Wade McCourry grew up in a greenhouse, so to speak. He learned the plant business from his father. He could not have had a better teacher.
Wade learned the old ways for growing plants for food crops and flowers for landscaping: planting by the signs, caring for the soil, and most importantly, saving seeds.
Seed-saving is almost a lost art but Wade has carried on the tradition he learned over the decades from his dad Troy, his mother Hattie, and from the traditional farmers and home gardeners who have frequented the 68-year-old business to buy seeds, plants, soil amendments, and supplies. Troy learned from his parents and grandparents during the 1930s Great Depression.
Both his parents are gone now – Troy passed in 2009 and Hattie in 2010 – but they are warmly remembered in Yancey and surrounding counties for their knowledge about everything that yields a successful garden. As the second-generation owner, Wade has continued their legacy, especially seed saving, something he is passionate about and is known for locally, regionally and across the state.
When customers come to Troy’s Greenhouse and Garden Supply tucked back off Cherry Lane in Burnsville, they come for more than seeds and starter plants, they come for advice from the expert. Wade can tell them about amending soil, planting by the signs, advise them on issues they are having, and predict the weather including frost dates that are essential information for any grower.
Wade’s predictions have saved many residents’ crops because they listen when he shares his knowledge. For instance, if it thunders in February, mark the same date in May because that will be the last frost and after that it will be safe to plant. He warns customers eager to plant during sunny, warm spells in March or April, that bad weather is still ahead. Those who don’t take his advice often learn the hard way.
He doesn’t need the Weather Channel or National Weather Service to tell him about weather patterns. He watches the sky, the signs, and shares the wisdom of those who came before him.
Now in his sixties, Wade is looking to the future and plans to slow down a little. He’s not retiring but plans to change his focus somewhat. One thing he will continue to do is save seeds – and he wants to make sure a new generation continues to provide that vital community resource.
Why is seed saving important? Seeds can be gathered and stored to be planted from year-to-year, while hybrid seeds, and seeds from plants you buy in garden centers, usually cannot be saved to reproduce next year’s crops. And more importantly, saved heirloom seeds can be shared with others.
Also, seeds grown in local soils are better adapted to the area where they grow, and these old favorites are more resilient to changes in climate – and the vegetables are often tastier and more nutritious.
Wade has spent a lifetime saving and sharing heirloom seeds locally, a practice that preserves seed quality and diversity and perpetuates mountain farming heritage. And you don’t have to buy seeds the next season!
Saving seeds can also help with food security, which is important in case of crop failures, prices increases, and if seeds become scarce.
To honor Wade and his family’s years of seed-saving and help continue his legacy, a group of local individuals and the Utopia Seed Project (a regional effort to collect and distribute local heirloom seeds) are hosting an event on January 20 in Burnsville to support Wade’s efforts, help create awareness about seed-saving, and raise initial funds to help sponsor an apprentice who can carry on and share Wade’s knowledge for many years to come.
“We are lucky that Wade McCourry and is father before him have been saving local seeds,” said Jim Smith, one of the organizers of this event recognizing Wade’s efforts. “Honoring and working with Wade over the next few years will preserve, catalog, and help others add to and grow these seeds. It has been a pleasure for me to get to know this man.”
The community is invited to this event at Higgins Methodist Church Family Life Center at 101 North Main Street from 4:30 – 8 p.m. The evening’s lineup includes dinner beginning at 5 p.m., an introduction to Utopia Seed Project by Chris Smith at 6:15 p.m., and a tribute to Wade at 6:45, which will include comments from Wade (he is quite the storyteller as his customers and friends can attest.)
The facility seats 150 so reservations are needed by Jan. 18 due to the limited space and for the dinner catered by Pig n’ Grits. Admission and meal is $10 (pay when you arrive, cash only). Additional donations gratefully accepted! To RSVP, email is preferred: gather4wade@gmail.com or if email is unavailable, call Christina at 682-1871 (Yancey Extension Center) to RSVP. If the $10 donation is a hardship, please note that when making your reservation and the fee will be waived when you register at the door.
Shelves at Troy’s Greenhouse are lined with canning jars willed with heirloom seeds Wade saves year-to-year to start his own seedlings or to sell to farmers and gardners who start their own seedlings.
