At This Iowa Seed Bank, You Can Touch & Take Home Rare Heritage Plants

The Seed Savers Exchange Heritage Farm

Behind a simple fence in Decorah, Iowa sits a gardener’s heaven that most people don’t know exist.

Ancient beans from the Appalachian range grow next to almost-extinct apples that fed Civil War soldiers.

And if you want, you can take home seed packets to grow your own. Here’s how it started, and how you can visit.

Small Beginnings

In 1975, Diane Ott Whealy’s grandfather gave her seeds for ‘Grandpa Ott’s’ morning glory and ‘German Pink’ tomato before he died.

These seeds, brought from Bavaria by his parents in 1884, became the first varieties in what’s now America’s largest non-government seed bank.

One Flower Started It All

‘Grandpa Ott’s’ morning glory literally launched a movement. These deep purple flowers with red stars inspired the creation of Seed Savers Exchange.

The self-sowing annual can climb 15 feet tall and still grows at Heritage Farm today. You can buy seeds of this historic variety that started saving thousands of others.

Freezing Seed Storage

Heritage Farm houses over 20,000 varieties in its underground seed vault kept at below-freezing temperatures.

They also back up their collection at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway, basically the world’s backup drive for seeds.

The farm grows nearly 1,000 varieties each year to keep the seed supply fresh and viable.

Most Diverse Farm on Earth

Besides thousands of plant varieties, they maintain rare White Park Cattle, 900 heritage apple trees, and multiple gardens showcasing biodiversity. It’s like Noah’s Ark for plants and heritage livestock breeds.

Global Backup Systems Ensure Survival

Knowing it’s risky to keep all their seeds in one place, Seed Savers Exchange stores “backup copies” in several secure places around the world.

The most famous is the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway, where they made history in 2007 by becoming the first citizen-led group in the United States to send seeds there.

They also keep collections at the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Historic Apple Orchards

Besides saving seeds, Heritage Farm takes care of something really special: old apple orchards that grow varieties most people have forgotten about.

The Historic Orchard started small on just five acres in 1989, but now holds over 1,200 different kinds of apples.

Many of these trees are like living history books, including the White Winter Pearmain from the 1860s, which people back then called “the highest flavored apple in cultivation.”

To make sure they have the right varieties, the orchard team works with Washington State University to test leaf samples and check each tree’s DNA.

Ancient White Park Cattle Conservation

Heritage Farm also helps rare farm animals survive. Since 1988, the farm has taken care of Ancient White Park cattle, a breed that was almost extinct when they arrived.

These white cattle with colored spots on their ears, nose, and around their eyes have an amazing history going back thousands of years.

Romans wrote about them as early as 39 CE, though Celtic stories mention them even earlier, and during World War II, several were sent from England to North America to keep them safe before they ended up at Heritage Farm.

The Exchange Connects Seed Savers Worldwide

In 1975, just 29 gardeners mailed in 25 cents and a large envelope to join what was then called the True Seed Exchange.

Today, Seed Savers Exchange has 13,000 members worldwide and operates one of the most important conservation programs in America.

The exchange now works mostly online, letting gardeners around the world share seeds with each other, and unlike many similar groups, anyone can join whether they’re members or not.

Expanding Cultural Heritage Preservation

The organization also preserve the human stories behind these seeds and what they mean to different cultures.

For example, they take care of varieties with strong regional connections, like the John Vance Leather Britches bean from Appalachia, which one family has carefully passed down through several generations.

50th Anniversary Celebration

2025 marks Seed Savers Exchange’s 50th anniversary on August 8-9. They’re hosting special events, workshops, and celebrations throughout the year, including the return of their famous tomato tasting event where visitors vote for their favorite varieties.

Visiting Seed Savers Exchange Heritage Farm

Heritage Farm is located at 3074 North Winn Road, Decorah, Iowa.

The Lillian Goldman Visitors Center opens March 1, 2025, and runs through October (10am-5pm daily). Admission is completely free.

You can hike trails, explore gardens, fish the trout stream, and visit orchards year-round. The gift shop sells heritage seeds, garden tools, books, and local art.

Dogs are welcome on leash, and the farm offers nearly 10 miles of hiking trails through woods, pastures, and gardens.
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