Founded in 1784 by David Landreth at what is now 12th and Market Streets, Landreth is the oldest seed house in the country. It occupies a special place in American agricultural and horticultural history, and the public has responded accordingly.
Orders for seeds and the 2012 catalog, selling for $5 apiece and due out in late November, have come from every state as well as Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and England. Callers range in age from 16 to 97. Most are first-timers, and some have never even had a garden before.
Landreth family members, who have not been involved with the company since 1942, are rallying, too. Anna Louise Landreth Bullock of New York City, a direct descendant of David Landreth, said she ordered six catalogs, her mother 10, an aunt 20, and cousins many more.
"First, for historical reasons, it made me really sad to hear the company might close, but couple that with the fact that it's been around for so long and had such a large impact on my family, even though I didn't know them," said Bullock, who grew up in Haddonfield and is an Episcopal Academy graduate.
In an interview Thursday, Melera said she was confident that she could "keep the lights on" through October and probably November, in hope that the momentum would continue and that she could begin to pay down her debt.
The total owed, plus interest, is $1.5 million. Besides the two large investors, Melera borrowed about $25,000 each from 20 friends and family members. They have not asked for repayment, but Melera - who, with her husband, Peter, put in an additional $475,000 - said she intended to pay them all back.
The overall goal is to raise $5 million - to pay off not just debt and interest, but taxes, and catalog printing and mailing costs as well.
