Gardening Belongs to Everybody: Inside Apache Seeds

Apache Seeds Limited has been selling seeds to Edmonton gardeners since 1958.  The store sits just north of Stony Plain Road on 149 Street, is family-owned, and continues to serve customers who first came in holding a grandparent’s hand. We spoke with Sam, who runs the store’s social media, about those customers, getting people through the door during Valley Line West LRT construction, and what Edmonton gardeners should be doing right now.

Visit Apache Seeds
10136 149 St NW, Edmonton (just north of Stony Plain Road)
apacheseeds.ca
@apacheseeds

Seeds Since 1958

Tell us about Apache Seeds and the history behind it.

Apache Seeds Limited is a family business that started in the town of Jasper Place in 1958. The store relocated to its current location in 1964. Owner Jerry Close’s parents helped found it. 

Today we focus on seeds, plants, lawn and garden supplies, as well as bird feed and feeders, but we also used to sell hardware, lawnmowers, paint supplies, and even Ski-Doos. We also repaired broken windows, cut keys, and sharpened skates. For people who used to come here with their grandparents or parents, it’s a bit of a trip down memory lane. Now those customers bring their own kids.

What a Local Garden Store Can Do

What makes Apache Seeds different from the big-box options?

We pride ourselves on friendly customer service and on offering the harder-to-find items. From providing carry-out service to giving advice, we try to create a personalized experience for every customer. We’re open all year round, and we stock things like seeds and soil through the winter that you won’t find at the big-box stores. We also proudly carry products from a lot of Canadian companies.

What does being independent mean day to day?

There aren’t many independent local garden stores left. A lot of our growth is word of mouth — people recommend us to the people they love, and that’s how we’ve grown. Some customers have been coming for years, and they’re like family to us. We have people who come in every  week.

Valley Line West LRT

The last several years have brought a lot of construction. What has that been like?

It’s been a challenge. It affects every aspect of the business. If there’s no easy access, fewer people come, and receiving deliveries can be quite challenging.

And once the LRT is finished?

We’re hoping more people will be able to get here. We’re in a good location for all areas of the city. People come from everywhere already, and we’re really grateful for that.

What Comes Back Through the Door 

What do you enjoy most about your customers?

The success stories. We love when people bring in photos of their planters, their yards, or their harvest. Some people bring in a photo of their backyard, and it’s stunning. They'll tell us they got their supplies here, and I’m always happy to know that we were able to help.

You’re pet-friendly, and you’ve got #ApachePups. Tell us about that.

We love when our furry, feathered, and scaled friends drop by. There are treats behind the counter for the dogs, and we have a social media highlight called #ApachePups. We’re always happy to add a new furry friend. We love all animals!

Gardening Is for Everyone 

What would you say to someone who has never gardened?

Gardening is for everyone. Anyone can do it, no matter your skill level or experience. We can help you find the right setup, whether you want to grow indoors or outdoors.  If you have soil, seeds, and water, you can start. From there you’ll only get better and learn more.

It’s October. What should people be doing right now?

Right now we have  fall flowering bulbs in: daffodils, allium, crocus, muscari and tulips, and lots of different varieties of garlic. These need to be planted now to flower in the spring. Fall is also an ideal time to sow cover crops, grass seed, and clover. We’ve got all the tools you need for fall cleanup, and we have snow shovels and ice melt in stock for the upcoming winter season. 

We’ve received our indoor forcing  bulbs like amaryllis, hyacinth, and paperwhites, and we’re a great place to shop for holiday gifts!

If you’re interested in decorating your outdoor space for the holidays, we make custom Winter Greens planters. Please contact us for more information!

What do you hope to see for the area?

More community gardens and first-time gardeners. There are some in the neighbourhood already, but we’d love to see more. Hopefully, with the new LRT, more new people can come and start their gardening journey with us.