\nOnce empty rows in in old Comstock, Ferre & Co. seed store in Old Weathersfield, CT, are once again full of seed for both the vegetable garden and the flower bed. All, non GMO and many interesting varieties found no where else.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n<\/div>\n
\nToday, although I miss the old ox blood stained buildings of the old Comstock, Ferre & CO from my memories of seed shopping here in the 1960’s and 70’s with my mom and dad, this American landmark has been not only saved, it has been truly rescued, and thanks to the generosity and support of a true visionary – Jere Gettle of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, this gem from the past is now shared with the public not unlike the heirloom treasures so carefully preserved, within. The Gettle’s care, not only about supporting non GMO seed saving, but they care about even more important things. Heritage, family and what many of us so easily forget, the DNA of our human experience. The Gettles have kept their promise to operate this landmark in Old Weathersfield as if it existed in the 1800’s. <\/div>\n
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\n\n\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nThanks to the generosity and dedication of Gere Gettle, owner of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, the Comstock, Ferre & Co. seed company has been saved, and improved upon in many ways.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n<\/div>\n
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Pulling up outside, I became very worried when I saw that the entire compound of barns and structures had been painted white and blue ( although, maybe historically they were this color in the 1800’s?), but once inside, I was instantly transported back to what I imagine the nineteenth Century was like. No longer were there empty rows or drawers of seed, now there were hundreds of varieties, more than what I could tell is available in the Baker Creek Catalog. Sure, there were glitches that only a designer might complain about ( laser printed signage with default typefaces) but one could also claim that this is just a contemporary expression of folk art, right? All in all, it deserves a visit again, if only to buy one of those amazing fermenting crocks that I saw.<\/p>\n
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\n\n\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nNothing like shopping for seed with a hand basket, with the smell of cinnamon in the air, and the bright light of a new snowfall. All I needed was a sleigh outside and Laura Ingalls. “Nellie, git your hands off of that packet of Cosmos!”<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n<\/div>\n
\n\n\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nIf you have never seen the Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Catalog, it’s worth getting, if only for the great American story it represents. Jere Gettle started this business a decade ago in his cellar, and today, it’s one of the world’s most admired seed suppliers. The design and photography alone, is noteworthy.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n
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\n\n\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nEvery inch of the Comstock, Ferre & Co. building is historically interesting, from ancient seed separating machinery to antiques, some of which are for sale.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n<\/div>\n
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\n\n\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nIt’s safe to say that one can easily leave with far more seed than one needs, just by being caught up in the moment and the experience.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n
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\n\n\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nSome old boxes of seed still on the shelf from the old Comstock. Ferre & Co. days.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n
\n\n\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nI wanted to sneak open one of these drawers!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n
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\n\n\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nOld drawers, each with a history and a story. Oh, if only that Cubanelle Pepper drawer could speak! The stories it could tell.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n
\n\n\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nSome of the beautiful black seed packaging from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n
\n\n\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nI only have room for about a dozen varieties of tomatoes, really…..I mean it.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n<\/div>\n
\n\n\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nYour’s truly with my friend horticulturist Tamsin Goggin (right), who seems to show up whenever I speak, which delights me. Oh, and her Primula Kewensis was spectacular. It was a good thing that she kept it in a box, or it might have found a new home! Oh, I should mention that I spoke here this weekend as a guest speaker for the Connecticut chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n<\/div>\n
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\n\n\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nSome of the seeds I returned with.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n
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Last Saturday while speaking at the monthly meeting of the Connecticut chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society held at the Comstock,Ferre &…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4839,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4838","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
A JOURNEY BACK IN TIME, JUST TO BUY SEEDS - Growing With Plants<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n