Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds was started by a 17 year old named Jeremiath (Jere) Gettle back in 1998. Today he owns one of the largest heirloom seed companies in the United States. Jere also produces a seasonal magazine called The Heirloom Gardener.
Jere, his wife Emilee, & Their Wee One, Sasha
Don't know what an heirloom seed is or what all the hype is about?
Heirloom seeds are seeds that have been passed down through families and have come from varieties of fruits, vegetables, flowers, etc. that are at least 50 years old. In Jere's words, "some varieties even date back to Thomas Jefferson's garden and beyond."
Heirloom seeds have not been genetically modified like most commercially popular seeds available today. They have not been messed with in some laboratory somewhere and changed from the original "Grand Design". They can be saved year to year and passed down from generation to generation--which is in fact how many of them have survived to this day--without some Monsanto police stopping by your house one day and accusing you of messing with "their" patented seeds. (It has happened, people, and continues to.) You see, you are not allowed to save Monsanto seeds. But enough about the dark side...
Once you've opened up an heirloom seed catalog and spied all the different, colorful, and whimsically named produce that you will never see on a grocery store shelf--and most important, lets face it--when you have tasted some you will be as hooked as I and a lot of my fellow bloggers are.
You just wait.
And next year, you will be the one eagerly waiting by your mailbox in late December/early January for the colorful sight of a seed catalog.
What a neat post! I think I will check out this seed company and I appreciate you sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteMaggie
I was just thinking about seeds today actually. One of my goals for this year is to actually have my garden PRODUCE food! LOL I tend to have a bit of a black thumb.
ReplyDeleteI just love this! Don't you find that the colours of heirloom veggies are so much prettier than the 'regular' varieties?
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for my catalogues to come!
What a wonderful array of rainbow coloured goodness. I've been trying to find an heirloom seed catalogue for just these reasons. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I'm rather embarrased to admit it, but I've never really understood exactly what heirloom seeds were about until you explained it just now. lol I'm a novice gardner, have experimented with growing a few things here and there, but aparment building living has seriously hampered my ability to garden and learn. Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm with us!
ReplyDeleteI'm with Lyon...I had no idea!
ReplyDeleteBut I have to say, you've convinced me. I hope to have a garden one day, so I'm going to sign up for a magazine with this company too.
Thank you!
I am going to order that catalog today. :) I want to do all heirloom plants in my garden, for health, and am excited to have another source for seeds! Thanks for the post. :) I am also so glad you mentioned the evil Monsanto as anti-heirloom...I really loathe them for everything they do and stand for. The "dark side" is the perfect description! Here's to real food. :)
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