Although it’s not exactly gardening weather, it is time to buy seeds for the spring planting season. Sow True Seed on Church Street is Asheville’s independently owned, open-pollinated/non-hybrid seed supplier.

The company offers 370 varieties of untreated garden seed, with growing emphasis on organic, heirloom and traditional varieties. Carol Koury and Peter Waskiewicz, as an effort to offer the public high quality, true seed, and healthier alternative to commercial hybrid versions, started the company in 2009. True seed, explains Peter, is seed that can be saved and replanted, producing the same high quality fruits and vegetables (each time) as the parent plant. All heirloom seed is open-pollinated or true seed, and are a treasured commodity among farmers and gardeners.

Sow True Seed adheres to the Council on Responsible Genetics “Safe Seed Pledge”. “It’s all about food security” says Carol. The other benefit is that the varieties are specifically selected for this area and thrive in the Southern Appalachia and the greater southern growing region.

The company offers retail to the public from their warehouse and the staff is always happy to answer questions and offer advice. You can also find their seed online and locally at Earth Fare, Greenlife, Jesse Israel Nursery, Reems Creek Nursery, French Broad Coop, Frye Nursery, Fifth Season and others. Whether you’re an avid gardener or a commercial farmer, check out their newly published seed catalog and start improving the quality of your yield.

Visit 146 Church Street or online at sowtrue.com. Sow True Seed can be reached at 828.254.0708.