The scoop on 'Amishland Heirloom Seeds'

The website is informative and warm. I especially enjoy the availability of vegetables from Africa and Asia, many of which I had never heard of before. My seeds arrived in small packets with handwritten labels and notes. I deeply appreciated the personal nature of transaction; this sort of business is a rare breed. I will surely order from Amishland again.

Product was as stated
Seed count was as stated

Email response was stellar
Packaging was excellent

Free pack of seeds!

Would buy again

I am pleased with the service of this company...shortly after I placed my order, I received an email from the owner stating that she had been ill and my order might be delayed....she also stated that she would be including extra seeds for my inconvenience. As it turned out she managed to get my order to me on time and also included extra seed plus a new variety of tomato as a gift. This is very gracious and professional and I am happy with my experience with this company.

I am neither an amateur, nor a first time gardener. I am a professional market gardener, who saves most of his seed. I live in Lancaster County, where this seed company is based, and I assume this companies seed is grown. Anyway, the germination sucked, period. Plus, she wouldnt let me come pick my seeds up, and I live not 10 miles from this person. Not very neighborly by Lancaster County standards. I mainly ordered from her because I was trying to buy local, and get some stock seed. I never contacted her because, I was too busy tending to my one measly Amazonian Chocolate that I did successfully nurse some fruits out of for seed. Tell Martha I said whats up lady.
Peace to the gods.................

I ordered eggplant, tomatoes, and peppers. They arrived promptly with excellent instructions, and I had over 90% germination rate. The Lil Darling eggplant were extremely prolific, and after first frost of the season yesterday, I harvested 32 eggplant from three plants! I'll definitely order more, and I love the surprise mixes that I bought-what fun.

2006 was the very first time I ever attempted a garden. I grew 100% hybrids from a coop here locally. I had a somewhat positive experience but I wanted to save my seed back. I planted my saved seed and had really bad results. I had also bought heirloom seed from two companies. One of which was Amishland. Being only my second year of gardening, I followed the instructions provided and everything germinated exactly as was printed out in the instructions. 100% germination rate. I wasn't really impressed because I did not know what to expect. Due to my in-experience, I killed many of my little seedlings. Over-watering. Then after I had all my plants in the ground, we had a late frost that killed everything I had planted, EXCEPT my Amishland seedlings. Now, I wont say that Amishland claims frost immunity, but I was blown away that it was only the Amishland seedlings that survived. I ordered the Zapotec, Ukrainian Sabre, and Red Ruffled. I might add that the Red Ruffled are pumping out tomatoes like mad. Everything else is performing just as described.

Lastly, I have never seen the varieties at other sites. Amishland has alot of unusual items, and alot of Ukrainian varieties. I am definitely ordering much more seed for a much larger garden in 2008, God willing. As an IT major I know one thing for sure, always, always, always follow the directions. I expect the people who had poor results probably did not read the documentation. I am a big fan, and will keep ordering as long as the company continues to ship.

Anyone who wants to contact me regarding my testimonial may do so.

-Robert C. Mullins M.S. IT
[e-mail:mullins@gaelicmysts.com]
Arkansas

I ordered from this company for the 2006 season and I was very disappointed. The service was fine: prompt and professional, with a very nice website. The product was less than stellar. I ordered multiple varieties of tomatoes, and had a very poor germination rate. (The company offers an elaborate set of germination instructions, including overnight soaking and what not, but I did what I always do with all other tomato seeds and got poor results...when I've always had good results from other seed suppliers, including heirloom tomatoes which is mostly what I grow). What's more, the variety I was most interested in ("Togo Trifle") did not turn out as pictured or described. I've described my results on Plant Files elsewhere on this website, and am still not sure if it was the cultivar or the company at fault.

To be fair, I made no effort to contact the company or seek a refund. Basically I am a backyard grower who orders very small quantities of seed each year. Even if I'd gotten my two dollars (or whatever) back for each packet of non germinating or poorly maturing seed the season was lost by that point. You can't put Humpty Dumpty back together again. I adopted a live and learn philosophy, and simply ordered from other suppliers this year and have been quite happy thus far. Perhaps my experience with Amishland was an exception, but I'll simply offer the warning: let the buyer beware.

Clearly a labor of love. Amishland offers fascinating varieties. Good looking seeds, fast service. BUT, the owner missed two items in her initial shipment, and it took a couple of rounds of e-mails (and weeks) to straighten things out. Quick response once we got in contact, so a positive rating.

Seeds were sent promptly--the two types of heirloom tomato seeds I purchased have a great germanation rate. Overall--I would rate this company top marks. Excellent seed starting techniques on their web page.

I ordered the Lil' Darlin' eggplant seeds which are a miniature or edible ornamental variety. The packet came with more seeds than advertised and I had a remarkable 100% germination rate (I followed the advice on the website). A few plants did have a variation in bloom and fruit color which ended up being a welcome surprise. I had direct contact with Lisa by email and she was polite, efficient and curious about my results. I plan on ordering from her again.

Lisa answered questions very quickly and throughly. She was willing to share her suggestions on varieties that might work for me. The order was filled and shipped very quickly. The seeds all look ok with more in the packages than stated. I'm very satisfied as of now. Will see how they germinate next spring and if they grow true to description.

Very poor germination rates. When presented with this information this person was defensive and un-professional. Poor customer service. Uses the term "organic" very loosley. Is not certified organic so how do we really know what her growing methods are? She should not be advertising that she is organic per USDA regulations. There are many other seed sources out there with great reviews. Stick with them.

I found a Fabulous and large assortment of rare, heirloom, and hard to find seeds, many that are Amishland Heirloom Seeds exclusives or can't be found anywhere else in the USA! I only know of three seed companies to grow all their own seed stock (all one woman owned and run in the USA) , from their own plants.I have bought from Amishlandseeds several years in a row, and have always had great 99-100% germination with the seeds, following the specialized, detailed growing tips on the website. The plants grew strong , true to type, and disease free, as the owner uses organic methods and is very careful about isolation and proper seed saving techniques. I am an experienced grower, but even a novice grower will have no trouble having a great gardening season using Amishland Heirloom Seeds. She carefully packaged the seeds in large padded mailers. The owner answered all my emails immediately over the years and was so helpful when I had questions. She is an honest ,small, one owner business that puts you, the gardener, first! I was treated cordially like a real person not just some number like the big seed companies. I recommend this company highly to anyone seeking quality unusual vegetable and flower varieties, as well as tried and true favorites. The selection of rare eggplants and tomatoes is truly amazing, plus she carries super rare veggies like Skirret. Amishland Heirloom Seeds is absolutely my favorite seed seller on the internet!

Not a bad company... you will get what you ordered but pretty pricey for what you get not a ton of seeds and I got alot of chaff.... stuff was also packed adequately but not the most perfect I've seen..... On the other hand their selection is good and my order arrived very promptly.... so its safe to order from here but not my favorite company or list of top few.... favorites.....

What a shame this person did not contact me when she first suspected she was having problems, rather than leaving unpleasant, anonymous comments here. If she had contacted me I could have helped with the common problems that many new or inexperienced gardeners have when first planting. I send a link for my detailed seed starting instructions on my website to each and every customer and ask them to read them and ask any questions they might have. I give my own special tried and true tips, such as my own presprouting instructions for many seeds that saves precious days and weeks of growing time. I answer every single customer email and freely answer all questions that I receive.I clearly state the quantity of hand grown, hand packed, and hand selected seeds you will receive next to each and every seed description and always give a few extra seeds in each pack as well.

I have found that many new gardeners make the common mistakes of overwatering seeds, planting too deeply and not providing proper heat for the seed's germination needs. They often don't provide adequate lighting ( putting flats by a window is not enough, for instance). Or they don't use sterile soiless mixture as I suggest. Following my simple instructions will do a world of good for your germination.

I have been selling my own home grown, rare heirloom organic seeds from all of my own plants for about 5 years. I started first on ebay and also have been selling seeds for the past 2+ years on my new website. I have over 3,500 positive feedbacks given through the ebay system. Many of my customers come back year after year to puchase all their rare garden seeds from me . I have satisfied customers the world over. For example, one Finnish customer told me of all the seed companies she had bought from in England, Europe and the USA, mine are the best. This is her 3rd year puchasing $100+ in seeds for her yearly vegetable garden. I give specialized instructions for my customers according to their climate as well.

Please take into consideration all of the factors I have mentioned when considering the validity of comments left here. I am a small , one woman operation with no mechanical help and I try my best for all my customers to have the garden of their dreams.

Dear readers of Dave's Garden Web and Garden Watchdog: May I reiterate that the comments of this one customer certainly do not fully reflect the quality of my home grown, heirloom, organic seeds? Had this person contacted me in a timely manner, when she first suspected her growing problem, I would have replaced her seeds. I stand by my seeds and Amishland Heirloom Seed Company.

I am a small one person, one owner company. My company name, my real full name, address and phone number are clearly available on my website. Dave's Garden Web provides a link to my website as well as a link to email me at the top of this very page.

Regarding my "professionalism": One of my very first Amishland Heirloom Seed website customers was Martha Stewart, who purchased over $ 50.00 of my seeds, and was so pleased that she contacted me personally about appearing on her TV show. Unfortunately, her legal troubles came soon thereafter and the show appearance was postposted . Martha Stewart is also happily and sucessfully growing vegetable plants this season in her Bedford NY home garden from the rare colored vegetable seeds that she received from me this year.

Another recent customer is the manager of the production company planning a new 13 part PBS TV series to begin early next year called "Cultivating Life". She did not inform me of that when she ordered my seeds. She was so pleased with her rare seed selections from me and with my website, that she asked me if I might consider being featured on the Vegetable segment of their new PBS TV show, which is scheduled to air in another year.

I give free walking tours and lectures on historic gardening associated with two Pennsylvania German/Dutch Farming museums in my area. I have donated my own seeds ( amounting to over 15% of my annual profit) yearly to various museums,
schools and botanical gardens, with reports of great success from the recipients.

I am one of the last of a dying breed, a woman owned, one owner ( and also only employee) seed company battling it out with the "big boys" in the seed business world. I grow out each and every one of my own plants for my own seed stock. I never buy other company's seeds to sell as my own. This is a labor intensive business with little monetary profit. It is truly "a labor of love". In my own small way I help the dedicated home gardener find the old fashioned, open
pollinated seeds that are fast being dropped by the big commercial operations as being "unprofitable", ( therefore they stop selling them). I search the world over to find unusual and rare garden seeds for my customers, many of which have never been available to American gardeners before. Now, several years later, I grow out and offer garden seeds to my customers from 5 continents.

I work with a variety of dedicated seed savers worldwide, who are concentrating on keeping their own family's or country's heirlooms from being lost forever. I originally starting my little seed business by swapping seeds with my local Amish and Mennonite neighbors, and inquiring about their family's heirloom vegetable seeds before they are lost forever. Sadly, even these traditional conservative Old Order Amish and Mennonites (people who still farm with
horses/mules and drive buggies) are purchasing and growing hybrids and GM, (genetically modified) seeds. Heirloom seed saving is fast becoming a lost art even here in Lancaster County ,PA where I live.

I document as much history as I am able with each seed I acquire. I then grow these seeds out in my garden. It can take years to grow out enough plants to make seeds available to sell to my customers. I even grow out biennials like carrots, which few small seed growers even attempt to do anymore.

Please take into consideration that I also do germination tests on all of my varieties of seeds before I even consider selling them. Those with low germination, (and this can sometimes happen due to a poor growing season and bad weather) I will not sell to my customers. I grow all my seed stock plants organically. I srictly apply the specialized growing methods and time consuming, sometimes complicated seed saving instructions advised in the
"bible" of seed saving: " Seed to Seed" by Suzanne Ashworth.

For even better germination, I highly recommend my practice of presprouting nearly all seeds, (as detailed in my "garden tips" link on my website). This works splendidly even for stubborn germinators like carrots. I got 99-100% germination on my newly acquired foreign seed stock of rare colored carrot seeds this growing season, for example,even though some of these rare seeds were,by neccessity, years old

To all of Dave's Garden Web readers,I urge you to please visit my website and feel free to contact me with any concerns or questions or just to "talk gardening". I happily answer every single email, and phone query.

Great stuff here! Very home done, and nice looking seeds. And I had a special request and got a quick response. Nice person. Web site is LOADED with information.

Fast shipping, great germination rate on the morning glory seeds, even though I planted a little late in the season. Don't be put off by hobbyist nature of this business (my seeds came in baggies) the quality of the seeds is tops!

I was very pleased with my order from this source. It came quick, clearly labeled, and email communication was clear and prompt. Looking forward to being a repeat customer. :)

Very friendly, and detailed planting instructions for the seeds. I've bought from Lisa off eBay a couple times (her eBay user ID is malcolmspike), and am glad to see she has a website now.

Highly Recommend for unusual/colorful heirlooms.

Friendly emails and fast shipping! Seeds germinate as promised and plants are wonderful! Many heirloom varieties I couldn't find elsewhere...this is the place to shop if you're a gardener looking for rare veggies.