The Ethical Seed Company
Our Duties:
As stewards of the land we have the duty to leave the soil healthier and more alive, and the water cleaner than we found it. We have the duty to restore natural landscapes and give back much of what we have taken so that our relations may live on as well. And we have a duty to pass the seeds given to us by nature and our ancestors to the next generation.
Here is how we use business to make the world a better place:
100% Savable Seeds
We will only sell savable seeds to our customers. Heritage and new open pollinated seeds are the heritage of our children. We have lost 93 percent of food seed genetics this century. We are using business to inspire and implement solutions. We could grow our business faster if we sold hybrid seeds but we are committed to doing the right thing for future generations. Read More
No Print Catalog
For us at Restoration Seeds, a love of wild and beautiful places demands participation in the fight to save them and to help reverse the steep decline in the overall environmental health of our planet. We love trees and do not print a paper catalog. www.restorationseeds.com.
Open Source Seed Initiative
We apply the Open Source Seed Initiative (OSSI) pledge to any seed that Restoration Seeds breeds or selects to keep its genetics free and open for future generations. We also highlight open source seed from other OSSI plant breeders on our store. www.osseeds.org.
The intention is that the use of seed bearing the Open Source Seed Pledge never be restricted and that anyone reproducing or transferring the seed or its derivatives will pass this pledge onto those who receive it. — Frank Morton
Farmer Owned Company
Restoration Seeds is an independent farmer-owned seed company, we are not managed by a larger company. Being independent allows us to live our truth and practice what we believe are deeper ethics to make the world a better place through business. For example, we are able to caretake less-commercial varieties and support smaller seed growers.
USDA Certified Organic by Oregon Department of Agriculture
Restoration Seeds farm has been USDA Certified Organic since 2010. Since our primary mission is to preserve savable open pollinated seeds, if we cannot find an organic source for a variety, we source it next as Safe Seed Pledge or last as non-GMO conventional. In that case, at least we will have preserved the seed from extinction. Many fine growers cannot afford the organic certification.
We believe that many organic seed companies are doing good work. But several organic seed catalogs are filled with non-savable hybrid seeds from large agricultural companies for the sake of quarterly profits. Though organic, we believe in that case they may be doing their customers and future generations a disservice. Our online store is 100% savable seed and as much as possible organic. All of our seeds are untreated.
Safe Seed Pledge
Created in 1999 by the Council for Responsible Genetics, the Safe Seed Pledge helps to connect non-GM seed sellers, distributors and traders to the growing market of concerned gardeners and agricultural consumers. The Pledge allows businesses and individuals to declare that they "do not knowingly buy, sell or trade genetically engineered seeds," thus assuring consumers of their commitment.
If you are a seed vendor or trader and would like to sign the Safe Seed Pledge, please fill out a print copy of the online form and send it by fax or mail to the address listed. www.councilforresponsiblegenetics.org.