He Specializes In Rare “Cucurbit” Seeds From Around The World
If you’re looking for heirloom pumpkin, gourd or squash seeds, there’s a good chance Mac Condill has them in his collection. Growing cucurbit crops is his family’s business at their farm, The 200 Acres, in Arthur, Ill. The Condills grow more than 300 varieties for their Great Pumpkin Patch, bake some of them up for the Homestead Bakery, and sell nearly 200 varieties in their store and online.
“We carry some of the rarest squash varieties in the world,” Condill says. His favorite is Tetsukabuto, a Japanese squash he talked about on a Martha Stewart television segment and included in decorations on the White House lawn.
But many of the varieties are old-time favorites that may be difficult to find, such as Moranga de Mesa, Hopi Cushaw and Survivor.
About 90 percent are heirlooms, so customers can replant the seeds and keep true to the variety if they are planted in isolation.
Condill has 30 to 40 isolation growers to ensure that varieties are at least 1/2 mile away from other cucurbits to avoid cross-pollination.
Fall is a busy time, gathering the harvest, scooping out the seeds and letting them air dry on racks for about a month. Condill labels the seeds and puts them in jars. Most seeds are good up to five years without germination loss.
To fill orders, he puts 15 to 18 seeds in amber bottles ($5), which preserve the seeds and are pretty enough to be displayed. Having them seen to spark conversation is important to Condill.
“I’m not out there to sell to the mega farmer. I want to provide seeds to the enthusiasts, the small farmers, and to give people back the varieties they remember,” he says. “With the internet people can search for a variety and land on our web page.”
Homestead Seeds allows customers to search for varieties under several categories including country of origin, maturity and by use. Descriptions are concise and include details such as noting they were featured on Martha Stewart’s TV show or that they are “Oh so pretty, but tastes like chalk” as seen in the Casper white pumpkin description.
He ships seeds all over the U.S. and to other countries typically from December-April.
Condill also loves to promote cucurbits and their stories and traditions by decorating places such as the White House lawn and Chicago’s Botanical Gardens.
And, he encourages people to keep seed and raise their own, even if it means they won’t buy new seed from him every year.
“I’m OK with people keeping the seeds going. That’s a win in my book,” he says.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Mac Condill, Homestead Seeds, 1749A County Rd. 1900 N., Arthur, Ill. 61911 (ph 217 543-2394; www.the200acres.com; thestore@the200acres.com).
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He Specializes In Rare “Cucurbit” Seeds From Around The World CROPS Miscellaneous If you’re looking for heirloom pumpkin gourd or squash seeds there’s a good chance Mac Condill has them in his collection Growing cucurbit crops is his family’s business at their farm The 200 Acres in Arthur Ill The Condills grow more than 300 varieties for their Great Pumpkin Patch bake some of them up for the Homestead Bakery and sell nearly 200 varieties in their store and online
“We carry some of the rarest squash varieties in the world ” Condill says His favorite is Tetsukabuto a Japanese squash he talked about on a Martha Stewart television segment and included in decorations on the White House lawn
But many of the varieties are old-time favorites that may be difficult to find such as Moranga de Mesa Hopi Cushaw and Survivor
About 90 percent are heirlooms so customers can replant the seeds and keep true to the variety if they are planted in isolation
Condill has 30 to 40 isolation growers to ensure that varieties are at least 1/2 mile away from other cucurbits to avoid cross-pollination
Fall is a busy time gathering the harvest scooping out the seeds and letting them air dry on racks for about a month Condill labels the seeds and puts them in jars Most seeds are good up to five years without germination loss
To fill orders he puts 15 to 18 seeds in amber bottles $5 which preserve the seeds and are pretty enough to be displayed Having them seen to spark conversation is important to Condill
“I’m not out there to sell to the mega farmer I want to provide seeds to the enthusiasts the small farmers and to give people back the varieties they remember ” he says “With the internet people can search for a variety and land on our web page ”
Homestead Seeds allows customers to search for varieties under several categories including country of origin maturity and by use Descriptions are concise and include details such as noting they were featured on Martha Stewart’s TV show or that they are “Oh so pretty but tastes like chalk” as seen in the Casper white pumpkin description
He ships seeds all over the U S and to other countries typically from December-April
Condill also loves to promote cucurbits and their stories and traditions by decorating places such as the White House lawn and Chicago’s Botanical Gardens
And he encourages people to keep seed and raise their own even if it means they won’t buy new seed from him every year
“I’m OK with people keeping the seeds going That’s a win in my book ” he says
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Mac Condill Homestead Seeds 1749A County Rd 1900 N Arthur Ill 61911 ph 217 543-2394; www the200acres com; thestore@the200acres com
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