Seed Farmers Resilience Fund
The growers who produce the seed we sell are vitally important to Fedco and to the thousands of gardeners and farmers who plant these seeds each year to feed their families and communities.
In 2022 we created the Seed Farmers Resilience Fund to help our seed farmers who are facing crop and livelihood losses due to climate disruption. The money comes from you, our customers, via two sources: through donations made when you place your Fedco Seeds order, and from purchasing our annual pay-what-you-wish item. (See page 13 for this year ’s Seed Without a Price: Packer’s lima bean!)
Last spring we had $9,142.03 in the fund to distribute to seed farmers. We invited farmers challenged by weather, natural disasters, or other issues beyond their control, to apply. There are no stipulations on how farmers use the money; our goal is simply to soften the blow of a difficult season.
The funding cycle was very competitive, with requests totaling more than $72,000. We were able to share funds with eight of our seed growers across the country. While we are saddened by the vast unmet need for additional support many of our farmers have, we are also heartened by the positive feedback we’ve gotten from both customers and growers about this fund.
One recipient in western Nebraska used the money to help repair a greenhouse that had been decimated by a tornado. “Experiencing the tornado left us awestruck!,” they wrote. “For a while we thought about trashing the greenhouse, but it had electricity and water to it and it seemed such a waste. Rebending the pipes back into shape and seeing the hoophouse back in use was strengthening for us as farmers. It cost around $2,700 to get it back in shape but it gave a necessary mood uplift to be able to untwist the gnarled pipes to a usable shape in time for us to honor our contracts! We are very grateful for Fedco’s team spirit of generosity toward farmers with this Resilience Fund!”
To help sustain the symbiotic relationship between our co-op and our network of seed growers, consider contributing to the Seed Farmers Resilience Fund when you place your Fedco Seeds order.