Find an organic seed company near you

An interactive map of approximate locations of organic heirloom seed companies

(see more detail on each seed company by scrolling below)

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Click on your region to find organic vegetable seed companies near you for seeds adapted to your climate

‍Pacific Northwest Seed Companies

California Seed Companies

Colorado Seed Companies

Midwest Seed Companies‍

Texas Seed Companies

Northern Atlantic Seed Companies‍

Southern Seed Companies

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Saltwater Seeds

link: saltwaterseeds.com

where: Washington

why they're on the list:

• 100% open-pollinated
• 90% Certified Organic
• Regionally adapted to maritime northwest climate
• Small business
• Many unique varieties that I haven't seen elsewhere
• Engaged in social justice work

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Siskiyou Seeds Organic Heirloom Seed Company

link:  siskiyouseeds.com

where: Oregon

why they’re on the list: ‍

• Organic practices with all open-pollinated and heirloom seeds
• Seeds are bred with an eye for bioregional adaptation
• Small business; outsource half of their seeds to other small organic like-minded growers
• Permaculture keyline water system‍
• Biodynamic-farming practices
• Fertility needs provided by animal waste
• Offer trainings for young people in land stewardship

personal experience with this company:

‍In the first couple of years of gardening, I bought most of my seeds from Siskiyou. Their quality is amazing, their commitment to land stewardship is something that I enjoy supporting through my purchases. They also have a really lovely flower selection with some unique varieties.

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Wild Garden Seed Organic Open Source Seed

link: wildgardenseed.com

where: Oregon

why they are on the list:

• Their motto is “Ecological Crop Improvement for and by Farmers”
• Organic practices with seeds developed for farms and gardens that don’t use fertilizers or pesticides
• They select from the plants that respond most vigorously to their organic way of tending to the crops
• Pledges many of their farm-bred varieties to the Open Source Seed Initiative (OSSI) to further encourage seed saving and breeding of plants

personal experience with this company:

I love being able to support folks who are stewarding seeds in a way that helps other farms and gardens to grow food without so much input. I’ve purchased bulk Amaranth from Wild Garden Seed that has done extremely well this season, and their flashback calendula mix, which was absolutely prolific!

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Giving Ground Seed Organic No-till Heirloom Seeds

link: givinggroundseeds.com

where: Idaho

why they’re on the list:

• They are an organic, chemical-free, no-till, open-pollinated farm - one of the only no-till seed farms I’ve been able to find
• They focus on plants that can go from seed to harvest in a shorter season and that are frost tolerant
• They offer a lot of rare seeds from Ark of Taste, and also support the OSSI program.
• Their selection is amazing - they have a large variety of  tepary beans, which are extremely drought-tolerant and are a great crop to grow in areas that get little rainfall in the growing season.
• They have a great selection of bulk seeds too, which is great for larger growing needs or to buy a few year’s worth of seed in advance.

personal experience with this company:

This is my first growing season with seeds from Giving Ground, and my seeds germinated well with great harvest results.

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Uprising Organics Heirloom Seeds

link: uprisingorganics.com

where: Washington

why they’re on the list:

• Certified Organic, Open-pollinated
• They obtain any of their seeds not grown directly by them by other small organic family farms
• They have some really interesting and rare varieties that I have not seen anywhere else, it’s always a delight to take a “stroll” through their online store.

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Adaptive Seeds Certified Organic

link: adaptiveseeds.com

where: Oregon

why they’re on the list:

• Certified Organic
• No sprays, pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers, or treatments. This is great for the average home grower who also will not be utilizing those chemicals in their garden.
• All seeds grown on small farms, open-pollinated, public domain, with no hybrids to encourage seed saving.
• As their name suggests, they focus on varieties adapted to the pacific northwest, with our shorter and very dry growing season.
• They offer a variety of seeds produced through dry farming methods, which is much needed work not only for the PNW but globally.

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Strictly Medicinal Organic Herb Seeds

link: strictlymedicinalseeds.com

where: Oregon

why they're on the list:

• Certified Organic on 90%+ of their products
• Offer hard-to-come-by herb seeds
• Also have a great selection of seedlings and young plants to purchase
• All heirloom plants besides Russian Comfrey (which is a hybrid), so all other seeds can be saved from year to year
• All seeds are in public domain and open source

my experience with Strictly Medicinal Seeds:

I have been delighted by their selection of seeds, especially as someone who has always been interested in herbs. Shipping is fast, seed quality is high, and I love having their plants in my garden.

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Lovelight Herb Farms (Chemical Free)

link: etsy.com/shop/LovelightHerbFarm

where: Oregon

why they're on the list:

• Chemical-free growing
• Offer a wide selection of herbs and flowers
• All seeds are open-pollinated and heirloom quality
• Support organizations like United Plant Savers
• Their farm is a Certified Wild Habitat

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Methow Valley Seed Collective

link: mvseedcollective.com

where: Washington

why they're on the list:

• focus on pest and disease resistance and taste
• striving for an anti-capitalist business model
• ecological and regenerative growing techniques
• favor short-season adapted varieties

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Planting Justice Organic Nursery

link: plantingjustice.org/shop

where: California

why they’re on the list:

• Planting Justice is a little different on this list - instead of selling seeds, Planting Justice is a USDA Certified Organic Plant Nursery.
• You can buy plants from them in person, or have them shipped to you for very reasonable shipping rates.
• They are a non-profit organization that employs formerly incarcerated citizens, and they have built over 500 permaculture gardens in their community. Their program has a 0% recidivism rate, compared to the state average of 44%.
• ‍Their list of perennial vegetables and herbs that they offer is incredible, and they have a huge selection of fruit and nut trees, berry vines, and more. Basically anything edible that you can think of, they have it.

Personal experience with this company:

I’ve been very happy with the plants that I have ordered from them - they always come well-packaged, extremely healthy and robust, and have done really well in my garden. I've ordered from them three times, and will keep going back for more :)

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San Diego Organic Seed Company

link: sandiegoseedcompany.com

where: California

why they’re on the list:

• Regionally adapted seeds for hot dry climates
• Organically grown seeds for sustainable gardening
• Have a mission to provide food security to southern zones
• Women owned and operated
• They strive for sustainable practices in their production

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Open Circle Seeds

link: opencircleseeds.com

where: California

why they're on the list:

• Open-pollinated
• Certified Organic
• Select for "vigor, productivity, and resilience under challenging conditions"
• Also select for taste
• Offer some Open Source Seed Initiative varieties

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Alaska-based Seed Companies:

Foundroot

link: foundroot.com

where: Alaska

why they're on the list:

• All seeds are open-pollinated
• Guarantee high germination rates
• Fantastic selection of cold-adapted seeds
• Great seed collections, such as "container garden" "late start" "subsistence" and "beginner"
• Also have great options for gifts, tools, and other supplies
• Offer workshops to the community
• Small family business

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Colder climates:

Sandwerks Farm

link: sandwerks.farm

where: Minnesotta

why they're on the list:

• Regenerative farming practices!
• I think they'll have more options in the upcoming seasons :)

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Nature and Nurture Heirloom Seeds

link: natureandnurtureseeds.com

where: Michigan

why they're on the list:

• cold-hardy varieties
• organic and heirloom seeds
• great organic vegetable seed selection

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Cultivating the Commons

link: ctcseeds.com

where: Wisconsin

why they're on the list:

• Certified Organic
• Focus on open-pollinated crops
• Seeds are bred for regional adaptation and cold climate success
• Lots of options that are gardener's favorites, with some rare varieties too
• Sell beautiful garlic options in the fall

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Prairie Road Organic Seed

link: prairieroadorganic.co

where: North Dakota

why they're on the list:

• all organic seed company
• small farm
• cold climate adapted varieties for your organic garden
• focus on productivity
• seeds are large and high-quality

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Montana Survival Seed

link: montanasurvivalseed.com

where: Montana

why they're on the list:

• Synthetic chemical-free farm
• Sense of humor and playfulness
• Offer bulk quantities of some seed varieties
• Also sell fossils :)

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Warm + Dry climates:

High Desert Seeds (drought resistant organic seeds)

link: highdesertseed.com

where: Colorado

why they’re on the list:

• They are breeding drought-resistant varieties of vegetables that grow well in shorter growing seasons, so they are great for organic gardeners in similar climates
• Since they are in the mountains of Colorado, they specialize in vegetable seeds adapted to the high altitude desert
• They strive for producing quality seeds with little input
• Stewards rare and at-risk seeds in order to keep the genetic diversity of various crops alive
• They are not certified organic, but they do not use synthetic chemicals
• All of their seeds are open-source, open pollinated, and GMO free
• They focus on soil health and fertility, regenerative practices, and wildlife support

personal experience with this company:

This is my first growing season with seeds from High Desert,and I'm really pleased with the results. I've already put in a second order from them for next growing season.

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Pueblo Seed + Food Heirloom Seed Company

link:/farmdirectseed.com

where: Colorado

Why they’re on the list:

• “Our mission is to renew and strengthen communities by stewarding the land and guiding the health of seed, food and people.”
• All seeds are certified organic and open pollinated with lots of heirloom seed varieties
• Focus on drought tolerance and long-term storage of produce

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Native Seed Search: Arid-adapted Heirloom Seeds

link: nativeseeds.org

where: Arizona

why they’re on the list:

• Native Seed Search is dedicated to uplifting a sustainable growing movement by stewarding arid-adapted seed varieties
• They tend to endangered seeds of the Native southwestern peoples
• They offer some varieties of the wild ancestors of cultivated crops, which are usually extremely hardy and can provide food in times of unpredictable weather
• As a non-profit, all proceeds go towards food security for Native American families and community gardens

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MASA Seed Foundation

link: masaseedfoundation.org

where: Colorado

why they're on the list:

• Organic Seed
• Donates seeds + vegetables for hunger relief
• Non-profit organization
• Building a bio-regional seedback
• Educates community on permaculture and organic practices
• Select for heirloom, traditional varieties that are adaptable to the location
• Regenerative practices
• Great mix of classic options and more rare adapted varieties as well

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Urban Garden Project: Heirloom Organic Seeds

link: urbangardenproject.com

where: Texas

why they’re on the list:

• Heirloom seeds grown with organic practices
• Focused on protecting biodiversity
• They operate in a seed-bank/seed-sharing type of way with their own seeds and the seeds of the growers in their network
• They are working towards growing food in areas of Houston to fight hunger
• Prices are kept low (most seeds are $1.99) to keep gardening accessible. They are one of the most affordable seed companies around.

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Mary's Heirloom Seeds

link: marysheirloomseeds.com

where: Texas

Why they're on the list:

• Small "mom and pop" business that prioritizes sustainability in their business - from recycled seed packets to a wind-powered hosting for their website
• They are a "beyond organic" seed company
• Prioritize pollinators in their system
• Source seeds from other small farmers
• Seeds are never treated or hybrid
• All seeds are open-pollinated and heirloom seeds
• Most seed packets are under $3

personal experience with this company:

I ordered almost 50 packets of seeds from Mary's in an end-of-the-season spree and have loved the results. This company has a huge variety of seeds to choose from, especially for root vegetables like carrots, radishes, and beets.

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Ujamaa Seeds

link: ujamaaseeds.com

where: Maryland

why they're on the list;

• Focus on the cultural significance of seeds for BIPOC and empower BIPOC seed stewards
• Offer curated cultural seed gardens from various regions across the globe, such as Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, First Nations, Latin America, and Southern Soul Gardens
• An amazing collection of otherwise hard-to-find seeds

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Alliance of Native Seedkeepers: Heirloom Seeds

link: allianceofnativeseedkeepers.com

where: North Carolina

why they’re on the list:

• Strive for Organic
• Proceeds from certain varieties go towards an ecological approach to indigenous language revitalization programs
• Focus on environmental and cultural stewardship, social justice, food security, and are working towards building an indigenous eco-village.
• They ship their seeds in eco-friendly packaging through a carbon-neutral program

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Farmacie Isolde: Permaculture and Rare Plants

link: farmacieisolde.com

where: New York

why they're on the list:

• open pollinated plants
• many with organic designation
• no synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides
• seeds grown with permaculture principles and ecological mindset
• awesome selection of plants!

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Bhoom Devi Seeds: No-till Regeneratively Grown Seeds

link: bhoomideviseeds.com

where: Maine

why they're on the list:

• no-till systems
• don't over-fertilize; only use homegrown fertilizer
• regenerative practices like mulching, cover crops, composting
• beyond organic farming - no synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, or pesticides
• all seeds are open-pollinated
• part of the open source seed initiative

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True Love Seeds: Chemical-free Heirloom Seeds

link: trueloveseeds.com

where: Pennsylvania and tri-state

why they’re on the list:

• True Love Seeds was born out of a long-standing effort to the Food Justice Movement
• All seeds are grown chemical-free
• They say on their website “Our seeds are grown by more than 50 small-scale urban and rural farmers committed to community food sovereignty, cultural preservation, and sustainable agriculture.”
• Seeds with cultural significance are prioritized, with collections from the African diaspora, Ark of Taste, Italy, Philadelphia, and Syria
• They offer their partner farmers 50% of each seed packet sold from that farm, which is far higher than industry standard for resale.

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Turtle Tree Seed

link: turtletreeseed.org

where: New York

why they're on the list:

• Only certified biodynamic seed company I have found
• Part of the "Real Organic"project
• All seeds are open-pollinated
• Non-profit
• Lots of seeds that I haven't seen elsewhere

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Experimental Farm Network: Open Source Seeds

link: experimentalfarmnetwork.org

where: seeds are grown across the USA

why they are on the list:

• Experimental Farm Network “is a non-profit organization committed to regenerative agriculture and justice for all people.”
• ‍Their mission statement includes supporting plants that can help feed communities through times of climate change.
• One of the best seed companies out there for folks who want seeds adapted to their personal growing conditions
• Support seed stewards who select based on different desired characteristics so that the plants are more likely to thrive in the home garden
• All of their seeds are part of the OSSI program
• They offer great information about each seed and its unique qualities, where it was grown, and the story behind it.

personal experience with this company:

This is my first growing season with seeds from Experimental Farm Network, and I'm keen to continue experimenting with their landrace varieties. I love what they are doing for plant breeding in a time of climate change.

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SeedWise: Organic Heirloom Seeds

link: seedwise.com

where: seeds are grown across the USA

why they are on the list:

• buy organic seeds directly from farmers
• find small farmers within your bio-region
• get hard-to-find seeds

Real Seeds: Open-pollinated Heirloom Seeds in the UK

link: realseeds.co.uk

where: available in the UK only

why they are on the list:

• Most seeds are either organic or grown with pesticide/herbicide-free processes
• All seeds are open-pollinated
• Seeds have been selected for ease of growth and productivity in the UK climate
• Have a large range of their land set aside for wildlife
• All electricity on-site is produced by solar, wind, or water
• Offer a special program for those with low-income and no-income
• "Overall, our aim is that at the end of our lives, we will leave the soil and ecosystems in a better condition than at the start."

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Earthsong Seeds: Heirloom Organic Seeds in the UK

link: earthsongseeds.co.uk

where: available in the UK only

why they are on the list:

• All seeds are organic or in process of becoming organic (will be 100% organic August 2023)
• Open-pollinated
• Work to protect endangered medicinal species
• Practice ecological methods of growing

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Magic Garden Seeds Heirloom Organic Seeds in Europe

link: magicgardenseeds.com

where: seeds are grown in Germany/the EU, but are shipped worldwide. You are responsible for your country's import fees.

why they are on the list:

• Focus on rare, endangered, beneficial, and beautiful plants
• All seed is open-pollinated for future seed saving
• Certified Organic

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More information about organic heirloom seeds for vegetable gardens

Why buy organic vegetable seeds?

When seeds are grown organically, that means that they were grown with the environment in mind AND that they were grown with the organic home gardener in mind.

Organic seeds are a way to promote environmental stewardship - they were grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers, which are better for the planet, have less carbon emissions, and support soil health.

Also, each time plants grow, thrive, and produce seeds, they are essentially being selected for the conditions that they are grown in. So if you purchase non-organic seeds but grow organically, you are buying seeds that may not have had a great relationship with the soil microbiome because they were given synthetic fertilizer, or that plant may only have thrived to produce seed because synthetic pesticides were used.

On the other hand, if you purchase seeds grown organically and under similar conditions to how you garden, the seeds you plant are more likely to thrive.

What does open pollinated seed mean?

Open-pollinated plants are not hybrids, meaning that they can cross-pollinate with each other and produce seeds that are true to type (meaning: no surprises when you plant them in taste or appearance).

‍This means that you can save the seeds that come from open-pollinated plants and get an expected result from planting them.

Open-pollinated plants can be heirloom as well, but might not qualify due to the 50 year benchmark that heirloom seeds have.

What are open source seeds?

Open source seed varieties are the opposite of a patented or trademarked variety of seeds. Open Source Seeds are pledged by the grower to be available for all to cultivate, propagate, save seeds from, and sell. This promotes sovereignty, freedom, and diversity in the plants that we grow and the food we eat. Learn  more at: www.osseeds.org

What are non gmo seeds?

Non GMO seeds mean that the seeds are not genetically engineered or modified by scientists. But, you don't have to worry about that because as of right now, no GMO seeds are available to be sold to home gardeners by seed companies.

All seeds labeled as Organic must also be non GMO.

Should you avoid hybrid seeds?

Not necessarily, it just depends on your goals. Hybrid seeds are usually bred so that they are disease-resistant or have another quality that is desirable to gardeners. If you struggle with growing certain crops due to disease issues, hybrid seeds might be the solution to your issue so that you can enjoy an abundant harvest.

The downside of hybrid seeds is that if you save the seeds, they will not produce true to type. Meaning, if you sowed hybrid tomato seeds and really liked the results, if you saved seeds from your crop, they likely would look, taste, and grow differently.

Personally, I really enjoy saving seeds, so I like to buy seeds that are adapted and selected for certain characteristics instead of hybridized.

How to save your own seeds

I have written a guide on how to save your own seeds and the benefits of seed saving here, so that you can become more self-sufficient in your seed supply and grow organic food suited to your gardening needs.

How to cold stratify seeds

Did you know that certain seeds may not germinate if they do not go through a process called cold stratification? Learn which seeds need cold stratification and how to do it with our extensive list and guide.

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