At the November Great American Seed Up event, participants can gain direct access to climate-hardy, open-pollinated seeds in bulk – along with the knowledge to grow, save and share them (photo courtesy of GASU).
“When systems fail, seeds prevail.” That’s the rallying cry of the 11th annual Great American Seed Up, returning Nov. 7-8 to North Phoenix Baptist Church, 5757 N. Central Ave. The two-day event provides locals with the ultimate resilience tool: Seeds.
Organizers explain the concept this way: “Supply chains break. Grocery store shelves are sparse. Climate chaos accelerates. Corporations tighten their grip on the food supply. Tariffs drive up the cost of imported seed varieties. International mail to the U.S. is disrupted. Again and again, the systems we depend on reveal their fragility.”
More than a seed-buying pop-up, the Seed Up is a radical act of community resilience, organizers say. Participants gain direct access to climate-hardy, open-pollinated seeds in bulk – along with the knowledge to grow, save and share them. They can bypass the big box and mail order distribution systems that comprise 90 percent of the cost of a normal packet of seeds.
“We’re not just offering seeds – we’re handing people food sovereignty,” said Greg Peterson, Urban Farm founder and Great American Seed Up cofounder. “Because if you think a couple racks of seeds at a big box store will save us when the trucks stop rolling – or when tariffs price small growers out of access – you haven’t been paying attention. When systems fail, seeds prevail.”
This year, to put more seeds in the hands of more people, registration is free for a limited time. Everyone must register to reserve a spot. Walk ins are still $7.50. For additional details and to register, visit https://greatamericanseedup.org.
