The Cottage Gardener is owned & operated by Mary and Dan Brittain. Our daughter Rachel (pictured with us) helps at some of our seed shows when she comes home from school. However, a gardener she is not - so if you see her at a show, note that she wears a name tag stating "I know nothing!". (Note: we also have a son, Adam, who is even less interested in gardening - somehow we haven't managed to pass on the passion.) Our property, located just west of Port Hope, Ontario at the foot of the Ganaraska Hills, is a lovely, secluded 10 acres surrounded by evergreens, which results in a micro-climate especially conducive to growing. We are committed to growing and maintaining our plants organically. We are in the process of becoming Certified Organic. Because we are finding it increasingly difficult to source some of our seeds on a consistent basis from other organic growers, we are expanding our cultivated acreage each year. Because of this, we are able this year to offer a number of varieties in larger amounts, such as TradePacks. We are dedicated to searching out traditional species, varieties and cultivars that grew in gardens of old, and reintroducing them to you and your gardens. Browse through this site, and we believe that, like us, you will fall in love with the flowers, herbs and vegetables that have all but disappeared from modern nurseries and gardens - flowers with delicate beauty and intoxicating fragrances, vegetables with intense flavour and colourful character, herbs grown for thousands of years for medicinal, culinary and household uses. Best of all , heirloom plants have stories to tell - stories that relate to their uses, their discovery, or the "magical" powers ascribed to them. We hope that you enjoy the stories told here, and that you decide to add a little "history" to your garden! Each year, we expand our list of available heirloom seeds. We are also increasing the number of seeds available as Certified Organic. Seed orders can be placed at any time of year. We do not have an onsite retail operation, except in May/June when we sell heirloom vegetable starter plants.
