Hood River Garlic - Testimonials - organic seed garlic, garlic, softneck, hardneck

Terri...Indeed I would like them to be shipped together if possible..and the extra garlic will never be turned down by me!! I have to admit I got garlic from some other place last year and it was not the same...I'm back for good!!.... Again thanks...Eileen in San Pablo.

from Dean Bois, Kensington, CT 4/02/10

Hi, Just pulled some of the mulch away from the Chesnok Red and they look real good, all are sprouting and turning green with the nice sunshine. Dean

from Phil Smith, Duluth, GA 2/08/10

We love your garlic, Terri... We'll always order from you. I feel that your seed is the best and safest for us to use. Glad you are in the business!

from Matthew Becker, Chicago, IL 12/21/09

reply from Matthew after signing up for Garlic of The Month Club.....

"Great, was just checking. I have, unfortunately, had mixed experiences with Things of the Month Clubs, but it sounds like you folks have it under control! "

from Robert Brooks, Eastford, CT 11/13/09

Thanks. Terri. In case you are interested in where your garlic will be grown (and consumed), here is our website: www.stillrivercafe.com

from Bernard Clark, Glastonbury, CT 8/10/09

Terri- Had a great first experience with Hood River Garlic. My "patch" produced some nice-sized heads which are now almost 3 weeks into the curing process. Haven't yet tasted the results of this year's harvest and am already looking forward to getting things ready for next year. Your directions and pictorial were very helpful. Our season here in zone 5-6 was probably a couple of weeks later than yours, but all went well. Andrea and I enjoyed having scapes and onion sauteed and served with balsamic vinegar as a nice side dish. Attached are a couple of shots of novice garlic farming in central Connecticut.
Bernie Clark

from Michele Haag, Molalla, OR 7/31/09

Thanks again for all your help, your organic ethics, your awesome product, and your wonderful customer service. Your loyal customer Michele Haag

from Connie Reding, Anderson, IN 7/27/09

Hi Terri, Just to let you know, a couple of days ago I harvested the garlic I purchased from you last year. I had %100 growth rate, and the bulbs look fantastic. In other words, I am very pleased with your product, that’s why I re-ordered from you this year. I’m already using the garlic before it’s even had a chance to “cure”. I also harvested the scapes this year too. I’ll be looking forward to the Sept. shipment. Thanks for such a nice product.

from Kimberly Seekings, Wellington, OH 7/15/09

Hi Terri! Thank you so much for putting the garlic calendar on your website!!! Particularly the section where you tell people to pop their garlic scapes when they begin to curl! In the past I didn’t do this or know how to tell when to break the scapes off and my garlic heads were consequently skimpy. I ordered the Chesnok Red and I loved it. Grew nice size heads even when I neglected to keep up with the weeds. Thanks Kimberly

from LyDia Langley, formerly of Burnsville, NC 7/10/09

Hi Terri, Once again, I bow to your garlic prowess. Nothing I have found since your garlic has even come close to its awesomeness! We have moved back to NY, no more NC, and have set a garden which has not fared very well this year. Rain! But I would love some of your eating garlic. Any and all kinds, the more the merrier. Thanks! Lydia PS All other garlic should be renamed. ..

from Vernon Starns, Fowler, CO 7/09/09

I would like to know why you plant buck wheat. Is it to improve the soil? We don't have a very large area to plant our garlic so we would like to keep the soil at it's best. I love my garlic this year! Of course I'll plant from the cloves that I'm harvesting, but I've ordered some new varieties too. I would have never thought I could become a garlic grower, but thanks to you I'm looking like a pro! I'd appreciate any input you can give me. . Thanks a lot! Vernon Starns

(see FAQ's page for answer to Vernon's question)

from Gail Brown, Bonners Ferry, ID 6/01/09

Dear Terri, I have to say your email really blew me away! In all the online ordering I've done, never have I received a personal email from the seller! Thank you! I am a first time garlic gardener. I've read your web site front to back and appreciate all the valuable in site offered. I'm excited for fall planting.
Thank you again, Gail Brown

from Mitch Hardy, Rowley, MA 5/20/09

Hi Terry, I have been meaning to write ever since last December, when you so graciously offered to supply the Keeper that you hadn't planned to sell.

I have met (via email and the phone) a number of people in the garlic world, but none of them match your character, professionalism, or quality. I am blessed and privileged to have found you.

We planted your garlic as winter came upon us earlier and harder than I’ve ever seen on my coastal Massachusetts farm. We got the last row in just as the blizzard became too heavy to continue, so it wasn’t possible to spread the rye straw we’d set aside for mulch. Fortunately, and uncharacteristically, we had a heavy snow cover all through the hardest, coldest winter ever. Then, sure enough, in March up came the first green shoots. Now, we have a very fine stand of vigorous, healthy garlic plants.

A belated thank you for your generosity and friendly attitude to a procrastinator! Best wishes for a great season, Mitch

from Lou Duckworth, Chambersburg, PA 5/20/09

"I just had to write and tell you that I am so impressed with the garlic I purchased last fall. Although I have several weeks to go until it is ready to be harvested, the size and health of the tops is amazing when compared to the garlic I have grown in the past. Thanks again for offering such a great product."

from Tina Elliott, Durham, ME 5/19/09

Just got your news letter and wanted to tell you how fabulous our garlic is. We just planted it last year and ours are averaging about 31 inches. Thank you so much for such a good product.

from Kent Hawk, Acworth, GA 1/09/09
"I finally returned home to find the garlic you mailed. HOLY COW!! I have not seen garlic like this! I'm planting these today in various beds in my back yard in celebration of my birthday this coming Sunday.
I still can't get over the size. Are these typical? Or are these the largest of your crop? I expected something much smaller. Also, you sent enough that I'm sending some to my parents. My dad is excited to plant a few of these cloves as well. We have fond memories of his father planting garlic for as many years as we can remember. Grandpa was known for the garlic he planted in his backyard in Oklahoma. You have contributed to keeping his memories alive. I'll let you know how my "crop" goes. Thanks again. Kent"

from Andy Wasserman, Schooleys Mt, NJ 11/29/08

Hi Terri, Hope your Thanksgiving was enjoyable and peaceful. Thank you for producing such delicious garlic. I've been eating the hardneck variety every day since my order arrived. Your garlic is just perfect as far as I'm concerned.

I'll be ordering from you again in the future. It brings me joy to be able to get it directly from a farmer as committed to excellence as you are.
Stay well and take care, Andy Wasserman

from Jane Burkhouse, Woodburn, OR 11/19/08

I had no idea your garlic would taste so good or I would have ordered at least 5 times as much garlic.

from Maggie Miles, Hippie Holler Farm, Elliott County, KY 9/24/08

Terri, Early last fall, I decided to grow organic garlic for our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) members. In all my years of organic gardening, I had never grown garlic before so I did some research online. I got a late start and most companies were already sold out. But, I found an eBay vendor who let me pick and choose from different varieties.

A few days after buying from the eBay vendor, I discovered your Hood River Garlic web site. It was both informative and easy to navigate. Most of all, I liked the idea of supporting another family-owned organic farming business.

I immediately placed an order for Chesnok Red (and later, purchased more!) Both the eBay garlic and the Hood River Garlic order arrived on the same day. The difference in quality, size, and cleanliness was stunning!

The eBay vendor’s garlic arrived caked with dirt, wrapped in sheets of old newspaper. The different varieties were labeled with a sloppily written Magic Marker notation. When I opened the newspaper wrapping, dirt fell out onto my lap. Most of the bulbs were damaged and brown; all were small.

Next, I opened the Hood River Garlic package. Wow! The garlic bulbs were exquisite. They were huge, immaculately clean, and beautifully packaged. From the moment I opened the package, I could tell what kind of company you are: you love growing garlic, you care for your customers and the environment, and you conduct business with down-home friendliness and integrity.

Your online “How to Grow Garlic” guide and calendar helped me immensely in growing garlic for the first time. Because your garlic seed was so healthy, my first garlic crop turned out beautifully.

Our Hippie Holler Farm CSA members loved their homegrown garlic this summer, and clamored for more each week. I told them that while I grew the garlic with a lot of TLC, the key was getting really healthy organic seed from Hood River Garlic.

The difference between the eBay vendor’s garlic and your Hood River Garlic was so stunning, I took out my camera that day last fall and took a bunch of photos. Along with my new order, I am attaching the photos for you to see.

Since my first order, I have had the opportunity to talk with Terri by phone. How many businesses can you pick up the phone and get the owners, who then take the time to answer your questions?

Feel free to use these photos on your web site, etc. You can give me the photo credit, but give yourselves all the credit for growing such beautiful garlic.

Photo by Maggie Miles

You have a loyal customer for life!

Maggie Miles
Hippie Holler Farm
Elliott County, Kentucky

from Michele Haag, Molalla, OR 9/14/08
"As usual your seed garlic is superb and we had a good harvest this year. I have reordered our two favorites, Oregon Blue and Chesnok Red, and am trying the Italian Red softneck for the first time. I have been deep in harvest time and canning, our growing season ran very late this year due to the cooler spring, and I almost forgot to order my seed garlic! Yikes! By the way, your web site gets better every time I look at it. The absolute wealth of information has helped me so much in growing, harvesting and using the garlic. THANK YOU! "

from Jacqueline Brunet, Holyoke, MA 9/06/08
"I received the Garlic Crusher and just *love* it! Thank you so much!"

from Helen Wong-Joe, Martinez, CA 8/27/08
"I received my garlic today and the way you packaged it is very impressive. Thank you so very much. I now have a place to buy my planting garlic."

from Kim, Evergreen, CO 8/19/08
"Last Fall a friend gave me a few bulbs he had ordered from you guys. I just harvested the garlic and it is truly the best garlic I have ever had so of course I had to order more for next year!! Thanks, Kim"

from Jean Kennedy, Walton, OR 8/01/08
"I just placed my Third order with you. I am very pleased with my Garlic Harvest this year. Once again! Thank you for Great Seed Garlic! I love it!"

from Jeanette Nolan, Kingston, NY 7/27/08
"Thank you so much! We are blown away by the crop we're getting this year and didn't want to wait. We harvested the Susanville and have NEVER grown garlic so big & beautiful before. We're eagerly waiting to harvest our hardnecks real soon. We're expanding our garden just to grow more garlic next year. Thank you! Jeanette"

from Jamal Khatib, Des Moines, IA 7/21/08

This email sent from Jamal after receiving his package of culinary garlic.

"Wow Terri, As a Garlic Lover With worldly experiences of many different garlic...Your Garlic is fantastic . the flavors of each kind is sumptuous , i am so satisfied with your selection..i am still comparing flavors i am growing also the german porcelain so thank you Terri again and i will be in touch next week to get more garlic from you...keep up the hard work..i can feel your beautiful energy with each bite.... big thanks from jamal and family."

from Adam Parker, Portland, OR 7/17/08
"Terri, it was so nice talking to you on the phone last year. We followed your instructions and the crop turned out beautifully. Thanks for taking the time to recommend some varieties. We shared some among the neighbors and everyone got good results."

from Ric Johnson, Not Quiet A Farm, Blytheville, AR 7/15/08
"I am a returning customer because your garlic was the best I got last year, the first year I ordered online, and you were helpful to me in correcting the problems I incurred because the other vendors clearly neither love their garlic or the people that buy it as much as y'all do. My crop from your garlic is healthy, large and sellable (tho' I have to keep it for seed and won't be selling seed this year). Just the opposite with all the others... size matters but so does quality. Anyway, keep up the good (but I know hard) work! Growing organic garlic is an art too, as I have found from experience."

from Rhonda Edrington, Foliage Management, College Grove, TN 7/08/08 "Terri, I harvested the last of my garlic on Sunday. They're beautiful! Looking forward to next. Thanks Rhonda"

from Patrick Mann, Durham, NC 6/28/08 "Hi Terri, I am impressed with the amazingly fast reply and the added insight- (to my garlic order)."

from Dick McDougall, Mother Earth Farm, Spokane, WA 4/07/08 "You guys have a fantastic product and very high quality. We are extremely happy with our tremendously plentiful and really high quality harvest this last season. As long as you have seed, we will be a loyal supportive customer. Many people have enjoyed and savored the bounty from Hood River Garlic's seed and our farm."

from Craig McClung, Anna Ford Farm, Mineral, VA 3/07/08
"With the last several days in the 60's and 70's and 40's at night the garlic is sprouting great! It looks like every bulb sprouted..."

from Saundra Ruzbasan, Unionville,Connecticut; 11/04/07
"As a newcomer to garlic growing I found your web site to be so informative. We purchased a variety of your garlic's for our New England Garden to see what would grow best . I emailed you periodically throughout the growing season and was always so impressed with your timely responses.We grew some local CT garlic and yours. All our friends were so impressed with size and form. I know I would have won if I entered local fairs. Taste, oh my... I have pickled, bottled with olive oil and now I'm going to dehydrate for garlic powder, thanx to your web site. P.S. Chopping up scapes and putting with a little water into an ice cube tray is great for marinades, soup, dips etc. (see garlic recipes for Saundra's recipe)"

from Lex, Norwalk, Connecticut; 10/09/07
"You guys have the best seed garlic I have ever seen, bar none and I have ordered from MANY places over the years. I am very interested to see what I harvest next July. I actually received some Chesnok Red from another grower a week ago, a few days after receiving your stock for the first time. Yikes! I was so disappointed with the size and quality of their product compared to yours that I went immediately to my computer and ordered the same amount of Chesnok from you guys. Fuggetaboutit. The competition has been banished to the kitchen as I am out of last year’s crop already. (I made an awful lot of hot sauce this year.) I vowed then and there to buy all my stock from Hood River every year until you guys retire or the universe ends, whichever comes first."

from Tina Hume, Durham, Maine; 10/27/07
"Your west coast garlic is being planted and enjoyed here in New England.
We have been very pleased with your seed garlic, we have not been able to get better garlic anywhere else."

from Wendy Mahmood, Corinth, Vermont; 9/25/07
"Thanks Terri! This year was my first experience with growing garlic and I can't say enough about how helpful your web site was for me! I planted 24 nice cloves and harvested 24 very nice bulbs of garlic, made 2 beautiful braids and I am thrilled. Needless to say, I ordered more! I received the order, it's beautiful and thank you! I'm going to show my neighbor the seed as I offered to order for her, or share your site...she already bought seed. Her bulbs this year were half the size of mine, so I'm hoping once she sees my bulbs and the seed that just arrived, she'll be a Hood River fan too! Thanks again! Have a great year."

from Jeff Firzlaff, Kent, Ohio; 9/06/07
"I have been growing garlic in my home garden for six years. I have purchased my seed stock locally and on the Internet in years past. I have to say that your garlic is hands down simply the best I have bought ever! The size of the heads and cloves is unbelievable. I suspect my harvest next year will be the best ever!"

from Teri Watson, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania; 8/28/07
"Wow, what beautiful garlic you have! I only hope to grow such lovely stuff!"

from Desmond Machuca, SeaTac, Washington; 8/24/07
"Thank you for the beautiful order of garlic you sent. What a nice job packaging, and I love your brochure and directions. Thank you for being so “green”! Our residents loved their gift of the two varieties of garlic and we all are anxious to see them sprout in the Spring."

from Loxi Faber, Danville, California; 9/02/07
"I recently received my shipment from you. The bulbs were so beautiful I couldn't wait to get them in the ground. Today is the day. I ripped out (early) everything that was left in my garden because I want to get to work. I was incredibly surprised to see what huge cloves each bulb had to offer. I have been buying garlic to plant for years, but NEVER have I seen such beautiful bulbs. What is the secret?"

from Ruth, Washington; 10/27/07
The garlic arrived and looks great. I'm very happy to have found your business and will be sure to buy from you again and recommend you to friends.

from Tom Klatka, Roanoke, Virginia; 9/06/07
"Your garlic seed is wonderful! Last year was the first year we ordered from Hood River. My wife, Ferri, found your web site and we liked the idea of a family-based company. We placed an order, then good weather teamed with your excellent seed garlic produced our best crop ever!!"

from Amanda Lawson, Asheville, North Carolina; 8/06/07
"I have really appreciated the personal service from ya'll. I live in Asheville, NC and just harvested about 100 heads of organic garlic from seed I got from Hood River Garlic! Delicious! Thanks for doing what you do."

from Elizabeth Barnard, Excelior, Minnesota; 7/26/07
"I look forward to enjoying your delicious garlic. We really loved the Susanville we tried last year, and can't wait to try some other varieties."

from Tom K, The Bay Area, California; 10/26/07

"It was such a pleasure dealing with you, I will certainly be ordering from you again. It’s customer service like you provided that make me come back and buy regardless of whether I could find cheaper organic garlic seed elsewhere! I felt like my tiny order was really important to you. Thanks again, I can hardly wait for harvest!"

from Liz O'Connor, Buffalo, New York; 7/26/07
"I received my (garlic mincer) order yesterday! Thanks! Even nicer looking than in the photo and the color is great too! It's much larger than I had expected, can't wait to use it! Thank you too for the garlic sample!"

from Beth Deene, Stockton, New Jersey; 7/24/07
"I bought some garlic at a farmer's market that had been grown from your garlic seed stock, so I am really excited to grow some of my own. You'll be seeing an order from me soon!"

Jamie Mirabito, Ringoes, New Jersey; 6/19/07
"Just wanted to let you know the seed garlic varieties we ordered from you are doing splendidly! Can't wait to harvest and get them to our market customers--big, beautiful, fragrant heads. Yumm! My question is: do you have any recipes for using the garlic scapes? (Click here to find out!) I'd like to sell those too, but have never used them myself. Many thanks and keep up the terrific work."

from Deron and Carin Moore, Texas; 6/12/07
"We at the BlackLand Prairie Family Farm wanted to send you a great big thank you for your help and guidance for our first year of growing garlic in the Texas heat and humidity. I wanted to let you know the crop is a big hit at the farmers market. We had great success many of the bulbs are quite large and overall the crop is in great shape. Our customers love the garlic and are buying as fast as we can dry it and bring it to market. The quality of your seed garlic speaks for it self it was fantastic and provided great results. This year we grew your Red Toch and Susanville. Thank you again and I hope your season is progressing as well as ours."

from Dave Hawley, Minnesota; 9/12/06
"I live in the lower half of Minnesota, what type of seed will flourish best in the climate I live in? You came highly recommended by an acquaintance of mine at the U of M here in Minneapolis. I look forward to purchasing some of your seed for home use."

from Don Womack, Boston, Massachusetts; 6/26/06
"I wanted you to know that I just spent the last half hour going through your web site and found it to be impressive and full of good information. I started growing garlic here in Massachusetts about two years ago and have had some pretty good success. This year's crop will prove to me whether I can consistently grow garlic or not!! I've been a gardener for a very long time but had never grown garlic before. Thanks for a very informative web site on growing garlic."

from Richard Tanksley, Atlanta, GA; 10/03/07

"Wahooooo! This has been the best gift I ever received."

This reply was sent after emailing Rich that his Garlic of The Month was on it's way.

from Tami Gray-Stipe, Milwaukie, Oregon; 6/22/06
"You did a fantastic job with your visual calendar by the way. It was one of the most simple and yet detailed pieces of information that I have viewed with regards to the growing of anything. Thank you for your professionalism and kindness."

from Pat and Shellie Ringer, Moxee Wa; 3/31/07
Hello this is Pat from Moxee Wa. and I'm excited to say I have 100% of the Garlic coming up........Thanks so much.....Pat and Shellie