Category: Herbs
Gnomes have a long and distinguished history as tough garden helpers. Diminutive clay garden gnomes originated in Germany in the 1800s. There they remain beloved protectors of the home garden, cherished for their ability to ward off danger. Thyme, too, is a botanical defender: it was long believed to be an antidote for poison and a preventer of plague. But thyme is associated with courage most of all, as depicted by our thyme-wielding gnome bravely fighting off an intruding squirrel.
We are your source for heirloom and open-pollinated garden seeds and beautiful garden-themed contemporary art. We are a values-driven seed company that practices and celebrates responsible seed production and stewardship. We have our own certified organic farm in upstate New York where we produce much of what we sell. On our site, you'll find photos and artwork that stoke your horticultural imagination—along with tips to make your garden dreams a reality.
Here at the Hudson Valley Seed Company, we are both farmers and storytellers. We are committed to growing organically, sourcing locally and sustainably, and preserving crop diversity by selecting unique, rare, and hard-to-find varieties. Every seed in our catalog is open pollinated, many are heirloom and organic, and they are never GMO. We were one of the first companies to sign the Open Source Seed Initiative (OSSI), and we will remain committed to our values of sustainability to the last. We believe that a seed is more than meets the eye: it is a time capsule telling tales of the plants, crops, and people that came before us, and we work with a range of artists as diverse as our seeds to pass those stories down to present and future gardeners.
Our Art Packs unite practical aspirations in the garden with the universal human desire for beauty, meaning, and joy. Each year, we release a call for art seeking artists to interpret the varieties in our collection, and hundreds of artists apply from across the United States. But there’s a lot more to an Art Pack than the beautiful exterior. Open it up, and a whole seedy world unfolds...
- Front of pack - evocative art. Opens like a flower into a quatrefoil.
- The backstory - the inside of the pack tells the story of the unique seed variety, plus an interpretation of the artwork
- Inner Envelope - Contains seeds and full planting instructions
We hope these seedy stories will take you on a beautiful, fragrant, delicious tour of gardens past—and inspire you to let their legacies loose in your yard!