Our Story

Our introduction to herbs dates back to 1990 when two German men, who were vacationing in British Columbia, spent a few days with our family.

They introduced us to tastes we never experienced before. It was the beginning of a deep appreciation for herbs. They presented us with a gift before they left . . .a book about herbs which still has a prominent place on our book shelf.

Our family moved to Alberta, and in 1999 we constructed the first of a series of greenhouses to experiment with and grow herbs. We have witnessed a growing appreciation across Alberta for quality herbs. Magazines dealing with cooking, country living and urban living regularly feature articles on the benefits of using quality herbs to spice up a meal – from a casual breakfast to an elaborate gourmet dinner.

Iowalta Gardens is named after the small hamlet we live in. The original settlers came from the state of Iowa. The locals put ‘Iowa’ and ‘Alberta’ together. Iowalta Gardens is located on the first settled homestead in this area. We bought it from the grandchildren of the original homesteader. The old windmill tower still stands proudly on our property, a monument to the first electric generator in our area.

Iowalta Gardens began as a alternative to mail-order herbs. We wanted to provide a local source and a wide variety of home grown herbs. Iowalta Gardens grows herbs which have a substantial root ball, resulting in a healthier plant for the home gardener. We grow them without using pesticides or herbicides. Each herb is individually prepared prior to shipping. We are passionate about quality.

Our logo … the simple wheel barrow design … is a constant reminder of our humble beginnings. During the first two years, each pot was filled from the wheelbarrow. Today our pots are filled by an automated machine. And, yes, we still have that original wheelbarrow.

Our desire is that you will experience a new adventure in cooking and so much more as you taste the freshness and smell the aroma of our ‘home grown’ herbs.