Regenerative Baking #24: Amy Smith of Native Seeds/SEARCH

Regenerative Baking #24: Amy Smith of Native Seeds/SEARCH

From Regenerative Baking by Dressler Parsons

October 21, 2025 · 41 min · Episode 24

About this episode

Dressler Parsons interviews Amy Smith about the importance of seed banks and arid-adapted seeds in agriculture.

What is a seed bank if not both the original economy AND a model for a regenerative economy? The seeds are saved, shared with farmers and gardeners, and then as the crops grow, a portion of those seeds also get saved and re-circulated. In this week's episode, Dressler is joined by Amy Smith, the E-Commerce Manager of Native Seeds/SEARCH in Tucson, Arizona. Native Seeds/SEARCH was founded in 1983 in response to the concern of farmers, gardeners, Indigenous community members, and conservationists about the loss of seed diversity. They currently steward more than 1800 regional seed varieties in a climate-controlled seed bank, all of which are uniquely adapted to the arid landscapes that extend from southern Colorado to central Mexico. Tune in for a discussion about Southwest agriculture, harvesting mesquite pods, the importance of arid-adapted seeds as the climate warms, the resurgence of Sonoran White Wheat, and so much more.

People in this episode

Host: Dressler Parsons

Guest: Amy Smith

Topics covered

  • seed banks
  • regenerative economy
  • Southwest agriculture
  • seed diversity
  • arid-adapted seeds

Keywords

  • seed bank
  • regenerative economy
  • Native Seeds/SEARCH
  • arid landscapes
  • seed diversity
  • Southwest agriculture
  • climate change

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Native Seeds/SEARCH

Products: Sonoran White Wheat

Places: Tucson, Arizona, southern Colorado, central Mexico

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