This Iowa Nonprofit Is the Largest Nongovernmental Seed Bank in the Country | Iowa Life

Why It Matters

By maintaining a vast, living repository of heirloom seeds, Seed Savers Exchange protects genetic diversity essential for resilient food systems and connects consumers to their agricultural heritage.

Key Takeaways

• Seed Savers Exchange runs the nation’s largest non‑governmental seed bank.
• Over 20,000 heirloom varieties are preserved and periodically regenerated.
• Heritage Farm cultivates ~560 varieties each year to maintain seed viability.
• Gardens are isolated to prevent cross‑pollination, ensuring genetic purity.
• The nonprofit educates visitors, linking biodiversity to personal and cultural heritage.

Summary

The video profiles Seed Savers Exchange Heritage Farm, a 900‑acre Iowa nonprofit that operates the United States’ largest non‑governmental seed bank. Founded over 50 years ago by Diane Ott Whealy and her husband Kent, the organization’s mission is to grow, preserve, and share heirloom seeds, safeguarding more than 20,000 fruit, vegetable, herb, and flower varieties. Key operational insights include a curated planting schedule that limits on‑site cultivation to roughly 560 varieties annually, ensuring each seed batch remains viable. Seeds are grown for three purposes—distribution, evaluation, or maintenance—across eight isolated gardens to prevent cross‑pollination. After harvest, seeds undergo threshing, winnowing, drying, and long‑term storage, ready for future regeneration. Personal anecdotes illustrate the farm’s cultural resonance: Diane recounts receiving German pink tomato seeds from her grandfather, realizing a tangible link to her ancestry. Staff like Mike Bollinger and Corbin Scholz describe the hands‑on process of trialing and showcasing varieties for visitors, while emphasizing the farm’s role as a living museum of biodiversity. The broader implication is a resilient, community‑driven safeguard for agricultural diversity, offering growers and consumers access to rare genetics that bolster food security, support niche markets, and preserve culinary heritage.

Original Description

Every seed has a story. Learn about the 50-year history of Seed Savers Exchange in Decorah, and get a behind-the-scenes look at how the nonprofit operates.