Garden Variety
What It Is: I’m reading a book right now about farming, gardening and cooking, and it’s got me all jazzed about heirloom varieties of veggies and fruits. I’m not much of a gardener myself but I am a sucker for bizarre produce when it pops up at my local grocery store. When I stumbled upon this company called SmartSeeds on Etsy, I knew I had to share their wears with you. They carry hundreds of varieties of unique, rare, and downright delicious-looking produce seeds (as well as flowers and other plants, it must be said). Some particular highlights for me were the spectacular ‘Authentic Glass Gem Corn’ you see in the upper left corner, as well as some sprightly carrots, beets and radishes that would liven up any salad. Add some colour and flavour to your garden and your dishes with these unique, intriguing organic heirloom seeds.
Who It’s For: Your mom that loves to garden, as a cool Mother’s Day gift just in time for planting season. Your son or daughter that’s keen on growing their own produce this summer, as a fun challenge. Your sibling that was born with two green thumbs and a knack for memorable meals, as a way to liven up her salads and side dishes.
What It Costs: Each package of seeds has about 15-25 seeds (some more, some less) and ranges from $3-$6 Canadian (on average). Shipping is pricy at $7, but I’m sure bundling options are available if you stock up!
Where It’s At: SmartSeeds, on Etsy.
Bonus entry into yesterday’s Easter giveaway. Visit the SmartSeeds website by clicking on the link above, then tell me in the comments below – which fanciful produce would you most love to grow or sample?
Canadian Gift Guide 
I would love to try to grow most of these exotic vegetables, but what really caught my eye is the Blauwschokkers Purple Podded Peas. The flowers look so pretty, and the purple pods look so fun to eat!
The Daikon radish plus a lot of others
Rainbow beet collection
my kids love Beets and carrots. I would love to try the rainbow beet collection or the carrots.
Rainbow beet collection
I would like to try the watermelon radish, it looks delicious.
I would like to try the soybeans, rice and sesame seeds!
Watermelon radishes sound delicious! I already love multi-coloured carrots so I’m game for colourful produce!
I would like to try the Black Brandywine Tomato seeds – they seem like they would be delicious – thank you!
I’d go for the watermelon radish.
I’d love to grow and cook with the rainbow carrots. Beautiful salads.
The Rainbow Cherry Tomatoes are something I’d grow.
https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/173708599/zapotec-ruffled-tomato-rare-mexican?ref=shop_home_active_19
These seem to have not too many seeds.
I think my kids might actually try the rainbow carrots-they would be fun to grow
I would love to try to grow the rainbow radishes.
We grew some heirloom tomatoes last summer. They were brown/purpleish and they were the best tomatoes I’ve ever tasted.
I’d love to try the watermelon radish or the mouse melon. They look so interesting.
the rainbow carrots are really neat , would love to grow them.
I would like to try the Riesentraube cherry tomatoes. They sound wonderful. https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/197191795/riesentraube-cherry-tomato-german?ref=shop_home_active_20
I’d love to try growing the Rainbow beet collection!
Oh my – those rainbow carrots are surely the ones that unicorns eat !!! Must get these for my girls !
I would like to try growing the watermelon radish!
Rainbow Carots!
Hop Hop Hooray bonus entry: VISITED SmartSeeds and I would most love to sample their Authentic Glass Gem Corn. Thanks
I’d love to try the blue pea pods
https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/125303167/blauwschokkers-purple-podded-peas-25?ref=shop_home_active_5
I think the Rainbow Carrot Mix would be cool. I would like that one!
I will have to show my husband this post as he is the gardener in our family. He loves to try growing different items.
I would love to grow rainbow beet.
Love to try growing the rainbow carrot mix. I have tried a few and they are delicious. I have a big garden and am getting more and more into heritage seeds.
I’d love to try the Black Brandywine Tomato seeds.
I would choose the rainbow beets.