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6th Organic Seed Growers Conference

We just wrapped up our 6th Organic Seed Growers Conference and could not be happier with the turnout and responses from participants. Despite challenging weather conditions, nearly all registered participants made it to Port Townsend, WA, this past weekend, making the conference a huge success. We'll post highlights, recordings, and photographs soon!

Support Our Work

Seed is not just a farm and garden input, but a natural resource that demands careful stewardship. Seed is also a living resource: saved and replanted for thousands of years to provide the foundation of food crops we depend on today. We are responsible for ensuring this essential resource remains diverse and resilient for future generations. This is the inspiration behind Organic Seed Alliance’s (OSA) work. We are asking you to join us in advancing the ethical development and stewardship of seed through your tax-deductible donation...Read more.

Giving the gift of seed this holiday season means you can choose from our new OSA shirts and hats or our classic Kore poster as a thank you. Make a donation of $50.00 or more and choose a special thank you gift. Join us in advancing the ethical development and stewardship of seed to ensure a safe and healthy organic food future.

Click here to learn more and donate today!

Annual Report 2011

Read the full annual report here

In this report:

OSA's Seed Production Tutorials

OSA’s seed production tutorials are now available! These multi-media tutorials teach you professional techniques for organic seed production in the following categories: Beets and chard; brassicas; carrots; lettuce; onions; wet seeded crops; seed climatic considerations; and seed disease.

The tutorials are based on presentations given by organic seed experts at the 2011 Organicology conference and are funded through Western SARE. Click here to access the tutorials.

State of Organic Seed

The purpose of this project is to increase the success and minimize risks for the organic farming and food sector by advancing the viability and integrity of organic seed systems.

Download report

Download press release

GE Alfalfa and Sugar Beets Talking Points

Ten Ways to Respond to USDA’s GE Alfalfa and Sugar Beet Decisions

Why GE Sugar Beets Threaten Organic

Why GE Alfalfa Threatens Organic

As part of NOVIC, OSA has partnered with seven local farms to trial six vegetable crops: carrots, corn, broccoli, snap peas, winter squash, and beets. We’re teaching farmers how to breed on-farm for organic conditions, and creating an online forum for farmers and researchers to pool resources about organic variety needs. Learn more here

• State of Organic Seed The purpose of this project is to increase the success and minimize risks for the organic farming and food sector by advancing the viability and integrity of organic seed systems. View now

• A Seed Saving Guide for Gardeners and Farmers This new publication from Organic Seed Alliance condenses the wisdom of their years of farming, gardening, plant breeding and seed saving, as well as conversations with many prominent seed experts. The guide covers the basics of seed growing from choosing appropriate varieties for seed saving to harvesting, processing, and storing seed. View now

• Vegetable Variety Trials for Local Food Production on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State, 2009 Organic Seed Alliance and local farmers conducted cold hardy variety trials for 9 different vegetable crops, with over 120 varieties, evaluating these varieties for their quality and marketability into the adverse weather conditions of fall and winter.  View now

• Publications on Principles and Practices of Organic Beet, Carrot and Lettuce Seed Production in the Pacific Northwest are now available thanks to support from the Organic Farming Research Foundation OFRF.  These guides complement our existing publlications on Radish, Bean and Spinach seed production.  View now