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Stories included free of charge with heirloom seeds"The growth in Internet sales has been the most amazing," Gettle said. Doug Rich
Gettle has seen consistent growth in his heirloom seed business since he started it as a hobby in 1998. That year he put out his first price list just to see what would happen. The first year was very slow but, in 1999, just as the Y2K scare was getting started, business really took off and it has been expanding ever since. In 1998, he mailed out 500 catalogs. This year he sent out 120,000 catalogs and ran out by the first of March. Gettle said people in the vegetable seed industry have seen a growth in business not just for heirloom seeds but also across the board. The trend in the gardening industry in 2008 has been for consumers to spend more money on vegetables and fruits than on flowers, for the first time. The survey says In a national survey commissioned by the Garden Writers Association Foundation, consumers were asked what type of garden-related purchases they planned to make in 2008. Fifty-four percent of those responding to the survey said they would be spending money on lawn and garden supplies, followed by vegetable and fruit plants at 39 percent, annual flowers at 38 percent, trees and shrubs at 35 percent, and perennial flowers at 31 percent. Gettle thinks a lot of the interest in vegetable gardening has to do with the economy. He said about 50 percent of the people they have visit their farm near Mansfield, Mo., are worried about the economy. "They tell us over and over again they can't afford the prices in the stores," Gettle said. He said a lot of people in the lower and middle income groups are definitely growing more of their own vegetables, while other people are doing it for a hobby or because they are concerned about what they are eating. Whenever there is media attention like a recent story about organic apples in National Geographic or the recent scare about tomatoes, Gettle can expect a bump in sales. "If a report comes out that says we need to be eating more red carrots, then we know to get more seed and that farmers' markets will be selling more red carrots," Gettle said. About 50 percent of his business is through the Internet, 40 percent is mail order or telephone orders, and 10 percent is purchased at his store on the farm. "Last year I thought we had really good growth with about a 30 percent increase in our online business," Gettle said. "But our Internet sales are up 100 percent already this year." "The growth in Internet sales has been the most amazing," Gettle said. Mail order sales are up 20 percent and sales at the store are up 100 percent this year. Store sales are enhanced by the monthly festivals held at the farm. These festivals feature speakers who discuss garden related topics, music, and vendors selling or trading heirloom seeds and plants. The monthly festivals attract people from about a four- to six-state region. Festivals Larger two-day events are held in spring and summer, which attract visitors from around the country. The spring festival generally attracts 6,000 people from 30 to 40 states and up to 70 vendors. Last year 1,500 people from 20 states attended the summer festival. Like the smaller versions, there are speakers, music on multiple stages, and vendors. Gettle grew up in Oregon where he says his parents and grandparents grew big gardens with lots of different varieties of plants. They would grow 15 to 20 different kinds of squash every fall. His family moved to Missouri when he was 12 years old and Gettle started collecting and trading heirloom seed. "It was just a hobby," Gettle said. Now, in addition to seed he collects from four small gardens on his farm, Gettle has 50 farmers across the U.S., France, and Italy who grow seed for him. His gardens are used to produce specialty varieties that they don't need in large supply most years. This year he sold 1,000 different types of vegetables and 150 different flowers and herbs. This selection goes up by about 100 varieties every year and all of them are historic or heirloom varieties. Tomatoes are the number one seller followed by melons, squash and corn seed. "People get into heirloom varieties and are amazed by all the different colors," Gettle said. "Pretty soon they want a collection: one from China, one from Russia, or one that someone's great grandmother raised in the Dakotas." A neighbor of his started with a few tomato plants and is now growing 70 different varieties of tomatoes. People like interesting varieties, with interesting stories, that no one has tried or seen. Last year Gettle grew some cannibal tomatoes that originated in the Fiji Islands. Natives there used the plants to make a special sauce. "For a lot of these varieties, we are the only source," Gettle said. "And we are down to two or three sources on many things." Early on, Gettle purchased seed from traders, collectors, and seed banks. Today people from around the world send him seed to grow. Someone will call and say they have some beans that their great grandmother brought over from Germany in the 1850s. Others come in looking to replace heirloom seeds that have been lost, so they can start growing those varieties again. "People will come by the store with a bottle of seeds or package of tomato seeds along with a story and they just want someone to grow it," Gettle said. Historical gardens Historical gardens across the U.S. come to Baker Creek Heirloom Seed for their displays. They are looking for seed that goes back to a specific era. "We sell seeds to nearly every historical garden in the U.S.," Gettle said. June through November is the slow season at Baker Creek Seeds. Gettle said their busy season is from December to May. He will have the full crew working from January to April, as people are busy planning their gardens and buying seed. This summer workers are busy adding to the collection of buildings on the farm. Gettle is creating a small village that depicts the 1920s lifestyle, where he wants to demonstrate the old way of farming and food processing. This summer he is adding an aviary and a grist mill. "Our goal is to add two buildings every year," Gettle said. No matter what the reason is, if you are looking for a Cherokee purple tomato, a black Spanish radish, or Kleckley's sweet watermelon, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds can help you. Editors note: For more information, you can call Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds at 417-924-8917 or visit www.rareseeds.com. Doug Rich can be reached by phone at 785-749-5304 or by e-mail at richhpj@aol.com. 8/4/08 Date: 7/31/08
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The stories, history, color and taste are all things that attract people to heirloom varieties. Jere Gettle, owner of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds in Mansfield, Mo., said the interest in these plants is growing every year.