The Green Pages: Southern Exposure Seed Exchange (E-Commerce Companies)

Positive experience: This was my first time ordering and I am very pleased. I did a little unofficial test on seeds from three sources and Southern Exposure Seed Exchange won hands down. Fast germination, good percentage, and strong, healthy plants. I also like their paper catalog; it had a 'homey' feel to it. I will definitely order again.

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Ordered seeds last fall, some are planted and sprouting, some will be planted soon. I was excited to find Southern Exposure Seed Exchange and I like their policies; they do regular testing on their seeds and certify that they are all grown naturally by ecologically oriented farmers. They have a good variety of unusual heirlooms and other hard-to-find or endangered varieties from pure, true, open-pollinated seeds. Prices are very good and orders are shipped quickly.

They have a variety of perennial onion bulbs available in the fall that I would like to try; I'll be making an order.

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From the website:
"Southern Exposure Seed Echange offers more than 700 varieties of vegetable, flower, herb, grain and cover crop seeds. We emphasize varieties that perform well in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, although gardeners and farmers from all over the country grow our seeds. We offer many unusual, Southern heirlooms, including peanuts, southern peas, naturally colored cotton, collards, okra, roselle, turnip greens, corns for roasting and meal, and butterbeans. However, we serve gardeners throughout the United States and Canada. We do not sell chemically treated seeds. Read in our resource library about why we specialize in heirloom seeds and primarily offer open-pollinated (non-hybrid) seeds.

We are a worker-run cooperative where every worker has a voice in the decisions of the company and where workers receive equal compensation regardless of the economic value traditionally placed on the jobs done.

We have several climate-controlled areas for seeds, as well as a germination-testing room and other office spaces. While we are still a home-based business, we are building a new, larger office for Southern Exposure, using a wide range of ecological methods. Our seed is germination tested to ensure it meets both federal and Southern Exposure standards (our standards are higher than federal standards for some varieties.) Test results are printed on the packet to help you determine planting density and quantity needed. On rare occasions we find it necessary to package seed below federal standard. In those cases we add more seed to compensate and the packet is labeled "Below Standard: More Seed Added." Please note that germination tests are often conducted under optimum conditions and that field results may vary."

Reasonable prices and a good selection. I found several things I have been searching for and I'm happy to have a good source for seeds well suited to the South.

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