Our Objectives
To search out, preserve, perpetuate, study, and encourage the cultivation of heirloom and endangered varieties of
food crops by:
searching out heirloom and endangered varieties, particularly Canadian varieties;
encouraging and enabling gardeners and farmers to grow, maintain, and disseminate these varieties through the annual seed exchange project;
establishing and maintaining curatorial collections of Canadian varieties;
co-operating with individuals, groups, and institutions in Canada and internationally in aid of maintaining, supplementing, and salvaging existing collections of heirloom and endangered varieties;
encouraging commercial seed companies, nurseries, and related businesses to grow, maintain, and propagate, and commercially distribute these varieties as a means of perpetuating them.
To educate the public about the importance of heirloom and endangered varieties of food crops and the need for their continued cultivation and preservation by:
addressing the general public and interest groups including farmers, gardeners, museums, gene banks, clubs and schools;
providing information on the proper methods of seed saving to maintain the genetic integrity of crop varieties;
providing information on sources of heirloom and endangered varieties to those interested in obtaining and maintaining them;
providing a forum for sharing information and open discussion on issues relating to the preservation of genetic diversity of crop plants through publications, lectures, media presentations, conferences, and exhibits;
sharing information and experience with organizations in other nations to aid their efforts to maintain heirloom and endangered varieties.
