A Passion for Heirloom Vegetable Seeds

Vegetables
Written By Steven Biggs
Jere Gettle with a giant kohlrabi. Heirloom vegetable seed

Jere Gettle from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds talks about heirloom vegetable seeds.

Heirloom Vegetable Seeds

Jere Gettle from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds joins us to talk seeds, seed saving, and seed collecting.

He loves meeting gardeners, chefs, and farmers who share old seed varieties and the stories behind them.

Lifelong Passion for Heirloom Seeds

Gettle started his seed business as a teenager, with a 12-page photocopied price list.

Today, the seed company tests over 4,000 heirloom seed varieties each year.

Gettle says that for a variety to make the cut for the catalogue, he’s looking for 3 things:

  • It’s beautiful

  • It tastes great

  • It grows well

Connect

If this episode piqued your interest in seeds, tune in to the November 2020 episode entitled Creating New Tomato Varieties. Emma chats with heirloom seed saver and tomato expert Linda Crago about breeding tomato varieties.

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Steven Biggs

Recognized by Garden Making Magazine as one of the "green gang" of Canadians making a difference in horticulture, Steven Biggs is a horticulturist, former college instructor, and award-winning broadcaster and author. His passion is helping home gardeners grow food in creative and attractive ways.


He’s the author of eight gardening books, including the Canadian bestseller No Guff Vegetable Gardening. His articles have appeared in Canada’s Local Gardener, Mother Earth News, Fine Gardening, Garden Making, Country Guide, Edible Toronto, and other magazines.


Along with over 30 years working in the horticultural sector and a horticultural-science major at the University of Guelph, Steven’s experience includes hands-on projects in his own garden including wicking beds, driveway strawbale gardens, and a rooftop tomato plantation—to the ongoing amusement of neighbours.


When not in the garden, you might catch him recording his award-winning Food Garden Life podcast or canoeing in Algonquin Park.

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