Resilient, diverse, and nutritious food for the future
Photo Credit: Malte Lunden
Our future depends on growing resilient, diverse, and nutritious food. Yet according to the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), we've lost over 90% of crop varieties in the last century, and our crops now require unprecedented levels of human intervention. Many vegetables can't be grown without pesticides or plastics, and local communities have little control over their food supply.
How can we change this situation? Over the past year, Going to Seed has made progress in reversing these trends by helping farmers and gardeners adapt crops to their local environments and needs. And we're asking for your support to continue this mission.
With a generous contribution from Going to Seed’s Advisor Group, we will match 100% of your contribution until we reach $10,000, or until January 20th, 2025.
- Our 2024 Seed Share program distributed 5000+ packets of diverse seed mixes, sourced from our generous community members. For 2025, we're adding new crops, more diversity, and kicking off a Canadian pilot program. Seeds will be available to the public starting in February.
- Through our Farmer Support Program and a generous grant from the Clif Family Foundation, we funded and supported farmers’ transitions to growing diverse crops adapted to their challenges and community needs. View our grantees and their updates here. We have secured funding from the Clif Family Foundation for a second year, and look forward to deepening our understanding of how to support farmers in growing and selling diverse produce and seeds in their communities.
Members of the East Bay Seed Project at a fall seed gathering |
- With funds from the Foundation for Sustainability and Innovation, we supported four communities in California and Oregon to adapt their chosen species to the local climate and community preferences. Our dedicated volunteer writers wrote in-depth guides to support gardeners throughout the growing season. As 2025 approaches, we plan to use these guides and our 2024 experience to help seed libraries in communities everywhere increase the rate of return of locally grown seed, resulting in continual improvement of the crops and expanding the number of growers in the local community.
- We organized a melon grow-out project with seeds sourced from GRIN, the national germplasm collection curated by the USDA. Projects like this allow us to re-introduce rare genetic material back into the public pool.
-
Joseph, Julia, Kay Everts, and others gave presentations at numerous events to introduce farmers and gardeners to the concept of Adaptation Agriculture.
-
In January, we launched our newest educational course, Center of Origin: Traditional Farming Methods in Southern Mexico, exploring the significance and rich heritage of milpa farming in Mexico. Access is free of charge to reach the widest audience possible.
-
We hosted a series of podcasts featuring interviews with professional and amateur breeders covering a wide range of relevant topics.
- Joseph Lofthouse launched the French translation of his book “Landrace Gardening: Food security through biodiversity and promiscuous pollination” in time for the International Farmer Seed Conference in Antibes, France this October. With the help of members of our international community (view photos), he continued his speaking tour, building relationships with groups throughout Europe. Going to Seed financially supported the recording of the entire Antibes conference; recordings will be shared over the coming months.
The Going to Seed table at the International Farmer Seed Conference. Left to Right: Mare, Hugo, Stephane, Joseph, Eloise, Holly, Malte, Julia, Thomas |
Your past support has been indispensable to our achievements in 2024. If empowering everyone with the tools to effectively create locally-adapted, community-shared, and nutritionally-vibrant seeds is important to you, please consider donating. By making a tax-deductible contribution, you’ll help us reverse the trend of loss and revitalize the way seeds have been saved and shared for thousands of years. Your donation lets us help more farmers and gardeners adapt crops to the challenges of an increasingly unpredictable climate and combat the predominant agricultural model in which 60% of seeds are controlled by four agrochemical companies.
With utmost gratitude for your support,
Anna, Joseph, Julia, and the Going to Seed Advisor Team