Basil, Genovese (Genovese Basil) Ocimum basilicum 
A sweet lettuce leaf type that is tall, uniform, and slow to bolt.  Leaves gently savoyed.  One of the best for making pesto.  Kind to the stomach.  Easy to grow.
Organically grown 100 seeds/pkt.

Basil, Greek      (Ocimum minimum)
(Greek Basil)
A tiny hummock of a plant, resembling a Lilliputian Oak tree, but redolent with the finest of Basil aroma. Does well in pots. We vote this the best-tasting Basil of all. Traditionally in Greece, a sprig is placed behind the ear to attract women (or men). 
100 seeds/pkt $2.95, organic

Basil, Mrihani (Ocimum basilicum)
(Mrihani Basil)
Family:  Mint (Lamiaceae)
Annual, with leaf harvest in 60 days and seed harvest in 110 days)
This is a traditional cultivar grown in Zanzibar.  The leaves are ruffled, with a strong traditional basil smell and flavor.  The flowers are purple.  In E African cuisine, the fresh or dried leaves are used as an ingredient in curries, stir fries, and the omipresent coconut-based sauces (yum!).  The plant is also an ingredient in handmade perfumes (manukato), often worn in a small cloth bag around the neck.  The scent is pervasive and pleasant, and is considered to be a charm against "getting hit by roots," the local terminology for bewitchment.  On a personal note, this has proven to be one of our most useful Zanzibari accessions.  The mother plants were grown by a woman named Fatima who lives in the countryside near Wete on the green island of Pemba.  When asked whether she would like a monetary gift for the seeds, she said no, "This is a gift from the heart," and held the little newspaper wrapped bundle to her chest.  When I explained that I wanted to bring the seeds to my farm in Oregon and grow them out and distribute the progeny worldwide, she gave me her permission, and said "This is a good thing!"  The love and attention she put into her plants (the photo is of her plant) was evident.  When we brought these home and grew them out, we realized that we had something special--there is no known equivalent available through seed companies anywhere.  When accessing germplasm in the tropics in order to bring new varieties to people in the temperate north, a significant and insufficiently trammeled path is to search for tropical annuals that will thrive in a short season.  Most tropical plants are perennials, and these are the ones that botanical explorers tend to concentrate on.  I did just the opposite, and tried to find short-lived plants that would grow and prosper in the temperate north.  This particular basil is probably my most significant find in this category.  Like Fatima in Pemba, I" offer it to you from the heart.  The seed is organic, it is true to form, it is unique, and it is now part of the public domain.  Plant prefers full sun and regular garden soil.  Plants are midsize and may be spaced at 1 foot apart.  Grow as per any other basil.  100 seeds per packet, organic

Basil, Thai     Thai Basil    (Ocimum basilicum)
This is a showy, globe-shaped plant with medium-sized, lance-shaped leaves, green at base of plant, and purple toward the apex; flowers purple to bronze.  Spicy variety preferred for Thai cooking.
100 seeds/pkt $2.95,  organic

Bean, Hyacinth   (Dolichos lablab)

(Egyptian Bean)

Native to tropical Africa and hardy to 20° F.  Vining perennial to 30 feet in the tropics, grown as an annual in the temperate north.  Excellent nitrogen fixer, also making edible pods and pretty flowers, also edible.  Plant prefers full sun, rich, well-drained soil and a trellis.  Soak seed and sow in spring, or get an early start in the greenhouse.  Direct seed or sow in large pots.  Germ is in 20 days at 70° F.

7 seeds/pkt $2.95, organic

Bean, Scarlet Emperor (Phaseolus coccineus)
Scarlet Emperor Bean (more or less the same as Scarlet Runner Bean, Bean, Scarlet Runner)
Family: Fabaceae
Tuberous-rooted perennial vine in the South, grown as an annual in the temperate north. 90 days to maturity. Heirloom originating prior to the year 1750. Native to Mexico and Central America. The showy, bright-scarlet flowers grow in profuse clumps, one-upped only by the mature, magically varicolored beans themselves (violet-black with rosy spots, weighing over a gram each, enough to turn the head of Jack-in-the-beanstalk). The green beans, the dried beans, and the tuberous root are all edible. Medicinally, the dried, 8-inch pods are a strong diuretic, used in tea form for assisting treatment of urinary tract infection or for weight reduction, albeit a temporary fix. Cultivation: Very, very fun and a good activity for kids. Germination like a small earthquake. Direct seed in a richly composted hill in the early spring. For seed production get an early start, sowing just before the last frost of spring. Provide trellis or grow as we do—on the corn. Will run on the ground if not trellised.
Organically Grown 7 seeds/pkt.

Bearsfoot (Polymnia uvedalia)
Family:  Aster (Asteraceae)
Hardiness:  -10 degrees F
Herbaceous perennial.  Native to the Eastern US.  The stems bear opposite, 3-lobed leaves that resemble the foot print of a bear, flowers birght yellow and black. The resinous root is a traditional salve making ingredient and a specific remedy for enlargement of the liver and spleen. Plant prefers full sun to part shade and rich, deep, moist soil.  Sow in fall or spring.  Seed has a very hard testa and germinates best when given fire treatment.  I discovered this when I burned off the brush in part of my garden and the main thing that came up afterwards was the Bearsfoot, and previously it had never really shown itself.  Sow the seed 1/2 inch deep in a non-plastic flat and build a flash fire on top of it.  Allow to burn out, then water through the ashes.  Keep evenly moist and in the sun.  Germination occurs within 90 days.
Organically grown 20 seeds/pkt.

Beetberry (Chenopodium capitatum) (Strawberry spinach, Raspberry chenopodium)
Family:  Chenopodiaceae
Days to maturity: 40 to 60
Sweet, bright red berries occur all along the stems of this lamb's-quarters-like plant. Plant prefers full sun to part shade and regular garden soils. Sow in spring.  Easy germination.  30 seeds/pkt organic

Beans, Bell            (Vicia faba)

Extremely vigorous legume that may be mixed with peas, vetch, or oats for cover-cropping or grown by itself.  Reaching from 3 to 6 feet tall, with thick stems and leaves, Bell Beans give superior yield of soil-building carbon (biomass) and also fix 150 lbs of nitrogen per acre.  The strong root system aerates the soil and brings up deeply seated minerals and nutrients.  Sow in fall or spring at the rate of 2 lb per 1,000 square feet or 8 lb per acre. 

5.00/lb, Organic

Please note: A flat rate charge of $3.00 will be added to this order to help cover shipping costs. 

Belladonna Set (1 pkt each of Belladonna: caucasus, official, turkmen, Vedic and also a packet of Scopolia carniolica)
Family:  Solanacea
Toxicity:  All parts of the plant, with the probable exception of the berry, are loaded with the very serious alkaloids atropine and scopalamine.  As is often the case with such plants, the seed is particularly potent.  Therefore although the berry may be eaten without ill effects (and actually they are blueberry-like in taste and quite delicious, especially if one ignores the slightly heineous undertones of taste),  if the berry is consumed along with the seeds, then the typical side-effects (atropine overdose) will most likely occur.  This may include hallucination with mental derengement, excessive urination and urine off-odour, tunnel vision or often temporary blindness, lasting sometimes only an evening and sometimes dragging on for several days. Warn children not to eat the berries. 
Description:  Herbaceous perennials hardy to appx -10 degrees F.  A grouping of insidiously charming showplants with nodding, bell-shaped flowers.  We have amassed a rather nice display of various species, and have been having LOADS of fun growing them all out.  The plants are full of surprises.   
Historical and current herbal usage:  In olden times, the juice was much employed by maidens to drop into their eyes, thus dilating them and making them strangely comely.  The plant is a mydriatic (pupil dilator).  I know this goes counter to the statements under toxicity (above), but I guess that oral ingestion and ocular ingestion are not the same.  The positive effects of the herb are best experienced through external use of oily preparations, including massage oils that sedate and relax muscle and nerve pain as well as salves made from the infused oil of leaf or root.  The seeds are best extracted using an alcohol intermediary (strong tincture) that is stirred back into the hot oil prior to the addition of wax.  The plant is also of use in allaying motion sickness, a leaf folded up and placed behind the ear purportedly serving the same function of a pharmaceutical antinauseant patch, which relies on the same or closely related molecules. 
Cultivation:  Plant prefers partial to full shade, average fertility, moist soil.  Sow in fall or early spring.  Slow to germ.  Some degree of cold conditioning usually helpful, although I've seen them languish in the shadehouse while others planted under lights throve.  But that's not always the way it works--you have to shift around a little to discover what each one likes.  Do little farm-derived experiments where you sow a few seeds in one condtion, and others in another condition, with a leaning toward what you think will work best.  Information derived through observation--stirring it up.  That's what lays the groundwork for knowledge.  Slow to germ.  Onmgoing germ for 6 weeks.  The belladonna set is 5 packets representing 5 different species that we're selling for $13.90

Belladonna, Caucasus (Atropa caucasica)
Family:  Solanacea
Native to the Northern Caucasus.  Used in local medicine.  Rare collector's item and particularly pretty. 
Toxicity:  All parts of the plant, with the probable exception of the berry, are loaded with the very serious alkaloids atropine and scopalamine.  As is often the case with such plants, the seed is particularly potent.  Therefore although the berry may be eaten without ill effects (and actually they are blueberry-like in taste and quite delicious, especially if one ignores the slightly heineous undertones of taste),  if the berry is consumed along with the seeds, then the typical side-effects (atropine overdose) will most likely occur.  This may include hallucination with mental derengement, excessive urination and urine off-odour, tunnel vision or often temporary blindness, lasting sometimes only an evening and sometimes dragging on for several days. Warn children not to eat the berries. 
Description:  Historical and current herbal usage:  In olden times, the juice was much employed by maidens to drop into their eyes, thus dilating them and making them strangely comely.  The plant is a mydriatic (pupil dilator).  I know this goes counter to the statements under toxicity (above), but I guess that oral ingestion and ocular ingestion are not the same.  The positive effects of the herb are best experienced through external use of oily preparations, including massage oils that sedate and relax muscle and nerve pain as well as salves made from the infused oil of leaf or root.  The seeds are best extracted using an alcohol intermediary (strong tincture) that is stirred back into the hot oil prior to the addition of wax.  The plant is also of use in allaying motion sickness, a leaf folded up and placed behind the ear purportedly serving the same function of a pharmaceutical antinauseant patch, which relies on the same or closely related molecules. 
Cultivation:  Plant prefers partial to full shade, average fertility, moist soil.  Sow in fall or early spring.  Slow to germ.  Some degree of cold conditioning usually helpful, although I've seen them languish in the shadehouse while others planted under lights throve.  But that's not always the way it works--you have to shift around a little to discover what each one likes.  Do little farm-derived experiments where you sow a few seeds in one condtion, and others in another condition, with a leaning toward what you think will work best.  Information derived through observation--stirring it up.  That's what lays the groundwork for knowledge.  Slow to germ.  Ongoing germ for 6 weeks. 
50 seeds/pkt $3.95

Belladonna, Turkmenistan (Atropa komarovii) seeds
Family:  Solanacea
Native to Central Asia.  Rare.  Flowers yellow, veined with violet.  Low-growing and drought resistant species is probably the best choice for gardens lacking moisture or shade.  In its native environment (Kopet-dag mountains of Turkmenistan) the plant occurrs in association with Mandrogora turkomanica and Ephedra equisitina.
Toxicity:  All parts of the plant, with the probable exception of the berry, are loaded with the very serious alkaloids atropine and scopalamine.  As is often the case with such plants, the seed is particularly potent.  Therefore although the berry may be eaten without ill effects (and actually they are blueberry-like in taste and quite delicious, especially if one ignores the slightly heineous undertones of taste),  if the berry is consumed along with the seeds, then the typical side-effects (atropine overdose) will most likely occur.  This may include hallucination with mental derengement, excessive urination and urine off-odour, tunnel vision or often temporary blindness, lasting sometimes only an evening and sometimes dragging on for several days. Warn children not to eat the berries. 
Description:  Historical and current herbal usage:  In olden times, the juice was much employed by maidens to drop into their eyes, thus dilating them and making them strangely comely.  The plant is a mydriatic (pupil dilator).  I know this goes counter to the statements under toxicity (above), but I guess that oral ingestion and ocular ingestion are not the same.  The positive effects of the herb are best experienced through external use of oily preparations, including massage oils that sedate and relax muscle and nerve pain as well as salves made from the infused oil of leaf or root.  The seeds are best extracted using an alcohol intermediary (strong tincture) that is stirred back into the hot oil prior to the addition of wax.  The plant is also of use in allaying motion sickness, a leaf folded up and placed behind the ear purportedly serving the same function of a pharmaceutical antinauseant patch, which relies on the same or closely related molecules.  Main ingredient in flying ointment. 
Cultivation:  Plant prefers partial to full shade, average fertility, moist soil.  Sow in fall or early spring.  Slow to germ.  Some degree of cold conditioning usually helpful, although I've seen them languish in the shadehouse while others planted under lights throve.  But that's not always the way it works--you have to shift around a little to discover what each one likes.  Do little farm-derived experiments where you sow a few seeds in one condtion, and others in another condition, with a leaning toward what you think will work best.  Information derived through observation--stirring it up.  That's what lays the groundwork for knowledge.  Slow to germ.  Ongoing germ for 6 weeks. 
50 seeds/pkt $3.95

Vedic Belladonna (Atropa acuminata) seed
Family:  Solanacea
Native to Kashmir.  Used in Ayurveda, a warm-tolerant species with bell-shaped flowers measuring over an inch wide.  Comely and desired. 
Toxicity:  All parts of the plant, with the probable exception of the berry, are loaded with the very serious alkaloids atropine and scopalamine.  As is often the case with such plants, the seed is particularly potent.  Therefore although the berry may be eaten without ill effects (and actually they are blueberry-like in taste and quite delicious, especially if one ignores the slightly heineous undertones of taste),  if the berry is consumed along with the seeds, then the typical side-effects (atropine overdose) will most likely occur.  This may include hallucination with mental derengement, excessive urination and urine off-odour, tunnel vision or often temporary blindness, lasting sometimes only an evening and sometimes dragging on for several days. Warn children not to eat the berries. 
Description:  Historical and current herbal usage:  In olden times, the juice was much employed by maidens to drop into their eyes, thus dilating them and making them strangely comely.  The plant is a mydriatic (pupil dilator).  I know this goes counter to the statements under toxicity (above), but I guess that oral ingestion and ocular ingestion are not the same.  The positive effects of the herb are best experienced through external use of oily preparations, including massage oils that sedate and relax muscle and nerve pain as well as salves made from the infused oil of leaf or root.  The seeds are best extracted using an alcohol intermediary (strong tincture) that is stirred back into the hot oil prior to the addition of wax.  The plant is also of use in allaying motion sickness, a leaf folded up and placed behind the ear purportedly serving the same function of a pharmaceutical antinauseant patch, which relies on the same or closely related molecules. 
Cultivation:  Plant prefers partial to full shade, average fertility, moist soil.  Sow in fall or early spring.  Slow to germ.  Some degree of cold conditioning usually helpful, although I've seen them languish in the shadehouse while others planted under lights throve.  But that's not always the way it works--you have to shift around a little to discover what each one likes.  Do little farm-derived experiments where you sow a few seeds in one condtion, and others in another condition, with a leaning toward what you think will work best.  Information derived through observation--stirring it up.  That's what lays the groundwork for knowledge.  Slow to germ.  Ongoing germ for 6 weeks. 
50 seeds/pkt $3.95