Family Farming
Gatewood Vegetable Farm & Greenhouses Celebrates 100-Year Anniversary
Writer / Julie Yates
Photographer / Daren Short
This spring, Gatewood Vegetable Farm & Greenhouses opened for its 100th year. It has been owned by the same family during the century it has existed. Today, Bruce Gatewood, along with his sister, Kelli Balke, and mother, Nancy Gatewood, are dedicated to keeping the business growing and thriving. Open from springtime through the Christmas season, it provides customers in Hamilton County and beyond with seasonal plants, produce, decor and even furniture.
My great-grandfather started with a small orchard, hatchery, and raised chickens, Bruce says. He gradually evolved into farming and selling vegetables. Our family continued with the chickens until the mid to late 60s. The push started back then for chicken farms to get huge. It was either go big or get out of farming chickens, so the decision was made to drop the chickens. The concentration became more on vegetables farmed by my dad. Then in 1989, he began selling produce from other surrounding farms. It helped the local growers and it provided us the ability to sell from more than just one farm.
I have great memories of the business, he adds. When I was a kid, if my buddies and I wanted pocket money, we could go pick beans or tomatoes for the shop. When you are 12 years old in 85 and have $10 in your pocket, you thought it was a million bucks.
These days Gatewood Farms opens in mid-March. The spring season is kicked off by cheerful pansies and already-sprouted bulbs from the greenhouses. The building interior is stocked with apples, pears, tomatoes, onions and potatoes. Also available is fresh and frozen Amish chicken, along with baked goods such as breads, pies and cinnamon rolls.
Throughout the growing season we sell seeds, perennials, annuals and thousands of decorative hanging baskets, Bruce says. We sell produce as it comes into season like Indiana strawberries and Indiana sweet corn. We keep our Facebook page updated so people know when we get a new load of flowers, fruit or produce. Selling outdoor furniture made by the Amish has become part of the market. Its really taken off.
As the weather turns cooler, the offerings change. Autumn brings pumpkins and apple cider. Around Christmas time, customers can purchase fresh-cut trees and wreaths.
This 100-year commemoration means so much to our family and our longtime workers, Bruce says. We have put so much hard work into this business. People come in all the time and say, I used to work for your dad. Dad was so proud when we celebrated our half-century. He passed away in October of 2013 and I wish he could be here to celebrate with us. He was really looking forward the 100-year anniversary.
Gatewood Farms is a very fun place, Nancy adds. Im happy to carry on. Its a special year for the whole family.
Gatewood Vegetable Farm & Greenhouses is located at 9555 East 206th Street in Noblesville. For more info, call 317-773-1214 or visit gatewoodvegetablefarm.com.
