Manager's Corner:
Think Spring!
by Gayle
Anderson
Spring is
just around the corner, so we’re working hard at getting your garden
seeds out
for sale. First out are things you need to start inside (tomatoes,
leeks,
broccoli, etc.), followed by peas (for St. Patrick’s Day!), then
spinach,
lettuce and greens. Eventually we’ll get to corn and beans—don’t worry,
there’s
plenty of time before May! I personally hand-select all the seeds we
sell in
the store from the Fedco Seeds catalog. Last year we also
carried seeds
from High Mowing in Vermont, but this year we’re back to just Fedco.
Fedco now
has display racks which feature their organic and heirloom
seeds—something that
made High Mowing attractive for retail sales. With Fedco having this
available,
we’d rather throw them our undivided support.
Why
choose Fedco?
1. Fedco is
a cooperative. It started in 1978 as a project of the Maine Federation
of
Cooperatives. Consumers own 60% of the cooperative and worker members
40%. We
and you are their consumer-owners. They exist to serve us, not just to
make money.
2. Fedco is
a seed company that specializes in varieties good for the Northeast.
They test
’em and you test ’em. They love feedback.
3. Fedco
provides the most information to you the grower/gardener of any catalog
that we
have ever seen. Take a look. We have copies in the store for you to
browse, and
you can access them online at www.fedcoseeds.com.
4. Fedco
seeds are not treated with chemicals. No pink Captan! Many of their
selections
are organic or sustainably grown, and we’ll have some of these.
5. Fedco
does not knowingly carry genetically engineered seeds. See their
statement on
page 7 of the catalog.
6. Fedco
supports sustainable agriculture and provides technical assistance for
seed
growers. Check out the info in their catalog, and note that all their
growing
advice is for organic gardening.
7. Fedco’s
catalog is not only full of information… it’s fun!
Notes on
shopping our Fedco seed display
Unlike
other seed companies, Fedco is not really set up to sell retail.
There’s no
glossy pictures, no instructions and no pre-printed price on the
packets. The
store doesn’t get credit for what doesn’t sell, and there’s no big
discount off
the list price. Our price is 50% over the catalog price, with some
averaging to
keep it simple. Most seeds are $1.39 or $1.99—with many bargains at 99
cents. A
very few selections are $2.49, and some mixes are $2.99. Even with our
mark-up,
you’ll find this cheaper than Burpee or Johnny’s—and you’ll get your
member
discount, of course.
For
descriptions we have the Fedco catalog. The code number on each packet
corresponds to the number in the catalog. And remember, you can always
access
the catalog online when you get home. Maybe one of you would like to
come up
with a special Honest Weight “Fedco-Select” mini catalog with just the
descriptions for what we carry—anybody out there want to work on this??
How about
a beginners’ gardening handbook based on Fedco’s instructions, with
help from Community
Gardens or
Cooperative Extension? Earn
your Co-op work hours now—before gardening season! We can have the
handbook
available this May in our Garden Shop.
Members
wanted!
Besides
working on this handbook idea, I wouldn’t mind having some help on
maintaining
the seed display. There must be one or two of you out there who would
like to
get in some hours: We need to neaten-up every week and do an occasional
inventory so we can order better next year. Perhaps we could set up our
order/inventory system on the computer.… Talk to me!
FYI: Fedco
has more than just seeds! Watch this summer for the Fedco Bulbs catalog,
and in the fall for Fedco Trees. We don’t do a Co-op order for
these,
but you can order direct yourself. Fedco’s Organic Growers Supply catalog
is part of the seed catalog. They sell soil amendments, cover crops,
tools,
supplies and books—and you can order these anytime, year-round.
P.S.
In case you’ve heard.… The rumor of my retirement is greatly
exaggerated (to
paraphrase…whom?). I am indeed scaling back, and the Co-op is looking
for a new
produce manager, so that I can “retire” on my birthday (!). After that
my plan
is to have more time to devote to our Garden Shop—and getting us more
local
produce. You’ve seen the movie: I’ll still be going to the 5 am
farmers’ market
in the morning. Someone else will be responsible for the overall
management of
the department—a mighty task these days, as we are ever-expanding and
thinking about
new stores and stuff. The hope is that I will be able to focus on my
piece—and
won’t have to be here until 7 pm at night! (Thank you for your
support.) –
Gayle
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