May 5, 2020
May we suggest . . .
Supporting the availability of Native Seeds, and feeding those in need.
During this unprecedented time, there is an unprecedented need for support in every community. There are so many ways you can help. We would like offer two suggestions.
Native Seeds / SEARCH works to protect biodiverse crops and the people who depend on them. Biodiversity is key to the health and balance of the planet and its inhabitants. The coronavirus has forced the closing of their retail store and created a budget gap that is affecting staffing, seed bank operations, and their ability to grow and share seeds. Right now, there is unprecedented demand for seeds from Native farmers who depend on them for nutritious food.
"Since its founding, Native Seeds/SEARCH has been dedicated to conserving the rich agro-biodiversity of the arid Southwest. Preserved in our seed bank today are nearly 2,000 varieties of crops adapted to arid landscapes extending from southern Colorado to central Mexico, many of them rare or endangered. The collection represents the cultural heritage and farming knowledge of over 50 indigenous communities, as well as recent immigrants like Spanish missionaries and Mormon homesteaders. We also conserve a number of crop wild relatives, wild ancestors of domesticated plants."
"These seeds, and the knowledge of how to grow them, represent sophisticated adaptations to the challenges of farming in the desert, adaptations that continue to be relevant to sustainable ecosystems of the future."
Local Food Banks
We also encourage you to donate what you can, when you can to a food bank in your area, and to organizations helping to feed those on the front lines of this pandemic.
In the United States:
In the U.S. and internationally:
For those of you outside the U.S. looking for resources in-country, begin here:
