Garlic for Sale

Spanish Red

One of our goals here at the Bossy Hen Homestead is to provide members of our local and surrounding communities with the opportunity to enjoy gourmet quality produce at an affordable price. We firmly believe everyone should have access to healthy food and we are trying to do our small  part to help bring that conviction to life.

This year we are proudly offering organic garlic from our small permaculture homestead. While our supplies last we will be selling the garlic 2 for $1.00 with a discount for bulk purchases of 50 for $20.00. Listed below are the descriptions of the allium we will be offering. It will go quickly so it is a first come first serve proposition. If this proves to be as successful as we believe it will be we may invest in a larger crop this fall.

1) Spanish Red- This is a variety in its second year of production. Our seed stock was initially purchased locally at McDowell Walker in Sidney N.Y. A rather small and compact head not much bigger than a golf ball , though this years seed stock looks very promising. Don't let the size or its lovely color fool you it very well may have the most bite of any of our garlic. A little goes a long way. Update! Spanish Red is Sold Out until 2019!

2) German Red- The certified organic seed stock of this cold hardy variety originally was purchased through one of my favorite heirloom seed companies, the Seed Savers Exchange. It is an excellent keeper and a full flavored hardneck variety that tends to have 8-10 cloves per bulb. Update! German Red is Sold Out until 2019! 

German Red

3) Early Purple Italian-This all purpose, mild flavored garlic is our only softneck selection. It is another certified organic seed stock provided by the Seed Savers Exchange in Decorah, Iowa. We have found through personal use that if stored properly Early Purple will last nearly a year before spoiling. We are considering offering braids of this garlic next season. Sold out until 2019!

4) Postman Garlic-So named because this flagship garlic was originally given to us by our postman nearly 5 years ago after chatting about our gardens one day. We traded some Golden Sweet Pea seeds that made their way to the States from Delhi , India for some of his bulbs. This strain is one of our largest in size but possibly one of the most mild in taste. A real beauty and delicious raw or cooked. Sold out until 2019!

Now if that is not enough to sell you on our delicious mainstay crop let me mention a few of the known health benefits of garlic. It lowers blood pressure and helps maintain bad cholesterol. It helps boost digest and regulates blood sugar.

Maybe that is not enough though. Perhaps you prefer a little history lesson to entice you. Well according to the Seed Savers Exchange "garlic dates to Central Asia 4,000 B.C. Fed to pyramid builders, used as currency, and found in King Tut's Tomb in Egypt. In Rome consumed by Olympic athletes and game cocks for strength. In Israel, for aphrodisiac effects, conversely avoided by celibates in other cultures. Used as medicine in India, China and by Hippocrates. Currently, over 600 sub-varieties cultivated all over the world."

Well there you have it! Hope to see you soon!

Thank you so much to all of you who ordered Bossy Hen Garlic. Hope to see you again next year!

You can also find the work of Tobias Whitaker at Mother Earth News, Grit Magazine and on Facebook. Be sure to see what he is up to on Instagram 

All photographs by Tobias Whitaker unless noted.