Sweet smelling success

Wilma Clark's love affair with herbs began innocently one spring when her mail order tomato plants arrived with a free package of basil seeds. "And it smelled soooo good! I said, 'I gotta find out more about this.' " Her research led her to other culinary and medicinal herbs and to an herb convention. "I found out how much you can do with herbs. I went nuts then."

Eleven years and six greenhouses later, she's nurtured those seeds into a burgeoning specialty crop farm, employing two people, supplying 14 wholesale businesses, and drawing scores of visitors to her rural San Jose home daily. Clark's Greenhouse & Herbal Country farm is one of a growing number of small operations finding a big niche in the specialty crop and "entertainment farm" market.

The Clarks' farm home, about a mile southwest of San Jose, sits on a hill overlooking the town. Visitors stroll among the 40 beds of culinary herbs used for fresh cuttings, including several theme beds. Clark also sells herb seasonings, teas, vinegars and potpourri, along with tussie mussies, swags, cinnamon brooms, and other everlasting decorations in her century-old barn.

Festivals in the spring (April 26-27) and fall (Sept. 20-21) lure visitors from Bloomington, Peoria, and Springfield, each about a 45-minute drive away. Several feathered and furry creatures also help draw folks handicapped by the realities of city living. "They can come out and enjoy the farm life and enjoy getting out for the day," said Clark, who, along with her farmer husband, Donnie, owns property on Menard Electric Cooperative lines.

She enjoys sharing her experiences with others who would like to start such an operation. As vice president of the Illinois Herb Association, she will host its Herbal Bazaar and Educational Seminar as part of her fall festival.

Her twice-a-year newsletter is fat at 20 pages and a bargain for only $1. Once delivered to 10,000, she started asking for $1 to help cover her printing and postage costs and to pare the list down to 5,000 who are intensely interested in the latest news about new cultivars, classes and specials. (Send $1 to Clark's Greenhouse & Herbal Country, RR1, Box 15B, San Jose, IL 62682, or call her at (309) 247-3679.)

"I like people to believe that when they leave here with a plant that I'm selling happiness with this plant. Not just plants. I sell happiness," said Clark.

-Story by Janeen Keener

Specialty Growers: Third in a periodic series Information about joining the Illinois Herb Association is available through the Illinois Specialty Growers Association, 1701 Towanda Avenue, Bloomington, IL 61702-290, phone (309) 557-2107.

MAY 1997 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING 21