The Danish Seed Savers Association is working to preserve the diversity of cultural plants. Its members volunteer to research, collect, describe, and preserve local plant genetic resources, threatened by extinction.
Their preservation is promoted through cultivation and propagation of seeds by members of the association, trained to select and store top-quality seeds from open-pollinated varieties. Members’ gardens thus compose home for a large decentralized gene bank, feeding the Danish Seed Savers’ own seed collection. The approximately 1200 members of the association are geographically distributed all over Denmark. Important gatherings to exchange seeds and knowledge between members are regularly organized, contributing to the collective and community aspect of the organization.
The association organizes seed swaps, gives free classes about seed saving and the importance of protecting the diversity of plant heritage, as well as conferences about genetic resources. Seeds are primarily to exchange between members, but the association sells heritage seeds to non-members during markets and festivals. These events can be followed on the website and social media, regularly updated. In 2021 we started our webshop.
The association is also working with the Nordic Gene Bank (NordGen) to provide the long-term registration and conservation of ancient Nordic varieties (cultivated for a minimum of 50 years), with museums, universities, and with the Ministry of the Environment and Food to disseminate knowledge and seeds of these traditional varieties, part of the national plant heritage.
Website: www.froesamlerne.dk
E-mail: kontakt@froesamlerne.dk
