The Seed Bank in Petaluma is one of the largest repositories of heirloom seeds in the world
Photo: Chronica Domus
Can you think back to the last time you had occasion to visit a bank, and why? Some of us (or would that be most of us nowadays?) have succumbed to conducting our everyday banking electronically, either on-line or at cash machines. A few weekends ago, I needed to visit a bank of a very different sort, a bank unlike one I've encountered anywhere else on my travels. You see, I needed to purchase some seeds for my garden so, naturally, I headed to The Seed Bank in the quaint northern California town of Petaluma, located about forty miles north of San Francisco.
The journey by car involved traversing the Golden Gate Bridge on a positively clear and balmy spring-like day, a pleasure of which one never tires, especially due to the spectacular views afforded by the sparkling bay waters and the crystalline skies of blue.
Goodbye San Francisco
Photo: Chronica Domus
Once over the iconic bridge, the remainder of the trek to Petaluma is a pleasant pastoral pastiche of green hills dotted with cows happily grazing in the sunshine. One is clearly in dairy country here.
Photo: Chronica Domus
Housed in the historic Sonoma County Bank building (naturally), The Seed Bank holds the largest selection of nineteenth century seeds to be found anywhere in the country; 1,500 varieties from seventy-five countries. The seeds are not genetically modified, hybridized, or treated in any way. This is truly a remarkable repository and an exciting place for horticulturalists and interested individuals keen to try their hand at homesteading and growing their own food and flowers.
Heirloom seeds are what make this bank rather special
Photo: Chronica Domus
All the seeds contained within the bank are open-pollinated, natural, and non-genetically modified
Photo: Chronica Domus
The huge arched windows of The Seed Bank are charmingly illustrated with hand-painted fruits and vegetables
Photo: Chronica Domus
This likable fellow greets you upon entering the building
Photo: Chronica Domus
Visitors to The Seed Bank will discover a well-organized space much like a library. Seeds are filed alphabetically so locating just the right wild flower or vegetable is a breeze. All of the seed packets are beautifully designed with clear instructions on planting and growth care so even the most inexperienced weekend gardener will stand the best chance of success with their horticultural forays.
A view of the main floor with its soaring thirty foot high hammered tin ceiling
Photo: Chronica Domus
Enticing names such as Purple of Romagna, Violet de Provence, and Violetta Precoce beckon those who wish to plant bulbous artichokes for their enjoyment later in the summer. Perhaps it is cucumbers that you seek to harvest, in which case Beit Alpha, Boothby's Blonde, or the ancient French variety of Germanic origin, Jaune Dickfleischige, is right up your horticultural alley. Even if you have no intention of gardening, The Seed Bank is a fascinating place to indulge one's curiosity and discover a world of vegetables, fruits, and flowers that are far removed from those available for sale in today's food markets and garden nurseries.
Hmmm... artichokes, but which variety so select?
Photo: Chronica Domus
Tomatoes and watermelons in shapes, colors, and sizes infrequently seen outside of The Seed Bank
Photo: Chronica Domus
Of course, every good gardener requires the basic equipage to cultivate one's soil, and here at The Seed Bank there is a multitude of fine gardening tools from which to select. As Beverly Nichols once said "To dig in one's own earth, with one's own spade, does life hold anything better?"
Fine British gardening tools available for sale
Photo: Chronica Domus
There are even some oldies, but goodies, on display but these are purely for one's viewing pleasure and add to the attractiveness of the interior decoration of The Seed Bank.
An artful display of retired wooden farming and gardening tools
Photo: Chronica Domus
My mission here today was to select some unusual varieties of Sweet Peas to grow in my garden. Alas, those in which I was most interested had already sold out for the season. Not to worry, however, as the beauty of The Seed Bank is that one's dreams of growing bunches of beguiling fragrant Sweet Peas are not dashed for long. One soon discovers the piles of other strains that can easily be substituted. The trouble with all of these choices is knowing when to stop, especially once the visions of picking my favorite summer flowers begin to dance about in my head.
The corner of the building that houses a myriad of wildflower seeds
Photo: Chronica Domus
There are more than enough Sweet Pea seeds here to drive one to distraction
Photo: Chronica Domus
Potatoes anyone?
Photo: Chronica Domus
Venture downstairs and discover yet more delights to appeal to the gardener. Summer flowering bulbs and tubers, even more unusual varieties of vegetable seeds, a room dedicated to the culture of air plants, and a slew of homesteading products can all be found here. There's even a room for screening horticulturally related films.
Seeds and bulbs entice those of us attempting to be green-fingered
Photo: Chronica Domus
A wooden crate of Colocasia tubers nestled on a bed of excelsior shipped from Holland
Photo: Chronica Domus
Any homesteader would be thrilled with the cache of goodies on offer in this basement room of The Seed Bank
Photo: Chronica Domus
Nota bene: I am neither paid nor do I receive recompense in exchange for applauding products or services within my blog. I do so because I enjoy them. If you are a kindred spirit, you too enjoy recommending nice things to fellow good eggs.
What a wonderful place! Firstly the building it is in is so beautiful, and a perfectly apt reuse of the bank space. Secondly, what a treasure-trove of seeds and bulbs. I love sweet peas, and haven't grown them in a few years… but I'm hopeful next spring will have a crop once I've sorted out the area they are to grow in. Here in Australia we have Diggers Club http://www.diggers.com.au which sound similar - all the vegetables, flowers and other plants that are rarer and heirloom in variety. I have bought a few things for my garden from them, and heard the founder speak at a Garden lunch two years ago. It was quite fascinating to hear about the way GMO seeds and the fact that many are designed not to produce seed for germination as they don't want to encourage seed saving… and the effect of that on the third world. Looking forward to seeing the end result of your efforts in the garden!
ReplyDeleteHello Heidi,
DeleteI agree, the building is such a beautiful and apt space for a seed bank. The town of Petaluma has many such historic and interesting buildings, one being yet another former bank full to the brim with antiques.
I shall have to look at the website you include in your comment, thank you. It sounds very interesting. As for GMO seeds, I have often seen protesters on the GG bridge with their no-GMO seed signs. The area is very in tune with the pitfalls of such things.
If I am successful with my sweet pea growing efforts, I shall certainly share photos later in the year (fingers crossed!).
Ironically the building itself looks like a proper bank! Are they successful or subsidized? Oddly seed banks like this are rarely seen in London - though I am sure there are thriving online businesses. I once grew tomatoes and strawberries from seed and it was a gratifying experience. But I don't have a proper garden but only window boxes. But as Heidi mentioned the Monsanto lot are quite frightening. The stories one hears about crops and the monopoly is disconcerting to say the least...I would bank on more genuine seeds - pardon the pun!
ReplyDeleteHello Naomi,
DeleteYes, I love that the building was a former bank. It went from dollars to seed.
I'm impressed that you grew strawberries from seed, something I've yet to tackle. I did grow tomatoes from seed last year, all volunteers from the prior year's crop, and also strawberries from plants I purchased. As you say, it is all very gratifying, and everything tastes so good.
Oh, and obviously you've mastered the art of the British pun -very punny indeed!
Hi, I was living in Petaluma when the Seed Bank opened. The building used to house an antique rug merchant...in any case, I think the Seed Bank is part of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. http://www.rareseeds.com/get-to-know-baker-creek/petaluma-seed-bank/
DeleteHello Ann, and welcome!
DeleteHow nice to learn that you've lived in charming Petaluma, and yes you are correct, The Seed Bank is part of BCHS.
Thank you for jogging my memory of the previous business that occupied the bank building. I do remember that (I believe there was a mix of rugs and antiques if my memory serves me right). I had completely forgotten about that.
Thank you for your comment and I do hope you come back again and add to the discussions on CD.
Hello CD, I would want to visit the Seed Bank, as much to to inspect the building as to look over the heirloom vegetables. Of course, there are banks still in use that are similarly grand, but in a place like this you can explore so much more, and without armed guards calling for reinforcements!
ReplyDeleteI know that if I ever did have a garden, I would want to specialize in heirloom seeds, mainly because of their special qualities, but also because many people need to grow and propagate these varieties to keep them in existence.
--Jim
Hello Jim,
DeleteIt is certainly a thrill to be let loose in such a beautiful former bank building to explore to my heart's content. I've not seen the vault in this building, but you'll be happy to learn that another former bank, situated close to The Seed Bank, now occupied by an antiques business, gives its happy customers full access to the vault, which is full to the brim with antique goodies. It is a singular shopping experience I've had nowhere else!
I was just there this past summer and wish I had known of this gorgeous place! It's on my list for my next trip :-) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHello AD,
DeleteI'm happy you'll be adding this place to your itinerary the next time you find yourself in our part of the country. You won't be disappointed!
I had no idea this was in Petaluma! How fun!
ReplyDeleteHello LPC,
DeleteI think a trip across the bridge is in your future. You'll feel like a kid in a candy store and might just find that special something to take home to your garden.
I like the idea of the tromp l'oeil window niche in the basement. What a lovely store.
ReplyDeleteHello J.W.,
DeleteIt is indeed a lovely shop, both for the architecture of the building and its contents. Did you also notice the ceiling in the basement painted to resemble open skies?
Thank you for pointing it out. :)
DeleteHello again J.W.,
DeleteThere are also some lovely little scenes painted on the frieze that can be seen in the first photograph of the basement level. Such attention to beautifying the building really makes The Seed Bank an enchanting place to visit.
This is one area I've never had the slightest interest in until being introduced by our charming tour guide. I'd go with you anywhere CD!
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm happy to have provoked your interest in this topic and geographical area. So much travel, so little time comes to mind.
DeleteCD,
ReplyDeleteOh how I wish I had heard of this place when Mr. B. took a temporary work assignment in the bay area. I will add it to the list for our next trip to the wine country. I love the architecture of the historic building and what a great use for such a lovely space.
You always share the most interesting places and things with us, thank you!
xo,
Karen
Hello Karen,
DeleteI believe you'll very much enjoy visiting the town of Petaluma, especially with your interests. There are several antiques and homes goods shops in town, as well as this terrific seed bank, and dining establishments. I do hope you can make it up north soon, or at least have your husband swing by the next time he finds himself in northern California.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteWell, financial enterprise is turned into horticultural enterprise, what fun this all looks to be.
The building makes a fine depository for the wide variety of heirloom seeds it contains. A wonderful new life for this architectural delight. We too should have loved a jolly day out going there in the motor!
There is something wonderful about growing things from seed. First the promise of those alluring packets, beautifully coloured and deliciously described. Secondly, the sheer joy of placing tiny little specks into earth and watching shoots come forth. And, finally, the flowering end result. The joy of growing one's own food or flowers to gather for the house. Yes, we can smell the sweet scent of your Sweet Peas even before they have touched the ground!
And, how intriguing that English garden tools have made the long journey all the way to North Carolina!
Oh yes, this is certainly a fun place to pass away a pleasant hour. Be assured, with your past gardening experience and your future endeavors with your new garden, I am more than confident you'll enjoy a visit to The Seed Bank and will go away with a few goodiesyou had no intention of acquiring to boot. That is the lure of this wonderful place!
DeleteOh, and no, the gardening tools from the UK found their way to the far reaches of the country in northern California, not North Carolina, which is a tad closer to the UK than we are out here on the west coast of America.
Dear CD,
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful post! I had read about the Svalbard Global Seed Vault on a remote Norwegian island in the Arctic archipelago (stores more than 10,000 seed samples from around the world). It is in essence, the backup for the world's 1,750 seed banks. However, the Petaluma Seed Bank was news to me and a much nicer (not to mention more accessible) destination than a converted coal mine in the Arctic Circle. For now, gardening remains but a hopeful dream as Boston remains buried under several feet of snow.
Best,
KL Gaylin
Hello KL Gaylin,
DeleteOh, I do pity all Bostonians with their abysmal frozen weather conditions so close to spring's arrival, and wish for a thaw soon.
I too first read of the global seed bank many years ago and thought it was a fascinating project, but as you say it isn't very accessible, both geographically and to home gardeners, which makes The Seed Bank in Petaluma all the more special to us green-fingered types.
As you hinted, a much more pleasurable experience than I have endured with my bank story!
ReplyDeleteYes, indeed, it certainly was. This is the type of bank I relish visiting.
DeleteWow, what an amazing place. I wish we had an heirloom seed bank here. Unfortunately with New Zealand's strick quarantine laws about flora and fauna it is very difficult to bring seeds into the country. Peter loves sweet peas and I can see that he would go mad in this shop.
ReplyDeleteYes indeed, Peter would be in heaven in this particular bank. Sweet Peas are a weakness of mine and I hope I have some successes to blog about later in the summer with my foray into seed sewing.
DeleteCalifornia, having a huge agricultural industry, is also very strict with what one can import into the state. There are checkpoints at the state borders and vehicles can be examined for contraband of fruits, vegetables, and plants, but not sure where the law stands on seeds come to think of it.