Our Story

Seeds since 1985

Renee Shepherd is widely regarded as a pioneer in introducing international vegetable, culinary herb and flower varieties to home gardeners and gourmet restaurants. After receiving her PhD from UC Santa Cruz and teaching there, she established Shepherd’s Garden Seeds in 1985 and later, Renee's Garden in 1998 to do what she likes best – searching out the very best seeds from around the world, thoroughly testing them in her own garden, and developing recipes based on homegrown produce to share with fellow gardeners.

In addition to founding and developing the seed company business, Renee is a long-time garden to table advocate, lectures widely, and has written three popular Kitchen Garden cookbooks.

Our Trial Gardens

The heart of everything we do

It all starts in Renee's backyard in Felton, California. Every year we test ~300 new varieties in our trial gardens on both the West and East coasts to find the highest quality seeds guaranteed to be successful in all climate zones. Seeds are chosen for excellence in flavor, color, and ease of growing for home gardeners. We don't sell anything that we haven't trialed ourselves.

Left to right: Elayne Takemoto, Product & Marketing Manager, Lindsay Del Carlo, Trial Garden Manger, and Renee Shepherd, Founder

Our Seeds

  • Safe, Organic & Non-GMO

    Whether you plant our Certified Organic seeds or choose from our large range of conventionally produced seed varieties, you should know that supporting sustainable farming practices is an integral part of our mission at Renee's Garden. We have signed the "Safe Seed Pledge" and do not sell chemically tested or genetically engineered seeds.

     

    We have been committed organic gardeners for over 35 years using strictly organic gardening practices with great success and satisfaction. Everyone at Renee's Garden eats and enjoys the organic produce we grow in our trial gardens as a significant part of their diets. Our organic seeds are sourced from small USDA Certified Organic seed growers, family farms and cooperatives who meet our high standards for germination and purity.

  • From Around The World

    We search the world to bring fresh flavors to American soil – and kitchens. Renee's Garden seeds are authentically sourced from growers we know and trust in the USA, Holland, Italy, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Thailand, Japan, China and New Zealand.

     

    Informational Packets

    Our individually written packets offer beautiful watercolor illustrations and are written as if Renee is talking to you with down to earth descriptions, complete growing instructions, a quick-view planting chart, growing tips, harvesting information and cooking ideas. We want gardeners to be successful with our seeds, and we provide everything we can to help them.

Spreading Seeds in the Community

Helping grow a better tomorrow

Every year, Renee's Garden donates seeds to a wide variety or organizations and educational programs that work to improve social, economic and health conditions and promote sustainable organic gardening practices. Groups include community, school, and prison gardens and more.

Join us in the Garden

Home-grown food and fresh bouquets

"Renee's Garden is a company run by gardeners, for gardeners. It is our way to spread the joy of gardening as a meaningful, productive and satisfying activity that connects us to each other and the earth."

- Renee Shepherd, Founder