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History, Culture & Craftsmanship
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| Agriculture Index • The Road to Baker Creek • |
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Although Jere Gettle was not born in the Ozarks, this young man clearly demonstrates the Ozark spirit of determination, self-reliance and respect of heritage.
"I've been interested in gardening since I was really little," he says.
Really little is right. He planted his first squash and tomato garden at the age of four.
"In 1993, we moved here from Montana and I had a longer growing season. I started ordering more catalogs and joined Seed Savers Exchange. In 1997, I decided to put out my own little price list and in 1998, I sent out my first seed catalog to 550 gardeners — filling all the orders in my room and fulfilling my dream to be a seedsman."
Jere Gettle was 17.
Today, he works with a network of about 50 small gardeners and seed collectors. He also travels extensively to obtain new varieties.
"What we're trying to get people to know is about all the diversity out there," Gettle explains. "I've been to Southeast Asia three times and Central America three times.
"We want gardeners to grow something they've never grown before. We have about 1,100 different varieties of vegetables, flowers and herbs from 66 countries.
"Most of the varieties are heirloom, which means they were passed down from family to family. We also have several different types of heirloom tomatoes from right here in the Ozarks.
By midwinter of 2007, the Gettles had completed the first phase of the village Bakersville, located on the family farm.
"We wanted to develop a living history village and farm on our 1850's era homestead. When people come here we'd like them to have a good time, learn something about traditional ways of life, food and music."
(continued above right)
We have several different types of tomatoes that have been passed down from generation to generation, including the Missouri Pink Love Apple, the Millionaire, the German Lunchbox and Gerry's German Giant.
"Love apple" was the old name for tomatoes back when they were believed to be poisonous. In the 1850s, the family growing the Missouri Pink Love Apple variety grew it as an ornamental!
Gerry's German Giant has been grown by our local mechanic here in Mansfield. A lot of the tomatoes grown in the Ozarks are of German origin.
— Jere Gettle, 10/24/07
Bakersville, located just north of Mansfield, continues to expand with an old-time mercantile, apothecary, jail, two music barns, and a native stone oven.
A seed museum, blacksmith shop, a bakery and historic livestock barn are included in Gettle's 2008 plans.
Since 1998, Jere's seed list to 550 customers has grown to a 100-page catalog mailed to a record-110,000 folks.
Baker Creed Seed Company hosts 12 garden and music shows per year, each on the first weekend of the month.
And lastly, this exceptional young seedsman presides over no less than six gardening websites: RareSeeds.com, IDigMyGarden.com, Heirloomseedsmen.com, StreetsofBakersville.com, TheHeirloomGardener.com and Gettle.org.
"Agriculture and seeds provide the basics up which our lives depend," explains Gettle. "We must protect this foundation as a safe and genetically stable source for future generations."
It is clear Baker Creek Seed Company is doing its part.
January 4, 2008