About Us
Our Story
Imagine a world where there were only a few kinds of vegetable seeds to grow and eat, with very limited choice – no heirloom seeds passed down through generations, just standardized, uniform crops.
That’s what the situation was in 2010 when Linda Galvad was looking for interesting vegetables to feed her growing interest in the effects of good food on the body and mind, and her culinary skills adventure. After exploring overseas offerings, she was appointed the Franchi Sementi sub-Saharan Africa agent for their amazing vegetable seeds. It was difficult to import these new varieties and finally permission was granted, with the proviso that with each packet of every variety offered, there had to be a sticker, marked ‘experimental’ and every purchaser’s details had to be recorded.
After two years, Linda was given the all clear, and we celebrated the availability of all these wonderful, exciting and unusual vegetable seeds that are now permanently and prolifically on offer. Since then things have progressed even further.
Our seeds are heirloom/heritage seeds, NON GMO (genetically modified organisms) and are open pollinated. The generational DNA of heirloom seeds, most over 100 years old, ensures, quality plants with exceptional productivity, highest nutritional value and taste. Food security is ensured by the growing and saving of heirloom seeds. The germination rate of these seeds is excellent and they also boast a long shelf life.
For over 230 years, Franchi Sementi has offered their traditional Italian varieties of vegetables to discerning gardening and cooking enthusiasts in Europe, America and Australia. Now, South Africans too can experience the uniqueness and quality of Franchi Sementi seeds and seedlings through its South African distributor – Sought after Seedlings. In 1783 in Bergamo, Northern Italy, the Franchi family started cultivating seeds that today, have become a byword for quality and authenticity. Franchi Sementi are not your run-of-the-mill seeds but rather, a story of tradition, pride, experience, quality, passion and excellence handed down over eight generations.
in 2020, during COVID, a time of unprecedented change, Linda developed a new additional range of heirloom vegetable seeds, Linda’s Original Seeds from the Franchi Sementi seeds plus additional mainly traditional South African seeds. Careful consideration went into formulating the range to cater for the needs of our valued customers. Packets of smaller quantities met the need for the growing community of pot/balcony gardeners and small garden owners. As they say, variety is the spice of life – buon appetito!
Our Mission
Linda’s passion was to offer the best products, along with the most beneficial training, to gardeners and organic farmers to promote the well being of people’s health with a better lifestyle.
Agricultural chemical fertilizers, composts and pesticides were to be avoided and knowledge and information would enable a very large following of like minded people.
Our Goal
We are driven to supply Franchi Sementi and Linda’s Original Seeds and more products, as usual, unique in the market place, are now available, in addition to everything that has been offered up to now. The more we learn the more we know that one of the only ways to achieve good health and nutrition is to eat organically grown vegetables. Research is proving this and it’s easy to achieve by growing your own food.
Linda will teach you how to do this, and help you to achieve what is so necessary for our very survival. As a qualified HEALTH COACH, through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, New York, with an added qualification in hormones, and Horticultural Therapy studies adding to her skills, and having built and maintained commercial and private organic vegetable gardens for over 12 years, she is available to assist you with courses, consultations and talks, as well as being available to establish and maintain your organic vegetable garden for you.
Get in touch with her on WhatsApp 082 365 0050
Join us on our never ending journey to educate, develop, explore and expand the joy and harvest of growing the best food possible for you and all of us now and in the future.
What can we do for you?
Shop all our products, including a range of the finest and most valued crops available, from the comfort of your own home, or from the comfort while planning your garden.
Our system can process online transactions and compatible with Debit/Credit cards.
From time to time, we offer Courses to the public from beginner to intermediate level. We will always have something new for you to learn.
Courses are normally booked online, so keep you eye out for any of our future courses.
You can view our courses by clicking here.
One of our services that makes us bloom, is our professional knowledge and expertise in providing the public our support and consultation services.
These can be pre-booked and appointments can be arranged for our consultations.
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