“My mom says I’ve studied the Exchange Yearbook more than my school books.”
At 12 years old, Jeremiah Joehl was the youngest lister in the Exchange 2025 Yearbook, and possibly one of the most enthusiastic.
Jeremiah’s passion for seed saving began after a trip to Seed Savers Exchange in 2022, during which he received seeds for sensitive plant, a unique species that he had seen growing in the gardens. Their intricate leaves, which folded when he touched them, captivated the young gardener, who also credits his parents for encouraging him to experiment in his own patch of ground at their Greenfield, Indiana, pumpkin farm.
Since that first trip to Seed Savers Exchange, Jeremiah has grown and listed the ‘King Tut Purple’ pea, a rare variety that piqued his interest because of its taste and unusual characteristics. Jeremiah hopes to increase his offerings on the Exchange to include more varieties of peas, peanuts, and even a cherry tomato with good storing traits.
Jeremiah shared some wise words with anyone who’s thinking about growing and sharing seed: “Start small. I almost never want to start small, and while ordering and growing 17 varieties of peas was fun, I constantly found myself dreading to go out and pick them all. Starting small will help you get used to seed saving and learn how much work you should expect to put into it. But don’t be discouraged—it’s fun, and you’ll enjoy it.”
