As another garden season winds down with the year, my thoughts turn to the excitement of preparing for next year’s season. Perusing through my pile of current and 2015 seed catalogs, I noticed that a few have a certain ‘theme’ to them. The Kitchen Garden Seeds catalog is one of those, and is the latest addition to my seed catalog collection.

Kitchen Garden Seeds is located in Bantam, Connecticut. Since 1908, they’ve specialized in vegetable, herb and flower seeds. Their catalog collection is from one of the oldest and most prestigious flower bulb importers in the United States, John Scheepers.

From their catalog, “The spirit and care with which gardeners sow seeds, tend gardens and celebrate seasonal bounty is invaluable, and must never be underestimated. It’s extraordinary how just one life crafted around the garden and the kitchen can impact so many. It’s contagious goodness borne of one’s passion for gardening and cooking, and the magic of seeds. It enhances every aspect of life: the cadence of our days, our physical health and well-being, our connection to the seasons, and the joy that we feel and share for the world that we help to create.” Last year they launched a new website, complete with an online cookbook, in-depth horticultural information, and seasonal specials.

The Kitchen Garden Seeds catalog has a very simple and clean design, and is a good example of “less is more”. The catalog is 60 pages of vegetable, herb, and seed listings, with no fluff or unneeded extras. Like a movie that ‘goes right into the action and never shows the opening credits’, the seeds listings start inside the front cover, and don’t stop until they reach the back cover. The first 14 and last 14 pages of the catalog are in color, with the rest being in black. The only artwork in the catalog (color photos are only on the cover) are some beautifully-drawn line illustrations by artist Bobbi Angell. The two-column page listings are easy to read. I also appreciate (as you’ve heard me mention before) the use of an uncoated paper stock that the catalog is printed in. Vegetable seed listings occupy the first 40 pages of the catalog; followed by culinary and ornamental herbs (five pages); and finally edible, fragrant, bouquet, bedding and vining flowers (fourteen pages).

Kitchen Garden Seed’s catalog is a great source for vegetable, herb and flower seeds, and should be part of your seed catalog collection.

To request a copy or to order their seeds and products, visit www.kitchengardenseeds.com.