Starting a seed company

[chancethegardener]

Yes, majority will be of Turkish seeds with some other European varieties and a few heirloom tomatoes that we all know about. My profession is totally different so I am planning this as a small side-business to reduce the costs of gardening and the ANATOHUM project.

Originally Posted by Redbaron

True but just because it isn't labeled doesn't necessarily mean it wasn't done or there isn't an industry standard.......that's where you need an expert to answer your question. I know last year when I bought some seed from Park seeds......there were a couple packets labeled with germination rates and a note saying because this rate was low they included extra seeds....but only on 2 things...not on all....so there is something you may need to do...I just don't know what that "something" is.


BTW I am curious. Are you going for a small niche market? Heirloom Turkish seeds?

[chancethegardener]

Thanks for the link, delltraveler.

Originally Posted by delltraveller

Carolyn posted this link, which I think is what you're referring to:


http://cfr.vlex.com/vid/201-germinat...state-19902402

It lists the federal germination standards for vegetable seeds in interstate commerce. I believe you could do the germination tests yourself.

[Redbaron]

Originally Posted by chancethegardener

Yes, majority will be of Turkish seeds with some other European varieties and a few heirloom tomatoes that we all know about. My profession is totally different so I am planning this as a small side-business to reduce the costs of gardening and the ANATOHUM project.

You know if it is part of the ANATOHUM project I will help you any way I can.

[chancethegardener]

Thanks Redbaron, I know and appreciate that. The project will definitely go on as long as I live, have a garden, don't have any medical problems, and regardless I have a seed-selling business or not . I don't want to directly associate the business idea with the project since I think that it wouldn't be ethical. If I find out that I can manage such a business, then maybe one day I can stop working as an engineer and go into a larger gourmet seed business . While I love my profession, I feel very passionate about growing edible plants, and somehow selling seeds is very compelling to me, I don't know why. Maybe my passion for gardening is genetic: my dad was a forest engineer and his brother was an agricultural engineer, both leading names in their fields.

[Redbaron]

I don't see anything ethically wrong with it at all. Just as long as you didn't abuse it. Tatiana has her project and she sells seeds too. The dwarf project eventually releases varieties for commercial sale. Both of these projects have been able to run ethically and be a community service and yet be tied to commercial ventures either directly or indirectly.

Your passion for your project will keep you ethical. I am sure of it.

[chancethegardener]

Thanks for the good thoughts . 2013 will be full of very exciting developments for the project .

Originally Posted by Redbaron

I don't see anything ethically wrong with it at all. Just as long as you didn't abuse it. Tatiana has her project and she sells seeds too. The dwarf project eventually releases varieties for commercial sale. Both of these projects have been able to run ethically and be a community service and yet be tied to commercial ventures either directly or indirectly.

Your passion for your project will keep you ethical. I am sure of it.

I'm still trying to figure out how to combine mechanical engineering and gardening into a cohesive unit.

Ted

[chancethegardener]

Well, I am not sure how you can combine them but I will tell you what I would do if I (and my wife) had financial resources: We would buy a farm close to city and start producing for gourmet restaurants as part of an heirloom seed company .

Originally Posted by tedln

I'm still trying to figure out how to combine mechanical engineering and gardening into a cohesive unit.

Ted

[Redbaron]

Originally Posted by tedln

I'm still trying to figure out how to combine mechanical engineering and gardening into a cohesive unit.

Ted

That's easy. Scale appropriate equipment to aid gardeners and small market farmers.

There are a million things I would LOVE to have to help me.

For example. There is a guy, in Iowa I think, that developed a no till seed drill that you can pull with a quadrunner. Only 3 feet wide and appropriate where a huge tractor pulled seed drill would be ridiculous.

[casino]

Want to hear something ethically wrong. I asked a local garden center what do you do with all the seed packets that you do not sell. The answer. The distributor buys the seeds back from us and re-packeges them for next year and puts a stamp on the bottom of the seed packet ... Packaged for the year 2013 what do you think about that recycle program. It never said fresh seed, it just said packaged for the year xxxx.

[chancethegardener]

Wow, that's bad . Is this a big company?

Originally Posted by casino

Want to hear something ethically wrong. I asked a local garden center what do you do with all the seed packets that you do not sell. The answer. The distributor buys the seeds back from us and re-packeges them for next year and puts a stamp on the bottom of the seed packet ... Packaged for the year 2013 what do you think about that recycle program. It never said fresh seed, it just said packaged for the year xxxx.

[casino]

When I heard that the old seeds were re-cycled (some seeds up to 4-5 years old) I was in shock and I did not ask any more questions if the seeds were repackaged by the same seed company or sold off to a broker. I am only guessing now, but the seeds could be repackaged and sold to the dollar stores or off brand named companies sold at discounted prices. It would be a sad day if any of the large seed companies are into that practice. Here we are trying to do the right thing (selling fresh seed) and then there is a fly by night opperation slashing prices to make a quick buck.