Sand Hill Preservation

[JLJ_]

Thought those who buy from Sand Hill would like to read the section here about their decision not to print a paper catalog in 2016.

http://www.sandhillpreservation.com/pages/news.html

I'm sad to see the paper catalog go, but their decision is certainly understandable -- and it's nice that they hope it will give them more freedom to include additional information in the downloadable .pdf catalog and to get the 2016 offerings updated sooner on the website.

Also means that any of us who know non-internet people who have been or want to be Sand Hill customers should try to help them access the information they need.

[PaulF]

Once more the USPS (Service?) shoots themselves in the foot. They tend to be restricting business rather than looking for more ways to expand. Sad state of affairs.

Let Glenn know you support his decision by purchasing as many seeds and poultry as possible. He is one of my three "go-to" seed sellers. The other two are Tomatovillians and you know who you are.

[Aerial]

Even though there are no pictures on the web catalog, the site is quite an enjoyable read. Lots to choose from.

[klemmabyna]

mailed my 2016 tomato seed order on Monday, jan 25, received seeds Saturday, jan 30. volunteered for replacements but received all 10 of the varieties I wanted. very generous seed counts in the packets plus a free bonus variety. my second year ordering from sand hill and don't expect to look anywhere else.

[carolyn137]

Updating information about Sandhill.

Glenn called me two days ago and said that he was getting letters from some folks who have no computers nor access to them if everything is just online now.

So he had about only 2000 catalogs printed and is sending them out first class for those who need them and for those who have computers but prefer catalogs for $ 5 which is refundable when an order is sent in,

He has made it possible to view three sections

seeds, roots, books

sweet potatoes

Poultry

At the top of those three sections there is a pdf that you can download.

I do hope I've remembered all that he told me and someone was there , from a similar post I made at idig, and said he/she thought that by using Ctl and F that one could search those pdf's

Carolyn

[JLJ_]

I didn't find the pdfs on the catalog request page or the home page -- there may be links to them places that I didn't see them, or links that have been added since I looked, but links to the three main catalog pdfs are at the top of these pages

Seeds, roots, books

http://www.sandhillpreservation.com/...d_catalog.html


Sweet potatoes

http://www.sandhillpreservation.com/...o_catalog.html


Poultry

http://www.sandhillpreservation.com/...y_catalog.html


If you go to those pages and right click on the pdf file at the top of the page, then choose "save link as" you can download that pdf

The downloaded pdfs can be searched by pressing Ctrl & F then entering a significant search word (as can the pages of the online catalog sections), which is one advantage over a paper catalog, if you already know what you're looking for. Searches are usually more successful if you just enter one word from the variety name -- that way the search doesn't fail because of an extra space in the name or a spelling variation.

I typically read through their catalog when it first comes out, but then search their listings many times a year when I've heard of something I think I might want and, if I find it, I add it to my Sandhill list for use when I get ready to place an order. Sometimes I look at the list and decide I have to be a little realistic, and don't order everything on it . . . but at least that way I don't usually forget to order something that I really wanted.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by JLJ_

I didn't find the pdfs on the catalog request page or the home page -- there may be links to them places that I didn't see them, or links that have been added since I looked, but links to the three main catalog pdfs are at the top of these pages

Seeds, roots, books

http://www.sandhillpreservation.com/...d_catalog.html


Sweet potatoes

http://www.sandhillpreservation.com/...o_catalog.html


Poultry

http://www.sandhillpreservation.com/...y_catalog.html


If you go to those pages and right click on the pdf file at the top of the page, then choose "save link as" you can download that pdf

The downloaded pdfs can be searched by pressing Ctrl & F then entering a significant search word (as can the pages of the online catalog sections), which is one advantage over a paper catalog, if you already know what you're looking for. Searches are usually more successful if you just enter one word from the variety name -- that way the search doesn't fail because of an extra space in the name or a spelling variation.

I typically read through their catalog when it first comes out, but then search their listings many times a year when I've heard of something I think I might want and, if I find it, I add it to my Sandhill list for use when I get ready to place an order. Sometimes I look at the list and decide I have to be a little realistic, and don't order everything on it . . . but at least that way I don't usually forget to order something that I really wanted.

And you know darn well that in my above post that it WAS You I was referring to.

And thanks for the direct links, etc.

Carolyn

[twillis2252]

Last PM downloaded and read the info Sandhill included with their '16 catalog. Very impressed with what this couple has accomplished. One would think this is a full time endeavor but one of the owners continues to work in the educational field. To date, I have most of this years seed on order but definitely plan to order from this company next year. Very impressed and wish them all the best.

[klemmabyna]

3rd year: order placed jan 24. seeds received today. volunteered for substitutes, but received generous amount of every seed I ordered. plus a couple packets of samples.

I can not overstate my satisfaction with Sand Hill.

highly recommended:

https://www.sandhillpreservation.com...og/tomato.html

Tracy Williamson
Delavan, WI

[barbamWY]

I forgot to request no substitutions and I received Vilms instead of Heidi. Is anyone familiar with Vilms?

[dustdevil]

Originally Posted by barbamWY

I forgot to request no substitutions and I received Vilms instead of Heidi. Is anyone familiar with Vilms?

Sandhill shafted me last year when I put "no substitutions" on my order. Instead of refunding my money, they sent me a credit voucher for about $3.

[gorbelly]

Originally Posted by dustdevil

Sandhill shafted me last year when I put "no substitutions" on my order. Instead of refunding my money, they sent me a credit voucher for about $3.

Their policy is to issue credit vouchers. This information used to be on their website, although, in your defense, I couldn't find it just now. Perhaps that information got accidentally deleted or something when they were updating? At any rate, when I ordered, I was aware somehow that I would not receive a cash refund if I chose no substitutions but would get a credit from them.

As for my experience, I mailed my form and money order on 3/17 and received my seeds on 3/25. I was surprised, as I was fully ready to wait several weeks for my order to arrive. I had listed acceptable substitutions, but nothing needed to be substituted in my order.

So far, I've started some of the tomatoes and have gotten extremely rapid germination. Seed quantity is generous and exceeds what they promised. I got a couple packets of free seed as well.

I think that they're just very low-tech and I suspect that a lot of the complaints around the Internet about them being rude or condescending come down to not being savvy at communicating tone electronically.

They could use some help with their website, though, as it's way too easy to overlook important ordering information with the way the site flow is now.

Bottom line: I knew what I was getting into when I ordered from them, and my expectations were exceeded.

This isn't the place to order from if you need stuff on a strict schedule. But if you have the time to deal with the vagaries of a true mom-and-pop operation dependent on the whims of Mother Nature, it's a mission worth supporting.

[tarpalsfan]

I ordered a few packs of tomato seed from Sand Hill a couple of weeks ago. I too expected to wait a couple of weeks for my order too arrive. Wrong! They shipped within the week. I received what I asked for too. There is always plenty of seed, even enough to share. There were two free packs of tomatoes. I planted my round 2 tomatoes when I got the seed, already I have 'hooks' emerging.
.
I have ordered from Sand Hill for many years. They haven't disappointed me yet.

[tarpalsfan]

Originally Posted by barbamWY

I forgot to request no substitutions and I received Vilms instead of Heidi. Is anyone familiar with Vilms?

Hi I was curious about Vilms tomato too.
I looked it up on Tatiana's website, all I could find is that it is semi-determinate, and a red plum shaped paste tomato. I know that Heidi is a plum tomato too-as I cheated and looked it up here too.
http://tatianastomatobase.com
I bet you have been too Tatianas website before, if not the website is tomatoAWESOME!

[carolyn137]

A few comments.

Glenn and Linda hire local women to help pack seeds every year at high times for seed orders that come in. After all Glenn has a full time job teaching at a local school so he can't do that but when he gets home he has all the chores to do re feeding all his heirloom birdies, and then in the Fall he does all the seed saving for everything they grow at their farm.

Amy Goldman Fowler and I originally split the cost of having a web design made which was done by Dr Jeff McCormack,former owner of SESE and he does website design for many places.

Linda has a good operational control of the website and has for many years,and does change things around when necessary.

Lastly, I would not consider them to be low tech at all when I look at other family owned sites and compare.

Carolyn