It is also a way to get seed that you cant buy anywhere else. Seed savers exchange is a nonprofit taxexempt organization that is saving heirloom handeddown garden seeds from extinction, with a focus on heirloom varieties brought to north america by gardeners and farmers when they immigrated, as well as traditional varieties grown by native americans, mennonites and amish. However, there is increasing interest in heirloom varieties, most of which are open or selfpollinated. If you find an especially tasty variety, you can help preserve and share that discovery by saving the seeds unless its a seedless watermelon.
Earlier this year, seed savers exchange sse, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting seed diversity, released a comprehensive book on saving seeds called the seed garden. This event is a great learning, fun and interactive event, connecting all. Its headquarters are at heritage farm in decorah, iowa. Seed savers exchange heritage farm decorah 2020 all. The community seed movement is powered by the love and labour of dedicated volunteers, organizers, activists, and citizens. Through ex situ preservation seeds are protected in.
In a world where food as we know it is forbidden and doesnt exist, some children discover the existence of seeds, a woman named ana will instruct them about them and together they will study the products that plants and trees. Seed savers exchange preserves approximately 25,000 varieties in our seed bank, including rare heirlooms. To start off the year, weve compiled a list of 120 organizations to keep an eye on in 2020 that are working towards a more sustainable food system. Baker creek seed co bc botanical interests bi high mowing hm kdl seed library ksl seed savers exchange sse disseminatiwintersown w. The exchange is at the heart of our mission and story.
Seed savers exchange is seeking a development director to grow its fundraising program on a national scale. Connect thousands of farmers and gardeners through the nations largest seed exchange. Along with garden tours, childrens activities, refreshments, including irish seed savers own organic apple juice, will be available on the day. Collect, store, and regenerate thousands of seeds at heritage farm. Seed savers exchange helped start the heirloom seed movement back in 1975, long before people knew what an heirloom vegetable was. Local seed network manual, the seed savers network the seed savers network is auspiced by the seed savers foundation ltd, a charitable institution registered with the ato. Seeds that usually can be successfully collected include. Learn about growing heirlooms from seed in your garden with vegetable growing guides, helpful hints, and advice on saving seeds. Indoor seed starting also allows crops to have a head start on the growing season. If you want to mail in your order instead, you can print our mailin order form. Click here to download a printerfriendly version of growing beets in sacramento, environmental horticulture note 95 pdf, 88kb. If seed saving is collecting seeds for replanting in the. This network is about supporting the important work that you do making it visible and offering ways to connect and share with one another.
Morgan county seeds your seed and gardening tools supplier. Seed savers exchange brings you seeds that are openpollinated and nongmo. Seed savers exchange is rated 3 out of 4 stars by charity navigator. Some garlic varieties will produce seeds if scapes are not removed from the plants, but these seeds will not be true to type. This is a chance for seed savers to exchange seeds with each. Seed savers exchange has a new book called the seed garden the art and practice of seed saving, which is a collaboration with organic seed alliance. Seed savers exchange, or sse, is a nonprofit organization based near decorah, iowa, that preserves heirloom plant varieties through regeneration, distribution and seed exchange. Seed savers exchange is among the openingday depositors, making an initial deposit of seeds from 485 different vegetable varieties. Founded in 1975 by kent and diane whealy, seed savers exchange sse now has nearly 8,000 members around the world. As a nonprofit organization, the seed saver exchange aims to protect and promote the culturally diverse but. See more ideas about seeds, garden seeds and vegetable garden. Also check out for our commercial seed list at why save seeds. Vegetable cultivars and planting guide for wisconsin.
A seed exchange is a great way to get free or low cost seed. Seed savers treasure by sandra smith is a sort of dystopian middle grade story that struck me by its particularity. After his death in 1996, beckers family donated his private library containing many important historical works on vegetables as well as beckers research on heirloom varieties to seed savers exchange. Seed savers exchange has been a leader in the movement to preserve our agricultural heritage since 1975. Pictured here, danvers 126 carrots, rainbow chard, and carolina wonder bell pepper. If you are a seed saver, seed keeper, part of a seed organization, seed swap or exchange, then the community seed network is for you. Vegetable cultivars and planting guide for wisconsin gardens. May 31, 20 sunlight filters through verdant gardens at heritage farm, headquarters for seed savers exchange. Seed saving can occur in any garden, but a community space dedicated to seed creates amazing opportunities beyond what any single seed saver can. Our products match or surpass our competitors, our prices are seldom beat. View all hotels near seed savers exchange heritage farm on tripadvisor. Seed savers exchange sse finds its roots in 1975, when diane ott whealy and kent whealy started an exchange network for farmsaved seeds named true. Wild ones a nonprofit organization that seeks to restore landscape diversity through the conservation and establishment of native plant communities. Seed savers exchange s work to protect our heirloom seed supply and food seed heritage is a race against time on two fronts.
This article examines a heritage seed saving organization, the seed savers exchange sse, a nonprofit seed bank in northeastern iowa. Seed savers exchange is a nonprofit, member supported organization that collects, preserves and shares heirloom seeds for our future. Seed savers exchange collect, grow, and share heirloom seeds and plants to protect and promote american culturally diverse but endangered gardens and food crop heritage for the benefit of future generations. To regrow garlic, keep bulbs intact until no more than 12 days before replanting, then simply pull apart garlic bulbs and plant individual cloves as described above. A new seedsaving book by seed savers exchange mother. Heirloom and openpollinated seeds and cooking beans fall.
For 2020, were adding 25 new varieties to our listings including yukina savoy mustard greens alston. Our site is undergoing scheduled maintenance today. Gardeners list seeds theyve grown, making them available to other exchange participants. The thousands of heirloom varieties in the seed savers collection have been passed down through. Seed savers exchange is a taxexempt 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of heirloom seeds. We also provide extensive growing guides and blog posts to keep you informed of new techniques and happenings in the garden world. United states department of agriculture local food directories. To view this site, you must enable javascript or upgrade to a javascriptcapable browser. Pelleted seed, regardless of the variety, should be used within one year, as the pelleting process reduces seed longevity. Because of the realisation due to the covid19 situation that it is important to be in the garden growing your own food, we offer free downloads of seed to seed food gardens on how to start a food garden, and local seed network manual on how to start a group that collects, uses and distributes locally adapted seeds and other planting. Position description development director seed savers. This work includes reintroducing iowas only native trout. Seed savers exchange we conserve and promote americas endangered garden and food crop heritage by collecting, growing, and sharing heirloom seeds and plants. Seed savers exchange is asking for memberships and while ive ordered seeds from them in the past, im vaguely aware of some controversy that caused the founder to leave.
The widest varieties of vegetables, herbs and flowers are only available as seeds. Saving more than seeds seed savers exchange sse in decorah is best known for collecting and sharing heirloom seeds for future generations. The seeds we maintain need to be regenerated regularly by growing a sample out to maintain their viability, and in population sizes that. It focuses more on main vegetable varieties with helpful guidelines for both farmers and home gardeners.
Cover cropsfarm seed type average storage life in years under favorable storage conditions alfalfa 25 barley 35 buckwheat 25. A day dedicated to showcasing the wonderful heritage seed gardens in full bloom at irish seed savers. Distribute varieties from our collection through our commercial catalog and seed. But the nonprofit group is also focused on the needs of future generations in its work to restore and enhance their 890acre northeast iowa farm. For years now i have been using these services to expand my collection of plants and i just love them. Free seed catalog heirloom, organic seed savers exchange. One of the most enjoyable experiences in gardening is seeing a new species of plant flower for the first time. Seed savers exchange controversy theeasygarden easy.
Becker was a member and good friend of seed savers exchange. If you find a better price, compare quantities closely. Seed savers exchange heritage farm decorah 2020 all you. The seeds we maintain need to be regenerated regularly by growing a sample out to maintain their viability, and in population sizes that are large enough to maintain their genetic breadth. Since 1975, sse and our supporters have collected the seeds and stories that would otherwise have been lost.
Sunlight filters through verdant gardens at heritage farm, headquarters for seed savers exchange. With planned annual deposits of 2,000 vegetable varieties over the next several years, its deposits will eventually be among the largest at the svalbard vault. Seed savers exchange has developed in to a multifaceted nonprofit organization and seed company, whose work encompasses conservation, education, and sales, however at the heart of their work lies the seed exchange, a gardener. Please do not use this order form for ordering apple trees, garlic, potatoes, and transplants. The exchange facilitates the sharing of heirloom seeds so that they may be grown and stewarded by more and more people.
Visit to join or learn more about the exchange of unique seed varieties for localized breeding and preservation. Pdf this article examines a heritage seed saving organization, the seed savers exchange sse, a nonprofit seed bank in northeastern iowa. The 2020 yearbook is the print edition of the exchange, our gardenertogardener seed swap. The mission of sse is to preserve the worlds diverse but endangered garden heritage for future generations by building a network of people. This wonderful book was a partnership between the organic seed alliance and seed savers exchange. Sseheritagefarm is the channel for seed savers exchange, a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving, preserving and sharing heirloom and. Seed savers exchange 3094 north winn road decorah, iowa 52101. Kent whealy is the cofounder of seed savers exchange, a nonprofit organization committed to saving heirloom garden seeds from extinction. Seed savers take a different approach, gathering and sharing seeds that have fed generations of farmers and gardeners and their grateful friends and customers. The thousands of heirloom varieties in the seed savers. Seed savers exchange is a environmental protection and conservation charity located in decorah, ia. It was founded in 1986 and is active nationally in australia and internationally promoting conservation of locally adapted nonhybrid seeds of food plants. This zine is a small attempt at sharing this seed knowledge is eroding even faster than seed biodiversity.
Other customer favorites include lacinato kale, cossack pineapple ground cherries, sugar snap peas, and dark green italian parsley. Morgan county seeds is a seeds and supply store for your home gardens, organic growing, greenhouse operations, and commercial vegetable growing. Position description development director seed savers exchange. Seed savers exchange offers a network for persons collecting and or trying to locate older cultivars. When you buy from our seed catalog, you help to keep heirloom seeds where they belong. We are a company that strives to give good quality and good service at. To begin, i focus on how sse conceives of seeds and nature. Southern exposure seed exchange, saving the past for the. We conserve and promote americas culturally diverse but endangered garden and food crop heritage for. Browse the listings above to fill your cart or quick order by item number. It is one of the largest nongovernmental seedbanks in the united states. In the meantime, you may still visit our blog, sign up for our newsletter, or connect with us on social media. Seed savers exchanges work to protect our heirloom seed supply and foodseed heritage is a race against time on two fronts.
Seed savers exchange uses a twopronged method of conservation known as participatory preservation. Seed savers are working to preserve the wider array. Currently based out of drain, oregon, we are organic farmers and gardeners, simultaneously acting as the seed stewards of. Normally, the controlled indoor conditions allow the seeds to sprout faster than they would outdoors. For pdf versions of this and other seed publications, please visit us at. The seed savers exchange sse is a nonprofit organization that aims to save the worlds diverse. Seed savers exchange blog seed savers exchange is a nonprofit, member supported organization that collects, preserves and shares heirloom seeds for our future. The book covers how to save seeds from about 70 different crop types, from simple to complex. Exchange member ron thuma has grown it faithfully since 1993, when he obtained the pepper from johnnys. Seed savers exchange controversy theeasygarden easy, fun.