Looking for a few new seed stewards

Sharing Seeds
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Our online Seed Share program depends on a group of stewards who each organize one of the crops we offer. For 2025, I’m seeking stewards for: Corn, Peas, Cowpeas, Runner Beans, Common Beans, and Carrots.

A quick overview of the role of the seed stewards: they are primarily ambassadors – people who love the crop and have some experience growing it, who can make decisions about what to include in the mixes, answer growers’ questions, and seek out diverse seed donations and/or purchases. You’re not expected to produce a large volume of seed yourself, though it’s great if you contribute something to the mix. In the past, stewards have also been responsible for packaging the mixes for their crop, but this year I’m making that optional.

Sound fun? Fill out this brief form or send me a message!

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So you want us to just gather up as much diversity and send it to you?

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What are the months we would be doing it, what month would the seed be sent in? Because I’d love to do carrots! Filled out the form.

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Contributors mail their seeds to me – I’m already receiving seed and the cutoff for this year will be around mid-november. Stewards may also grow some of the seeds themselves, or seek out individuals who are working on adaptation projects and solicit donations of seed. In some cases, we also purchase seed directly from growers or from small seed companies.

As far as timing:

  • the job starts now, with some research here in the discourse community and anywhere else you can think of, to look for people who are growing your crop
  • in November, you’re responsible for writing up a short proposal for the mixes - how many seeds per packet, how seeds should be grouped (e.g. for many crops there’s just one mix, but peppers for instance get separated into sweet and hot).
  • (optional) in december, we package the seeds – either I mail you all the supplies and you package and mail them back, or you skip this and I will handle packaging locally.
  • Orders open in January for stewards/seed contributors and February for general public
  • In the spring, you’re responsible for starting a thread on the community about your crop, answering questions from growers, and anything else you wish to do to support the folks who received that seed
  • (optional, can start any time) if you’re interested in coordinating a seed increase for your crop, I can help you acquire starter seeds either through USDA or seed companies. The melon project this year is an example of that.

Hope this adds clarity, let me know if you have more questions. It’s a somewhat flexible role designed to distribute both the work and decision-making for our Seed Share!

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I’m already doing pepos and fig-leaf gourds. I’d be happy to do more. I’d be particularly excited to be in charge of peas. :wink: I’ll send you a message!

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