Gathering: Memoir of a Seed Saver

Diane Ott Whealy, co-founder of Seed Savers Exchange (SSE), has recently published Gathering: Memoir of a Seed Saver, which chronicles the history and development of the organization that now counts over 13,000 members worldwide. The book can be obtained from the SSE website or via Facebook.

Headquartered at Heritage Farm in Decorah, Iowa, Seed Savers Exchange is the premier organization devoted to the cultivation and preservation of the collective heirloom seed legacy in the United States. Supported by its members, SSE conserves and maintains heirloom seeds for thousands of vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers. Its mission is:

. . . to save North America's diverse, but endangered, garden heritage for future generations by building a network of people committed to collecting, conserving and sharing heirloom seeds and plants, while educating people about the value of genetic and cultural diversity.

SSE is open to visitors from April to October, and sponsors special events such as seed starting, grafting, and gardening workshops. It also hosts an annual conference and campout, which this year will take place July 15-17, 2011.

To learn more about Seed Savers Exchange, visit its website, and download its 2011 Catalog for this year's gardening. Below is a brief video of Diane Ott Whealy discussing her new book.