The Freed Seed Federation

by Stella Dubish

My dad taught me how to garden when I was a teenager, and we spent hours turning soil, planting, watering, and weeding.  I loved being close to the earth and coaxing something beautiful and nourishing out of what appeared to be almost nothing - a tiny seed. My love of gardening led me to my husband, Bryan, and through Bryan, I became friends with Bill Braun and Deanna Levanti, of Freed Seed Federation.  “Freed Seed Federation is a farmer-run nonprofit dedicated to the preservation, adaptation, and diversification of place-based seed.  Their mission is simple: to fortify regional food resilience from the level of the seed” (Freed Seed Federation, n.d.).

Over the last century, 90% of our food's genetic diversity has vanished, leaving crops vulnerable to environmental upheaval. Today, most seeds are controlled by a few corporations, detached from cultural and historical roots. Bill and Dee believe seeds belong in the hands of the people. Their work focuses on growing open-pollinated, patent-free seeds adapted to our region and resilient against climate change. They advocate for food sovereignty through participatory breeding, education, and community-building, ensuring seeds remain embedded in the communities they nourish (Freed Seed Federation, n.d.).

This summer, we visited their farm and saw heritage grains and vegetables grown from seeds passed down through generations. Seeing these crops makes the importance of their mission clear—whether you are walking through their fields or searching for quality produce at a grocery store.

You can support this vital work in two ways: 

1. Watch their YouTube crash course on seed saving to learn how to sustain your own garden. freedseedfederation.org or YouTube @freedseedfederation2058  
   
2. Make a donation via their website or participate in next month’s "Collection for a Cause," where Freed Seed will be the featured beneficiary.

Freed Seed Federation.  (n.d.)  https://www.freedseedfederation.org/