What do you say we explore expanding our herb-gardening efforts to include some goodies to fill those jars in the spice rack, too? Most of us have probably grown cilantro, for instance, with its distinctive-tasting bright green foliage, but I suspect few of us have harvested coriander seed—the other possible crop that same species of plant can yield.

Today’s guest, Sarah Kleeger of Adaptive Seeds, has been adding coriander and various other spice-rack possibilities to her garden and farm and seed catalog— like anise and caraway and more—all plants that are also ornamental and beloved by the creatures she calls “our garden friends,” from beneficial insects to birds.

In 2009, Sarah Kleeger and Andrew Still founded Adaptive Seeds, their certified-organic, farm-based seed company near Sweet Home, Oregon, whose mission is to steward rare, diverse and resilient seed varieties for ecologically-minded farmers, gardeners and seed savers. All of their varieties are open-pollinated, and adapted to the Pacific Northwest and other short-season Northern climates, including selections of some garden-grown spice-rack favorites that are our topic today.

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