A man wearing a Cubs baseball shirt stands in a flower bush.

Hope and Practice: Charles Hoehnle

“I just enjoy growing things. I never get tired of watching things grow and develop.” – Charles L. Hoehnle
Charles has been saving and sharing seeds through the Exchange since 1991—and gardening even longer. From his roots in Iowa’s Amana Colonies to his blue ribbons at the Iowa State Fair, Charles’s life is a testament to the quiet power of stewardship, tradition, and seed saving.

A bunch of colorful snapdragon flowers next to shorter purple flowers in a large garden

Stewardship Stories

Hope and Practice: Jane Frandsen

Jane Frandsen, Exchange lister, recounts why and how she began saving seeds: ‘Seeds Are Amazing Things.’

A collage of various images of heirloom plants, including 'Moon & Stars' watermelon, 'German Pink' tomato, 'Three Pound Coffee Can' asparagus, 'Grandpa Ott's' morning glory, dill, and 'Good Mother Stallard' bean

Varieties

50th Anniversary Heirloom Seed Collection

Great seeds, great seed stories. Seed Savers Exchange has stewarded both since its founding in 1975. To mark our 50th year, we’ve released a limited-edition heirloom seed collection featuring six of our most-cherished varieties.

Stewardship Stories

Hope and Practice: Kay Antúnez de Mayolo

If you stop by Kay Antúnez de Mayolo’s farmstand at Modoc Harvest’s Food Hub and farmer’s market, on the Great Basin’s western edge in rural northern California, she might sell you “regular” lettuces or tomatoes and let you be on your way.

Stewardship Stories

Hope & Practice: Spencer Carter

Hope and Practice: Spencer Carter, A Heart Filled With Hope. To celebrate Seed Savers Exchange’s 50th anniversary we will be featuring the work and inspiration of Exchange listers in the Hope and Practice series.

Small black peppers growing on a plant in a greenhouse

Stewardship Stories

‘Angelica’s Little Diablo’ Pepper

When an unexpected challenge wiped out Norma’s supply of ‘Angelica’s Little Diablo’ seeds, she turned to Seed Savers Exchange for help. Thankfully, SSE had been stewarding these seeds and was able to reunite Norma with her beloved heirloom pepper. Without Seed Savers Exchange, this priceless variety and its history would likely have been lost.

large tomatoes and purple morning glory flowers staged in a picture frame with a red barn in the background

Stewardship Stories

Behind the Catalog Cover Shot

The 2025 Seed Savers Exchange Catalog proudly offers more than 600 unique, open-pollinated varieties, but its cover showcases only two—the delightfully delicious ‘German Pink’ tomato and the mighty yet majestic ‘Grandpa Ott’s’ morning glory (with the historic barn at Heritage Farm providing the backdrop).

Varieties

Grandma Einck and Her Blue Ribbon-Winning Dill

From its large, fragrant heads to abundant, long-lasting foliage, ‘Grandma Einck’s’ dill boasts much to admire—including its fabulous story.

Several small 'North Carolina Heirloom' cucumbers growing on the vine with some yellow cucumber flowers.

Varieties

‘North Carolina Heirloom’ Cucumber: A Garden Delight

Marian Hart was a frequent lister in the Seed Savers Exchange Yearbook in the 1980s and 1990s. A gardener since 1962, Marian listed an assortment of crop varieties. But none of those varieties was as popular and beloved as her cucumber variety: the ‘North Carolina Heirloom’ cucumber.

Three orange tomatoes on a wood plank surface.

Varieties

‘Oma’s Orange’ Tomato: A Tradition of Love

Betty Moore, a Seed Savers Exchange member from Stow, Ohio, holds a cherished family heirloom—a tomato variety that has been part of her family for years. This tomato has a rich history dating back to 1937, when Betty’s mother, Oma Rachel Lively Miller, received it from a relative upon her marriage. You might know it as ‘Oma’s Orange’ tomato.