The Collection

The living collection consists of an open-access seed bank and multiple plant collections, including historic apple orchards, which we maintain at our Heritage Farm near Decorah, Iowa. Primarily focused on edible garden fruits and vegetables, herbs, and flowers, the scope of the living collection includes varieties with a deep and enduring connection to the gardening and farming heritage of the United States.

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Learn More About the Collection

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Shop the Collection

The Exchange

The Exchange is a seed swap, facilitated by Seed Savers Exchange, where gardeners from around the country offer thousands of heirloom and open-pollinated seeds they’ve grown. Simply put, these “homegrown” seeds were not grown by a commercial operation. You’ll also find flowers and herbs, plus non-seeds like potato tubers, garlic bulbs, and fruit tree cuttings.

All of the seeds offered by Exchange listers are open-pollinated and non-hybrid – meaning that the seeds obtained from open-pollinated varieties will produce plants that are true to form of the parent plants. They are also not patented, and can be grown, saved, and shared freely. While anyone can browse the Exchange, you must create a free account on the Exchange in order to request or list seeds.

Have questions about The Exchange or its annual, print counterpart named The Yearbook? Contact Seed Savers Exchange’s exchange coordinator, Josie Flatgard at [email protected].

Learn More

Learn how to request and list seeds and non-seed materials yourself using The Exchange.

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Visit The Exchange

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Request The Yearbook

Community Science

Mission Statement: To regenerate and evaluate collection varieties by engaging a diverse community of gardeners and farmers.

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ADAPT

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RENEW

Stewardship Stories

Since 1975, Seed Savers Exchange has led the heirloom seed movement and collected heirloom varieties of seeds from fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Stories have always been an important part of our preservation work. In their first year of marriage, co-founders Diane Ott Whealy and Kent Whealy were entrusted by Diane’s grandfather, the seeds of two garden plants, ‘Grandpa Ott's’ morning glory and ‘German Pink’ tomato. These seeds, brought by Grandpa Ott's parents from Bavaria when they immigrated to Iowa in 1884, became the first two varieties in the collection.

Stories are what connect us in human experiences, it’s how culture and histories are shared. Explore stewardship stories from varieties in the Seed Savers Exchange collection.

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Stewardship Stories

Census Directories

THE SEED TRADE CENSUS: Directory of Commercial Open-Pollinated Garden Seeds in the United States 2020 is a one-of-a-kind compilation documenting the commercial seed trade of open-pollinated varieties that will help growers locate varieties for your region, identify open-pollinated breeding material, utilize market trends to cultivate your business, and discover the diversity of form and flavor.

THE NURSERY TRADE CENSUS: Directory of Commercial Fruits, Berries, and Nuts in the United States is an invaluable tool for people who care about preserving the rich (but dwindling) diversity of fruit, berry, and nut varieties cultivated in the United States.

Seed Trade Census

Nursery Trade Census

Partnerships

Seed Savers Exchange deeply values working with partners in a model of participatory preservation. Together, we are cultivating both community and the next generation of seed stewards while connecting communities with culturally significant seeds.