In a world increasingly gone mad there's a bit of life-affirming joy to be found in placing an heirloom tomato seed in some dirt.



...even though two of the Burpee envelopes were labeled "origin Thailand" and "origin China".

On the other hand I also have some Italian seeds this year with everything written on the envelopes in Italian.



tomato Brandywine, Black Krim, Persimmon, Marvel Stripe, Green Zebra, Costoluto Fiorentino, San Marzano, Golden Mama, Sweetie, Miribelle, Black Pearl, Italian Ice

eggplant Purple Rain, Nadia, Beatrice, Rosa Bianca

pepper Purple Beauty, Romeo, California Wonder, chili ancho/poblano San Luis

cardoon Pieno Inerme (broad, defenseless, a variety with wide ribs and few spines)