Education & Events
Education and seed access are at the heart of Seed Savers Exchange's nonprofit mission.
Events
Seed Savers Exchange offers a mix of virtual and in-person events throughout the year. Learn from our knowledgeable staff as well as experienced growers and seed savers in our network, and support our nonprofit mission to save America’s heirloom seeds.
Gardening & Seed Saving Guides
Seed Starting
Plant Care
Soil Health
Crop-by-Crop Guides
Isolation Methods
Pollinators
Seed Saving
Gardening & Seed Saving Terms
Community Seed Donations
Seed Savers Exchange donates seeds to schools, community gardens, seed libraries, and nonprofits who freely give the donated seeds and resulting produce. We also have a disaster relief seed donation program. To learn more, and to apply, click the links below.
Those who have not completed the application process will not receive a seed donation.
Herman's Garden
The financial support of Herman Warsh and Maryanne Mott helped to establish our headquarters in Decorah, Iowa: Heritage Farm. To honor their support, we donate seeds to nonprofit, educational, and community organizations and gardens in need through our Herman's Garden Seed Donation Program.
Due to customs restrictions and shipping costs, we cannot honor requests outside of the United States. We cannot accept requests from individuals or from projects where seed or resulting produce will be sold.
Disaster Relief
If your garden or farm has been impacted by recent hurricanes or other natural disasters, we'd like to extend a hand.
Due to customs restrictions and shipping costs, we cannot honor requests outside of the United States.
Seed Access
Seed Savers Exchange is dedicated to preserving and sharing heirloom seeds. The organization started with a small group of people in 1975 and nearly 50 years later SSE has continued to expand how it shares seed.
Seed Access (Video)
Before you can plant seeds to start your own seed saving journey, you need seeds to plant. So where do you get them? Sometimes it can be as simple as knocking on your neighbor's door. Watch this video to learn about and explore a number of seed sources, including seed exchanges, seed donation programs, seed catalogs, and more.
Watch Now
The Exchange
Seed Savers Exchange facilitates The Exchange, the largest online community of gardeners and seed stewards, sharing and swapping rare and "homegrown" seeds you might not find anywhere else. Anyone can browse the Exchange, but you must have an account on the Exchange to request or list seeds.
Explore The Exchange
Community Seed Network
The CSN is a joint initiative of Seed Savers Exchange and SeedChange (Canada). Connect with other community seed savers and advocates in your area, access resources on how to start your own local seed swap, micro or community seed bank, guides and templates for seed libraries, and much more!
Visit the CSNRecipes
Browse Recipes
Article Library
Articles
Webinars/Video Series
Welcoming Seeds Home: Seed Rematriation Webinar Series
ABOUT THE SERIES: This series highlights seed rematriation efforts funded through a North Central SARE Partnership grant awarded to Seed Savers Exchange. Join us to learn how Indigenous farmers, activists, communities, and nations are welcoming seeds home to grow and share.
2022 Virtual Conference “Connecting Through Seeds and Stories”
Watch the session recordings on SSE’s YouTube channel @SSEHeritageFarm.
Sessions include
- Stories of Heritage Farm with Diane Ott Whealy
- And more!