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And no wonder! There are so many different reasons to grow your own veggies, herbs, and fruits, and it seems there are more new reasons every day. For health. For the environment. To save money. To teach our children. Maybe, because we love dirt and the wondrous sensation of pulling up new potatoes for tonight's dinner.
For starters, some of us simply believe home-grown tastes better! It's not a difficult argument. Tomatoes treated with Ethylene gas to redden (not truly ripen) cannot begin to compare to truly vine-ripened tomatoes, picked, sliced and eaten still warm from the sun. There's an additional something tasty in the knowledge that you grew it yourself.
 Not all home veggie growers consider themselves "gardeners." Aspiring chefs, caring cooks, and hip foodies alike know that the culinary trend is towards fresh, local fare -- and it doesn't get any fresher than your own yard or community garden. You know exactly what you're eating, and what you're serving to your friends, family, and loved ones.
No room? No problem. You don't even truly need a "garden" to grow vegetables! Newer, more compact varieties are available, making small gardens and container gardening perfect for growing your next fresh harvest. Urban dwellers are producing mouth-watering veggies on patios and balconies, rooftops, and community gardens. A sunny side-yard offers space for a small plot or square-foot gardening. A sunny windowbox or table with a wine crate gives you the perfect space for a salad garden - just step outside with your scissors and serve.
Gardening teaches and engages our children in food and cooking, biology, and the cycles of life. Introducing children to the very soil their food comes from leads to the realization that food isn't borne forth from produce bins at the grocery store.
 Going Green? Organic gardening is seeing tremendous growth this past year, with environmental care rising in the list of public concerns and more and more people "going green." Not just for do-gooders, hippies, and New Englanders (love you Uncle Bob and Aunt Peg!), people everywhere love fresh food and want to do their part in reducing the environmental cost of mass-producing and shipping food all over the country. Concern for the environment may be bringing more and more people to gardening, where they soon discover that all the rewards and benefits of home-grown
food are far greater and closer to home than they might have expected.
If you're considering vegetable gardening for environmental care concerns, but "all the way green" sounds like too much all at once, you can always start by "going greener." Here at Park Seed we adopt a sort of "every little bit helps" philosophy. Not only is there always room for more gardeners -- for whatever reason -- the more the merrier (and happier the p***t)!
And to all my fellow do-gooders new and old: while you're at it, don't forget to Plant a Row for the Hungry.
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 Dreaming of Spring? We are, too. The daffodils and camellias are blooming here in South Carolina, but some nights are still dipping into the mid-20's. So, lucky you: we felt March was time for some Spring Savings! You'll find a selection of plants, bulbs, roses, trees, and shrubs all over Parkseed.com for up to 30% off regular prices during most of March.
You can also save on shipping! Right now on Parkseed.com, upgrade your plants order to FedEx 2Day® for only $5 more. And if your plant order totals $50 or more, we'll upgrade you for free! Please note: FedEx 2Day® shipping upgrade applies to plants, bulbs, and supply orders only. Seed orders ship via the US Post Office and do not qualify for FedEx shipping.
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You'd be surprised how little it takes to get us going down some crazy path. (Or, perhaps you wouldn't.) Recently a question came into Anne at SuccesswithSeed.org, wondering whether the Bio Dome seed starter lid was solid enough to support her 10-pound cat, or was it "flimsy like other seed starters." 10 pounds is not a problem for this sturdy top, but we couldn't give up the temptation to illustrate the point with photos of a cat curled up on top. (We've taken photos with bricks or books stacked on top, why not a cat? It had never occurred to us.)There must be a significant overlap between gardeners and cat-owners. It's a perfectly legitimate question and one that deserves a photo-proof answer!
Well, dear gardening friends, I'd love to tell you we've accomplished that feat, but I can't say that we have. Earlier this week I brought home a sparkling, brand-new Bio Dome fresh off the shipping line for this very purpose. (My grimy, 9-year old Bio Dome is hardly suitable for photography.) I left it on the kitchen counter to tempt my two curious cats, and waited. After an afternoon and evening of the cats completely ignoring it on the counter, we started putting them next to it and then finally on top of it, in an attempt to get the necessary photo. Well, you see the result. Neither of them were having it. Claire (of ParkSeedMemories.com) has even suggested perhaps we should advertise the Bio Dome's cat-repellant properties.
Well, I can't actually promise the same cat-repelling results for you without further research. A Bio Dome full of growing things, warm in the windowsill from the sun might be the perfect cat magnet. Do any of you have experience with this? Please share your story (and photos!) with us. Stay tuned for more pics though. We're long-convinced the Bio Dome will hold the 10 pounds from the original question, but now we're determined to get the cat photo!
As a special treat, click the photo above for a Park News exclusive: a desktop wallpaper of Scamp not cooperating in our "Cat on a Bio Dome" photo shoot. Please note: No kitties were harmed in the making of this newsletter.
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Keep your eyes peeled for Park products featured in national and local gardening publications!
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Call Center Open on Weekends!
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.,
Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.,
Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time
800-213-0076
When Will My Order Ship? Seeds and supplies will ship promptly.
Live plants and trees will ship in the spring. Follow this link for more information. |
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Park Seed Co.
The Best Flowers & Vegetables
1 Parkton Ave. | Greenwood, SC 29647
800-213-0076 www.parkseed.com
info@parkscs.com
Copyright 2001-2008 Geo. W. Park Seed Co.
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Please Note: You are receiving this e-mail because you have ordered from Park Seed or Wayside Gardens in the past, are a current Park or Wayside customer or newsletter subscriber, or you have provided Park Seed Company or Wayside Gardens with your e-mail address. If you no longer wish to be on our mailing list, please follow this link now.
Oops! Although every precaution is taken to ensure accuracy, errors in price, quantity and/or specifications may occur. We reserve the right to correct such errors. Please note: Sale prices are good on new orders only and will not be applied to previous purchases. |
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