Slow Food's The Ark of the Taste Collection

The Seed Savers Exchange - Amish Deer Tongue produces bright and crisp green leaves in abundance.  harvest by the leaves or take the whole head.  They are able to withstand warm temperature a bit longer.  50 days Organic Looseleaf lettuce Heat-tolerant Instructions - Sow continuously for a constant supply of lettuce. Best grown in cooler weather. Plant in full sun or partial shade. Direct Seed 1" apart Plant 1/4" deep Germinate 7-14 days Thin: 6-8" Apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability.

Tom Hauch of Heirloom Seeds commercialized this variety in 1990. It was acquired from the Amish near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Bright red 8-12 ounce fruits vary in shape from oxheart to rounded plum. Delicious flesh is juicy and meaty, excellent for sauce or fresh eating. One of Slow Food USAs Ark of Taste varieties.  Characteristics:  85 days from transplant Organic Best-selling paste tomato Bright red fruits grow to 8-12 ounces Fruits vary in shape from oxheart to plum Juicy and meaty flesh Excellent for sauce or fresh eating Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Tomatoes are sensitive to freezing temperatures, so wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm. Plant in full sun. Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost Germination 7-14 days Plant apart 24-36"  Plants need trellising or staking Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

The Seed Savers Exchange -  Introduced to Seed Savers Exchange in 1982 by James Robinson, who is said to have acquired it from an Amish gardener in Maryland. Pale-orange flesh measures up to 5" thick, and the largest fruits weigh 60-80 pounds. Firm moist flesh is excellent for making pies and for freezing. 90-105 days.  Characteristics:  Pale orange flesh Flesh grows up to 5 inches thick Squash grow up to 60-80 pounds Winter squash 25 Seeds per packet  Instructions - Since squash takes a long time to mature, try starting your plants indoors 3-4 weeks before planting them outside. Plant your seeds 1 inch deep in soil trays or pots and when you plant them in the garden you can use rows 4-6 feet apart instead of hills. If you choose to directly sow your seeds in the garden, start by building up a hill of loose soil 12 inches across and plant 6-8 seeds at the top. As your plants grow, thin them to 3-4 plants per hill. These squash should be mature in about 90-105 days.  Direct Seed: 1" Deep Seeds to Hill: 6-8 Seeds Thin: To 3-4 Plants Light: Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute based on supplier availability

Seed Exchange - Seeds were originally obtained from the Arikara tribe of North Dakota and introduced in Oscar Will’s Pioneer Indian Collection of seeds (1914). Yellow-tan seeds with red-brown eye rings. Excellent for use as a baking bean. Prolific plants, good drought tolerance. Bush habit, dry, 80-90 days Bush beans Yellow-tan seeds with red-brown eye ring Good drought tolerance Excellent used as a baking bean Dry bean 80-90 days 50 seeds Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Harvest dry beans when the pods are completely mature and dry. Direct Seed 2" apart Planting Depth 1" Plant Rows Apart 36"-48"

The Seed Savers Exchange - Easy-to-grow, prolific, and super-sweet, this ground cherry works well for preserves and pies, over ice cream, and in fresh-fruit salads—or can simply be eaten straight out of the garden. The plants have a sprawling habit and produce ½-¾" fruits encased in a papery husk that turns brown when the fruits ripen. This beloved variety takes its name from an ice cream stand, named not for a dear aunt, but for a cherished pet dog of the owners of Territorial Seed. Characteristics:  Organic Prolific and super sweet Fruits grow to ½ to ¾ inch Fruits have a papery husk Sweet variety that stores well 70 days from transplant 50 Seeds Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Plant out when the danger of frost has passed. Excellent results when grown on landscape cloth, which suppresses weeds and makes collecting the fruits easier. Start indoors 6 weeks before the last frost Germinate 14 days Plant 12-18" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability 

Seed Savers Exchange - Hungarian heirloom brought to Beaver Dam, WI in 1912 by the Joe Hussli and then by his daughter in 1919.  Florence Hussli recommends adding crisp sliced rings to a cheese and bologna sandwich or using for stuffed peppers. Fruits are mildly hot when seeded. 80 days from transplant. Medium. Characteristics  Fruits ripen from green to red Medium hot fruits are mildly hot when seeded 80 days from transplant Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼” deep. Peppers germinate best in warm soil, so gentle bottom heat may be helpful until seedlings emerge. Wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm. Sow indoors 8 weeks before the last frost Plant Rows 12-24” Apart Germinates in 14 days Full Sun  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute based on supplier availability

Funny enough the Seedsaver's stock came from all around the globe but it is an American squash bread from squash most likely from the Seneca Nation in Western New York. It is incredibly tasty and as described in The Ark of the Taste (Slow Food USA), it was a common substitue for pumpkins in pumpkins pie. It is still regarded as one of the finest squashes every bread. This is a variety found in Solw Food's The Ark of the Taste book.  Seed Savers Exchange - (C. maxima) From our friends at Digger's Garden Club near Melbourne, Australia. A ribbed salmon-colored drum-like pumpkin with wall-to-wall starchy high-quality flesh. Excellent for baking, a great keeper. Fruits weigh 7-15 pounds. 90-100 days. Characteristics:  Organic Salmon-colored ribbed fruits Fruits weigh 7-15 pounds Extremely thick, starchy flesh Excellent for baking Winter squash for storage 90-100 days 25 Seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after danger of frost has passed. Hills should be spaced 6' apart in all directions. Can also be started indoors 3 weeks before transplanting out.  Direct Seed: 1" Deep Seeds to Hill: 6-8 Seeds Thin: To 3-4 Plants Light: Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute based on supplier availability

50 seeds in packet The Seed Savers Exchange -  Also known as Pink Brandywine, this variety has an incredibly rich, delightfully intense tomato flavor. A beefsteak tomato that produces large pink fruits, which grow up to 2 pounds, this strain was obtained by tomato collector Ben Quisenberry of Big Tomato Gardens from Dorris Sudduth Hill, whose family grew it for over 100 years. Indeterminate, 90 days from transplant. ±10,900 seeds/oz  Characteristics:  Large pink beefsteak fruits grow up to 2 pounds Rich, delightfully intense tomato flavor Indeterminate - Fruit ripens throughout the season 50 seeds in packet Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Tomatoes are sensitive to freezing temperatures, so wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm. Plant in full sun.  Sow indoors 6 weeks before the last frost Germination 7-14 days Plant Outdoors: 24-36” Apart Support: Cage, stake, or trellis Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

Seed Savers Exchange - Likely introduced to North America in the 1700s. In 1812, Thomas Jefferson recorded Bull Nose peppers in his garden calendar at Monticello. Crisp fruits ripen from green to red with an excellent flavor. Productive, sturdy plants. 55-80 days from transplant. Sweet. ±3,600 seeds/oz. Characteristics  Fruits ripen to red Excellent flavor Productive, sturdy plants Sweet pepper 55-80 days from transplant 50 Seeds per packet Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼” deep. Peppers germinate best in warm soil, so gentle bottom heat may be helpful until seedlings emerge. Wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm. Sow indoors 8 weeks before the last frost Plant Rows 12-24” Apart Germinates in 14 days Full Sun  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute based on supplier availability

 The Seed Savers Exchange - Introduced by North Carolina SSE member Craig LeHoullier in 1991 from seed obtained from J. D. Green of Tennessee. Uniquely colored dusty rose-brown fruits weigh up to 12 ounces. Delicious sweet flesh. Indeterminate, 75-90 days from transplant. Characteristics:  Dusty rose-brown fruits grow to 12 ounces Sweet flavor Organic, Heirloom, Non-GMO Indeterminate - Fruit ripens throughout the season 75-90 days from transplant 25 Seeds Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Tomatoes are sensitive to freezing temperatures, so wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm. Plant in full sun. Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost Germination 7-14 days Plant apart 24-36"  Plants need trellising or staking Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability such as High Mowing Organic

Seed Exchange - Also known as Cherokee Black, the variety is good as both a snap and a dry bean; when mature, the greenish-purple 6” pods encase shiny jet-black seeds. This bean was shared with Seed Savers Exchange by the late Dr. John Wyche of Hugo, Oklahoma. His Cherokee ancestors carried this bean over the Trail of Tears, the infamous winter death march from the Smoky Mountains to Oklahoma (1838-39) that left a trail of 4,000 graves. Pole habit, snap or dry, 85 days. Pole bean Black seeds Green 6 inch pods with purple overlay Snap or dry bean 85 days 50 seeds Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Harvest frequently to increase yield. Pods can be left on the vine to mature and then harvested as dry beans. Direct Seed 2" apart Planting Depth 1" Support with trellis, teepee, or fencing

Christmas Lima - Also knowns as Large Speckled Calico, this variety was first cultivated in the United States around 1840 and produces beautiful, quarter-sized, fat white seeds with maroon spots and swirls.  It has a rich flavor and can be used as shell lima bean or dry bean.  Heavy yields, bears even during extreme heat. Pole habit, 75-100 dys.  Pole bean Large Maroon and White Speckled Seeds Performs well in extreme heat Shelling and Dry bean 75-100 days 50 seeds per packet  Instructions : Lima beans thrive in hot temperatures. Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Seeds will germinate in 7-18 days. Limas prefer full sun.  Direct Seed 2" apart Planting Depth 1" Rows Apart: 36-48" Full Sun

Deer Tongue Looseleaf Lettuce - 54 days. Upright, loose heads with excellent sweet flavor and crisp texture. Has slightly savoyed, triangular, round-tipped leaves with a succulent mid-rib. Moderate bolt resistance. One of our favorites.Included in Slow Food USA’s Ark of Taste. Characteristics:  Organic Looseleaf and cut-and-come-again 55 days .5g, 400 -600 seeds   Instructions - Sow continuously for a constant supply of lettuce. Best grown in cooler weather. Plant in full sun or partial shade. Direct Seed 1" apart Plant 1/4" deep Germinate 7-14 days Thin 6-8" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability.

The Seed Savers Exchange -Available as early as 1825 from seedsmen such as Sinclair & Moore of Baltimore, MD. Good all-purpose variety with dark red flesh that is sweet, crisp, and tender. Excellent market and home garden variety for summer and autumn use. Now relatively rare. 48-68 days. ±2,500 seeds/oz. Very dark red color Crisp and tender Excellent market and home garden variety For summer and autumn use 48-68 days 100 seeds per packet Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors as soon as soil can be worked in spring. Seeds will germinate in 5-10 days. Can be planted at two-week intervals for continuous harvests. All parts of the beet plant are edible. Direct Seed 2" apart Plant 1/2" deep Plant Rows 20-24" apart Thin: 4-6" Apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability We are always adding new varieties so please check back often at Seeds - Vegetables (fireflyfarmandmercantile.com)

Seed Exchange - The 3"long, colorful, striped peppers of this variety are borne on 2'-tall plants with beautiful variegated foliage. Traditionally used in oyster and crab houses around Chesapeake Bay, this 19th-century African-American heirloom was first offered by William Woys Weaver in the 1995 Seed Savers Exchange Yearbook. His grandfather received the seeds in the 1940s from Horace Pippin of West Chester, Pennsylvania. 80 days from transplant. Medium hot. Characteristics:  Organic Plants grow to 2 feet Good for container gardens Fruits grow to 3 inches Plants and peppers are variegated Medium hot pepper 80 days from transplant 25 Seeds Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼” deep. Peppers germinate best in warm soil, so gentle bottom heat may be helpful until seedlings emerge. Wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm. Sow indoors 8 weeks before the last frost Plant 1/4" deep Germinates in 14 days Plant Rows 12-24" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute based on supplier availability

If I could only grow one tomato, this would probably be it! It’s fruit is always consistent, meaty yet juicy. I love to pair with a fried egg, eat on a sandwich, use it to make sauce, or chop it and create bruschetta or add it to my fresh salads.  The Seed Savers Exchange - One of the two original Bavarian heirlooms from Diane Ott Wheatley's family that started Seed Savers. Potato leaf plants produce large 1-2 pound beefsteak fruits. Meaty flesh with few seeds, very little cracking or blossom scars. Full sweet flavor. Excellent for canning, freezing, and slicing. Indeterminate, 85 days from transplant. Characteristics:  Organic Pink fruits grow to 1-2 pounds Meaty beefsteak fruits have few seeds and little cracking Potato leaf plants Fruit ripens throughout the season 85 days from transplant 25 Seeds Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Tomatoes are sensitive to freezing temperatures, so wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm. Plant in full sun. Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost Germination 7-14 days Plant apart 24-36"  Plants need trellising or staking Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange - Green Striped Cushaw Squash - This bulb-shaped squash is a reliable producer and the most popular of its class. Large, vigorous vines are resistant to squash vine borer and Downy Mildew. Fruits average 10-12 lbs, about 18 in. long, and 10 in. wide at the bowl. Not a good keeper. Whitish-green skin with mottled green stripes. Thick, light yellow flesh is slightly sweet and medium-coarse. Fine for pies and baking. The mashed squash is great when fried with savory herbs.  Botanical Name C. argyrosperma, 110 days. Additional information helps to date this vareity Pre-1893, possibly pre-1860. Cushaws came from the West Indies, earlier than 1700. Characteristics:  Semi-vining habit 10-12 lbs Slow Food Ark Distinction Open-Pollinated 4g or ~20 seeds Disease Resistance Details Intermediate Resistance: Powdery Mildew Instructions: Plants need loose, fertile, well-drained soil with plenty of nitrogen and a pH of 5.8-6.8. Fertilize seedlings with fish emulsion if leaves are yellow.  Days to maturity are from direct seeding. The optimum soil temperature for germination is about 85ºF.  Plant 1/2-1" deep  Plant Spacing: for bush varieties 18-24”, for vining 24-36” Row Spacing: 5-6' 

The Seed Savers Exchange - Also called Hidatsa Indian Red, this variety was originally grown by the Hidatsa tribe in the Missouri River Valley of North Dakota. In 1915, it was introduced to commerce in Oscar Will’s Pioneer Indian Collection of seeds. The dark-red seeds are reminiscent of kidney beans, and the productive, sprawling bush plants will climb to 3' if given support. Bush habit, dry, 80-100 days. ±1,300 seeds/lb Bush bean  Sprawling bush plants will climb to three feet if supported  Dark red seeds  Dry bean  50 Seeds per packet   Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Harvest snap beans frequently for increased yields. Leave some pods on the vine and harvest when completely mature for dry beans. Direct Seed 2" apart Plant 1" deep Plant Rows 36-48" apart Full Sun  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability We are always adding new varieties so please check back often at Seeds - Vegetables (fireflyfarmandmercantile.com)

From the Hidatsa tribe who raised corn, squash, beans, and sunflowers in the Missouri River Valley of North Dakota. Shield Figure beans are described in Buffalo Bird Woman’s Garden (1917). This very productive variety was boarded onto Slow Food USA’s Ark of Taste in 2005. Pole habit, dry, 90 days. ±600 seeds/lb. Pole bean White beans with tan and brown markings Open-Pollinated Very productive Dry bean 90 days 50 Seeds per packet   Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Harvest dry beans when the pods are completely mature and dry. Direct Seed 2" apart  Plant 1" deep Support using Trellis, tepee, or fencing Full Sun  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability We are always adding new varieties so please check back often at Seeds - Vegetables (fireflyfarmandmercantile.com)