proof, especially for home gardening,” she said. “I think the (pandemic) will change the way people think about their food, and is creating a new awareness for everyone, whether they want organic or conventional seed. The pandemic is definitely putting an interesting twist on the home gardening industry. This will change the marketplace.” She has this advice for home gardeners: Always try something new, and never underestimate the value and power of growing your own food. It could be a few herbs or a couple pots of vegetables on a terrace. Food gardening is a positive and powerful action anyone can take to control their diet as well as the quality of the food they eat, she explained. Next time you pick up a packet of seeds, think about the power you’re holding in your hands to change your life.
Advice: Try something new Like any other farming operation, Buskirk’s is subject to the whims of the weather, so trouble comes with the territory: early rains, late rains, wind, hail, insect damage, you name it, she said. Add to that the fact that seed production takes much longer than crop production. Often, seeds are harvested just before the fall rains hit. Timing is everything. Yet she says nothing deters her or dampens her enthusiasm. “My friends tell me I’m an eternal optimist. You can’t be a farmer and not be an eternal optimist,” she said. “I’m always looking ahead to see what next year’s crop wi l l bring. I gamble enough in my business, since I depend on the weather, so I don’t need to bet on the card table.” Buskirk said she doesn’t expect business to slow due to the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, she said business will likely increase in the years to come. “I’ve always considered the seed business recession-
Pat Rubin cbmagazine@californiabountiful.com
MORE ONLINE Go behind the scenes with Patty Buskirk. Video at californiabountiful.com.
for spring and summer planting
A decade ago, seed catalogs for home gardeners arrived via the U.S. Postal Service. The catalogs would start trickling in around November and, during the next few weeks, it would become a deluge. Although this information is available online, most gardeners will tell you there’s something relaxing about being surrounded by half a dozen seed catalogs with their colorful photos of fruits, vegetables and flowers. It can be storming outside, but inside it’s spring and summer. Most companies offer a free hard-copy catalog upon request. Whether on your laptop, tablet, smartphone or with a catalog in hand, you’ll discover a whole world of flowers and produce. There are old-fashioned favorites, as well as modern hybrids bred for a longer growing season or more flowers. There are winter squashes with mysterious and romantic-sounding names, many of which have been grown for 100 years. It’s a cornucopia with something for everyone. These unusual vegetable and flower varieties are finding their ways onto nursery center racks, too. Stick with varieties easy to start if you’re new to growing from seed. Easy vegetables include squash (winter and summer), cucumbers, peas, beans and melons. Easiest flowers include zinnias, sunflowers and nasturtiums. Now is the time to begin ordering seeds. Most seed companies catering to the home gardener send their catalogs, whether electronic or hard copy, late fall into late winter for spring and summer planting. Or, if you prefer, you can do your browsing at the seed rack of the local garden center.
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