Decoding the DNA of Heritage Apples

As an orchard intern, it was my responsibility to learn about the heritage apples grown here and research information about these historical varieties.

A pile of orange-pink sweet potatoes of various shapes

Growing Guides

Growing Guide: Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes have significant cultural and culinary histories and uses across the globe. Growing sweet potatoes has very different requirements from growing potatoes.

Events

Behind the Scenes at Heritage Farm

September 12, 2026 / Heritage Farm, 3074 North Winn Rd, Decorah, IA 52101

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the work happening on Heritage Farm. From garden tours to tours of the preservation seed lab and the seed-processing shed, this is an opportunity to hear from staff who spend their days tending to the seeds in our care and see the places in which that work takes place.

Details

Seeds in glass mason jars and a mason jar holding papers

Events

Seed School

September 28-November 2, 2026 / Virtual

SSE’s virtual seed school is a 6-week course where gardeners will learn practical knowledge on how to process, store, and save seeds.

Details

Many trees with no foliage and tree guards around their trunks, in an open space of grass and blue sky

How Tos

How to Prepare Fruit Trees for Winter

It’s essential to properly prepare fruit trees for winter. Tree guards are the best method to protect your trees.

A large pile of dark, rich compost, with more large piles covered in straw in the background.

Learn

Composting at Seed Savers Exchange

Seed Savers Exchange uses compost to improve soil health, along with other methods such as rotating crops and planting cover crops.

Several white cows graze a large open field next to a small red building

Learn

Meet the Ancient White Park Cattle of Heritage Farm

Wait a second, you thought Seed Savers Exchange only stewarded seeds? Think again! Heritage Farm is home to two herds of Ancient White Park cattle, cared for by Seed Savers Exchange. These heritage cows are part of an ongoing conservation effort and an important part of Seed Savers Exchange’s mission.

Several glass jars with a variety of different seeds sit in a row on a glass shelf

How Tos

How to Store Seeds

Protect your rare or stock-up sale finds with these three proper storage tips that ensure your seeds are viable when the planting time is right. It doesn’t take much, especially if you are storing seeds for two years or less.

Red radishes growing in a mulched bed with leafy green tops

How Tos

Everything You Need to Know About Radishes

Radishes are wonderfully diverse with many different colors, shapes and sizes! Spring and summer varieties can be pink, red, white, golden, or purple. They can be shaped like bulbs, be more elongated like fingers, or even taper like carrots.

White and red speckled 'Lina Sisco Bird Egg' beans

Varieties

The story of the ‘Lina Sisco Bird Egg’ bean

Lina Sisco of Wadena, Missouri, was one of the original listed members of the True Seed Exchange (as Seed Savers Exchange was known until 1979) and the donor of the beautiful and popular ‘Lina Sisco Bird Egg’ bean.