# 974: Creating our Local Seed Economy

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-urban-farm-podcast-with-greg-peterson-1101746/974-creating-our-local-seed-economy
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-urban-farm-podcast-with-greg-peterson-1101746/974-creating-our-local-seed-economy.md
Podcast: [The Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-urban-farm-podcast-with-greg-peterson-1101746)
Published: 2026-03-13T07:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.urbanfarm.org/972
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/579ceefa-c442-4e98-ae7a-3f0373044265.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-urban-farm-podcast-with-greg-peterson-1101746/episodes/974-creating-our-local-seed-economy
Duration seconds: 2298

## Resource

A Seed Chat with Bill McDorman Join our live monthly Seed Chat at SeedChat.org In This Podcast: Greg Peterson and Bill McDorman explore why building a local seed economy is essential for resilient food systems. They share the origin story of the Great American Seed Up , how communities can distribute seeds affordably, and why seed diversity matters in the face of climate change and fragile global supply chains. The discussion highlights grassroots strategies—from seed libraries to neighborhood seed events—that empower communities to grow their own food. They also dive into the science of epigenetics and local adaptation , explaining why saving seeds from your own garden improves future crops. Key Topics & Entities Local seed economies The Great American Seed Up Seed Up in a Box Community seed distribution models Seed libraries and the Seed Library Network LocalSeeds.org Regional seed companies and seed exchanges Climate change and food system resilience Seed saving and landrace gardening Epigenetics and plant adaptation Joseph Lofthouse’s Landrace Gardening Barbara McClintock and epigenetics research Community gardening and food security Cowpeas and volunteer plants Key Questions Answered What is a local seed economy and why does it matter? A local seed economy means seeds are produced, saved, and shared within a region. This strengthens food resilience because local varieties adapt to local conditions and communities are not dependent on global supply chains. Why isn’t storing seeds in one “seed bank” enough? A centralized seed bank doesn’t build resilience. The real solution is thousands of people growing and saving seeds. When many gardeners are involved, knowledge spreads and communities collectively maintain crop diversity. How did the Great American Seed Up b…

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