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Trip Planner:   USA  /  Iowa  /  Decorah  /  Seed Savers Exchange Heritage Farm

Seed Savers Exchange Heritage Farm, Decorah

4.7
#6 of 14 in Things to do in Decorah
Farm · Tourist Spot
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Seed Savers Exchange was founded in Missouri in 1975 by Diane Ott Whealy and Kent Whealy. Diane's grandfather entrusted to them the seeds of two garden plants, ‘Grandpa Ott's’ morning glory and ‘German Pink’ tomato. These seeds, brought by Grandpa Ott's parents from Bavaria when they immigrated to Iowa in the 1870s, became the first two varieties in the collection. Diane and Kent went on to form a network of gardeners interested in preserving heirloom varieties and sharing seeds. Today, with 13,000 members and 20,000 plant varieties, Seed Savers Exchange makes its home on 890 scenic acres in Winneshiek County, Iowa, at Heritage Farm.

Seed Savers Exchange conserves biodiversity by maintaining a collection of over 20,000 different varieties of heirloom and open-pollinated plants, varieties with the ability to regenerate themselves year after year. These seeds (and tissue cultures or other plant materials, depending on how a plant reproduces) have the power to withstand unforeseen pestilence and plant disease, climate change, and limited habitat, and to stop dinnertime boredom forever.
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Seed Savers Exchange Heritage Farm reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating
TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.5
97 reviews
Google
4.8
TripAdvisor
  • Back in the late 1970s I bought a small hobby farm in west Wisconsin and moved my young family there. This is when I became familiar with Seed Savers and bought some seeds via mail order. Fast... 
    Back in the late 1970s I bought a small hobby farm in west Wisconsin and moved my young family there. This is when I became familiar with Seed Savers and bought some seeds via mail order. Fast...  more »
  • If it wasn't over 90 degrees during our visit we would have spent more time walking the grounds and trails. Looking forward to a future visit. It's an excellent preservation of our history and a... 
    If it wasn't over 90 degrees during our visit we would have spent more time walking the grounds and trails. Looking forward to a future visit. It's an excellent preservation of our history and a...  more »
Google
  • This is always such a special place to visit. The people are friendly and knowledgeable, they invite questions and a chance to share that knowledge with you. The gardens are immaculately beautiful and yet incredibly welcoming at the same time. A chance to walk around the grounds is worth the time.
  • Great place to stop for an hour or longer. The gift shop has an interesting and unique selection of books and other items, but don't miss the real fun- exploring the gardens, hiking the trails, and seeing the unique cattle! So much more to do than shop. Thanks for the friendly chat, too!

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