Sierra Seeds is a small regional seed company based in Nevada County, California. Our mission is two-fold; First we aim to provide access to regionally adapted seeds that thrive in our unique conditions in the Sierra Foothills of Northern California. Using time-honored traditions of selection and classical plant breeding, we are training our growers to our plants and seeds to create a new revolution and evolution of local foods, which better fit our lands, our growing methods, and our tastes, and environmental conditions.
Second, the true heart of what we strive to do is empower and grow confident seed stewards. By providing economic incentive and on-the-ground support and assistance to our cooperative circle of seed growers, we are building a truly sustainable local seed system. We have developed outreach and educational programs designed to support seed production in our region, with an emphasis on crop improvement for organic agricultural systems. By growing a network of capable seed stewards, we are making a lasting contribution to seed and food sovereignty. Locally adapted seeds are at the foundation of any durable and resilient local food system.
There is nothing that gives us greater joy than the work of stewarding the wealth of diversity of seeds here in our seed bank at Sierra Seeds. The seeds themselves are a diverse expression of life itself; ever hopeful, renewing and sustaining. A large percentage of the seed in our packets is produced by our cooperative network of seed stewards, grown by a number of dynamic and committed farmers and gardeners. Our first commitment as a business is to support our caring circle of seed producers. We work hard at keeping our overhead low in other aspects of the business, so that the profit margins can be passed along to our growers. This is reflected in our marketing and packaging choices; no glossy seed packets, no glossy catalog etc. Just high quality seed grown by good people in low- input farming systems.
We are part of a growing movement to “re-localize” our seed. Most seed companies do not grow their own seed, they mostly buy seed from large scale wholesale seed firms or large farms. This “one size fits all” type of seed is not adapted to your cultural needs as small, organic, low input farmers and gardeners. We are working to reconnect the seeds back to the local land, allowing for resilient seeds that will be ready to meet the challenges of the current conditions.
In our Seed Catalog, you will find a grower code on every variety, so that there is complete transparency to where your seed is grown. by bringing the faces and stories of these seed farmers to light, you can acknowledge their role in shaping our local food cycles. In order to provide a well rounded catalog, we have sourced a few varieties from outside of our bio-region. We have sourced this seed from incredibly ethical and inspiring seed stewards. Many of these farmers are our mentors at Sierra Seeds and are pioneers in the burgeoning regional organic seed movement. As our growers develop their skills and production areas to accommodate for more seed production, we will rely less on this larger radius of seed suppliers.
Seed is a precious common heritage and is an essential component to the future sustainability our food. There is an urgent need to protect seed sovereignty; the corporations who dominate the seed industry are not working for the common people. It is the right of the public to own and develop our seed supply, especially if we are to ensure food security in a way that is congruent to our values of a healthy ecosystem and a just society.
Please help us in our goals to “Seed the Local Revolution!”