Donor Partnership Results in Increased Farm Efficiency

Ask any farmer or gardener—the right tools and the right people can transform the work. Thanks to generous support from a longtime donor, our farm team gained both: skilled year-round staff members and new equipment that increased efficiency across our conservation work.

The anonymous donor has supported Seed Savers Exchange for more than a decade with strategic gifts that advance our mission. Their contributions have funded DNA testing for our historic apple orchard and provided flexible resources for essential farm infrastructure and staff. In 2025, their investment enabled Farm Director Corbin Scholz to implement improvements that saved significant time and resources while achieving a 90-percent crop success rate over 86 varieties.

“The donor’s support allowed us to acquire specialized tools and repair our high tunnels, improvements that make our work more efficient,” Corbin explained. “This kind of flexible funding lets us focus our energy on ensuring crop success and directing resources where theyʼll have the greatest impact on seed conservation.”

The farm team also reorganized production areas closer to roads and water access, making field checks and crop maintenance more efficient and productive. This resulted in more rare varieties preserved, more seeds distributed to our members, and stronger protection for our agricultural heritage.

In 2026, thanks to donors and grants, Seed Savers Exchange is installing permanent fencing in high-production areas to safeguard crops from deer and small mammals. “We will save time, prevent frustration, and, most importantly, prevent catastrophic losses of rare crops thanks to the support we’ve received for the fencing project,” Corbin said.

Giving Back:

Seed Savers Exchange gives back to communities through seed donation and fresh produce.

In 2025, more than 51,050 seed packets were donated to 1,021 community gardens and schools through the Herman’s Garden program, providing seeds to grow food and foster educational opportunities. More than 700 pounds of fresh produce grown at Heritage Farm was also donated to local food banks.