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Journal #15

August 6, 2008

            I have been doing a great deal of research about heirloom seed companies over the last six months. I have chosen several prominent heirloom seed companies as what I would consider to be model seed companies for my proposed African American Heirloom seed company. Among my most favorite is the D Landreth Seed Company of New Freedom, Pennsylvania.

            D. Landreth is America’s oldest seed company. It was begun in 1784 by David Landreth. The Landreth family was from England. They first came to Canada in 1780, then moved four years later to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where they started there seed company .The D. Landreth Seed Company is the fifth oldest corporation in America. The company can boast of having served every American president from George Washington to Franklin D. Roosevelt. Among their other prominent customers was Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon Bonaparte’s brother. Commodore Perry took Landreth seeds with him in 1852 on his expedition to Japan. Commodore Perry returned to America from Japan with the first shrubs and plants ever imported into this country.

            I have been fortunate enough to have received a D. Landreth Seed Company catalog for many years. It is a catalog that I read over and over again. I love to see the colorful photographs and the great descriptions of each seed. I truly have gained much knowledge from studying this wonderful work of art that is a treasure for any serious minded heirloom grower. The catalog not only has lots of old time vegetables, but heirloom herbs, ornamental vines, wildflowers, as well as old fashioned flowers. The beloved Zinnia was introduced into this country in 1798 by the D. Landreth Seed company from Mexico.

            As I continue to develop my seed catalog and website, I continue to visit the D. Landreth website for inspiration and professional support .My seed company will be unique in that it is focused upon  the African American history of heirloom gardening. It is my sincere hope to share this history with any interested gardener. African American gardening history is seldom mentioned in any gardening books in reference the history of gardening in America. When I began researching the history of African American heirlooms, it was an extremely hard task fact finding specifics about African heirlooms. I have now been researching African American heirloom history for about seven years. I think that I have been merely scratching the surface in my quest. I am always shocked and amazed to read something I never knew about vegetables, fruits and herbs that I have known about all of my life. When I convey this information to other people they too are amazed at what I tell them. I hope to open new avenues for many gardeners about the fascinating history of African American gardening. I hope to share all of this information on my website and in future books that I plan to write, as well.