Indigenous Seed Program

As a seed steward, I have been entrusted with many indigenous seed varieties over the years by my indigenous contacts and myself, as well as acquiring many of these indigenous heirlooms to keep alive and going. 

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Indigenous peoples of the Americas, but really globally, have suffered tremendously from corruption, greed, genocide, loss of culture and agriculture, amongst many other atrocities. Our botanical and agricultural heritage owes a thank you to the ancestors and indigenous peoples of the world.

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I am a mere steward of these Indigenous varieties, and through the Indigenous Seed Program, I am working towards repatriating these varieties to their rightful peoples and communities. These seeds were and often still are, the lifeline to their original communities. I have not totaled my full collection of indigenous varieties, but it numbers in the hundreds. Through this program, if you are of indigenous heritage you can freely request seeds from me listed below or help grow these varieties for me and retain a sample for your community/seedbank, etc. I only ask for some seeds returned back to me so I may keep them within my own seedbank for further indigenous communities to request. If any seeds interest you that are indigenous or you have an inquiry into what is maintained in the C.L. Smith Seedbank, please reach out! Eventually, we hope to provide a list of the indigenous varieties curated.