About this episode

Farmer Greg reflects on the importance of regional seed sovereignty and the fragility of modern seed supply chains.

In this special commentary episode, Farmer Greg reflects on his conversation with Shelby Maldonado and Leeza Chen of the Appalachian Grower Seed Collective. He explores how the Southeast lost much of its regional seed-growing infrastructure, why COVID-19 exposed the fragility of modern seed supply chains, and what it takes to rebuild resilient, locally adapted seed systems. Greg highlights the importance of bioregional seed stewardship, community collaboration, and becoming a "seed ancestor" by saving and sharing seeds. The episode is both a call to action and a vision for strengthening local food security through regional seed sovereignty. Key Topics Appalachian Grower Seed Collective Seed sovereignty and regional resilience COVID-19 seed shortages Local seed production infrastructure Seed saving traditions Bioregional seed adaptation Southern heirloom varieties Community seed cooperatives Climate resilience in agriculture Shared seed processing equipment Utopian Seed Project Local food security Seed stewardship Becoming a seed ancestor Key Questions Answered Why did the Southeast largely stop producing its own seeds? Over time, seed production became concentrated in other…

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