Seed Library Classes

Nutrient Dense Food

Seed Saving in a Time of Change

Do you rely on getting seeds or starts from a nursery? Are the seeds you are planting adapting to our changing climate and to your preferences? Learn the ancient practice of saving seeds.

Over 94% of the seed commercially available 100 years ago is gone. The loss of genetic diversity and the current model of breeding for uniformity makes our food system much more susceptible to shocks from pests and diseases to severe weather events due to climate change. This class focuses on food crops. Help create a local seed shed in our community and be part of the solution. This class will be recorded.

Instructors:

Julia Dakin is a farmer and seed activist in Mendocino County, California. Co-Founder of Going to Seed.

Rebecca Newburn is the Co-Founder of Richmond Grows and the Founder of the Seed Library Network.

Special thanks to the Experimental Farm Network for sponsoring the Seed Saving in a Time of Change class! The Experimental Farm Network is a hub for learning about adaptive gardening, connecting with other growers, and for accessing amazing, genetically diverse seeds so that you and your community can develop place-based, climate adapted seeds.

Nutrient Dense Foods

Watch this 30-minute presentation by Julia Dakin, Co-Founder of Going to Seed, on what makes foods nutrient dense. Be prepared for a plot twist. To learn more about this specific topic we recommend goingtoseed.org/nutrients. Julia is also a co-instructor for Seed Saving in a Time of Change. (Register here.)

Seed Librarian Conversations

The following “Sow and Tells” conversations are specifically for folks who have or plan to open a seed library. These are hosted by the Seed Library Network. The focus is on envelopes and labels for seed libraries, and folks will have time in breakout rooms to share challenges, solutions, and inspiration. Sign up today and take time to connect with other seed librarians and learn from each other. The events are free. Donations appreciated.

We’re grateful to the Great American Seed Up who is sponsoring this Sow and Tell. If you’re not familiar with the Great American Seed Up, they have a live bulk seed event, their 10th, coming up in October on the 11th and 12th in Phoenix. You can purchase discounted “seed bundles” on their website (greatamericanseedup.com) and many seed libraries use their seed bundles to start their seed-saving programs. You can select a variety of seeds in a mix-and-match combination. All their seeds are adaptable, non-GMO, and open-pollinated. 

5 Minutes Gets You on the Map! 📌

If your seed library is open, take 5 minutes to fill in the Global Seed Library Census and get your library on the map!

The 44th Annual Seed Savers Exchange Conference (Virtual)
Growing Together: Sharing Seeds, Stories, and Skills

For the 44th annual conference, Seed Savers Exchange divided sessions into four days with themes on community, foodways, breeding, and climate. Participants will hear from subject matter experts including SSE staff and community builders, and enjoy interactive small group breakout rooms.

Whether you are a first-time gardener, first-time seed saver, or someone who has been to every one of our previous 43 summer conferences, we know attendees will be inspired by this year's theme, "Growing Together: Sharing Seeds, Stories, and Skills."

Friday, May 3—Community

Friday June 7—Foodways

Friday, July 12—Plant Breeding

Friday, August 2—Climate

Your registration will give you access to all four days of programming and video recordings of presentations.

To view a list of presenters and schedule visit SeedSavers.org/events.

Please note: Registrants will have access to recordings of live sessions until May 2025.

SeedBroadcast agri-Culture

SeedBroadcast is a small collective of artists, farmers and seed-stewards. Their mission is to uplift the Culture in agri-culture through broadcasting Seed Stories and pollinating resource networks to cultivate bioregional food and seed resilience. We are excited to announce they have just published their 21st edition of "SeedBroadcast agri-Culture Journal" and would love to share it with you and those in your community. The journal is comprised of contributions sent to them from all over the world, from poets, farmers, seed-savers, activists, and those that want to spread the word of seeds. The journal is open-pollinated and always free, and they are offering Seed Libraries a limited opportunity to receive a stack of journals to share with folks at their branches.

If you would like a stack of SeedBroadcast agri-Culture Journal shipped to you, please fill out this form. They will ship as long as copies are available. 

They are also welcoming contributions to their next journal edition. The deadline to submit is September 30th and you can find details here. Please check out their website, www.seedbroadcast.org for more information on their work and to stay in touch!

The Seed Library Network was honored to have SeedBroadcast host a panel on Seed Stories at our 10th Seed Library Summit. (Start at 4 min. 30s)