Sowing Connections Episode 4: A Passion for Seeds • From the Archives with Neil Lockhart
Episode 4: A Passion for Seeds
From the Archives with Neil Lockhart
For more than 30 years, Neil Lockhart has been growing, saving, and sharing seeds and building friendships with fellow seed savers around the world.
Neil grew up in a family of gardeners and began saving seeds years before joining The Exchange with Seed Savers Exchange in the early 1990s. Over time, his passion grew into a remarkable collection, including thousands of tomato varieties.
Through The Exchange, Neil connected with gardeners near and far, trading seeds and helping keep rare varieties in circulation. Along the way, he learned firsthand how easily a variety can nearly disappear—and how a community of growers can help bring it back.
In this conversation, originally recorded in 2022, Neil reflects on a lifetime of gardening, the friendships he’s made through exchanging seeds, the excitement of rediscovering a nearly lost tomato variety, and why he believes every gardener can play a part in keeping our shared food heritage alive.
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Episode chapters
- 00:00 — Opening
- 00:32 — Welcome
- 02:00 — From the Archives – Neil Lockhart: A Passion for Tomatoes
- 34:33 — Closing
Glossary of terms
- Yearbook: The annual print publication of Seed Savers Exchange’s gardener-to-gardener seed swap.
- The Exchange: The online version of Seed Savers Exchange’s gardener-to-gardener seed swap.
- Listed Member: A historical term for a Seed Savers Exchange member who offered seeds through the Yearbook. Seed Savers Exchange separated membership from participation in The Exchange in 2015, so membership is no longer required to list seeds.
- Lister: The term Seed Savers Exchange now uses for someone who offers seeds through the Yearbook and The Exchange.
Seed Laws, Regulations, and Treaties
Users requesting or distributing seeds that cross international borders are responsible for ensuring they are in compliance with the seed laws, regulations, and treaties of both countries. It is illegal to send plants or cuttings between countries, even between the United States of America and Canada, without proper permits and certificates. Seed Savers Exchange cannot provide users with legal advice regarding such laws or how to comply with them.
The USDA requires that all seed sent into the United States be accompanied by a Phytosanitary Certificate. At $75 or more per certificate, that price can be prohibitive for small-scale gardeners. It is up to the individuals involved in the transaction to decide who is responsible for paying that fee. However, the USDA has a free Small Lots of Seed permit which allows the importation of up to 50 seeds of 50 different varieties per shipment, which is valid for three years. To apply for this permit, fill out PPQ form 587, which is available on the USDA website. You must follow the instructions laid out by the USDA regarding proper use of this permit.
About Neil Lockhart
Neil Lockhart, whose Lister code is IL LO N, has participated in the Seed Savers Exchange community since the early 1990s. Through decades of growing and sharing seeds, Neil has helped preserve rare tomatoes while building friendships with gardeners around the world.
Learn more
Connect
Seed Savers Exchange: Website, Shop, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn
Listen
Listen on the podcast webpage, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
Original theme music by Lissie.