Places to find heirloom seeds

An heirloom plant is basically a plant passed down through the generations by open-pollinated seeds and/or cuttings. These plants are genetic jewels, uniquely adapted to an area’s growing conditions and climate over thousands of years. Many heirloom vegetables and fruit offer shapes, colors and flavors found nowhere else.

Thousands of varieties that grew a century ago are gone. Consider apples. In 1900, there were 8,000 named varieties of apples in the U.S. Today, the majority are gone, according to the Seed Saver Exchange, a nonprofit organization. A few companies sell most of the seeds and those varieties that don’t appeal to a world market aren’t sold. Seed companies are also relying more on genetically modified and sterile hybrid seed.

Plant people concerned about the loss of thousands of varieties of vegetables and fruit have started organizations devoted to collecting, saving and sharing heirloom seeds. A few worth visiting:

Seed Savers Exchange
http://www.seedsavers.org/

Organic Seed Alliance
http://www.seedalliance.org

Public Seed Initiative
http://www.plbr.cornell.edu/psi/

Permaculture Activist
http://www.permacultureactivist.net/seeds/SeedResrcs.htm