The first time I accidently came across The Whole Seed Catalog, a new world of gardening, plants (some I had never heard of), and flowers was opened to me. Through gorgeous colored photos, The Whole Seed Catalog introduced me to heirloom seeds, organic gardening, amazing fruits, and vegetables and herbs from around the world with an emphasis on growing and eating healthy fruits and vegetables for my family.
“It seems that gardening and good food continue to connect people and places from all generations,” writes Jeremiath “Jere” Gettle who, at the age of 17, printed the first Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Catalog in 1998. The catalog now has nearly 1,200 seed varieties including seeds from the 19th century and boasts it promotes and preserves American agriculture and culinary heritage.
“Seeds are the living component that connects us back to our ancestors, our own culture, and the amazing cultures and food traditions from around the planet. Saving this living link to the past and making a gift to the future is what seed saving is all about – reserving these precious seeds and their stories,” Jere writes in the 2020 issue of The Whole Seed Catalog.
Jere, along with wife, Emilee, have worked to make the catalog the family business and a well known resource for amazing heirloom/open-pollinated seeds (vegetables pollinated in the field by wind or natural pollinators) as well as cutting-edge information for and about the pure-food movement (fresh food as nature created).
Each edition of the catalog offers colorful photos and descriptions of seeds for vegetables, fruits, and herbs. The 2020 edition has 452 pages that include information about heirloom varieties from around the globe; recipes, articles, and advice on growing and seed saving; and ancient histories of the precious heirloom strains, as well as many familiar American plants and new varieties from the around the world.
The beautiful photos and enormous amount of gardening information of the annual seed catalog leads me to keep the catalog for several years to glean the information loaded in each catalog.
Every year this enormous 1½” or more thick catalog becomes available in December until February in local bookstores for $12.99, or can be ordered online with free shipping or handling charges to customers in the USA, North America, Mexico and Canada.
Jere and Emilee, haven't been content to just create an amazing seed catalog, but beginning in 2000 began hosting festivals promoting gardening, especially with heirlooms. The gardening duo brought The National Heirloom Festival to Santa Rosa in 2010 and continues this year, Sept. 15-17, at the Sonoma County Events Center `at the Fairgrounds from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. One-day ticket is $15 or three-day pass is $30 (Purchased at the gate). Children are free.
Thousands come from around the world to the Expo to celebrate traditional crops, foods, seeds, poultry, and livestock. Featuring the largest display of heirloom produce, many small gardeners and large farmers supply an abundance of fruits and vegetables for exhibiting and tasting.
The School Garden Network Kids' Pavilion is packed with fun and games including educational activities, contests and competitions. The Bee Exhibit teaches attendees the importance of bees to crop production. The Dahlia Exhibit displays without a doubt “The Most Magnificent, Spectacular Colossal Blooms Ever Seen On Display” with cash prizes and ribbons awarded.
There are mountains of heirloom pumpkins and endless displays of organic vegetables. Cool Beans' heirloom seeds will be available to swap. On display will be the winners of the Sunflower Contest. More than100 nationally and internationally acclaimed speakers (individual speakers, expert-panels, or in-depth roundtable discussions) will again headline the Expo.