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Varieties

Today, SSE houses the nation’s largest nongovernmental seed bank (some 20,000 varieties) at Heritage Farm, 890 scenic acres in Winneshiek County, Iowa. Here, we not only safeguard these varieties for generations to come but also encourage gardeners and farmers worldwide to grow, harvest, and share heirloom seeds and recount the inspirational stories behind them.

A close up of a leafy green lettuce plant with some splashes of bronze color

Members Help ADAPT Program Shine

The year 2017 proved a success for Seed Savers Exchange’s new Community Science programs. Myriad SSE members answered the call to participate in one (or both) of the programs—ADAPT and RENEW.

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one red-yellow apple nestled in tree boughs

Laura Ingalls Wilder: Pioneer, Author, Orchardist

Beyond the years covered in the beloved Little House on the Prairie series, and before the books made Ingalls a household name, Laura and her husband, Almanzo, tended an orchard in Missouri, growing Missouri Pippin and Ben Davis apples. Both varieties are part of the Seed Savers Exchange collection and are offered on the Exchange.

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

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.

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

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.

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A tomato sits on a wood surface

Missouri Pink Love Apple Tomato

Discover the history and flavor of the ‘Missouri Pink Love Apple’ tomato, a cherished heirloom with roots dating back to the 1860s. This pink beefsteak variety produces juicy, meaty fruit all season long on indeterminate plants. Learn how to grow and enjoy this delicious tomato while exploring its fascinating past through the CORE Project’s preservation efforts. A must-try for gardeners and heirloom enthusiasts!

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