“Our community has been saving seeds for generations, but I never truly appreciated the economic impact until I ran the numbers. By saving seeds from our heirloom beans and maize, we’re saving a lot in seed costs across our collective. More importantly, we’re preserving varieties that have been part of our cultural heritage for centuries. These plants don’t just feed us – they tell our story and maintain our connection to the land.”

“The economics of seed saving transformed our community. Five years ago, we were spending 40% of our input costs on hybrid maize seed. By developing our own open-pollinated varieties through careful selection, we’ve cut those costs to just 5%. The yields took two seasons to match the hybrids, but now we’re seeing better results because our corn is adapted to our specific growing conditions.”

“As an agricultural educator, seed saving has become our most powerful teaching tool. When visitors see the diversity within a single crop – like our collection of 23 distinct bean varieties, each with its own story and adaptation – they understand biodiversity in a tangible way. Last year alone, our seed saving workshops trained over 300 new farmers in techniques that will save them thousands in startup costs.”