OUR FAVORITE VEGETABLE VARIETIES

The first rite of spring at Elderberry Pond is ordering and starting seeds. Our process
starts with what we want to have in each season for the restaurant. Over the years we have become
very particular about varieties we plant. This has mostly to do with how well they grow in our area and
most importantly how they taste. Unfortunately, most seed companies develop seeds for
large producers who are interested in characteristics having to do with mechanical harvesting (carrots with high tensile strength
for example), long range transport and storage, and grocery store shelf life (or is it death).
Taste is an afterthought at best. With vegetables like garlic, potatoes, carrots, leeks, and fruit
like apples, pears and berries we have become obsessed with testing many varieties over several years before deciding what
grows, cooks and tastes best. We select seed companies that are as obsessive as we are about not just varieties, but how and
by whom their seeds are produced.
So,
we thought since many more families are once again growing home gardens as they did in the depression (the big one before
this one), we thought we would let you in on our favorite variety list.
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