection. Plants can respondremarkably differently under varied environmental conditions andgrowing practices. You can help us curate our collection by sharingyour successes and failures. Please email them tocurator@nativeseeds.org. New NS/S website tools underdevelopment will provide powerful ways for you to learn about ourcollection, get guidance on what varieties might perform well in yourarea, and allow you to share your results so that we can all get toknow these plants better. Check our website for updates.

26

Seeds

Herbs $2.95

Most herbs are easy to grow and are quite happy in poor, gravellysoils. Besides being essential to fine cuisine, herbs are used medici-nally and are effective insect repellents. See listing for packet size.

Culture: See individual seed descriptions for growing information.

Seedsaving: Herbs are insect pollinated so members of the same specieswill cross. Harvest dried seed stalks, and hang upside down for completedrying. Crush to remove seeds, and winnow off chaff.

Corrales Azafrán Carthamus tinctorius. This red/orange thistle-like flowerwas used in cooking as a saffron substitute. A sunflower relative, azafrán canbe grown as an annual flower and keeps well as a dry flower (though veryprickly). Collected in Corrales, New Mexico. Plant seed with the summer rainsabout 1/4 inch deep. Approx. 1g/25 seeds per packet. H Seed Bank HB014

Epazote Top Seller! A commonly used herb in southern Mexico. Thearomatic foliage has a distinct and delicious flavor, and is used to season beans(it is said to reduce the flatulence caused by beans). A staff favorite! Plant seedwith the summer rains about 1/4 inch deep. Approx. 0.1g/200 seeds perpacket. H/L Seed Bank HB015

German Thyme One of the most popular culinary herbs. Aromatic leaves andsmall, pink flower spikes on a short, creeping plant. A long history of medicinaluse: thyme oil is antiseptic, tea is mineral-rich, anti-spasmodic. 6-12". Startindoors or direct-seed outdoors in early spring. Tolerates relatively poor soiland prefers full sun. Approx. 0.1g/300 seeds per packet. H/L TS522

Corrales Azafrán

Guarijio Conivari

Greens $2.95

Greens are excellent sources of vitamins, calcium and iron.

Culture: The small seeds should be broadcast or raked in.

Seedsaving: These annuals are insect pollinated; do not grow differentvarieties of the same species if saving seed. Seed pods form along theflower stalk. Allow to mature and dry before harvesting. Place dried seedheads in a paper or cloth sack, strip off seeds, and winnow out chaff.

Chichiquelite S. melanocerasum. From Piedras Verdes, a Mayo community inSonora. Commonly called the garden huckleberry, the leaves are cooked (donot eat the leaves raw!) and the shiny black berries are delicious andproduced in great abundance over a long season. From the tropics of westernAfrica. Approx. 0.1g/25 seeds per packet. H/L Seed Bank GR012

Mostaza Roja Top Seller! Brassica sp. “Mequasare.“ A wild mustard withtender, mild flavored leaves. Use in salads or as cooked greens. Plant in fall inthe low desert. Very productive. Approx. 0.2g/100 seeds per packet. H/LSeed Bank GR008

Orach Atriplex hortensis. Also known as mountain or wild spinach. Cultivatedin northern New Mexico and used as a summer green. Plants grow 2-5' tall.Leaves are good raw or cooked. Originally collected growing wild at TaosPueblo. A good volunteer plant: will self-sow in your garden. Approx. 1g/100seeds per packet. H Seed Bank GR006

Mostaza Roja

Orach

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True Greek Oregano

Mrs. Burns’ FamousLemon Basil

More Herbs $2.95

Guarijio Conivari Hyptis suaveolens. A cooling drink is made from the jelled,chia-like seed which has high-fiber mucilage. Mayo Indians use it for an eyeremedy and to control diarrhea. For summer gardens. Plant seed with thesummer rains about 1/4 inch deep. Approx. 0.3g/50 seeds per packet. H/LSeed Bank HB008

Italian Parsley Flat leaves. The preferred parsley for cooking. Great dried. Pro-vides a winter long supply of fresh nutritious greens. 2-3' tall. Prefers full sun orpartial shade, and rich soil. Approx. 0.5g/80 seeds per packet. H/L TS160

Mayo/Yoeme Basil Ocimum basilicum.A strong smelling medicinal herb com-monly grown in Sonora. Good forcooking and flavoring vinegars and oils.The white and pink flowers make it anattractive garden plant. Plant in springand summer. Plant seed in spring orwith the summer rains about 1/4 inchdeep. Approx. 0.2g/50 seeds perpacket. H/L Seed Bank HB004

Mrs. Burns’ Famous Lemon Basil TopSeller! Ocimum basilicum. This famousbasil variety was grown for 60 years insoutheastern New Mexico by themother of NS/S co-founder BarneyBurns. Readily self-seeds. Amazinglemon flavor. Heat and drought toler-ant. One of our best sellers, and a stafffavorite! Plant seed in spring or with thesummer rains about 1/4 inch deep.Approx. 0.2g/50 seeds per packet. H/LSeed Bank HB003

Slo-Bolt Cilantro Top Seller! Corian-der. Whisper the words "fresh cilantro."Your mouth will water! Indispensible forChinese, Thai and Southwest recipes.Produces incredibly fragrant, glossy,bright green leaves. This durable newstrain resists bolting. 6-20" tall. Plant infall through early spring in the lowdesert, spring through summer incolder climates. Approx. 2g/200 seedsper packet. H/L TS509

Swain Heirloom Dill Anethum graveolens. This dill may have arrived in Para-dox Valley, Colorado, with immigrants from England who homesteaded thearea. Good for pickling. Freely seeding: once you plant it, you're likely toalways have it in your garden. Large aromatic heads. Plant seed with the sum-mer rains about 1/4 inch deep. Approx. 0.2g/200 seeds per packet. H SeedBank HB016

Tarahumara Chia Salvia tiliafolia. A plant native from southeastern Arizona toSouth America. The cute flowers and foliage make it an attractive landscapeplant for summer gardens. Gathered and used medicinally by the Tarahumara.Plant seed with the summer rains about 1/4 inch deep. Approx. 0.2g/50 seedsper packet. H/L Seed Bank HB007

A Short History of Mrs. Burns’Famous Lemon BasilMy Mom, Janet Ann Burns, and I moved into our first real homein 1951 on Tracy Place in Carlsbad, New Mexico. The backyardbecame the site of Mom’s new garden. She consulted with a Mrs.Clifton, one of the area’s most successful gardeners, who gave uslemon basil seed she had saved from her last harvest and whichshe had grown since the 1920s. While this unique variety haspossible origins in England, Thailand, or India, I never discoveredhow it came to New Mexico; it remains a mystery.

Over the years, we continued to grow and save seed from thisspecial herb. Mom’s basil became an essential element for theBurns’ cuisine. When I entered the University of Arizona in 1963, Iplanted some of the basil seeds as my first solo gardening effort.Years later, Mom lost all her plants in a late frost. A similar inci-dent had occurred with Mrs. Clifton. Luckily I had some seedreserved and quickly sent Mom some. The loss of this uniquebasil variety by both Mrs. Clifton and my Mom demonstrateshow a rare plant variety is at great risk.

Without a backup source of seed, this unique type of basil wouldhave been lost forever. When I co-founded Native Seeds/SEARCHin 1983, “Mrs. Burns’ Lemon Basil” was one of the first seedsadded to the collection. Today, this incredible variety is beinggrown widely in gardens around the world, keeping the treas-ured plant alive and abundant.

Adapted from an article by Barney T. Burns in Native Seeds/SEARCH’sSeedhead News, Issue 103 (Winter Solstice 2008). Visitwww.nativeseeds.org/index.php/about-us/seedheadnews toread the full article.

28

Seeds

Indigo Indigofera suffruticosa $4.95

A shrub, native to the New World and valued for its blue pigment,indigo is perennial in frost-free areas of the Sonoran Desert. Beauti-ful clusters of small pink flowers make this an attractive ornamental.Approx. 0.2g/150 seeds per packet.

Culture: Soak seeds in warm water overnight to soften the seed coat.Plant swollen seeds 1/2 inch deep in warm garden soil (spring) or in con-tainers. Allow 12 inches between plants. Mature shrubs can be 3-6 ft. tall.Plants thrive in hot weather and can be set back by cool weather.

Seedsaving: Self-pollinating. Harvest the small dried pods, crush and usea small gauge screen to winnow off chaff.

Mayo Indigo From a Mayo village near Navojoa, Sonora, where it growsalong the irrigation canals and on sand bars in the Rio Mayo. Frost sensitive athigh elevations. A spectacular plant. H/L Seed Bank ID001Mayo Indigo

Yoeme “Alvaaka” Basil

True Greek Oregano Taste the best strain of any oregano we have found!Deep, genuine, oregano flavor! Pinkish-white flowers decorate this herb thatdoubles as a perfect ground cover with soft gray-green leaves. 12-18" tall.Plant in fall through early spring in the low desert, spring through summer incolder climates. Approx. 0.1g/800 seeds per packet. H/L TS516

Yoeme “Alvaaka“ Basil Ocimum basilicum. A small seed sample was collectedfrom a woman at New Pascua who uses the foliage to make a tea which is"good for the stomach and as a general tonic." The plants have a strong licoricearoma. Plant about 1/4 inch deep in spring or with the summer rains. Approx.0.2g/50 seeds per packet. H/L Seed Bank HB013

More Herbs $2.95

Kale Brassica oleracea $2.95

In high and low elevations alike, kale is one of the most dependablesources of vitamins and minerals. Approx. 0.5g/150 seeds perpacket.

Culture: Kale handles heat well. Frost improves its already rich flavor.Mark in fall to facilitate finding delicate fresh greens in waist-deep snow.Short varieties are protected by snow.

Seedsaving: Although kale flowers contain both female and male parts,individual plants do not self-fertilize. Provide at least two or more flower-ing plants to assure seed formation. Since bees can cross-pollinate kalewith other Brassica, isolation distances should be 1,000 yards or more.

Dwarf Siberian Blue-green leaves are ruffled and delicately flavored. Plantsare compact, approximately 1'. Hardy variety, perfect for small gardens. H/LTS103

Lacinato Ready 50-60 days from transplanting. Dark blue-green savoyedleaves. Winter and summer hardy. Highly adaptable and can be grown almostyear-round in many locations. Tender, succulent and sweet as steamed greensor in a stir-fry. A reliable workhorse. H/L TS107

Red Russian

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More Kale $2.95

Lettuce Lactuca sativa $2.95

To assure a steady supply of fresh tender greens, stagger plantings every ten days, plantingsmaller amounts more often as the weather becomes hot. Approx. 1g/700 seeds per packet.

Culture: Water lettuce at base to avoid rot. Stagger plantings every ten days, planting smalleramounts more often as weather becomes hot. For full heads, thin to 8". Companion plants include:carrots, radishes.

Seed Saving:  Lettuce produces perfect yellow flowers on tall, bushy seedstalks. Since flowers self-pollinate, there is less chance of cross-pollinationbetween varieties. For purity, separate at least 25 yards with other crops.

Black-Seeded Simpson Looseleaf Sets the standard by which to measure alllooseleafs. Large, light-green, broad, frilled leaves with exceptionally crisp,fresh flavor. H/L TS120

Buttercrunch Bibb Butterhead Dark-green leaves form small, compactrosettes around yellow, blanched hearts. Sweet and crisp leaves have a richbuttery flavor and texture. H/L TS125

Cimarron Romaine Adds color to salads along with the unmistakable textureof a delicious romaine. Broad, flat, crisp, sweet and juicy leaves range from darkred to bronze. Very attractive. H/L TS124

Red Saladbowl Looseleaf Top Seller! The beauty, flavor and tenderness ofSaladbowl with solid red color, fuller head and slightly more compact shape.Delicious. Withstands hot weather as well as the green saladbowl. Excellentflavor! H/L TS127

Summertime Crisphead A reliable offering for crisp heads even after summertemperatures begin to rise. No bitterness. H/L TS233

Red SaladbowlLooseleaf

Cimarron Romaine

Red Russian Top Seller! Dark green oakleaf-cut leaves, may be richer in vitamins and minerals thanother greens. Red and purple hues intensify after fall frosts, giving way to tender and sweet rich darkgreen kale when cooked. Also good raw. Very disease resistant. H/L TS105

Seed LibrariesIn January of 2012, Native Seeds/SEARCH opened Arizona’s firstseed library at our retail store. Seed libraries function similarly tobook-lending libraries. People “check out” seeds for free, growthem in gardens, and keep a few plants in the ground to go toseed. Some of the saved seed is then “returned” to the library, ide-ally twice as much as was borrowed. As this process continuesyear after year, the seeds in the library become more productiveand hardy because of selection and adaptation to local growingconditions. This is what true sustainability and seed sovereigntylooks like! Pima County Library System has taken the lead nation-wide by opening up several seed libraries in branches throughoutTucson. Inter-library loans are available to those communitymembers without seed libraries in their own branches! If you don't live near a seed library, start one!Visit www.richmondgrowsseeds.org to jump-start your own seed library.

Above The seed room at the Native Seeds/SEARCH retail store.

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Hopi Casaba

Isleta Pueblo

Melon Cucumis melo $2.95

An early introduction by the Spanish into the Greater Southwest.The fruits are varied, with orange, green or white flesh and skinsthat are smooth, ribbed or netted skins. A summertime favorite.Approx. 1g/25 seeds per packet.

Culture: A warm-season crop. Plant 3-5 seeds 1/2 inch deep directly inbasins, 24 inches apart with plenty of room for sprawling vines. Overwa-tering can dilute flavor of fruit.

Seedsaving: Annual plants are insect pollinated. Male and female flow-ers form on each plant. Ripe fruits often have a distinct aroma. Removeseeds from cut fruit, wash off fibers, and spread seeds on paper or clothto dry. Dry thoroughly.

Cochiti Mix A mix of native and honeydew types collected from CochitiPueblo. Fruit vary from round, smooth-skinned honeydews with light greenflesh to elongated oval fruit with ribs and orange flesh. H Seed Bank F020

Corrales Originally collected in Corrales, New Mexico. Typical oblong nativemelons with ribs and smooth skin. Dark green fruit turn yellow when ripe.Sweet and juicy. H Seed Bank F023

Esperanza de Oro A “native” melon, interbred for years with Crenshaw mel-ons and selected for size and sweetness in Corrales, New Mexico. H/L SeedBank F017

Hopi Casaba Two distinct fruit types within this collection: (1) wrinkled,round, yellow-green fruits; and (2) smoothly elongated yellow-green fruits.Both have pale green to orange flesh. Juicy with a mild flavor. Tasty with chile,salt and lime. Good keeper if unbruised. H/L Seed Bank F011

Isleta Pueblo This orange- and green-fleshed ribbed melon is from IsletaPueblo near Albuquerque, New Mexico. Tolerates heat. H/L Seed Bank F023

Melon de Castilla A deliciously sweet melon with pale yellow, smooth skin.From the Sierra Madre Mountains. A staff favorite. H/L Seed Bank F016

Navajo Mix Our original seeds were obtained from a melon entered in theNavajo Nation Fair in Shiprock, New Mexico. Produces three fruit types: ribbed,smooth ovals, and elongated. Mild flavored flesh is pale green to light orange.H/L Seed Bank F009

Navajo Mix

Seeds

Wild Luffa

Luffa Luffa operculata $3.95

Various species of Luffa are grown worldwide for food and toproduce natural sponges. Approx. 1g/25 seeds per packet.

Culture: A warm-season crop that does well with trellising. Plant seeds1/2 inch deep, 6 inches apart.

Seedsaving: This annual is insect pollinated. Allow fruits to dry on theplant before harvesting the seeds, which can often be shaken directlyout of the fruits.

Wild Luffa From dooryard gardens along the Rio Mayo. Produces copiousquantities of 2-3" fruit. Removing the thin skin from dried fruits reveals thesmall scrubber "sponge." In the low desert, plant with summer rains. H/LSeed Bank M012

Okra Abelmoschus esculentus $2.95

An introduced African crop that does well in southern areas of the United States. Okra isdrought-tolerant and heat-loving. All parts of the plant are edible. Fruit are ready to pickwhen they snap off the stalk and are versatile in the kitchen: try them fresh, pickled, fried orin gumbo. The leaves may be eaten raw or cooked. Approx. 2g/25 seeds per packet.

Culture: Soak seeds of this warm-season crop for quicker germination.Plant 1/2 inch deep and allow 12 inches between plants. Plants can be 4-5feet tall and will produce until frost.

Seedsaving: This annual is insect pollinated, so varieties will cross. Allowthe pods to dry and mature on the plant. Harvest before pods split open.Remove seeds carefully.

Okra seeds can only be shipped to AZ, NM, TX and OK addresses.

Beck’s Gardenville An heirloom from San Antonio, Texas. A vigorous, veryproductive and drought-tolerant plant with green, short, stocky ribbed podsthat are tender up to 3" long. H/L Seed Bank OK002

Eagle Pass From the Carrizo Springs/Eagle Pass area in Texas. Good in gumboor cut and fried. Not slimy or stringy when cooked. Perfect for those who claimthey don't like okra! Plants bear large pods beginning near ground level, up to5'. H/L Seed Bank OK004

Guarijio “Nescafe” From Sonora, Mexico. The beautiful yellow flowers havered throats. The plants are very broad and bushy, with large leaves, and arevery productive. Young pods are fired, boiled or added to stews and gumbos.Seeds can be roasted, ground and used as a coffee substitute. H/L Seed Bank OK001

Texas Hill Country Red Attractive plant with beautiful, colorful bronze-red fruit. Produces well insummer heat. Plants are 5-6' tall with dark purple stems. Slender pods can be slivered and eaten rawin salads or cooked. H/L Seed Bank OK003

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Navajo Yellow Ribbed fruit are round or oval and have smooth, yellow skinand orange flesh. Originally purchased at the Navajo Nation Fair. Good keeperif unbruised. H Seed Bank F010

O’odham “Ke:li Ba:so” Top Seller! “Old woman's knees,” referring to theknobby appearance of the fruit. A favorite of Tohono O'odham and Pima low-desert farmers. Fruits are casaba type with light green flesh. Very tasty—a stafffavorite. H/L Seed Bank F005

Ojo Caliente Originally obtained from a farmer in northern New Mexico. Theoval fruits are smooth-skinned and can weigh 5-7 pounds. Pale green flesh with a tinge of orange issweet and juicy with excellent flavor. Harvest ripe fruits when bright yellow and aromatic. H/L SeedBank F008

Planters Jumbo A favorite cantaloupe with market growers because it grows well in wet or dry condi-tions. Firm rind and sweet, deep orange flesh. Developed for hot climates and is resistant to Powdery andDowny Mildew. Melons are 7" by 6" and average 4-5 lbs. H/L TS262

San Juan A prolific honeydew-type with smooth, light green skin and light to deep-lime colored flesh.Vines are somewhat compact and desert hardy. H Seed Bank F006

Santo Domingo Native Originally from Santo Domingo Pueblo, these are typical of the "native" melonsgrown for centuries in the pueblos of New Mexico. The fruit are oblong, ribbed, and have predominantlysmooth skin. Some netting or "cracking" occurs. The flesh is orange and tasty. H Seed Bank F018

More Melon $2.95

Eagle Pass

Texas Hill Country Red

O’odham “Ke:li Ba:so”

32

Seeds

Tohono O’odham I’itoi

Red Creole

Onion Allium cepa $2.95

Onions are a staple for most cuisines and essential in every garden.See listing for packet size.

Culture: Onions prefer well-drained, rich soil, high in organic matter.Water frequently, especially during dry spells.

Seedsaving: Onions produce perfect flowers, yet require cross pollina-tion. Stigmas in each flower become receptive only after its own pollen isshed. Crosses can and do occur between flowers on the same plant,mostly by bees. Separate from other flowering Allium of the same speciesby at least 1,000 feet for satisfactory results.

Chives A. schoenoprasum. Experience the delicious, fresh, delicate-onion fla-vor of chives on baked potatoes. Handsome, edible, pink flower globesprovide a source of long-lasting cut flowers. 12” tall. Approx. 0.5g/300 seedsper packet. H/L TS507

Evergreen Hardy Perennial Perennial. A delicious bunching onion. Leavesome in the garden. Evergreen is a true multiplier onion and will divide itselfperennially. Resistance to thrips, smut, and pink root rot. Approx. 1g/425seeds per packet. H/L TS140

Red Creole The best offering in red, short day onions for southern latitudes.Spicy and great when cooked. A good keeper if dry and ventilated. Mediumsize. Pink root rot resistant. Approx. 1g/250 seeds per packet. H/L TS142

Texas Early Grano Developed in Texas in 1944. Bred at the time to be theperfect eating sweet onion. The mother of all the modern super sweet onionslike Vidalia. Large globe, white flesh, nice flavor. Resistant to pink root rot.Approx. 1g/250 seeds per packet. H/L TS143

Tohono O’odham I’itoi Top Seller! These wildly popular and prolific multi-plier onions were an early introduction to southern Arizona by the Spanish.Today they are eagerly sought out by chefs for their mild shallot-like bulbsand slightly spicy greens. They are very easy to cultivate and in the low desertwill grow in response to both winter and summer rains. In cooler regions theirgrowth is in the summer. Rarely flowers; propagate by division of the bulbs.The name I’Itoi signifies the Elder Brother, who is the creator deity in TohonoO’odham legends. Approx. 10 bulbs per packet. H/L Seed Bank B001

Chives

Members & VolunteersThe members and volunteers who support NativeSeeds/SEARCH are the lifeblood of our organiza-tion. Since 1983, they have graciously contributedtheir energy, ideas, time and, of course, money tohelp us in our mission to change the face ofregional agriculture. Without their vital assistance,our work would not be possible. This partnership isbased on a common vision of a more biologicallydiverse, ecologically sustainable, and culturally richworld. Together, we can achieve this shared visionto create a more abundant and beautiful future forgenerations to come.

Join Native Seeds/SEARCH at any level from$30 to $1,000 (or beyond) and receive: �

Discounts on purchases at our store and online� 10% off all Seed Schools � Special offers

(early access to plant sales) � Our newsletter

Become a volunteer at Native Seeds/ SEARCHand receive: � Knowledge that you are doing

something important � 50% Discount onSeed Schools (Become a Docent and the

remaining tuition is refunded!) � Opportuni-ties to mingle with amazing human beings.

33

Panic Grass Panicum sonorum $2.95

A native domesticate of arid America (see story on next page), thegrass is used as a forage and the tiny seed harvested for grain.Replace a quarter to half of the flour in recipes with finely groundseed. Approx. 0.5g/500 seeds per packet.

Culture: Plant with summer rains by broadcasting. Rake in. Protect germi-nating seeds from birds.

Seedsaving: A wind-pollinated annual. Birds love the seed, which is bornein loose heads. Protect with paper or cloth bags. Harvest when dry, stripseeds and winnow off chaff.

Guarijio Top Seller! “Sagui.“ A rare grass. The small golden seed is rich in lysine. Attractiveplants are fast-growing and heat-tolerant. Birds love it! H/L Seed Bank O001

A Brief History of Panic GrassPanic grass, Panicum sonorum, was domesticated in either Arizona or Sonora sometime during the prehis-toric period. Plants produce large quantities of very small seeds that contain a large amount of lysine, aprotein normally or usually found only in animal products. The lysine content in panic grass is a recent dis-covery and holds great promise for health applications in the future.

For years panic grass was assumed to be extinct. One of the last sightings of this rare cultivar was madeby Dr. Howard Scott Gentry in the 1930s at the Guarijio Indian village of Guaseremos in far easternSonora, Mexico. In 1980, the U.S. Department of Agriculture asked Gary Paul Nabhan (one of four NS/S co-founders) to see if he could collect a viable seed sample of the grass. Gary invited me along, as I knew thearea.

Our adventurous trip to the remote village began in a canary yellow Chevy Blazer and ended up as a two-day trek on rented burros, guided by a 12-year-old Mexican cowboy. When we finally reached the scatteredfarmsteads of Guaseremos and asked the astonished farmers, we were directed to a local farmer who hadsome extra seed we could purchase.

Panic grass was not extinct! Because of the traditions of the Guarijio farmers it had persisted for forty yearssince Dr. Gentry last saw it. Our small sample was delivered to the USDA Seed Bank in Fort Collins, Colorado,and eventually was included in Native Seeds/SEARCH’s Seed Bank.

Adapted from an article by Barney T. Burns in Native Seeds/SEARCH’s Seedhead News, Issue 109 (Spring 2011).Please visit www.nativeseeds.org/index.php/about-us/seedheadnews to read the full article.

Guarijio

Basic Seed SavingBill McDorman, Executive Director of Native Seeds/SEARCH,describes useful terms and concepts to seed saving and listsspecific seed saving instructions for 18 common vegetablesand 29 wildflowers. $5.95 PB151

34

Seeds

Radish Raphanus sativus $2.95

Rapidly-maturing, radishes are typically grown for their mild to spicyroots, though their leaves and seed pods are also edible. Approx.4g/470 seeds per packet.

Culture: Radishes love cool weather. Plant early and often. Provide shade insummer. Companion plants include: cucumbers, peas, cabbage, lettuce,nasturtiums. Dislikes: hyssop.

Seed Saving:  Radishes produce annual flowers which require pollinationby insects, primarily bees. Satisfactory results for home gardeners requireno more that 250 feet of separation. Separate different varieties by at least1/2 mile to ensure purity.

Champion Top Seller! Exceptionally sweet flavor! Perfectly round redradishes. Pure white interior stays crisp and doesn't get hot even when large.Ideal for extra early harvest. Plant every two weeks for continuous supply. Ourfavorite variety in our 2012 radish trial in Patagonia, Arizona. H/L TS190

Champion

Pea Pisum sativum prices as listed

Nothing is quite as sweet as fresh-picked peas. Introduced by theSpanish. The seed is eaten green, used dried in soups, or cooked likebeans. See listing for packet sizes.

Culture: A cool season crop that should be planted in the fall or winter.Plant 1/2 inch deep and 6 inches apart. Plants will sprawl and can produceuntil days get too hot. Provide slightly limed soil that has plenty of phos-phorus and potassium.

Seedsaving: Peas produce perfect, self-pollinating flowers. Cross-pollina-tion by insects is possible but rare because pollination occurs before theflower opens. Ideally, different varieties need to be separated 50 feet orwith another crop flowering at the same time. Dried pods can beharvested as they mature or entire plants dried and threshed near theend of the season.

Oregon Sugar Pod II Snow pea (edible pods). Famous for its sweet, mild fla-vor. Delicious raw, in stir-fries or steamed "al dente." Tall, 24-30" vines bearsmooth, 4" pea pods. Resistant to both pea enation virus and powderymildew. Approx. 30g/140 seeds per packet. H/L $2.95 TS186

San Luis Our only pea collection from southern Colorado. Collected from asite at 8,500’. Seeds are tan to light yellow with smooth skin. Good for soups.Approx. 10g/50 seeds per packet. H/L $2.95 Seed Bank Q008

Sugar Ann Snap The earliest snap pea. Short 2' vines need no support. Bothpods and peas develop well and are exceptionally sweet. Eat fresh in the gar-den! Approx. 30g/140 seeds per packet. H/L $3.95 TS182

Tarahumara “Chicharos“ From the Sierra Madre in northern Mexico. Grownalong the edges of bean and corn fields. Plant in early spring in coolerclimates. Approx. 10g/50 seeds per packet. H/L $2.95 Seed Bank Q002

Truchas Alverjon Tan and green smooth soup pea introduced by the Span-ish. Grown in Truchas, New Mexico, at 8,000'. The earliest pea in our 2011 trials!Approx. 10g/50 seeds per packet. H/L $2.95 Seed Bank Q012

Oregon Sugar Pod II

San Luis

Sugar Ann Snap

35

Sorghum Sorghum bicolor $2.95

Originally from Africa. Introduced as a forage, grain and sugarsource. The prolific plants are desert hardy. Stalks are chewed fortheir sweet juices. Approx. 2g/75 seeds per packet.

Culture: In the spring or with summer rains, broadcast seed and rake in,or plant 1/2 inch deep and 10 inches apart. Thin to allow space, as plantswill tiller (sprout stalks from base).

Seedsaving: A wind-pollinated annual, so varieties will cross. Bag seed-heads with paper or cloth bags to protect them from birds. Strip dry seedsfrom stem and winnow.

Apache Red “Sugar Cane“ The beautiful red seedheads attract birds, and thestalk is chewed like candy when the red seeds are ripe. From San CarlosReservation, Arizona. L Seed Bank S001

Caña Ganchado Grown by the Guarijio in Sonora. Seeds are dark maroonand the sweet canes can be 6' tall. H/L Seed Bank S007

Texas Black Amber Molasses An heirloom from Waco, Texas. Plumb blackseeds. Used for molasses and silage. H/L Seed Bank S006

Tohono O’odham “Ka:na.“ Produces a mix of red and black seedheads.Crosses with S. halapense, Johnson grass. H/L Seed Bank S002

Apache Red “Sugar Cane”

Texas Black AmberMolasses

“Unique, innovative and necessary! Seed School fills in a gaping hole in thesustainable, agricultural landscape.” 

— Toby Hemenway, author of Gaia’s Garden

Spinach Spinacia oleracae $2.95

One of the most nutritious greens known. Approx. 4g/325 seeds perpacket.

Culture: Provide moist, fertile soil. Water frequently, especially during dryspells. To assure a season-long supply, plant every two weeks.

Seed Saving:  Spinach is “dioecious” — with male and female flowers onseparate plants. Flowers are wind-pollinated; spinach's dust-like powderypollen can be carried for miles.

Bloomsdale Long Standing Top Seller! Heirloom treasure introduced in1826. Sweet, rich flavor and good texture have assured its popularity. Tender, large,thick, crinkled, deep-green leaves on upright stems. Slow to bolt. H/L TS200

Bloomsdale Long-Standing

More Radish $2.95

Easter Egg Delicious champion class radish bred to produce a full range of red, pink, purple,and white radishes. Produces very large tops. Wonderful for children's gardens. H/L TS191

36

Seeds

Calabaza Mexicana

Squash Cucurbita spp. $2.95Unless indicated otherwise

Squash fruits vary in shape, color and flavor. Flowers, seeds and grow-ing tips of vines are all edible. All fruits can be eaten when small andimmature as summer squash, and mature as winter squash. Approx.4.5g/15 seeds per packet unless noted otherwise.

Culture: In the spring or with the summer rains, sow a few seeds one inchdeep in each basin, allowing room for abundant vine growth.

Seedsaving: An insect-pollinated annual, varieties of the same specieswill cross. Allow fruits to ripen and mature on the vine until skin is hardand stem brown. After harvesting, fruit needs to after-ripen for 30 days incool location. Remove seeds, wash and dry before storage.

Cultural Varieties: Some of our squash and melons exhibit a diversity offruit types within a population. Although it may appear that a grower hasallowed varieties to cross-pollinate, and did not maintain the purity of thestrain, we have found that this is a cultural mixing. Traditional gardenersand farmers intentionally grow a mix of fruit types to add variety to theirharvest and diet. When saving seeds from a diverse planting, gardenerscan continue to select for desirable fruit types. Save seeds from the best-tasting squash, the healthiest plants, fruits that stored well, and otherplants with the characteristics you want.

Acoma Pumpkin C. pepo. Round fruits have dark and light green stripes.Grown in northern New Mexico and used as winter squash. H Seed BankEP045

Apache Giant C. argyrosperma. The large pear-shaped fruits are green-striped,often with patches of brilliant orange, and weigh up to 40 lbs. H Seed BankEA010

Big Max Pumpkin C. pepo. Grow Big Max for big carved pumpkins or deli-cious pumpkin pie. Not unusual to harvest 20“, 100 lb. giants. Feed theleftovers to the chickens for deep orange yolks. Approx 3g/15 seeds perpacket. H/L TS330

Calabaza Mexicana C. argyrosperma. Pear or flattened pumpkin-shaped fruitsare white with green stripes turning yellow-orange, with pale colored fleshand Taos-type seeds. Collected from the region around Espanola, New Mexico,at 5,500'. H Seed Bank EA013

Carrizo C. moschata. Common in southern Sonora, the orange fruit are butter-nut-shaped and tasty. Makes a great soup or puree. H/L Seed Bank EM029

Dark Star Zucchini Top Seller! C. pepo. The new favorite for market growers.'Dark Star' zucchini features dark green, glossy fruits that keep for long peri-ods. Its light yellow interior flesh, with elevated levels of lutene, makes forsuperb eating. Has an open plant architecture which makes picking easy.Approx 3g/25 seeds per packet. H/L $5.95 TS391

Gila Pima “Ha:I” C. argyrosperma. Originally collected in Bapchule, Arizona,this was one of our first squash collections. The light-skinned fruit are pear-shaped. Tasty and stores well. H/L Seed Bank EA003

Guarijio Segualca C. moschata. Originally collected in San Bernardo, Sonora.Fruit types vary in shape and size. Good keepers. H/L Seed Bank EM033

Gila Pima “Ha:l”

Magdalena Big Cheese

Carrizo

Dark Star Zucchini

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Hopi Pumpkin C. pepo. Fruits can be round or elongated, striped or solidgreen turning yellow as they mature. Originally collected in Hotevilla, Arizona.H Seed Bank EP044

Magdalena Big Cheese Top Seller! C. moschata. One of the oldest types ofcultivated squash. Excellent producer of large, light orange, ribbed fruits witha flattened pumpkin shape (like a wheel of cheese) and sweet, bright orangeflesh. H/L Seed Bank EM031

Mayo Blusher C. maxima. The large, white to light green fruits are round toelongated in shape and blush pink when finally ripe. The apricot coloredflesh is sweet. Good keepers. L Seed Bank EX001

Navajo Gray Hubbard C. maxima. Large, blue-gray fruit with thick orangeflesh. Easy to grow, stores well and tastes great. Common across the NavajoNation in northeastern Arizona and northwest New Mexico. H Seed BankEX015

Papalote Ranch Cushaw C. argyrosperma. Small, dark-green cushaws withvaried shapes. Tasty and versatile. Good keeper with very thick skin. Collectedat Papalote Ranch in southern Arizona, but originally from Mexico. H/L SeedBank EA021

Peñasco Cheese C. maxima. A flat, ribbed cheese-shaped squash with sweetorange flesh. Fruits have gray or pale pink skin and can weigh 5-8 lbs. Col-lected in the Spanish village of Peñasco, New Mexico (8,000’). H Seed BankEX006

Silver Edged C. argyrosperma. Grown for the tasty seeds, which are large andwhite with a silver edge. Seeds are roasted for pepitas or used in pipian sauce.The beautiful round, flattened fruits are white with prominent green mottledstripes. Flesh is unpalatable. H/L Seed Bank EA015

Tarahumara C. pepo. Pumpkin-shaped medium-sized fruits are cream- andgreen-striped with beige ribs. Very sweet, great tasting and productive. H/LSeed Bank EP042

Tohono O’odham “Ha:l” Top Seller! C. argyrosperma. A very heat tolerantand rapidly maturing squash from the Tohono O'odham Nation. Traditionallyblossoms are mixed with wheat flour to make a porridge and seeds roastedfor snacks. Prized for the immature fruits, "Ha:al mamat" ("children"), whichresemble zucchini. Mature fruits have light orange flesh, mild flavor, and astarchy texture, and store well. The flesh can also be sun dried and boiled toresoften. A staff favorite. L Seed Bank EA014

Waltham Butternut C. moschata. Deep, buttery-smooth orange flesh insidehard, tan, 8-10"" skins. Improved and selected variety with richer flavor andlarger yields. One of the best storing winter squashes. Approx 6g/90 seeds perpacket. H/L TS331

Yellow Crookneck Top Seller! C. pepo. Tender, yellow squash with gracefullyarched stems. Firm texture. Buttery flavor. Harvest early as baby squash orwait until 5-6" long for slicing. Approx 6g/58 seeds per packet. H/L TS333

Silver Edged

Waltham Butternut

Mayo Blusher

Tohono O’odham “Ha:l”

More Squash $2.95Unless indicated otherwise

Photos of all varieties, and seeds of many more, are available at www.nativeseeds.org

Yellow Crookneck

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Seeds Sunflower Helianthus spp. $2.95

A Native American domesticate, the seeds are eaten raw or roasted,pressed for oil, planted as an ornamental or for bird feed. Approx.2g/25 seeds per packet.

Culture: Plant seeds in the spring or with the summer rains, 1 inch deepand 12 inches apart. Plants can grow 6-7 feet tall.

Seedsaving: Sunflowers are insect-pollinated annuals, and all varietieswill cross. Protect maturing seed heads from the birds with paper sacks orcloth bags (pillow cases work great). Allow seeds to dry in the flowerheads. Rub out seeds and winnow off chaff.

Apache Brown-Striped Top Seller! A beautiful large-headed sunflower.Heads are typically 7-10" and the stalk can reach over 10' tall. Seeds are whitewith brownish stripes. From the San Carlos Reservation, Arizona. Very popular!H/L Seed Bank I001

Havasupai Small-Seeded Collected at Havasupai, this sunflower has blackseeds that are much smaller than any of our other sunflowers. It is a branchvariety that has numerous small heads per plant. It was originally collected inthe mid-80s and sent to the USDA. We obtained a sample in 1983. H/L SeedBank I014

Havasupai Striped A branched sunflower variety that can reach over 8' tall.Flowers are medium sized, 5-7". From the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Lodg-ing is a problem in the low desert. H/L Seed Bank I002

Hopi Black Dye Top Seller! Called “Tceqa” by the Hopi, the blue/black hull isused for wool and basket dye and eye medicine, but the seeds are also edible.Flower heads are medium to large sized. Beautiful, and extremely popular.H/L Seed Bank I003

Hopi Mixed Tall, single-headed plants with massive flower heads that reach12” or more. The name refers to the seeds, which are white-/black-striped,solid black or gray-/black-striped. An early collection from Kykotsmovi. H/LSeed Bank I010

Tarahumara White This rare variety with solid gold flowers has all-whitehulls. Heads are medium sized. Canadian Mennonite in origin but obtained bythe Tarahumara more than 40 years ago when some Mennonites relocated toChihuahua. Very beautiful. H/L Seed Bank I005

Havasupai Small-Seeded

Havasupai Striped

Hopi Black Dye

Tarahumara White

Swiss Chard Beta vulgaris ssp. cicla $2.95

When it's too hot or cold for spinach, look for the dark-green leavesof Swiss chard! Approx. 4g/200 seeds per packet.

Culture: Prefers deep, rich, well-composted soil, but tolerate average soil,if provided enough trace minerals and sun.

Seed Saving: Flowers contain both male and female parts, but do notself-pollinate before flowers open. As pollen is carried long distances bywind, grow seeds for only one variety at a time. Note: Swiss chard willcross with beets.

Rainbow Mix Beautiful mix of colors. Dark-green, savoyed leaves. Enlargedstems with crisp and delicate flavor. Plant early and often. H/L TS211

Rainbox Mix

39

Tobacco Nicotiana spp. $4.95

Tobacco, used as a sacred and medicinal herb, is an important part ofIndian culture and folklore. Can be used as an organic insecticide(with appropriate caution). Approx. 0.1g/125 seeds per packet.

Culture: Plant the tiny seeds in the spring, and cover with light sandy soil.Can be started indoors and transplanted. Plant 1 foot apart.

Seedsaving: An insect-pollinated annual, varieties will cross. Removemature seedheads and crush capsules in a bag or on a tray. Use a fan orlight breeze to remove chaff.

Isleta Pueblo N. rustica. From the pueblo south of Albuquerque, New Mexico.Plants grow to 4.5', including flowers. H Seed Bank N006

Mountain Pima N. tabacum. Collected in the Mountain Pima region of west-ern Chihuahua. It is commonly grown in plots or gardens around the houseand used for smoking. Delicate pink-tinged flowers and huge leaves! H SeedBank N010

Papante N. rustica. Tall plants (over 5') with large deer ear-shaped leaves andlarge seed capsules. From Piedras Verdes, Sonora. H/L Seed Bank N008

Punche Mexicano N. rustica. From northern New Mexico, this tobacco wasused by early Spanish settlers until the 1930s. H/L Seed Bank N001

Santo Domingo Ceremonial Top Seller! N. rustica. A cultivated annualgrown in irrigated gardens by various Puebloans. Used in rain ceremonials.H/L Seed Bank N003

Tarahumara El Cuervo N. rustica. From a very isolated area of BatopilasCanyon, Chihuahua. Smoked traditionally by older Tarahumarans. H/L SeedBank N004

Mountain Pima

Papante

Santa DomingoCeremonial

Tomatillo Physalis philadelphica $2.95

Tomatillos, "husk tomatoes," are used to make traditional and savorygreen salsas and stews. Related to ground cherries and Cape goose-berries. Approx. 0.1g/25 seeds per packet.

Culture: In the spring, plant seeds directly in the garden 1/4 inch deep, orstart indoors and transplant. Allow 15 inches between plants.

Seedsaving: Flowers are both insect and self-pollinated, and varieties cancross. Tomatillos begin to ripen when they turn from green to light yellow.When the husk is dry and begins to split open at the bottom, the fruit canbe harvested for seed. To remove seeds, puree ripe fruit with water inblender. Pulp will rise and seeds will sink.

Mountain Pima Husked fruit are small and plants are somewhat sprawling.Commonly used in salsa. H Seed Bank TM011

Tepehuan Small fruits on weedy plants. Collected in Nabogame, Chihuahua,a remote mountainous region. Our collectors were served these tasty fruitswith their beans for breakfast. H/L Seed Bank TM002

Zuni Top Seller! The small sweet fruit has been semi-cultivated by the Zunifor more than a century. Can be roasted in an oven, then blended with garlic,onion, chile and cilantro as a hot sauce delicacy. H/L Seed Bank TM003

Tepehuan

Zuni

40

Seeds

Ciudad Victoria

Flamenco

Nichols Heirloom

Punta Banda

Tomato Solanum lycopersicum $2.95

Originally domesticated in the Andean region of South America, themodern cultural and nutritional importance of tomatoes worldwide isdifficult to exaggerate. Approx. 0.1g/25 seeds per packet.

Culture: In the spring, plant seeds directly in the garden 1/4 inch deep, orstart indoors and transplant. Allow 15 inches between plants.

Seedsaving: Flowers are both insect and self-pollinated, and varieties cancross. To remove seeds, puree ripe fruit with water in blender. Pulp will riseand seeds will sink.

Ciudad Victoria S. lycopersicum var cerasiforme. A weedy, semi-cultivated tomatofrom dooryard gardens in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas. Small round, sweet fruitare late-maturing. H/L Seed Bank TM005

Flamenco Top Seller! Exciting new open-pollinated tomato for the Southwest.Flamenco is a cross between Silvery Fir Tree for earliness and feathery foliage andFloridade for heat and disease resistance. The result is a semi-determinate 4' bushloaded with highly flavored 2", red round fruits. Nice acid/sweet balance and greatflavor. Continues to produce in hot weather when others stop. Performed verywell in our 2012 trials in both Tucson and Patagonia, Arizona. A staff favorite! H/LTS340

Nichols Heirloom Top Seller! These seeds were sent to us by the Nichols familyin Tucson. Volunteer seeds that just kept coming up, they had been maintainedby the family patriarch for about 50 years. It is well adapted to the desert: heat-tolerant and prefers full sunlight. These "pink cherry" tomatoes are prolificproducers. H/L Seed Bank TM014

Prescott Heirloom Given to us by a member of a family that had lived for manygenerations in Prescott, Arizona. The fruit are large, red, oval and quite fleshy. Thethick flesh suggests that they may be good for canning. H Seed Bank TM013

Punta Banda Top Seller! Collected on the Punta Banda Peninsula in Baja Califor-nia. Plants produce hundreds of red meaty, thick skinned fruits despite heat,water stress and poor soil. Great paste tomato. Performed impressively in our2012 trials in Tucson, producing throughout the summer despite full exposureand harsh conditions. Renowned for its early maturity. A staff favorite! H/L SeedBank TM007

Texas Wild Cherry Top Seller! All that we really know is that seed of this tomatowas collected from a patch of apparantly "wild" tomatoes in southern Texas.Sprawling plants produce tons of small, tasty, cherry-type tomatoes. Early-matur-ing and very productive! One of the stars of our 2012 tomato trials in Patagonia,Arizona (4,000’). H/L Seed Bank TM012

SalonsJoin Native Seeds/SEARCH every third Monday of the month at our Con-servation Center in Tucson (3584 E River Rd) from 6-8 pm for our NS/SSalons. These engaging community events have a little bit of somethingfor anyone who has ever wielded a fork or pitchfork. Bring your juiciestideas and an appetite for mind-watering conversations. Admission is free.Check our website for announcements of upcoming Salons.

Sandor Katz, author of The Art of Fermentation, at a NS/S Salon.

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Watermelon Citrullus lanatus $2.95

Fruits vary in size and color of flesh and rind. Seeds are eaten and usedfor their oil. 1.5g/15 seeds per packet.

Culture: In the spring, plant seeds 1/2 to 1 inch deep, 3 seeds per basin, allow-ing ample room for vines. Plants need a long growing season.

Seedsaving: An insect-pollinated annual. Varieties will cross. Male and femaleflowers develop on each plant. Ripe fruits have a hollow sound when tappedand a yellowing patch on the bottom. Also look for dried tendrils next to thestem. Scoop out seeds of fully ripe fruit, wash thoroughly and dry.

Crimson Sweet Bright red color, fewer and smaller seeds and an above averagesugar content. An oblong member of the "picnic" family of watermelons. Com-monly weighs 20-30 lbs. Resistant to anthracnose and fusarium wilt. Highlyadaptable. H/L TS263

Hopi Yellow Top Seller! “Sikyatko.” The green-striped fruits have paleyellow/orange flesh (occasional plants produce red-fleshed fruit). Large fruit withcrisp, sweet taste. H/L Seed Bank G002

Mayo Originally collected in Los Capomos, Sinaloa. Prolific vines produce smallmelons of various colors in the hot summer. H/L Seed Bank G005

Navajo Red Seeded Top Seller! A sweet, good-tasting watermelon with redfruit, light red flesh and red seeds. Very popular! H/L Seed Bank G009

Navajo Winter Round, pale green fruits with slight striping. Pale pink to red flesh.From Shiprock area. H Seed Bank G011

Tohono O’odham Yellow-Meated Top Seller! A high yielder of green oval fruit with sweet and crispyellow to orange flesh. Fruit can be up to 35 lb. Originally collected at Queenswell, Arizona. Stunninglydelicious. The best watermelon we've tasted, period. A staff favorite! L Seed Bank G003

Mayo

Navajo Red-Seeded

Tohono O’odhamYellow-Meated

Wheat Triticum aestivum $2.95

A native of the Old World, wheat was introduced to the Southwest byFather Kino as he established the "missionary trail". Traditionally, wheatwas roasted and ground to make pinole or stretched into thin wheatflour tortillas (chemait). Wheat berries are also cooked with teparies tomake poshol. Approx. 28g/700 seeds per packet.

Culture: Plant in December through January. Broadcast and rake in seed,then lightly pat soil. If birds are a problem, cover very thinly with straw andsticks. Keep moist until sprouted.

Seedsaving: A self-pollinating annual. Birds love the ripe seeds, so protec-tion may be necessary. Harvest when dry, strip stems or walk on seedheadsto remove seeds and winnow off chaff.

Pima Club At one time grown by the Pima on the Gila River Reservation. Seedheads are short, beardless and club shaped (flattened). White kernels are soft andproduce flour used for cookies and pastry. H/L Seed Bank WH003

White Sonora A beardless soft spring wheat. Brought to the U.S. fromMagdalena in northern Sonora, where it has been grown since around 1770.Common among the Pima and Yuma after 1820. Highly adaptable, nutritious, delicious, andversatile in the kitchen. H/L Seed Bank WH001

Pima Club

White Sonora

Blue Flax Linum lewisii. Perennial herb blooms skyblue with 5 petals from April to September. Used forfiber. Plant fall to spring. $2/pkt WS030

Brittlebush Encelia farinosa. Perennial shrub,blooms with yellow composite flowers in earlyspring. Sap from stems was used to make a burnableincense. $2/pkt NSC031

California Poppy Eschscholzia californica. Thisbright golden blossom is the official state flower ofCalifornia. It is drought-tolerant, self-seeding, andeasy to grow. Best grown in full sun and sandy, well-drained, poor soils. Plant fall to early spring. $2/pktWF001A or $12 (0.5oz) WF001B

Colorado Four O’Clock Mirabilis multiflora. Withpurple flowers and dark green foliage, this showyperennial native is typically found at 3,000–7,000’elevation. Four-o'clocks are so named because theflowers typically open late in the afternoon. Thissummer blooming plant prefers sun to partial shadeand is very drought tolerant. $2/pkt WF005A or$12 (0.5oz) WF005B

Colored Globemallow Sphaeralcea ambigua. Thismulti-stemmed mallow is a good source of pollenand nectar for honey bees. Plants are usually 2-4’ tallwith blooms in shades of pink and lavender. Plantfall to early spring. $2/pkt WRA052 or $12/ozWRB052

Desert Blue Bells Phacelia campanularia. Lowgrowing, blue-violet flowers with yellow stamenslook like little bells. Plant fall to early spring. $2/pktWS010

Desert Lupine Lupinus sparsiflorus. This is a showypurple lupine native to Nevada, Arizona, California,Sonora, and Baja California. The multiple purpleblossoms on a tall spike contrast nicely with palmatepale green leaves. This desert wildflower prefersdeep well-draining sandy soils and lots of sun. Plantfall to early spring. $2/pkt WF004A or $12 (0.5oz)WF004B

Desert Marigold Baileya multiradiata. Lemon yel-low flowers on long stems with gray green foliage.

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Most desert wildflowers are planted in fall/winter inthe desert, early spring in cooler climates. Plantinginstructions are included on the packets of theselovely native southwestern desert wildflowers.

Small packets (approx. 1–1.5g) cover approx. 30 sq.feet; large packets, 100-200 sq. feet, depending onseed variety.

Visit www.nativeseeds.org formore seed varieties!

Desert Wildflower Seeds Blooms mainly in the spring and after summer rains.Plant fall to early spring. $2/pkt WRA012 or $12/ozWRB012

Desert Senna Senna covesii. Native to the south-western US and northwestern Mexico. This uprightshrubby yellow wildflower is a summer bloomer thatattracts birds and butterflies. Drought tolerant andpreferring well-drained soils, they make a nice addi-tion to a cactus garden. Reseeds freely. $2/pktWF008A or $12 (0.5oz) WF008B

Firecracker Penstemon Penstemon eatoni. Brightred flowers that attract hummingbirds. Will bloomMarch through July depending on water. Plant earlyfall to winter. $2/pkt WS024

Firewheel Gaillardia pulchella. Firewheel has 2”diameter daisy-like flowers that are deep red withyellow tips. Blooms March through September. Plantin fall. $2/pkt WS020

Globe Gilia Gilia capitata. Globe Gilia is native tothe Pacific Coast. A robust annual wildflower with 1-2" clusters of blue flowers that attract butterflies.Prefers full sun to partial shade, is drought tolerant,and will take root in many different soil composi-tions. $2/pkt WF002A or $12 (0.5oz) WF002B

Lupine Lupinus succulentus. Beautiful spikes of vio-let-blue, pea-like blooms. Plant fall to early spring.$2/pkt WRA004 or $12/oz WRB004

Mexican Evening Primrose Oenothera speciosa.Low growing perennial with bright pink, cup-shaped flowers. Plant anytime. $2/pkt WS009

Mexican Gold Poppy Eschscholtzia mexicana. Themost popular, most photographed golden desertwildflower. Plant fall to early spring. $2/pktWRA003 or $12/oz WRB003

Mexican Hats Ratibida columnaris. The colorful 1.5”sombrero-shaped flowers generally appear April toNovember. Easily grown from seed. Plant fall to earlyspring. $2/pkt WS022

Owl’s Clover Orthocarpus purpurascens. Showy 6”tall spikes of red-purple flowers from March to May.Difficult to germinate, but once established it easilyreseeds. Best sown with grasses or other wildflow-ers. Plant fall to winter. $2/pkt WS023

Palmer’s Penstemon Penstemon palmeri. Beautifulwhite flowers tinged with pink or lilac. Has a deli-cate, inviting fragrance. Grows in washes and alongroadsides at 3,500-6,000’. Plant fall to early spring.$2/pkt WS006

Parry’s Penstemon Penstemon parryi. A favorite ofhummingbirds, this tall perennial has rose colored,bell shaped flowers. Plant fall to early spring. $2/pktWRA005 or $12/oz WRB005

Showy Penstemon Penstemon pseudospectabilis. Afavorite of hummingbirds and butterflies this pen-stemon produces flower stalks up to 3’ high withvibrant pink flowers! Drought tolerant and happy indry well-drained soils low in organic matter, it alsoadapts easily to the garden setting. Plant fall to earlyspring. $2/pkt WF007A or $12 (0.5oz) WF007B

Summer Poppy Kallstroemia grandiflora. Thesehandsome summer wildflowers superficially resem-ble poppies but are not related. In Arizona they aremost commonly found in desert grasslands below5,000’. It is a handsome sprawling plant (up to 3’across) with showy orange five-petal flowers that

sport a bright red center. Plant before humiditybegins to rise in the summer. $2/pkt WF003A or$12 (0.5oz) WF003B

White Evening Primrose Oenothera pallida. Espe-cially suited to hot dry gardens with well-drainedsoils the large showy pale white flowers and darkgreen foliage are just part of what makes this a gar-deners’ favorite, it is the fragrance that seals the deal!Perfect for rock gardens and edging, drought toler-ant once established. A short lived annual thatreadily reseeds. $2/pkt WF006A or $12 (0.5oz)WF006B

Catalina Foothills These 17 varieties are native tothe beautiful desert near Tucson and include manyin the Sonoran Desert Mix plus Dyssodia, Blue Flax,Goldeneye, Paperflower and Blue Trumpets. Plantfall to early spring. $2/pkt DW002WS

Cut Flower Wildflower Mix Fifteen wildflowersperfect for cutting but also beautiful in your yard.Includes Scarlet Sage, Firewheel, Larkspur, PurpleConeflower and more. Plant fall to early spring.$2/pkt DW016WS

Desert Tortoise Mix A mix of Southwest nativewildflowers favored as food by desert tortoises.Includes 10 species including Owl’s Clover, Poppy,Desert Marigold, Evening Primrose, and Globemal-low. $2/pkt WF009A or $12 (0.5oz) WF009B

For the Birds & Bees Wildflower Mix Especiallychosen to attract birds, butterflies, bees & SphinxMoths. Includes Blackfoot Daisy, Desert Sunflower,Butterfly Weed, Rocky Mt. Bee Plant, Penstemon andmore. Plant fall to early spring. $2/pkt DW017WS

Great Basin Wildflower Mix Especially mixed forPrescott, Payson, southern Utah, Santa Fe, and simi-lar habitat. Contains 13 different wildflowers

including Buttonroot Snakeweed, PurpleConeflower, and Mexican Hats. $2/pkt DW025WS

Mogollon Rim Wildflower Mix For Flagstaff andlocations above Arizona’s Mogollon Rim. Best at ele-vations of 6500-9000’. The different wildflowersinclude Goldpea, Locoweed and Tall Verbena.(Locoweed not recommended in livestock areas.)$2/pkt DW026WS

Old Town Tucson Wildflowers Thirteen beautifulwildflowers commonly found growing in centralTucson. Cultivation instructions included. Oneounce covers approx. 200 sq. feet. $2 (1.5gm) or$12/oz DW051

Sonoran Desert Mix A spectacular mix of 14species of annuals and perennials native to theSonoran Desert. Includes Mexican Poppy, Owl’sClover, Desert & Arroyo Lupine, and Penstemon.Plant fall to early spring. $2/pkt DW001WS

Sonoran Summer Blend Eighteen wildflowersincluding Trailing Windmills, Sacred Datura, Dysso-dia, Firewheel, Summer Poppy, Lemon Mint, DesertFour O’Clock, and more. Plant January to July.$2/pkt DW018WS

Desert Wildflower Blends For a complete list of species included, please see our website.

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Foods Availability of many of our food products fluctuate with the seasons. For the most up-to date information please visit www.nativeseeds.org

Aji A beautiful, rich golden color, this chile powder ismade from the yellow aji chile. Hot, fruity flavor.

2oz bottle $5 SPB110 ~ 4oz pkg $6 BSP1001.5oz pkg of whole Aji Amarillo chiles $3 FD090B

Ancho A mild, sweet earthy taste, this powder is usedmostly in sauces. particularly moles. Very versatile.

2oz bottle $5 SPB100 ~ 4oz pkg $6 BSP1101.5oz pkg of whole Ancho chiles $3 FD092

Chiltepines These wild chiles are small, round and veryfiery. Crumble 4 to 5 in hot stir-fry, chili, or anything youwant to spice up. A tasty surprise in ice cream! Picked bycommunity members of a small village in the Sierra MadreMountains of Sonora, Mexico. 1oz bottle $7 SPB140

Chipotle Chile Flakes Staff favorite! Our chipotle flakesare so popular that we are now offering a new size — agreat bargain for the chipotle lover:

8oz pkg for $10 BSP130.8OZ 2oz bottle $5 SPB120 ~ 4oz pkg $6 BSP130

Also, try these whole for a delicious, smoky addition tobeans: 1.5oz pkg whole Chipotle Meca chiles $3 FD066

Chipotle Chile Powder. Smoked jalapeños groundinto a powder. Heavenly aroma and flavor. Mediumhot.

2oz bottle $5 SPB130 ~ 4oz pkg $6 BSP1201.5oz pkg of whole Chipotle Morita chiles $3

FD065

Del Arbol For a truly spicy red chile use the fierypowder from this pungent little chile.

2oz bottle $5 SPB150 ~ 4oz pkg $6 BSP1401.5oz pkg of whole Del Arbol chiles $3 FD106

Guajillo (wha-hee-oh) Called mirasol, “looking at thesun,” in the green stage. Flavor is distinct, slightlyfruity with a strong piney berry under taste. Used toboth flavor and color dishes. Deep brick red color.Preferred by many chefs. Mildly hot.

2oz bottle $5 SPB170 ~ 4oz pkg $6 BSP1601.5oz pkg of whole Guajillo chiles $3 FD081

Habanero This powder is the hottest of the hot.Behind the heat is a fruity flavor that makes thesechiles a wonderful way to spark up a dish — but canbe used sparingly. You might want to open a windowbefore opening the packet.

2oz bottle $7 SPB180 ~ 4oz pkg $10 BSP170

Hatch From the chile capitol of the world, Hatch, NewMexico. Made from the finest red varieties. Choose Mildor Hot (if not specified, we will send mild).

Mild 2oz bottle $5 SPB200 ~ 4oz pkg $6 BSP190Hot 2oz bottle $5 SPB190 ~ 4oz pkg $6 BSP180

Jalapeño For the chile head and the brave, this fierygreen powder comes from the intense Jalapeño pepper.

2oz bottle $5 SPB210 ~ 4oz pkg $6 BSP200

Negro Pasilla This pasilla has a rich, complex, deep,smoky, herbal, raisin flavor. Used in a variety of dishes,including moles.

2oz bottle $5 SPB240 ~ 4oz pkg $6 BSP2301.5oz pkg of whole Negro Pasilla chiles $3 FD110

Pasilla de Oaxaca Whole Chiles Staff favorite! Onlyfound in the Oaxacan region, this smoky, dark red chilehas a pungent fruit flavor. Excellent with beans andposole. 1.5oz pkg $7 FD088

Santa Cruz Grown in Tumacacori, Arizona within sightof our Wild Chile Botanical Reserve from chile varietiesunique to Santa Cruz. Choose Mild or Hot (if not speci-fied, we will send mild).

Mild 2oz bottle $5 SPB260 ~ 4oz pkg $6 BSP250Hot 2oz bottle $5 SPB250 ~ 4oz pkg $6 BSP240

Chiles! Powders, Flaked & WholeOur chiles are packed in either glass bottles orsealed plastic bags. Please specify size or heatwhere necessary!

Mole PowdersAdding the unique flavors of the Southwest to yourcooking just got better — these sublime blends ofchiles, spices and fruits are now GMO-free! Please spec-ify size and price: A 2oz tin $10 or B 4oz bag $16

Adobo. Chiles, sesame seed, spices, garlic, corn tortilla meal,Mexican brown sugar, onion, salt and Mexican oregano.FD140

Dulce. Staff favorite! Mexican chocolate (sugar, cacao nibs,soy lecithin, cinnamon flavor),raisins, chile, almonds, corntortilla meal, banana, graham crackers, spices, Mexicanbrown sugar, salt, garlic and onion. FD137

Pipian rojo. Staff favorite! This blend contains: chile, pump-kin seed, almonds, corn tortilla meal, spices, Mexican brownsugar, salt, garlic, sesame seed and onion. FD139

Verde. This one contains: pumpkin seed (green), sesameseed, green chiles, cilantro, salt, garlic, spices, onion, parsley,and epazote. FD138

Holy Mole Gift Collection. Try 'em all and decide for your-self which one you like best. Or, great as a gift! Four 2oz tins$40 GB053

Amaranth, Organic Popped Organic grain amaranth isheated in a little oil until popped. Great as a snack or as atopping for salads. May also be added to pancakes, muffins,breads or other baked goods. $5/4oz NWA002

Amaranth, Organic Whole Grain Ancient grain of theAztecs and Southwestern peoples. Delicious nutty taste.Contains significant amounts of protein, iron, calcium, andphosphorus while being low in fat. Can be ground to pro-duce a gluten-free meal. $5/lb NWA001

Chia Seeds This nutritious seed contains fiber (helpful inblood sugar regulation) and is a fabulous source of energy-boosting omega-3s. Traditionally used in the southwestmixed with water to extend endurance. Can be used to“gel” fruit salad or to thicken salad dressings. Please specify:$8/8oz ~ $12/lb FD080

Mesquite Meal Finely ground with a fruity, caramel-likeflavor, this is a good source of calcium, manganese, potas-sium, iron, and zinc, and a great food for diabetics becauseof its ability to assist in stabilizing blood sugar. Recipe sheetincluded. Please specify: $4/4oz ~ $7/8oz ~ $13/lb

Parched Corn Made from yellow, blue and red cornsgrown by the people of Santa Ana Pueblo in Bernalillo,New Mexico. Parched in a cast-iron kettle without oil for ahealthy, crunchy and uniquely southwestern snack. We arenow offering a "serious snackin' size" for anyone with a caseof the munchies: $5/8oz FD069.8OZ ~ $2.50/4oz FD069

Posole, Blue Corn Treated with lime to remove the hulls,this posole comes from a small farm in New Mexico. Deli-cious with beans or alone and you won’t believe the colorof the broth! $8/lb FD047

Posole, White Corn Treated with lime to remove the hulls,this posole is actually more yellow in color and is deliciousin stews, soups or on its own. $8/lb FD043

Cornmeal, Tamaya Blue Finely ground cornmeal flourproduced and packaged by Santa Ana Pueblo in New Mex-ico; they also grew the corn! $5/12oz FD009

Corn Atole Flour, Tamaya Blue Called atole, this cornmealis toasted and finely ground for cooking like creamedwheat. It can also be used in any cornmeal recipe for atoasted flavor. $5/12oz FD025

Tamaya Bluecorn Pancake Mix Whole grain blue corn,whole wheat flour, baking powder, salt. No additives orpreservatives. Just add egg, oil and milk for a SouthwestBreakfast treat or make as a savory dinner offering!$5/12oz FD500

Spicy Chile Hot Chocolate A delightful blend of groundchocolate, cocoa, sugar, chile powder and spices for thatcold winter night. Also good chilled for a refreshing warmweather drink. Makes 10 cups. $10/10oz JM011

BeansBean supplies remain inconsistent. Substitutions may be necessary.

Anasazi™ Beautiful maroon and white mottledJacob’s cattle bean. Cooks quickly with a creamytexture and rich flavor. Great in soups and stews,may cook a bit more quickly than other beans.$5/lb FD060

Bolita Delicious round beans in shades of beigeand tan, grown for centuries by the traditionalHispanic communities of northern New Mexico.Make wonderful refried beans. $5/lb FD067

Brown Tepary A delicious nutty flavor and firmtexture recommend this drought-adapteddesert domesticate. $6/lb FD061

Christmas Lima This heirloom bean was popu-lar in the early 1900s. They retain their burgundyand white color when cooked. A nutty, chestnutflavor consistent with a lima. $5/lb FD220

Four Corners Gold A rich gold colored beanmottled with a little white, originate in the FourCorners area. Cooks quickly. $5/lb FD062

Moon Nice fruity flavor that keep their markingswhen cooked. $5/lb FD214

Rio Zape Beautiful heirloom beans of vibrantpurple with black lines. Also known as Hopi Pur-ple string bean. $5/lb FD019

Scarlet Runner Staff favorite! These large beanswith black flecks are eagerly awaited by all whohave tried them. Their unusual size along with acreamy texture and slightly chestnut flavor makethem one of our favorite beans. $5/lb FD039

White Tepary Staff favorite! These preferredbeans of the Tohono O’odham people, whoreside in the Tucson region, have a slightly sweetflavor. A firm texture makes them wonderful insalads or stews. $6/lb FD261

Chipotle Bean Chili An NS/S creation! Divulgeinto a beautiful mix of heirloom beans, completewith a blend of chipotle flakes and mild chilepowder, a packet of Mexican oregano, and ahomegrown bay leaf. Mild to medium heat —easily serves 4. $8 FD026

Southwest Heirloom Bean Soup A beautifulblend for the eye and taste buds. Five varieties ofheirloom beans, organic red lentils, organic splitpeas, organic pearled barley, Mexican oregano, abay leaf, and a del arbol chile are packed with arecipe. $7 FD105

Grains, Meals, Corn & More

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The greater Southwest has a long and richagricultural history. Corn was being cultivatedin northwestern New Mexico and along theSanta Cruz River in southern Arizona by 4,100years ago, and it became a staple of early diets.Beans, squash, amaranth, cotton, sunflowers,and gourds are also among the primary cropsduring the early centuries of regionalagriculture. Many Southwestern crops, such as corn, wereoriginally domesticated in Mexico. A few, suchas tepary beans and devil’s claw, underwentdomestication locally. But a large group of cropsoriginally domesticated in the Old World wereintroduced with Spanish settlement during the16th and 17th centuries. Ultimately adopted bynative groups, these crops include melons,watermelons, wheat, sorghum, and variousfruits. Today, traditional farming is still alive andwell among native groups in the greaterSouthwest.Over the centuries agricultural crop diversitydeveloped through environmental adaptationand human selection. The region, althoughunited by minimal rainfall, is diverse andincludes lowland deserts, coastal deltas, rivervalleys, and high mountain plateaus. The cropvarieties and cultivation techniques used bynative groups in the region are equally diverse,adapting to local conditions. Much of this diversity isconserved in the Seed Bank ofNative Seeds/SEARCH. Over1,800 different accessions areincluded within this collection. Amajority consists of traditionalcrops grown by native peoples inthe region but also includes manydisappearing wild varieties ofthese crops including wild chiles(chiltepines) and the wild relativeof corn, teosinte. The collection includes seedsfrom the Tohono O’odham, whohave adapted varieties that thrivein the hot summer monsoon ofsouthern Arizona. O’odham

farmers make the most of limited precipitationby placing fields in locations that will receiverunoff from the intense summer storms. TheHopi of northern Arizona also practicetraditional dryland agriculture aided by themoisture retention properties of sand dune soilsand prayers devoted to rain. The Tarahumara(Rarámuri) farm the isolated slopes andcanyons of the Sierra Madre Mountains ofMexico. Recent drought is making itincreasingly difficult for the Tarahumara to farmwith rainfall alone.While some native groups rely on watersbrought by rainfall, others have made use offloodwaters from dependable rivers. Many of thefields of the New Mexico Pueblos are wateredby old acequia systems along the Rio GrandeRiver. The Mojave, Quechan, and Cocopahfarm the floodplains of the lower Colorado Riverand the Havasupai tend farms at the bottom ofthe Grand Canyon carved by this mighty river.Like their ancestors, the ancient Hohokam, thePima (Akimel O’odham) are still using thewaters of the Gila River to irrigate their fields ofcorn, beans, and cotton.We are grateful for and indebted to theseoriginal seedsavers for their contributions indeveloping and passing on the agriculturalbiodiversity of our region.

A Tradition of Seedsaving Continues

47

Native Seeds/SEARCH offers free membershipand limited quantities of free seeds from our col-lection to Native peoples living in the GreaterSouthwest region (see map on previous page).

When ordering seedsA Native American does not have to be a NativeSeeds/SEARCH member to receive free seeds.Please check the information on pages 5–9 and inthe “Culture” and “Seedsaving” sections undereach crop heading in the catalog to help with yourseed selection. Fill out the order form on page 49and make certain to identify your tribal affilia-tion. Please, only one order form per household.Call us if you need assistance: 520.622.0830 x113.Shipping charges must be paid on all orders.

For Native Americans living in theGreater Southwest region or belong-ing to tribes within the SouthwestRegionIn order to meet higher demand for seeds byNative American families and requests for bulkseed orders, Native Seeds/SEARCH provides 10free seed packets (no more than 3 seed packets per any one seed variety) in a calendar year (Januarythrough December), to individuals or families who are new recipients. Additional seed packets canbe purchased at half price. Group exceptions may be considered. Please contact us and we will doour best to meet your needs.In an effort to improve the in situ conservation of the foods produced by these seeds and improvecommunication with our partners, Native Seeds/SEARCH is requesting that answers to the follow-ing questions be included with all free seed requests (you may respond to these questions in anattachment to your order form): Where are the seeds to be planted? Will you save your ownseeds? Will you share these seeds? Repeat recipients are eligible for more than 10 free seed packets

if a report on the outcome of their previous free seedis provided; tell us a story about your seeds!

For Native Americans living outside ofthe Greater Southwest regionHalf-price seed on up to 10 regular-priced packets ina calendar year (January through December); addi-tional packets may be purchased at regular price.

Community Seed GrantNative American communities or organizationsmay also request seed donations through ourCommunity Seed Grant program (see page 7).

Seed Policy for Native American Peoples

48

Important Ordering Information Please put quantity ordered, item number and item name on order form.

Keep a copy of your order. If you have any missing items or problems, it helps if you can identify your order. Please retain your catalog for reference.

Shipping Nationwide and to CanadaWe accept checks or money orders drawn on U.S. banks. For your own safety, please

do not send cash. Our website accepts PayPal. We accept credit card orders (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover/Novus) by mail, fax, our secure website,

and in our store. Our fax number, 520.622.0829, is available 24 hours a day.

We are a nonprofit organization promoting seedconservation. Your dollars support our mission.

We do not charge tax on any orders.

Shipping & Handling ChargesHandling ChargeU.S. Orders — $5.95

Canada — $8.95

Shipping for seed packetsNo additional charge

Additional shipping for food products (subject to change)All shipping is done by UPS Ground unless otherwise requested.

1 lb. ………..…… $3.002 lbs. …………… $3.883 lbs. …………… $4.304 lbs. …………… $4.785 lbs. …………… $5.096 lbs. …………… $5.287 lbs. …………… $5.498 lbs. …………… $5.659 lbs. …………… $5.8310 lbs. ……………$6.08

2nd Day Air: Add $20.00 to regular shipping charge.3-Day Select: Add $10.00 to regular shipping charge.

Alaska & Hawaii: Triple regular shipping charges.

Catalog Order Formtoll-free: 1.866.622.5561 x6 fax: 520.622.0829 online at our secure website: shop.nativeseeds.org

Full Name _____________________________________________ Shipping Address (if different):

Street Address _____________________________________________ Full Name _______________________________________

City/State/Zip _____________________________________________ Street Address _______________________________________

Daytime Phone _____________________________________________ City _______________________________________

Email _____________________________________________ State/Zip _______________________________________

❏ Is this a gift? Let us know what to put on the card! (in 20 words or less)

Item Name/No. Quantity Unit Price Amount

SUBTOTAL ___________

Are you a NS/S member? Don’t forget your 10% discount! ___________

Handling (All orders) $5.95 ____

Shipping for food products (see page 48) ___________

TOTAL enclosed: ___________

Please read IMPORTANT ORDERING INFORMATION onpage 48 for details about shipping your order.

❍ Check ❍ Money order ❍ Visa ❍ MasterCard ❍ American Express ❍ Discover/Novus

Card no.: _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ Exp.: _ _ / _ _

Cardholder signature: _______________________________________________ Security Code.: _ _ _

Payment method

❍ Check ❍Money order ❍Visa ❍MasterCard ❍ American Express ❍ Discover/Novus

Card no.: _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ Exp.: _ _ / _ _

Cardholder signature: ___________________________________ Security Code: _ _ _

Sow the Seeds of Conservation: BECOME A MEMBER

Join Native Seeds/SEARCH, or give a gift membershipand contribute to our work conserving, distributing,and documenting the adapted and diverse varieties of

agricultural seeds, their wild relatives and the role theseseeds play in cultures of the American Southwest and

northwest Mexico..

Join Online at www.nativeseeds.org or fill out this form and mail with paymentto Native Seeds/SEARCH, 3584 E. River Road, Tucson, AZ 85718

_____________________________________________________________________________________________NAME(S)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________ADDRESS

_____________________________________________________________________________________________CITY / STATE / ZIP CODE

_____________________________________________________________________________________________EMAIL PHONE

❏ Please do not exchange my name with like-minded organizations.

Membership Levels (check one)

❏ New Member (current members receive renewal form via mail)

❏ Squash $30 ❏ Gourd $50 ❏ Bean $100❏ Chile $250 ❏ Corn $500 ❏ Sunflower Guild $1,000

Native American* ❏ within Greater Southwest (free) ❏ outside Greater Southwest ($20)*Please list tribe affiliation_______________________________

❏ I would like to make a General Donation (this does not count as a membership contribution)of $ _______

Payment method

50

Become a Farm Apprentice!Native Seeds/SEARCH is now hosting students of sustainabilityinterested in getting on the ground training in agriculture andplant conservation at our 60-acre “beyond organic” ConservationFarm in gorgeous Patagonia, Arizona. You will learn planting,intercropping, crop rotations, pest control, pollination, datacollecting, harvesting, cleaning, storage, selection, and a lot more.You will also learn seed banking best practices at ourConservation Center in Tucson. This is a unique opportunity to

be deeply involved in aninnovative effort to advance thestudy and practice of sustainabledrylands agriculture.Apprenticeships include a 6-daySeed School program and are fromApril 1 through October 31. Fourprimary apprentices will berecruited for three-month periods(some may opt to stay for the

entire time). Other apprentices may join us for at least a two-weekperiod. We will provide food (including some that you will helpgrow!) and housing/tenting. Serious students who enjoy deserthours (early mornings), like to work and playhard and are healthy in mind, body and spiritmay apply. Please contact Belle Starr:belle@nativeseeds.org.

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Amaranth 10

Arugula 10

Bean 11-14

Beet 14

Broccoli 15

Cabbage 15

Carrot 15-16

Chile/Pepper 16-17

Chiltepin 18

Corn/Maize 19-21

Cotton 22

Cowpea 22-23

Cucumber 23

Devil’s Claw 24

Eggplant 24

Gourd 25

Greens 26

Herbs 26-28

Indigo 28

Kale 28-29

Lettuce 29

Luffa 30

Melon 30-31

Okra 31

Onion 32

Panic Grass 33

Pea 34

Radish 34-35

Sorghum 35

Spinach 35

Squash 36-37

Sunflower 38

Swiss Chard 38

Tobacco 39

Tomatillo 39

Tomato 40Watermelon 41

Wheat 41

Table of ContentsAbout Native Seeds/SEARCH...

About this Catalog 5-6

Growing & Seedsaving 8-9

A Tradition of Seedsaving Continues 46

Seed Policy for Native Americans 47

Placing an Order 48-49

Becoming a Member 50

The Seed Collections Special Collections 2

Wildflower Seeds and Blends 42-43

Foods 44-45