SIGNIFICANT SEEDS and Special Stories
EVERY TIME I SMELL A TOMATO PLANT, the fresh, sweet, earthy aroma propels me back to my childhood, when Grandpa would send my sister and me out to his garden, and we’d pick the large, juicy fruits from the vine. When we’d haul them inside and wash them, their scent would waft throughout the kitchen. I didn’t love the taste of tomatoes, but I loved their smell, and nowadays, I love the memories they evoke.
Many people have a unique connection to the plants they grow, the food they eat, and the people they commune with in the process. Often, these memories begin with the art of seed saving. Seed Savers Exchange (“Seed Savers”) is an organization that puts these ideas into practice. A haven for rare and heirloom seeds, Seed Savers prioritizes the perpetuation of each plant, and also safeguards the story that comes with them. To them, the value of a seed isn’t only the nutrition of its harvest, but also the nostalgia and history that’s found in every sprout.
Every year, Seed Savers hosts a seed conference to celebrate just that:
