Wow, what a whirlwind this season has been! I'm so incredibly grateful to each and every one of you for inviting my seeds into your gardens. Your support has kept me busier than ever, and it's an absolute joy to be a small part of your gardening adventures.
With the surge in orders, I've continued to notice a growing number of requests for a catalog. While I'm just one person (with the occasional helping hand from my wonderful spouse), I'm thrilled to share that I'll soon have over 850 varieties of seeds available, including some exciting new additions for 2025!
That catalog you've been asking for is on the way, I am working on it every day. I'm also working on envelopes for all of our seeds.
A Frequently Asked Question...
Some of you have inquired why I don't have employees to help. Here in Colorado, home-based businesses like mine have unique rules – any employee would need to live with us. Since most of our home is dedicated to seeds, seedlings, and office space, it's a bit of a tight squeeze! Plus, I enjoy the quiet focus of working solo. Hopefully with a storefront one day this will remedy the situation.
Introducing the Gift Shop!
You might have noticed the new Ash Hollow Farm gift shop section on the website. Blue Pumpkin Seed Co was originally going to be called Ash Hollow Seed Co but my spouse talked me into Blue Pumpkin Seed Co. since I adore the color blue...and pumpkins. A little fun fact 😁
The goal here is twofold: to help keep things going during the slower months (July through December) and to welcome a wider range of garden and botanic products. My long-term dream is to have a brick-and-mortar store, surrounded by a beautiful garden and a giant pick-your-own pumpkin patch! Since the seed business is seasonal, a broader product selection can help cover those quieter times and keep the dream alive.
I'm proud to add Ash Hollow Tea Co to the site. Ash Hollow is my tea shop I migrated from Etsy. During the cooler months, I love blending hand made small batch teas. I've also imported a range of various Pu-Ehr, Green, White, and Oolong Teas. There's nothing quite like a hot cup of tea while planning next year's garden, right?
45 hand-crafted artisan soaps have also been added, each inspired by nature's botanicals. These all-natural soaps are crafted with a proprietary blend of oils, that produce bars that are designed to last far longer than typical artisan bars, allowing you to enjoy their captivating scents for weeks on end. My personal favorites are the Dirty Gardener, Autumn Spice, and Cafe Au Latte Bar Soap.
Changes and Updates
To be transparent, even when I procure specialty pumpkin seeds in bulk, they cost quite a bit. Since our most popular items also have the lowest profit margins, I'll be adding new varieties to the mix to even things out. This might mean retiring a few of the slower-selling ones to make room for some newer varieties.
For my Canadian customers, I'm working with an accountant who may be able to help with collecting and submitting Canadian taxes. For now, Etsy is still your best option, and I've also joined Michaels Maker Place, which will have lower prices. You'll find my seeds there too! I am still adding everything to the Maker Place site, so if you see something you want, let me know and I will make it available. I'm also exploring Go Imagine as a potential platform. Etsy, even with its quirks, is still where 85% of my business comes from, so I'll be staying put there for now.
Garden Update and A Big Thank You
It's been a bit quiet on social media but I'll be back on soon! Once I'm caught up with orders and the occasional wrestling match with USPS over missing packages, I'll be back to chatting and sharing garden photos.
I can't thank you enough for your patience while I juggle these projects. Your support this season has been incredible, and I'm so excited to see where this little seed business grows next!
A Short October - November Break
Sometime in October or November, I'll be taking a short break to recharge. I'll also use this time to count inventory, finalize the catalog, work on envelopes, add higher seed quantities to the rest of the pumpkins, count and bag seeds, and make some improvements to the website.
Stay tuned for a clearance sale in October to make room for new varieties. And if you have any questions or need anything at all, please don't hesitate to reach out. I'm always happy to help!
Happy growing! -Brian
-If you have any thoughts, questions, or feedback, please leave a comment below. I am always curious about your thoughts, opinions, and how I can improve and make the site and business better.
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