Questions & Answers
Q: Who are you?
A: I am R., a French national who moved to Amsterdam full-time in 2015 and fell in love with the city in 2009.
Q: What proves to me these seeds are harvested in Amsterdam?
A: You have to trust me, but I can assure you all seeds have been harvested and triaged by hand.
Q: Why would you do this?
A: I wrote an article about it, you can check it here. TL;DR: As I wandered the streets of Amsterdam for years, I deeply connected with the cycles of nature. In parallel, reflecting on tourism post-COVID and the rising cost of life, I realized there were very few souvenirs left to buy for under 5 euros. It also occurred to me that hardly any were locally produced, rooted in the city's essence and history, or followed circularity principles.
Q: Do I need a garden to grow the seeds?
A: As long as your national rules and regulations allow growing the seeds, all you need is soil, sun, and water. Both Hollyhocks and Sunflowers will grow well in a medium-sized pot. The volume of the plant container and soil directly impacts the plant's ability to develop roots and grow, so the final result depends on this. I have grown both plants on my balcony for many years with great results, starting with pots with 10 to 15l soil capacity. Engaging in this activity has taught me a lot, and I hope you can learn from it too.
Q: Do you guarantee I will have flowers the first year?
A: While we can't guarantee results due to too many factors existing beyond our control, our experience shows that both plants are fairly easy to grow. Hollyhocks will only flower the second year after they are sown and have given their first set of leaves. The Hollyhocks flowering season spans from late July up until mid-Fall. Sunflowers need to be sown from April to the end of June and will bloom from late August to late September.
Q: How many years can I keep the seeds to sow?
A: Our seeds have a "millesime" indicating the year of harvest. They come in a kraft enveloppe that gardeners typically use for storing seeds over year. It is typically agreed upon and seen that seeds retain their full germination power up to 2 years after their harvest.
Afterward, the germination success decreases by 25% each year, so we recommend sowing seeds intended for germination within 5 years of harvest, ideally in the first 3 years for optimal results.
Q: Why would I buy these seeds if not to grow them?
A: People keep seeds for various reasons, just as they hold onto small keepsakes—such as a shell, travel tickets, or a museum pass—to mark meaningful experiences or stay connected to special places. Imagine sowing Amsterdam seeds from a year that holds significance—when you dared to do something bold and new for yourself, got engaged, or welcomed someone new into your life—and watching them bloom annually as a living reminder of that cherished time.
Q: How is this a sustainable and circular souvenir?
A: Flowers are inherently sustainable, as they grow and create matter that can nourish the soil when the plants die. Both Hollyhocks and Sunflowers produce a fair amount of seeds that can be easily harvested and shared with loved ones or resown the following year.
One seed keeps giving and spreading year after year, making it a truly circular souvenir. Additionally, both Hollyhocks and Sunflower plants offer honeybee-friendly flowers, creating a win-win situation for nature, and your memories.