Saving seeds is one of the most meaningful ways gardeners can deepen their connection to the land, their food, and the generations who came before them. Join us as seed saver and educator Briana Smorstad, of Seed Savers Exchange, highlights the why and how of saving seeds from your home garden.

Whether you’re hoping to save money on seeds, select plants with traits you love, or preserve varieties with personal or cultural significance, seed saving is a powerful and accessible practice. Briana will cover the basics of growing plants for seed, harvesting seeds at the right time, and storing them so they remain viable for future seasons.

This presentation will also explore the broader impact of seed saving, from strengthening local resilience to protecting our shared garden heritage. Gardeners will leave with practical skills, increased confidence, and a deeper appreciation for seeds as living links between past, present, and future.

Photo Courtesy of Briana Smorstad

Briana Smorstad grew up in the Driftless Region, where her mother instilled in her a love of the land and nature by tending flowers and vegetables in her garden every summer. As a child, Bri didn’t much care for all the hard work gardening required, but as an adult, she is enamored with the power gardening has to connect us with our food and land. Bri earned a bachelor’s degree in conservation biology; during her studies, she noticed that almost every conservation issue came back to our broken food system. This realization inspired her to pursue work in food systems to address the array of symptoms caused by this disconnect, including nutrition, climate change, conservation, and sustainable communities. She is over the moon to be working as the seed bank manager at Seed Savers Exchange because she gets to live in her favorite place (Decorah!) and work on one of humanity’s most important issues, our food system, by helping to preserve the seeds of our diverse garden heritage so people today and tomorrow can continue to connect with their food.

Free event. All are welcome.
Register HERE