Partner Farmer Program

Native Seeds/SEARCH relies on partnering with a network of farmers throughout the Southwest. These partnerships help to grow out and increase the seed varieties we steward, and we focus on working with Indigenous farmers growing in or near the areas these seeds were collected. We are looking for more farmers to partner with us to grow out seeds, whether through a contract agreement or a seed exchange agreement, see details below.

NS/S has refined our partner farmer arrangements to strengthen program commitments and support growers. NS/S will provide seeds from our seed bank collection along with any available information on the seed varieties and seed-saving protocols. NS/S staff will be available for consultation throughout the season. All partners are expected to return at least 50% of their harvest of these seeds to NS/S at the end of the season and collect agronomic information on the varieties using datasheets provided by NS/S.

Contract Growing

Experienced farmers capable of growing around a quarter acre or more of NS/S seed varieties may be paid to grow seed as a part of a contract agreement with NS/S . Farmers are paid for returned seed up to an agreed upon quantity depending on the crop accession. Rates of pay range from 15% to 20% of the retail value (based on packet sizes) of the seed species grown, and based on the germination rate of returned seed. Price sheet available on request.

Qualified farmers growing one to three accessions are provided with a $250 stipend at the beginning of the season. Experienced farmers who have successfully returned seed in a previous year and are growing four or more accessions are provided with a $500 stipend.  The stipends are in acknowledgement that we are asking farmers to dedicate farm space to rare and often older seed that may not germinate well, as well as the data collection requirement and the work and risk of farming.

After one year of successfully growing and returning seed to NS/S, Native American and Indigenous farmers are eligible to apply for microgrant funding in support of their seed growing and seed saving activities. 

Seed Exchange Program

Growers with less experience, land, or capacity than Contract Farmers, or those who don’t wish to be paid, can be considered for the Partner Gardener/Seed Exchange Program in which planting seed is provided at no cost in return for 50% of the seed harvest. Growers may be compensated with a $50 gift card to the NS/S webstore upon the successful return of seed.  

Interested participants should contact NS/S to discuss the varieties they are interested in growing and the amount of land they plan to cultivate. Due to limited quantities and need, not all varieties in the collection may be available to grow, but we will work with participants to match requests with seed availability.

If you are interested in partnering please contact us at 520.622.0830 xt.102 or email us at conservation@nativeseeds.org. 

Photos above are from the farms and/or harvests of partner farmers (from top) Anthony Deluze, Horton Nash, Zach and Mary Ben, Erik Gensler, and Patrick Bottiger.