Introducing the Northeast Regional Seed Club: A New Chapter in Cultivating Resilience

Seeds awaiting to be cleaned at the Cape Ann Gardens outpost located at Sawyer’s Island in Rowley, Massachusetts.

Seeds are not just the beginning of a plant; they are a chronicle of survival, an archive of adaptation, and a promise of continuity. They are nature’s most fundamental genetic reservoirs, encoding thousands of years of evolutionary intelligence in their DNA. At Cape Ann Gardens, we don’t just see seeds as commodities—we see them as living blueprints of biodiversity, waiting to be expressed through soil and sunlight. With that in mind, we are introducing the Northeast Regional Seed Club, a project that aims to put regionally grown, open-pollinated seeds into the hands of those who understand that planting is both an act of sustenance and an act of ecological preservation.

Why a Regional Seed Club Matters Now More Than Ever

In an era of increasing climate instability and industrial monocultures, the preservation of genetic diversity in seeds is more than just an agricultural concern—it is a necessity for ecological and food security. Industrial seed production favors uniformity, often at the cost of disease resistance, climate resilience, and soil health. This approach creates vulnerabilities in the food system, leaving crops susceptible to blights and extreme weather events.

Decades of agricultural research confirm that regionally adapted, open-pollinated seeds offer a viable alternative. By continuously evolving alongside local soil conditions, pollinators, and climate patterns, these seeds foster stronger, more productive plants while reducing reliance on chemical inputs.

What’s Included in the Seed Club?

Members of the Northeast Regional Seed Club will receive seeds for six months, with up to five packets arriving every two months from February through July. These seeds are all produced by certified and uncertified organic farms and gardens throughout New England and New York. The varieties are selected for their ecological compatibility, genetic integrity, and historical or emerging significance. Each shipment includes:

📦 February & March – Seeds for indoor sowing and early starts, such as tomatoes, poor man’s ginseng, luffa, zinnias, and squash.

📦 April & May – Cool-season crops for direct sowing and indoor starts, including kale, calendula, tat soi, spinach, and lettuce.

📦 June & July – Seeds for direct sowing into warm soil, featuring heat-tolerant crops and flowers like okra (northeast-adapted), marigolds, hollyhocks, sea holly, beans, and sunflowers.

Each seed variety has been grown and tested by experienced seed savers committed to ethical, regionally focused seed production. Our club members play a crucial role in this process—not just as recipients of seeds, but as active participants in the ongoing adaptation of plants to the Northeast’s evolving climate.

A Reciprocal Relationship: Seed Saving & Community Resilience

Calendula seeds during cleaning at Blue Sky Farm, where Cape Ann Gardens rents land and a small barn.

Every box is a seasonal surprise, designed to guide members through the rhythms of the growing season. But the club is not just about receiving seeds—it’s about participating in a seed-sharing economy. Come autumn, members will be invited to submit seed back to the club in exchange for a discounted 2026 membership, reinforcing a model of circular, community-driven seed stewardship.

Investing in Regional Seed Stewardship

Suggested Image: A small-scale farmer examining a robust, heirloom tomato plant in a field, symbolizing the impact of regional seed networks.

Spring in Essex at Blue Sky Farm where we are experimenting with different bulbs, annuals, and perennials.

Membership in the Northeast Regional Seed Club provides essential start-up funds to support grower contributions to the 2025 list of offerings and initial support for seed contracts for the 2026 Northeast Participatory Seed Catalog. This initiative strengthens a regional seed network, sustains small-scale producers, and advances a future where seed sovereignty is the norm, not the exception.

By fostering a shared commitment to regional adaptation and ecological resilience, the Northeast Regional Seed Club contributes to a landscape built on genetic diversity, ecological intelligence, and long-term sustainability.