Seed Savers Exchange

"Seed Savers Exchange was founded in 1975 by Diane and Kent Whealy, after her terminally-ill grandfather gave them the seeds of two garden plants, Grandpa Ott's Morning Glory and German Pink Tomato, that his parents brought from Bavaria when they immigrated to St. Lucas, Iowa in the 1870s.

Seed Savers Exchange is a nonprofit organization that saves and shares the heirloom seeds of our garden heritage, forming a living legacy that can be passed down through generations. When people grow and save seeds, they join an ancient tradition as stewards, nurturing our diverse, fragile, genetic and cultural heritage.

Our organization is saving the world’s diverse, but endangered, garden heritage for future generations by building a network of people committed to collecting, conserving and sharing heirloom seeds and plants, while educating people about the value of genetic and cultural diversity. Few gardeners comprehend the true scope of their garden heritage or how much is in immediate danger of being lost forever.

Heritage Farm, SSE’s scenic 890-acre headquarters near Decorah, Iowa, is a living museum of historic varieties. Amish carpenters have constructed an inspirational meeting area in the barn’s cathedral-like loft, and also a complex of offices and seed storage facilities that feature a magnificent oak post-and-beam frame. This unique educational center is designed to maintain and display collections of endangered food crops. Each summer an estimated 5,000 visitors tour Heritage Farm’s organic Preservation Gardens, Historic Orchard, and Ancient White Park cattle.

Become a member of this organization and help preserve the diversity of our collective garden bounty. " (extract from the web site of the Seed Savers Exchange)

Mailing Address
3094 North Winn Road
Decorah, IA 52101
Ph: 563-382-5990
Fax: 563-382-5872
http://www.seedsavers.org