Coolest Seed Bank Ever? Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (Video) : TreeHugger

Image credit: Chow

From Seedy Sunday's massive seed swap to the celebration of potato day, now is definitely the time of year we turn our thoughts to biodiversity in the garden. And while we continue to get excited about seed libraries as works of art, and even a seed library in an actual library, I'm amazed that I have yet to come across what looks like the most awesome seed bank in the world. Besides an amazing stock of traditional, heirloom seeds, and an evident obsession with our common genetic heritage, what makes the seed bank of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds so special is, well, that it is an actual bank!

Located in the Sonoma County National Bank building, the Petaluma Seed Bank is, without doubt, one of the nicest looking seed stores I have ever seen. Stocking over "1,200 varieties of heirloom seeds, garlic, tools, books, and hundreds of local hand-made gifts and food items", it's clear that this is not a case of style over substance either.

But what really brings it all together for me is founder Jeremiah "Jere" Gettle's passion for, and knowledge of, traditional seeds and their role in keeping us all alive. Check out the video below from Chow—the same people who brought us footage of urban farming and backyard slaughter in West Oakland—to get more on Gettle's approach to seed saving, gardening, and even how, why and if to smuggle seeds into the country.

Inspiring, visionary stuff. And a great video too.

More on Biodiversity in the Garden
A Community-Run Seed Library: Shouldn't Every Library Include One?
Public Library Includes Seed Lending Library (Video)
A Seed Library That's a Work of Art, Literally
Can the Potato Feed the World?
It's Potato Day in England
Potato Day
Massive Seed Swap Keeps Biodiversity Growing

Buzz up!

via treehugger.com