Seed Savers Exchange

Seed Savers Exchange is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting heirloom varieties of crops and gardening practices, with a focus on biodiversity and sustainable agriculture. Founded in 1975 by Diane Ott Whealy and Kent Whealy, the organization has grown to become a leading authority on heirloom gardening, with a network of over 13,000 members, including gardening experts like Rosalind Creasy and Barbara Damrosch. The organization has collaborated with other notable institutions, such as the United States Department of Agriculture and the National Gardening Association, to promote the conservation of crop diversity and support small-scale farming initiatives, like those advocated by Wendell Berry and Joel Salatin.

● History

The history of Seed Savers Exchange dates back to 1975, when Diane Ott Whealy and Kent Whealy began exchanging seeds with other gardening enthusiasts, including Sylvia Davatz, a Swiss botanist, and John Withee, a Maine farmer. This early network of seed savers included individuals like Luther Burbank, a renowned plant breeder, and Nikolai Vavilov, a Russian geneticist who worked with the Institute of Plant Industry. As the organization grew, it began to collaborate with other institutions, such as the New York Botanical Garden and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, to promote the conservation of plant genetic resources and support agricultural biodiversity initiatives, like those led by Cary Fowler and the Global Crop Diversity Trust.

● Mission_and_Objectives

The mission of Seed Savers Exchange is to conserve and promote America's culturally diverse garden heritage, with a focus on heirloom varieties and traditional gardening practices. The organization's objectives include preserving and sharing heirloom seeds, promoting biodiversity and sustainable agriculture, and supporting small-scale farming and local food systems, as advocated by Michael Pollan and Alice Waters. To achieve these objectives, Seed Savers Exchange works with a network of gardening experts, including Barbara Damrosch and Eliot Coleman, and partners with organizations like the National Organic Coalition and the Organic Farming Research Foundation.

● Conservation_Efforts

Seed Savers Exchange has made significant contributions to the conservation of crop diversity and plant genetic resources, working with institutions like the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The organization's conservation efforts include maintaining a collection of over 20,000 heirloom varieties, including tomatoes developed by Luther Burbank and peppers from the Hungarian Paprika region, and providing access to these varieties through its seed bank and catalog. Seed Savers Exchange also collaborates with other organizations, such as the Native Seeds/SEARCH and the Seed Library of Los Angeles, to promote the conservation of indigenous crops and support community-based conservation initiatives, like those led by Vandana Shiva and the Navdanya movement.

● Heritage_Farm

Heritage Farm, the headquarters of Seed Savers Exchange, is a 890-acre farm located in Decorah, Iowa, and features a collection of historic buildings, including a barn built in 1855 and a greenhouse designed by Lord & Burnham. The farm is home to a diverse collection of heirloom crops, including apples from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and grapes from the University of California, Davis, and serves as a demonstration site for sustainable agriculture and organic farming practices, as promoted by Wes Jackson and the Land Institute. Heritage Farm also hosts a variety of educational programs and workshops, including those led by Joel Salatin and Gene Logsdon, and offers internships and apprenticeships for individuals interested in sustainable agriculture and conservation.

● Educational_Programs

Seed Savers Exchange offers a range of educational programs and workshops for individuals of all ages and skill levels, including gardening classes taught by Rosalind Creasy and Barbara Damrosch, and workshops on seed saving and plant breeding led by John Navazio and Carol Deppe. The organization also provides curriculum materials and resources for teachers and educators, including those developed by the National Gardening Association and the Botanical Society of America. Additionally, Seed Savers Exchange partners with other organizations, such as the University of Iowa and the Iowa State University, to offer degree programs and certificates in sustainable agriculture and horticulture, as well as online courses and webinars on topics like permaculture and agroecology.

● Community_Involvement

Seed Savers Exchange is committed to community involvement and outreach, working with a network of community gardens and urban agriculture initiatives, including those led by Will Allen and the Growing Power organization. The organization also partners with local food systems and farmers' markets, such as the Union Square Greenmarket and the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, to promote local food and support small-scale farming. Furthermore, Seed Savers Exchange collaborates with other organizations, such as the Slow Food USA and the National Farmers Union, to advocate for sustainable agriculture and food system reform, as promoted by Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser. Through its community involvement efforts, Seed Savers Exchange aims to promote biodiversity and sustainable agriculture practices, and support local food systems and community development initiatives, like those led by Wes Jackson and the Land Institute. Category:Non-profit organizations