I'm a member of the Heritage Seed Library. It's an organization that conserves vegetable varieties that are no longer (and maybe never were) widely available. This includes ex-commercial varieties and heirlooms. The organization is not a seed bank and they make their seeds available to members. In December, a catalogue is sent to each member (a highlight of the gardening year!) and the member may choose up to 6 varieties to grow (and save their own seed from). It's a fantastic organization, and if you're not already a member (and why aren't you??), join now!
This year I selected:
Beet 'Avon Early'
Dwarf French Bean 'Eastern Butterwax'
Kale 'Daubenton'
Lettuce 'Rouge d' Hiver'
Pea 'Turner Spring'
Squash 'White Serpent'
But, in addition to being a member, I'm also a seed guardian. In March, a separate list goes out to people who have asked to be guardians. It contains the names of some of the varieties whose stock has gotten a bit low and needs increasing. Guardians choose two varieties to grow and save seed from. They are allowed to keep a bit of the seed for themselves, but the majority goes back to the HSL. When the stocks are sufficiently high, the variety appears in the catalogue again.
The list this year contains 7 climbing beans, 4 dwarf beans, 10 peas, 1 cucumber, 1 pepper, 1 radish, and 3 tomatoes. They have names like 'Veitch's Western Express,' 'Blacksmith's Bean,' and 'Macedonian Sweet.' And I can't wait to receive mine. I'm putting in for a pea and a tomato (I'll let you know which ones I get when they arrive) and I'll chronicle their growth here with regular photos and updates.
"and remember that all of our orphans need Guardians."
And if you're in the US, Seed Savers Exchange does something similar.
