NS/S Seed Bank and Farm Tours

Advance registration is now required for all tours. Please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to reserve a space.

Ever wanted a behind-the-scenes look into Native Seeds/SEARCH? We are pleased to offer public tours of our Conservation Center and Conservation Farm!

All tours are one hour long. The suggested donation is $10, or free for NS/S members. Cash or check only, please -- no credit cards.

Conservation Farm tours take place on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month, and Conservation Center tours take place on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month. Both tours begin at 10 am.

Our tours of the NS/S Conservation Center provide a rare opportunity to explore a state-of-the-art seed bank facility. Visitors will see firsthand the work that goes into preserving a collection of nearly 2,000 indigenous Southwestern seeds at one of the world's foremost regional seed conservation organizations. Discover the colorful history of Native Seeds/SEARCH and the seeds we steward, while getting a taste of our diverse educational programs in seed saving and sustainability.

The tours at our stunning 60-acre Conservation Farm in Patagonia, Arizona offer a direct experience of native seed conservation in the field. Depending on the season, visitors might witness the fascinating processes of hand-pollinating corn and squash, threshing and winnowing beans, or combine harvesting heirloom wheat. This one-of-a-kind tour provides a unique and interactive experience into the agricultural side of preserving the ancient seeds in the NS/S collection.

Locations:

NS/S Conservation Center
3584 E. River Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85718

NS/S Conservation Farm
45 San Antonio Rd.
Patagonia, AZ 85624