Our Mission
Song to Seed practices, celebrates, and advocates for community-building traditional Appalachian seed saving and music traditions by sharing and growing regional historic crops, and by creating educational programs and resources.
Seed saving is deeply important work. In addition to being connected to the preservation of local culture, local seed saving initiatives are vital to preserving genetic diversity, ecosystem health, and the nutritional value of the food that we eat. Due to industrial agricultural methods like monocropping, the United States lost 93% of vegetable varieties from 1903 to 1983. This loss makes our communities and food system more susceptible to threats like drought and blight, while also weakening the reserves for flavorful and nutritious local food.
That's a big part of why we do what we do--focused on the varieties of the region where we were raised and where we remain rooted.
Seed saving is deeply important work. In addition to being connected to the preservation of local culture, local seed saving initiatives are vital to preserving genetic diversity, ecosystem health, and the nutritional value of the food that we eat. Due to industrial agricultural methods like monocropping, the United States lost 93% of vegetable varieties from 1903 to 1983. This loss makes our communities and food system more susceptible to threats like drought and blight, while also weakening the reserves for flavorful and nutritious local food.
That's a big part of why we do what we do--focused on the varieties of the region where we were raised and where we remain rooted.
Our Farm
In the fall of 2020, after our first season in Happy Valley, NC, Song to Seed relocated to William's hometown (and homeplace) in Bakersville, NC. Here in the Roan Highlands, we're farming the land that William grew up on--the same land that fostered William's connection to soil, song, seeds, and creatures (read chickens) great and small. The growing season is a bit shorter here, but most of our seeds are adapted for higher elevation.
We're grateful to be back in Bakersville amongst friends and family, and to have this opportunity to continue loving this place alongside our neighbors.
We're grateful to be back in Bakersville amongst friends and family, and to have this opportunity to continue loving this place alongside our neighbors.
Our Seeds
Our heirlooms are the real deal--locally adapted and passed down to us from friends and family to grow, and share, with you!
Check out our seeds online and let us know if you'd be interested in helping to organize a seed swap or in your area. We value the practice of exchanging seeds (and songs) in person, and would love to aid in this effort.
Check out our seeds online and let us know if you'd be interested in helping to organize a seed swap or in your area. We value the practice of exchanging seeds (and songs) in person, and would love to aid in this effort.
Our seed-saver and Songkeeper
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William Ritter is a musician, farmer--Western North Carolina born and raised--lover of southern Appalachia. He holds a MA in Appalachian Studies from Appalachian State University, and he's been saving seeds for a long time.
During his tenure at App State, William made the connection between old-time traditional music and heirloom seed saving. Keepers of both traditions carry stories and memories in their work—more than just seeds and songs. This inspired William to begin offering workshops on the importance of heirloom seeds and seed saving (complete with original and traditional song performances) in 2017. Now, he's thrilled to be growing Appalachian heirloom varieties and teaching the seed saving gospel through Song to Seed. For more information on William, go here. |