Iowa PBS' "Iowa Life" to Feature Seed Savers Exchange

Every dollar helps Decorah News chase down the truth on Water Street, not just headlines. Give today. DECORAH — For 50 years, Seed Savers Exchange has quietly worked to preserve heirloom seeds and protect agricultural biodiversity from its home in northeast Iowa. Now, the nonprofit's mission will be introduced to a broader audience through an upcoming episode of Iowa PBS's "Iowa Life." The Decorah-based organization will be featured in the magazine-style series, which highlights Iowa's people, places and stories. The episode will offer viewers a behind-the-scenes look at Seed Savers Exchange, tracing the journey of seeds from planting and harvest to the packets that arrive in gardeners' mailboxes. The segment also coincides with a milestone year for the organization, which is celebrating its 50-year history of preserving and sharing heirloom and endangered plant varieties. "We're honored to be featured on 'Iowa Life,'" said Nick Wallin, marketing and communications director for Seed Savers Exchange. "Seed saving often happens quietly behind the scenes, but it's essential work that affects the future of our food system." Founded in 1975, Seed Savers Exchange has become one of the nation's leading organizations dedicated to preserving genetic diversity in food crops. At its Heritage Farm headquarters near Decorah, the nonprofit maintains what it describes as the nation's largest nongovernmental seed bank, safeguarding more than 20,000 heirloom and endangered plant varieties. Wallin said the organization's identity has become inseparable from its northeast Iowa home. "We are lucky that Decorah has become deeply intertwined with our identity," he said. "The Driftless Region's remarkable landscape, rich agricultural traditions and conservation-minded community make it an ideal home for our mission." That mission extends beyond storing seeds. Each year, staff members, volunteers, members and visitors participate in growing, saving and sharing seeds, helping preserve varieties that might otherwise disappear. The "Iowa Life" feature will spotlight both the physical work of seed stewardship and the broader cultural significance behind it. "This segment allows us to share not only the beauty of Heritage Farm, but also the people, partnerships and generations of gardeners who make this work possible," Wallin said. "It's a chance to celebrate Iowa's role in preserving agricultural biodiversity and to introduce more people to a mission that belongs to all of us." According to Wallin, the collaboration with Iowa PBS grew naturally from shared interests in education and preservation. "Iowa PBS has long done an incredible job telling stories that celebrate the people, places and organizations that make Iowa unique," he said. "Seed Savers Exchange shares that commitment to education and preserving our shared heritage." As discussions developed around showcasing Heritage Farm and its work, the partnership emerged as an opportunity to bring the story of seed saving to viewers throughout Iowa and beyond. Hosted by Charity Nebbe, "Iowa Life" explores the lives of Iowans through interviews, visual storytelling and cultural features. The upcoming episode will also include segments on the schoolboy soldiers of Rippey, an interview with Des Moines Metro Opera general and artistic director Michael Egel and a retrospective on the 1976 Bicentennial celebration in Colfax. For Seed Savers Exchange, however, the central message remains rooted in the significance of preserving seeds and the stories they carry. "I hope viewers come away realizing that every seed has a story, and that preserving those stories helps protect our future," Wallin said. "Seed saving isn't just about preservation and plants; it's about culture, history, resilience and community." He noted that heirloom varieties often survive because generations of gardeners and farmers continued growing them for a simple reason: they tasted good. "People have kept saving them because they wanted them back on their table year after year," Wallin said. Ultimately, Wallin hopes the program inspires viewers to think differently about their connection to food and biodiversity. "Whether someone has a large garden, a few containers on a patio or simply enjoys good food, everyone has a role to play in protecting biodiversity," he said. "If the segment inspires someone to plant an heirloom variety, save seeds for the first time or simply think differently about where their food comes from, we'll consider that a success." The episode will premiere at a special time Sunday, July 5, at 6 p.m. It will be rebroadcast Monday, July 6, at 8 p.m., Saturday, July 11, at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday, July 12, at 10:30 a.m. Your inbox, upgraded! Subscribe for free and enjoy handpicked stories, helpful advice, and local insights delivered weekly.