In December of 1997 Native Seeds/SEARCH purchased 60 acres in Patagonia, Arizona. And not a second too soon: of our nearly 2000 seed collections, almost half were over ten years old. This is the “industry standard” limit used for getting seed back in the ground before they lose viability. Since then, we’ve focused on cultivating those seeds most at-risk for extinction due to old age. Large-scale production began in earnest in 2001. So far we’ve produced fresh, viable seed for nearly half our collection. Our goals: to maintain the seeds in our collection, to ensure their availability for generations to come, and to have plentiful stock to provide even more seed to more people.

Together, corn, beans and squash comprise the Three Sisters, considered the  mainstay of Native American agriculture in North America.  The 2010 Adopt a Crop campaign celebrates one of the oldest sisters - spectacular squash! She provides shade for the family, helps prevent weed growth and keeps the soil moist.  These five species of squash represent some of the most precious seeds in our collection.

By adopting a crop you directly support native plants in the field, keeping their seeds alive for future generations.

After harvest, we will send you a report about your crop, including a picture and information on your chosen plants growth to maturity. And for a donation of $100 or more we will send you a packet of the newly harvested seeds!

Download the 2010 Adopt-a-Crop brochure.

Choose your crop to adopt