Internet Helps Herb Business Blossom
By Matt REESE

     Whether for culinary, medicinal or spiritual use, herbs have been a part of human life for countless centuries.
     While the natural simplicity and ancient mystery of herbs may not always seem to fit in today's decidedly high-tech society The blossom farm has created a successful marriage of tradition and modern technology with her Internet-based herb business, Blossom Farm, in Lorain County, Ohio.
     "Herbs remain so popular because they have alternative uses," Gayle said. "Besides being attractive, they're useful for something."
This green thumb grew up around plant production working with tomatoes and bedding plants in her grandparents' greenhouse. After going to school to learn more about plants and landscape design at Ohio State, she tried several business ventures including a freelance design service for landscape companies through the mail but finally settled on her true passion, herb and ornamental perennial plant production.
     Though customers liked her plants before she created the Web site Gayle had trouble attracting large volumes of buyers to her out-of-the-way rural location southwest of Cleveland.  "Before, a lot of people couldn't find me," she said.
But things changed five years ago when she invested $99 to start the Website for her business. The initial investment and the annual fee for the Website have been well worth the cost.
With marketing on the Internet, its unbelievable how many people find me," Gayle said. "The Web site has been very good to me." After the Web site was established, business boomed for Blossom's Herb Farm. In the days before her Internet use, the farm would draw about 100 customers monthly. This year she has already gotten orders from 5,000 customers located in every corner of the country.
"People can get plants from me that they can't get from their local greenhouse," she said.  Around 95% of her products are sent to her customers through the U.S. Priority Postal Service.
Though the focus of the business is mail order, "I took a lot of time to put as much information as I could on the Web site, so people think its something really special," she said. "People will find me on the Internet and want to stop and shop around. When they come here, people think there will be 20 or more greenhouse and a giant store, buts it's just me.
Gayle grows all her  plants in a 90-foot by 30-foot greenhouse and propagates three-quarters of the plants on the farm. "I grow my plants in an unheated greenhouse so they are hearty enough to handle Ohio winters," she said. Customers can order plants individually or together in a theme garden. "Most people like to pick out their own plants," she said. "But some people think it's easier just to have me pick out their plants for them. "Barbecue Lover's Collection, Bible Garden, Medicinal Herb Garden Collection, Lavender Lovers Collection, and Butterfly and Hummingbird Lure Garden are among the many herb theme packages Gayle sells. Each features six to nine plants.
The plants are cared for with bimonthly applications of liquid fertilizer after they are started in mid to late summer.
The plants are sprayed for aphids and other pests when necessary.
Along with plants, Blossom's Herb Farm offers homemade soaps, lotions and other products for herb lovers.
"A lot of people have problems with sensitive skin and are looking for natural soaps and lotions," she said. "The soap doesn't dry out your skin, so it's good for people who get dry crackly skin in the winter.
While Gayle has no complaints about doing business over the internet and through the mail it does offer some unique challenges.
People order plants and then they expect them the next day, " she said . They don't understand that my plants are not all ready at the same time. Blossom's Herb Farm plants are shipped from April through October to customers. The plants are boxed and prepared for their rough journey with care.  "I rubber band moss on top of the plants to protect them and to keep the soil in when shipping," she said. Gayle recommends that others interested in doing a Web-based business take steps to ensure a secure Web site for customers and do enough advertising to get the word out. 
Once customers stumble onto the Website, the product list, recipes, plant descriptions and tales of folklore do a great job of selling the products.  Gayle takes it from there with plant production and selection practices necessary to provide customers with a quality product to enjoy for many years.
"When I pick out plants for customers, it's like I'm picking out plants for myself,"  she said. "I enjoy doing this because these plants provide comfort for others."
Through shrouded in ancient mystery, the natural comfort and simplicity of herbs is still sought after in this age of Internet, red tape and traffic-jam's.  And, now thanks to the Blossom Farm, herb lovers can participate in one of mankind's oldest traditions with a simple click of their mouse.