The Garden Seed Inventory, Sixth Edition is a book published & sold by SSE. It is a listing of all U.S. & Canadian seed companies that offered heirloom & OP (open pollinated) seed as of the time of publishing. It gives descriptions of all varieties, and a list of companies that offer(ed) them, both retail & wholesale. Anyone, member or non-member, can purchase the G.S.I.

Because it was published in 2004, many of the individual listings are no longer accurate... but it is still a good place to start, if looking for a commercial variety. It is also an invaluable resource, if only for the huge list of heirloom seed companies (and their contact info) in the front of the book. For serious seed savers, it also lists varieties which have been dropped by the seed trade, and are in need of preservation... I look for those varieties in the Yearbook.

(There is also a Fruit, Nut, and Berry Inventory, which I believe is being revised this year.)

While the G.S.I. lists commercial sources, the Yearbook lists seed that is being offered for exchange by other SSE members. There were 13,280 varieties listed for 2008, the vast majority of which are heirlooms available nowhere else. The Yearbook is a benefit of SSE membership. All members are requested to submit a list of the seeds they will offer by November of each year, if they choose to do so.

So which of the two books is better? They each have a different purpose, so it depends upon your needs as a gardener.

As for SSE itself... if you search GW for "SSE", there are several threads, with opinions both pro & con. You can read the comments, and decide for yourself. Essentially, what you think about SSE depends upon what you expect from it.

If you join to explore the enormous diversity of vegetables available to us, and to be a part of their preservation, SSE membership can be very fulfilling. You could spend your life trying new varieties each year, and never grow them all. This does not mean that you need to offer seed; only about 1 in 10 chooses to do so.

If you only join SSE to get something, and don't support the goals of the organization, then some of the rules for exchanges can appear restrictive. And as in any grass-roots organization, there are those who take issue with some of the politics or policies of the organization... most of these still remain as members, because of the great work SSE continues to perform in the cause of preservation.

There are many SSE members (self included) who post on GW. I can tell you that SSE has been very rewarding for me - it has vastly enriched my gardening experience. My vegetable garden is now 95% heirloom & OP... and trust me, I'm not giving up a thing in terms of quality or quantity. ;-) I love sharing seeds, and enjoy the fellowship with other members... just as I do with those I've met here on GW.

I am not a member of SSE but had the privilege of visiting their farm last summer. Both my DH and I walked around in awe. What a wonderful experience and I recommend a visit to everyone.

I never thought about joining, but have received seeds from GW trades that came from there. I have experienced execellent germination rates and each seed started is a beautiful and/or tasty addition to my gardens!

I most certainly plan to join after reading the informative review by zeedman though! Thanks zeedman!

Diana