Ohio River Valley Seed Collab
The art and skill of seed saving is facing incredible challenges from the local to global level.
Corporate consolidation has led to the top three seed companies owning over sixty percent of the world's commercial seed, giving them the power to steer the industry however they see fit.
The growing climate crisis threatens seed farmers' ability to produce the quality and quantity of seeds they once did.
In a culture where seed saving has become a niche hobby rather than a cornerstone of the community, fewer and fewer people have the skills and desire to continue the time-honored practice of stewarding seeds.
The Ohio River Valley Seed Collaborative (ORVSC) was born out of a desire to take back our regional seed sovereignty, intentionally cultivate resilient and well-adapted seed crops, and nurture a culture of care, honor, and celebration for the seeds and the seed growers in our communities. This group of eight farmers (and counting!) stewards regionally adapted seeds and collectively markets, sells, and shares these seeds throughout our region. Through classes, workshops, and community gatherings, the ORVSC also shares the skills, passion, and stories of seed saving with folks from all backgrounds and experience levels.
The Civic Garden Center is pleased to serve as the fiscal sponsor for the ORVSC, providing the administrative and financial home that allows this collaborative effort to focus on its mission. Together, we’re supporting seed growers who steward and strengthen regionally adapted seeds—an important part of building biodiversity, seed sovereignty, and a resilient regional food system!
Mission
Supporting seed growers, stewarding regionally adapted seeds, and strengthening relationships between the people and the land of the Ohio River Valley.
Vision
We envision an Ohio River Valley where skilled and thoughtful seed keeping is widely practiced and deeply valued, where regionally grown seeds are accessible to all regardless of economic, political, or environmental circumstances, and where communities are united in a shared dedication to caring for the land and all those, both plant and human, that call the Ohio River Valley home.
Values
Regional: ORVSC is by and for growers in the Ohio River Valley. All seeds are stewarded in Ohio, Kentucky, or Indiana for at least 3 years minimum before being offered in the catalog.
Resilient: Climate change, political upheaval, and economic uncertainty are some of the greatest challenges facing seed growers at large. With this in mind, we intentionally cultivate seeds to be genetically diverse and grown in low-input systems so that they can withstand the many challenges they will inevitably encounter as gardeners and farmers grow them over the years.
Relational: We are part of an intricate and complex web of relationships; relationships between people, land, and the seeds. By sharing the stories of the seeds and their seed keepers, we honor and strengthen these relationships.
Transparent: The name and information about the growers who steward each seed is shared on our website and seed packets, as well as as much info about the seeds as possible including germination rates, the seeds origin, and how they came into the stewardship of the ORVSC. We are clear about how donations and revenue are used to support the mission.
Collaborative: Partnership and collective action are a powerful force for good. Wherever possible, we look for ways to partner with other organizations and individuals who are doing important work and who are knowledgeable about the community they serve. We value group decision making and lean on our advisory board and mentors for guidance.
Joyful: Joy is not just the silver lining, but rather the deep driving force that sustains and guides our mission for the long term. We celebrate the beauty and dignity of both the seeds and the seed growers.