Our earliest days were full of cultivating our own gardens while visiting our relatives in North Carolina, Virginia, DC, Pennsylvania, and New York to distribute seeds and talk story. We shared interests in growing and saving ancestral seeds while also defending the very elements of life that our seeds need - access to clean water and fertile land.
Hopi Dye Sunflowers grown at the Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia Garden
We needed a sustainable stream of income to scale this work. Knowing how fickle philanthropic and public funding can be - we opened a seed store to generate direct support for Indigenous growers and communities.
Frank demonstrates how to braid Cherokee Flour Corn
We are very close to actualizing the profit margins needed for our Indigenous Growers Program. Our new physical store, Bertie County Seeds, and finicky seed packing machine are critical components to unlocking this reality. So are YOU - our amazing, fiercely loyal base.
This 2025-2026 season is our 7th year of operation as a store. Let's take a look back at the years of community work that led us here - the WHY of what we do.
But first - quick store update -
We are working out the kinks on our new machine - trials, learning, replacing faulty parts - you name it. We had a technician from the manufacturer visit last week, some improvements were made, and new issues are popping up. Now we are on a long waiting list to have him come back once the new parts are in. It's slow and steady but we are working very hard on it!!
We are focusing on seeds with the earliest start times. New peppers have recently been uploaded! Tomatoes will be next. We have 1200 different varieties planned for this season's catalog so please keep checking back with us!
LAST CHANCE FOR SEED SALE THIS WEEK ONLY!
NEXT WEEK - we are pulling the 2025 seeds which are on sale now for $1 and guaranteed for a year! Those 2025 seeds will be distributed to donation requests from individuals, community gardens, tribes, and seed libraries.
We especially want to acknowledge two of co-founders, Victoria Ferguson and Dwayne Painter, both of the Monacan Indian Nation. Their efforts to preserve and grow the Tutelo Red Corn connected them with Frank early on. The collaboration inspired this idea for the Alliance.
Elizabeth and Victoria knew each other from the conservation world, both having worked for Virginia State Parks at places such Natural Bridge (Victoria) and Chippokes and Pocahontas (Elizabeth).
Efforts to protect our seeds, as well as the water and lands that they depend on, created the Alliance of Native Seedkeepers - two Monacans, a Nottoway, and a Tuscarora.Some of our earliest work happened with Ashley Senegal (Chickahominy). Ashley helped found the Traditional Eastern Foodways Alliance that we are also proud to support. We have enjoyed working with many more across VA, NC, PA, and NY... we look forward to getting back in the dirt with yall!
When you support our seed store, you invest in the efforts of Indigenous people who are deeply rooted in our communities. We do this work to honor our ancestors and to equip future generations with critical healthy seeds, land, and water.