http://homepage.tinet.ie/~merlyn/seedsaving.html -- Lawrence F. London, Jr. -|- Venaura Farm InterGarden -|- http://metalab.unc.edu/london lflondon@worldnet.att.net -|- london@metalab.unc.eduTitle: Seed Saving Resources
Seedsaving
and Seedsavers Resources![]()
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Heirloom and OP varieties: Saving Plant Genetic Resources
"Seeds are critical to our success as gardeners and farmers. They are compact packages of genetic information and stored food reserves, just waiting for the conditions found in warm, moist soil in order to germinate and create tomatoes, carrots, beans and thousands of other delights out of sunshine, air, water and soil. For most of the last ten thousand years of human history, seed-saving was something nearly everyone practiced, because in order to eat and therefore to survive, it was necessary. The grains and beans which formed the basis of most diets were both seed and food. Grown in large quantities, the best were saved for planting and the rest were eaten. Our ancestors did this each year, generation after generation through the centuries. Variations in climate, soil and techniques from garden to garden and community to community, accumulated through the years, creating the incredible diversity which existed over much of our planet well into this century. These local seeds were integral to life and culture everywhere. Unfortunately, the vast majority of these varieties has disappeared."
From Bill Duesing - Living on the Earth ©1999
"Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA) are the biological basis of world food security and, directly or indirectly, support the livelihoods of every person on Earth."
FAO ©1999
Read about 'Recent policy trends and developments related to the conservation, use and development of genetic resources' and on 'Intellectual Property Rights and Plant Genetic Resources' as published by the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute.
Read Amy Knutson's excellent article "Why Grow Open-Pollinated or Heirloom Plants?"
For the
German speaker here's a similar article "Verbotene Früchte", based on a visit to an heirloom garden in northern Germany, and an interesting article on the legendary Vavilov Institute in Russia where a number of scientists starved to death while guarding samples of grain varieties in the institute's seed bank during the German siege of Leningrad in WWII.
Garden Exchanges and Trading and Swapping
US Seed Exchange
US Plant Exchange
Canadian Garden Exchange
Australian Garden Exchange
Europe's Garden Exchange.
The Canadian internet gardening resource site I Can Garden has a Seed Sharers/Seed Savers forum
Seeds of Texas Seed Exchange
@man's Seed Swap/Seed Trade/Seed Exchange
Seeds of Diversity Canada
Abundant Life Foundation POB 772 Port Townsend WA 98368 (360)385-5660 fax (360)385-7455 free?
Bountiful Gardens is part of the Ecology Action group and sells seeds mail order. Bountiful Gardens bountiful@zapcom.net Ecology
Action 5798 Ridgewood Rd. Willits CA 95490 phone/fax (707) 459-6410 Rare
Seeds Catalgue $2.00 main catalogue? Not too far from Mendocino, if one was visiting the area... hulless barley and hulless oats.
Seed Saver's Exchange3076 N. Winn Rd. Decorah, IA 52101 (319)382-5990 fax (319)382-5872 free; publishes a Garden Seed Inventory periodically which contains information on substantially all heirloom/OP varieties of vegetables offered in North America over the past 15 years or so, including all known seed houses still offering them. They also have a Fruit, Nut and Berry inventory that covers those classes of edibles. The Garden Seed Inventory is invaluable for determining if a variety is OP or not and if so, where to find it. The latest edition consists of 803+ pages of the names and describtions of open-pollinated plants. It also lists commercial sources in both the US and Canada. The softcover edition is $26
plus $3 shipping to US addresses. Shipping overseas is c. $9. A hardcover edition is available too for $32.
HDRA Heritage Seed Library
Projekt LAV
Pro Specie Rara is a Swiss NGO, founded in 1982, which aims at preserving as many agricultural/horticultural plant varieties and domestic animal breeds as possible. They have five part-time employees who co-ordinate projects with the bulk of the actual preservation work carried out by more than 1000 private volunteers. Finance is practically raised entirely from private donations. Pro Specie Rara is constanty looking for custodians of plant varieties. Contact them at Pro Specie Rara-Sekretariat, Engelgasse 12a, CH-9000 St.Gallen, Switzerland, Fax +41-71-223 74 01. Their website contains a 'Variety finder' searchable database "Sortenfinder" for vegetables, grains, fruit (with pictures of apple varieties).
The Oregon State Univeristy keeps a list of vegetable seed suppliers in the US and a link to Seed Quest, an information service for seed professionals which contains listings of seed companies by crop.
Another list of seed suppliers in the US can be found here.
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange Home Page Although they emphasize varieties adapted to the Mid-Atlantic region, they serve gardeners throughout the United States and Canada. A large percentage of the seed and bulb varieties they offer are grown by themselves or their growers. They are family-owned and operated. Much of their seed is organically grown. All their seed is free of chemical treatment and they do not offer genetically engineered varieties. They grow at least 40% of their own seed and offer over 550 varieties of open-pollinated, heirloom, and traditional varieties of vegetables, flowers, and herbs; large selection of garlic cultivars and rare perennial onions. Also included are books, gardening supplies, and seed-saving supplies and information.
uk.rec.gardening Suppliers and References Faq
Thomas Etty Esq
Heritage Seedsman and Bulb Merchant
SandemanSeeds
The Seed Search Third Editon + Seeds + Horticulture + Plants + Gardening + Gardens + Directory
Breckland Service 2
Just Sunflowers
Seeds for US Gardens
FYI, Chase Organics, Suffolk Herbs, Kings Seeds & Tamar (& no doubt others) are all in fact supplied by Kings Of Kelvedon, seems the only difference is in packaging, marketing strategies & prices!!! (eg, Suffolk Herbs have a nice high production value, colour catalogue with tasteful water colours of the plants, etc- Tamar are far more basic & so are their prices). Suffolk Herbs are now owned by Kings - Kings are a major supplier to the UK seed market, however there are others, Thomas Etty, for instance also gets seeds from French and Italian suppliers.
Old House Gardens - Heirloom Flower Bulbs. Scott Kunst of OHG also provides a "Source List for Historic Ornamentals" in the US (send SASE and $1 to OHG, 536 Third St., Ann Arbor, MI 48103-4957, USA).
Territorial Seed Company (Oregon)
The Cook's Garden (Vermont)
Park Seed Company (South Carolina)
Simpson's Heritage Seed (Arizona)
Horizon Herbs Strictly Medicinal herbseed@chatlink.com POB 69 Williams OR 97544 (541)846-6704 fax (541)846-6233 $2.00 A family run business, and more delightful folks than most! A bible of herb information.
J.L. Hudson, Seedsman Ethnobotanical Catalogue of Seeds Star Route 2, Box 337 La Honda CA 94020 $1.00 Quirky, but dedicated and knowedgeable to a fault. Incredibly detailed listing.
Fedco POB 520 Waterville, ME 04903 (207) 873-7333 fax (203)872-8317 free Best prices, generous packets, volume discounts, free shipping. Besides, they quote Walt Whitman throughout, what better endorsement do you need?
Native Seeds/SEARCH nss@azstarnet.com 526 N
4th Ave Tuscon AZ 85705 $1.00 Fascinating reading, tribal info., rare seeds, Desert Foods for Diabetes Control, tepary beans, sorghums. or http://www.desert.net/seeds/home.htm preserves southwestern Native American seeds.
Oregon Exotics 1065 Messinger Rd. Grants Pass OR 97527 (541)846-7578 $4.00 Wapato, chinese yam, water chestnuts...
DT Brown in the UK: An old established company enjoying an impressive revival with an excellent choice of modern and traditional varieties. Their Heritage range includes many heirloom varieties incluing striped zinnias, striped French marigolds, dark-leaved nasturtiums and other varieties usually unavailable elsewhere. Their vegetable range is also one of the best in the UK, with some modern F1 hybrid vegetables as well as heirlooms like the pink and white flowered 'Painted Lady' climbing bean. The catalogue includes plants and seedlings which cannot be sent overseas. DT Brown also publish an excellent trade catalogue, specifically aimed at smaller commercial growers.
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Ordering British Seed from the USA: A number of British seed companies will supply seed to gardeners in the USA. American gardeners will find varieties of seed raised plants in British mail order seed catalogues which are not available in the USA; some will be heirloom varieties which have been kept going in Europe or recently reintroduced, others will be new varieties which have not yet been listed in American catalogues.
Mr Fothergill's Seeds: One of Britain's newer seed companies but one which lists many unusual varieties in its two seed catalogues, the general catalogue and the enthusiasts' catalogue. Both catalogues include a number of excellent nineteenth century heirlooms, as well as modern varieties in single colours where most companies offer only mixtures. Webpage?
Chiltern Seeds specialises in annuals and bedding plants in separate colours along with many unusual botanical items ranging from cacti and palms to trees and vines. E-mail only.
Seeds-by-Size sells vegetables, herbs and flowers, including many unusual annuals and many single colours reputedly available to home gardeners from no other company - anywhere in the world.

Thompson & Morgan offer a comprehensive list of seeds, including thousands of varieties of flowers and vegetables. Their site includes catalogues for USA and Worldwide Sales, both wholesale and retail. They also have a catalogue specialising in young plants for sale only to the United Kingdom. Their seed catalogues (available from 1st August 1999) include thousands of varieties and are fully indexed and searchable.
Sand Hill Preservation Center 1878 230th St Calamus IA 52729-9659 319-246-2299 (business hours) - specializing in heirloom open-pollinated seeds, sweet potato slips and rare poultry breeds. This is an excellent source of op corn, squash and tomatoes. They personally grow out over
2,000 varieties of heirlooms. family run
Johnny's Selected Seeds (Maine)
Flowery Branch Seed Company PO Box 1330 Flowery Branch, GA 30542 Phone: (770) 536-8380 - Flowery Branch Seed Company in Flowery Branch, Georgia is a superb source of seed for those of us who are
addicted to growing old-fashioned and uncommon flowering garden plants. don't concentrate exclusively in heirlooms they list almost no F1 hybrid bedding plants.
Nicky's Mail Order Flower Seeds Worldwide. On-line seed store for the amateur and professional gardener. Seeds for bedding plants, hanging baskets, house plants, containers, patio and rockeries. Some F1 varieties but also lots of open-pollinated varieties.
Bliss Partnership:
28 O'Connell Street, Tamworth, 2340, Australia.
The Heritage Curators Association:
P.O. Box 1450, Bairnsdale, Victoria 3875, Australia.
Phoenix Seeds: Phone: 61362679663
P.O. Box 207, SNUG 7054, Australia.
Fruit Lovers Nursery offers rare tropcal fruit seed. Oscar Jaitt, PO Box 1597, Pahoa, HI 96778.
Telephone and Fax (808)965-9785 in Hawaii


The Irish Organic Trust has compiled an inventory of suppliers of certified organic seed (Europe & USA).
Chase Organics (Great Britain) Ltd. Despite the name only a small (but growing) section of the seed Chase are selling is actually certified organic. All of the organic varieties I have tried (lettuces, radishes, onions) have grown exceptionally well here in the West of
Ireland.
The Henry Doubleday Research Association HDRA, Britain's Premier organic gardening organisation, maintains the Heritage Seed Library of endangered vegetables containing over 700 varieties of interesting and traditional vegetables that can't legally be traded in Europe. These seeds cannot be purchased but Members of the Library can receive free seed packets each year.
The Natural Gardening Company is a certified organic nursery in the US selling vegetable, herb and flower seeds as well as beneficial insects, drip irrigation, composting equipment, tools and wildflower seeds.
Sow Organic Seed Co
Terry Klokleid of Amblewood Organic Farm in British Columbia sells organic vegetable and herb seeds and seedlings.
Organic gardening.com
Pure Seed Company (organic seed potatoes)
Companion Plants complants@frognet.net
7247 N. Coolville Ridge Rd. Athens OH 45701 (740)592-4643 fax (740)593-3092
$3.00 or free list chinese artichokes, ashwaganda, tobaccos, amaranths, sweet
grass, golden seal, jerusalem artichoke,comfrey...
Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply POB 2209 Grass
Valley, CA 95945 (530)272-4769 free
DT Brown in the UK sell some organic seed
Bio-Saatgut
Biologisches Saatgut Check Marketplace, Seed.
The link contains 2 Excel files for downloading, one for vegetable/herbs and one for grain, potatoes etc. Sources are given for each crop.
Thyme Garden Web-Site
Ronniger's Seed Potaotes, a small and family run business, offers an incredible selection of potatoes as well as some other tubers/bulbs like sunchokes, onions, and garlic along with some books and tools. They are known for excellent service. Organic, disease free, etc. They also encourage growers to save their own seed potatoes from year to year if you grow in disease-free soil. Their address is now Ronniger's Seed Potatoes PO Box 1838 18705 188th Street East Orting, WA 98360, 360-893-8782 , 360-893-3492 Fax.
Future Foods
Southmeadow Fruit Gardens, Box SM, Lakeside, MI 49116 (616) 469-2865
Offering scores of historic fruit varieties, particularly apples.
Greenpatch Organic Seeds:
P.O. Box 1285, Taree, NSW 2430, Australia.
Eden Seeds: Phone: 61754865230 Fax: 61754865586
21a Sandy Creek Road, Gympie 4570, Australia.

Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI) is an international non-governmental organization headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada) with affiliate offices in Pittsboro, North Carolina (USA). RAFI is dedicated to the conservation and sustainable improvement of agricultural biodiversity, and to the socially responsible development of technologies useful to rural societies. RAFI is concerned about the loss of genetic diversity - especially in agriculture - and about the impact of intellectual property rights on agriculture and world food security.
The Farmer Cooperative Genome Project (FCGPATM1L1) is a collaborative effort to return farmers and gardeners to the practices of characterizing and saving seed. With support from the Fund for Rural America, and administered by Oregon Tilth, the FCGP explores the feasibility of a cooperative marketing structure that rewards producers for maintaining the nation's
most vital resource base - the seed. The Farmer Cooperative Genome Project is a three year project to assemble a farmer owned seed cooperative. Participants in the effort
will learn how to work with the United States* repository of seeds (the National Plant Germplasm System) and other seed resources, learn how to characterize or describe varieties, learn how to grow true seeds, and develop plant varieties for preservation and sale. For more information contact: JJ Haapala at Oregon Tilth.
Irish Seed Savers association
Irish Genetic Resources Conservation Trust
The Henry Doubleday Research Association HDRA, Britain's Premier organic gardening organisation, maintains the Heritage Seed Library of endangered vegetables containing over 700 varieties of interesting and traditional vegetables that can't legally be traded in Europe. Many are family heirlooms nurtured from generation to generation; others were once commercial varieties, now no longer offered by seed companies, the seeds being victims of commercial pressures and draconian European rules. Members of the library are able to receive up to seven packets of free seed each year. These seeds cannot be purchased but Members of the Library can receive free seed packets each year.
In a small village in Uttar Pradesh is a collection of native Indian seeds that would put even a genebank to shame. Vijay Jardhari, a farmer in Chamba in the Garhwal Himalaya has a rare collection of traditional seed varieties which he maintains by cultivating in small plots of land. There is an urgent need to promote more such seed banks writes Indira Khurana at http://www.oneworld.org/cse/html/dtedte981231/dte_grass.htm.
PLANTGENETICRESOURCES RELATED PROJECT
Detailed information on the FAO's work on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture can be found here.
The Solomon Islands Planting Materials Network has for the past four years worked directly with rural communities, development aid agencies and government agricultural research and extension organisations to make available the non-hybrid seed of food crops used by village subsistence farmers and has achieved recognition for its pioneering work throughout the South Pacific as well as in Australia.
DG6 EU - Directorate General (Agriculture) of the European Union
International Plant Genetic Resources Institute European Section. See also their downloadable information resources on policy, PGR, IPR, genebanks, genetics etc.
Pro Specie Rara is a Swiss NGO, founded in 1982, which aims at preserving as many agricultural/horticultural plant varieties and domestic animal breeds as possible. They have five part-time employees who co-ordinate projects with the bulk of the actual preservation work carried out by more than 1000 private volunteers. Finance is almost entirely raised from private donations. Pro Specie Rara is constanty looking for custodians of plant varieties. Contact them at Pro Specie Rara-Sekretariat, Engelgasse 12a, CH-9000 St.Gallen, Switzerland, Fax +41-71-223 74 01. Their website contains a 'Variety finder' searchable database "Sortenfinder" for vegetables, grains, fruit (with pictures of apple varieties).
Austrian Genebanks for Crop Plants
Arche Noah