A woman in a red shirt smiles and holds a leafy vegetable in a garden

The Revolutionary Work of Sara McCamant

Sara McCamant of Sebastopol, California, has never met a garden plot she didn’t like. “Gardening’s in my blood,” she says. “Growing up in a family of gardeners, I’ve always had a passion for planting things and digging in the dirt.” And she has happily spent much of her life pursuing that passion.

A light pink turnip with leafy green foliage grows in the ground

Learn

Identifying Brassica Species by Seed…and the ‘Turnabaga’ Extinction

Until 2017, the Seed Savers Exchange collection included the “turnabaga.” What is a turnabaga, you might rightfully ask? Well, it was a very unique vegetable that we can now proudly say is extinct.

Two red tomatoes and two tomato halves on a wooden surface

Stewardship Stories

A.W. Livingston and His Enduring Tomato Legacy

Discover the history of A.W. Livingston, the father of modern tomatoes, and his transformative work in tomato breeding. Learn about the legacy of Livingston’s varieties, their restoration by Victory Seed Company, and the unique characteristics of tomatoes like ‘Livingston’s Paragon’ and ‘Honor Bright’ that have shaped today’s tomato culture.

Yellow sunflowers tower over a wall of red-flowering runner beans.

Varieties

Quintessentially British: The Unjustifiably Shunned Runner Bean

In the United States, runner beans are undervalued as an edible crop and usually grown as ornamentals for their large, showy, often scarlet-colored flowers. American horticulturalist Fearing Burr recognized their eating qualities in his 1863 book Field and Garden Vegetables of North America, stating “its value as an esculent has not been generally appreciated.” This remains true today.

A leafy plant with many red tomatoes growing on it

Learn

Exploring Tomato Flower Structure

One common belief among gardeners is that tomato varieties with potato-type leaves are much more likely to cross pollinate than regular leaf tomatoes. Is there any truth in it?

Stewardship Stories

Collecting Seed Stories: How to Record Seed Histories

Anyone can preserve history by collecting seed stories. There are many more amazing seed stories out there than we can ever collect on our own. An easy way to protect these stories is to record them.

A long watermelon with a slice taken out lengthwise lies on a wood table, exposing bright pink flesh

Stewardship Stories

‘Halbert Honey’ Watermelon

Known a century ago as one of the best watermelon varieties on the market, ‘Halbert Honey’ has a sweet flavor with a crisp juicy texture. Keep reading to learn the story behind ‘Halbert Honey’ and how this historic variety came to be at Seed Savers Exchange.

A tall bean plant supported by a trellis made of netting and tree branches in a garden

Stewardship Stories

‘Brinker Carrier’ Bean

From the Seed Savers Exchange collection, the ‘Brinker Carrier’ bean represents the histories and connections between two families in West Virginia that span several generations.

A pile of black and white lima beans with two green pods on top and in the lower left corner a seal that reads,

Varieties

Wick’s Lima Bean

Discover the rich history and exceptional flavor of ‘Wick’s’ Lima Bean, a vigorous pole bean with a lineage dating back to the 1930s. Passed down through generations, this heirloom variety produces slightly curved pods with beautifully mottled or solid purple seeds. Enjoy its sweet flavor fresh or its nutty taste when dried. Learn how to grow, cook, and preserve this unique lima bean while exploring its fascinating story through the CORE Project’s preservation efforts.

A pile of tiny yellow cherry tomatoes in a metal strainer

Stewardship Stories

‘Igleheart Yellow Cherry’ Tomato

‘Igleheart Yellow Cherry’ tomato was selected as the best tasting tomato at Seed Savers Exchange in 2015! ‘Igleheart’ also earned strong reviews from growers across the country in 2013.

Articles