Sowing the Future: A Guide to Ethical and Sustainable Seed Sourcing

The First Step to a Thriving Garden

Every garden begins with a seed. For mountain gardeners in Eagle County and beyond, finding the right seeds can mean the difference between a thriving, resilient garden and one that struggles to grow. But where do you start? From choosing ethical seed providers to joining local events like our Seed Swap, Wiggle Worm Gardens is here to guide you every step of the way.  New to garden seeds? Check out the glossary of common seed terms at the end of this post.

In this post, we’ll explore what to look for in a seed source, share some of our favorite seed providers, and highlight how Wiggle Worm Gardens can simplify the process with our curated seed collection and community-driven Seed Swap event. Let’s dig in!

Key Takeaways

• Discover how to source seeds ethically and sustainably, focusing on non-GMO, heirloom, and regionally adapted varieties.

• Learn why locally grown seeds are essential for high-altitude gardening success in the Rockies.

• Explore trusted seed providers like High Desert Seed, Wild Mountain Seeds, and Fedco Seeds.

• Join Wiggle Worm Gardens’ Seed Swap to connect with local gardeners and exchange unique seed varieties.

Why Seed Sourcing Matters

Not all seeds are created equal. The source of your seeds influences not just your garden’s productivity but also its impact on the environment and community. By choosing seeds that are ethically sourced, locally adapted, and non-GMO, you can:

• Promote Biodiversity: Genetic diversity is the pool of differences that plants have to pull from in the face of changing conditions.  When gardeners choose to buy "not-standard-big-box-garden-center" seed varieties, they are creating market incentive for producers to keep producing unique varieties, saving them from "extinction."  In the future, seed breeders will be able to use these varieties and all their genetically diverse traits to create new varieties to face changing climactic conditions.

• Ethical Sourcing: Seed varieties didn't just appear overnight.  Generations of gardeners develop and maintain varieties.  At some point commercial seed companies took over the production and the original stewards of the seed varieties were lost.  Some companies like Fedco try to right that wrong by donating portions of sales of varieties developed by Black and Indigenous gardeners back to those communities.

• Increase Success: Select seed varieties suited to high-altitude gardening, ensuring resilience against challenging conditions like short growing seasons and temperature fluctuations.  I look for the shortest number of days and ones that can ripen cool nights.

Wiggle Worm Gardens is proud to offer seeds that meet these criteria, empowering local gardeners to grow with confidence and purpose.

Trusted Seed Providers: Ethical and Local

If you’re sourcing seeds beyond our local collection, here are a few trusted seed providers we recommend for their commitment to ethical practices and regionally adapted varieties:

• High Desert Seed (Paonia, CO): Specializes in seeds adapted to high-altitude and arid climates. Their varieties are perfect for mountain gardeners.

• Wild Mountain Seeds (Carbondale, CO): Innovating at Sunfire Ranch, this company focuses on resilient, varieties tailored to the Rockies.

• Fedco Seeds: Known for supporting short season varieties and ethical sourcing, Fedco offers a wide range of heirloom and organic seeds while prioritizing fair practices.

By choosing seeds from these providers, you’re not only investing in your garden but also contributing to a sustainable and equitable food system.

Shop Local: Why Wiggle Worm Gardens Is Your Go-To Source

We know that navigating the world of seed catalogs can be overwhelming. That’s why Wiggle Worm Gardens offers a curated selection of seeds tailored to the unique needs of mountain gardeners. By shopping with us, you can:

• Save Time and Reduce Stress: Avoid the shipping delays and decision fatigue that come with online seed shopping.

• Get Local Expertise: Our team knows what grows best in high-altitude conditions and can help you choose the perfect varieties.

• Support Your Community: Keep your dollars local and help us continue offering workshops, events, and resources for gardeners like you.

Visit us in-store or shop our seeds online to find everything from pollinator-friendly flowers to hardy vegetables. Whether you’re a seasoned grower or just starting out, we’re here to help you succeed.

Seed Swap: Grow Community Alongside Your Garden

What's better than buying seeds? Exchanging seeds! Join our upcoming Seed Swap, where local gardeners gather to exchange seeds, stories, and inspiration. It’s the perfect opportunity to diversify your garden and connect with fellow plant lovers. Here’s how it works:

What to Bring:

• Seeds: Either a bowl of seeds for participants to create their own envelopes or 30-40 premade envelopes.

• Information: Include details like the common name, variety, Latin name (family, genus, species), the year the seeds were collected, and growing tips. You can also note what makes the variety unique.

What to Expect:

The Seed Swap isn’t just about collecting seeds; it’s about sharing knowledge and fostering a sense of community. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, you’ll leave with new varieties to try and connections that last well beyond the growing season.

Planning on attending? Register here so we can send you all the details and help you prepare.

Seed Starting: Workshops and Advice

New to seed starting? Don’t worry! Wiggle Worm Gardens offers workshops like "Seed Starting Basics" and "Spring Garden Planning" to help you every step of the way. These hands-on sessions cover everything from soil selection to lighting setups, giving you the tools and confidence to nurture your seeds into thriving plants. Check out our Events Page for dates and details.

Glossary: Understanding Seed Terms

Variety: A veggie variety is like a dog breed.  Chihuahuas and golden retrievers are dog breeds just like ‘Brandywine’ and 'Cherokee Purple' are tomato varieties.

Open-Pollinated vs. Hybrid: Plant from open-pollinated varieties produce seeds that grow into plants that resemble their parents.  Just like two chocolate lab parents make more chocolate lab puppies.  Hybrid varieties are produced when there are two different parent plants like when a lab and poodle made a labradoodle.  For hybrid varieties, two lines of parent plants must be maintained and then crossed to produce hybrid variety seeds.  Hybrids varieties offer some advantages like faster growth and bigger produce, but their seeds may or may not exhibit those traits.  For the home gardener looking to save seeds, open pollinated varieties are your best bet.  For home gardeners looking for specific traits who don't plan on counting on planting their saved seeds, hybrid varieties could be the answer.  *Please note: hybrid seeds are produced by normal seed breeding not GMO.

Heirloom: Heirloom seeds are open-pollinated varieties that have been passed down through generations for at least 50 years.  These varieties have been developed for taste and other traits that made them valuable to the gardeners who stewarded them.  Heirlooms aren't necessarily better than more recently developed varieties.  Surely the varieties developed for industrial farming and food processing do not feature delicious taste and nutrition and instead focus on transportability and getting to the grocery store looking "fresh."  However many current day seed breeders are at work crossing varieties that taste delicious, require less inputs, and can survive changing climatic conditions.  I'm particularly excited to try some more varieties developed in Carbondale by Wild Mountain Seeds!

Non-GMO vs. GMO: Non-GMO seeds have not been genetically modified in a laboratory. GMO seeds, on the other hand, have been altered using genetic engineering to exhibit specific traits, such as pest resistance or being able to withstand applications of the pesticide round up (glyphosate).

Regardless of your opinion on the safety of eating GMO crops, we recommend avoiding using GMO seeds.  There are numerous problems with them that ultimately limit humanity's ability to develop regionally adapted varieties with sufficient genetic diversity to survive climatic crises.

Regionally Grown vs. Regionally Adapted: Regionally grown seeds are produced in a specific area, ensuring they are well-suited to the local climate and soil conditions. Seeds "know" what conditions in which they were grown and will respond accordingly.  For example, corn seeds produced in unirrigated fields will sprout and put more initial energy into developing roots as compared to corn seeds produced in irrigated fields, despite having the same irrigation conditions when the seeds were sprouted.  It's not magic; it's epigenetics!

Regionally adapted seeds, while not necessarily grown locally, are selected for traits that make them thrive in similar conditions to your area.  Varieties developed to thrive in short summers, cool nights, and dry conditions do better here than those with national distribution through big box garden centers which we developed to thrive in longer summer, warmer nights, and more moisture.

Gardeners have lots of opinions on which varieties are best.  We'd love to hear yours!

Your Garden Begins Here

Choosing the right seeds is the first step to a successful gardening season, and Wiggle Worm Gardens is here to make it easy and enjoyable. Whether you’re exploring ethical seed providers, shopping our curated local collection, or joining the Seed Swap, you’re taking part in a movement that values sustainability, community, and the joy of growing.

Ready to get started? Visit us in-store, shop online, or join us at the Seed Swap to sow the seeds of your best garden yet. Together, we can grow a vibrant future—one seed at a time.

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