Embark on a journey through time at our virtual conference series “Growing Together: Past, Present, and Future,” taking place on Zoom over three days.

• Friday, May 2
• Friday, June 6
• Friday, July 11

Join us for inspiring keynote speakers, informational workshops, and a chance to connect with the larger seed community.

By registering, you will have access to all three days of programming and recordings of any sessions you may miss. There is no need to register for individual days. Featured sessions are listed below.

Pricing Details

$250 - Benefactor Rate
When you choose this rate, you are making a profound investment in our mission of biodiversity preservation. Your generosity not only sustains our work but also helps expand our reach and grow our programs.

$100 - Patron Rate
When you choose this rate, you are choosing to share wealth with the community and help ensure we can continue to offer services to others for below cost. This helps ensure financial accessibility for all folks within our seed community.

$75 - Sustainer Rate
When you choose this rate, you are paying the true cost of the conference. The sustainer rate covers the cost of providing the service in a sustainable way for us as a nonprofit.

$50 - Advocate Rate
When you choose this rate, you are engaging with a mutual aid system and accessing community wealth. The advocate rate is below the cost of providing the service for people with less access to financial resources.

If you find that these prices are cost-prohibitive, please contact events@seedsavers.org.

Click here for a complete agenda and list of speakers.

May 2, 2025 - The Past

Day one, "Growing Together: The Past," is dedicated to honoring the foundations and legacies that have shaped our agricultural practices, connecting us to traditions and ancestries that continue to influence our work today. By examining the past of the seed community through both celebratory and critical lenses, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of our roots and their impact on contemporary practices.

Keynote Speaker: Matthew Raiford, chef, farmer, cookbook author

Matthew Raiford is the chef/owner and sixth-generation farmer at Gilliard Farms, a sibling-run sustainable farm in Brunswick, GA, which has been owned and operated by his family since 1874. Matthew is the author of Bress ‘n’ Nyam and is a descendant of the Freshwater Gullah Geechie, which is what his cookbook is based on. He has a culinary arts degree from The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY, and a certificate in ecological horticulture from the University of California Santa Cruz and The Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems.

June 6, 2025 - The Present

Day two, “Growing Together: The Present,” will be dedicated to exploring the current landscape of seed technology, breeding projects, and the challenges and successes faced by communities worldwide. This day offers a comprehensive snapshot of contemporary advancements and issues in the field, providing a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration.

Keynote Speaker: Desirae Abella, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Desirae Abella is an enrolled member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and of Omaha descent. She is the founder of Hokte Land Relations Consulting LLC and has over eight years of experience in agricultural and natural resource conservation, with the past four years focused on Tribal communities. Her work includes roles with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Desirae lives in North Carolina on the ancestral homelands of the Cherokee and is deeply passionate about tribal sovereignty and empowering Indigenous communities through land-based relationships.

July 11, 2025 - The Future

On the third and final day of our virtual conference, "Growing Together: The Future," we focus on the horizon, exploring how the seed community can adapt, innovate, and mentor future generations to cultivate a resilient and thriving agricultural landscape. This day is dedicated to fostering intergenerational collaboration, developing creative partnerships, and implementing sustainable practices that will carry us forward.

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Susan Pell, executive director, the United States Botanic Garden

Dr. Susan Pell is the executive director of the United States Botanic Garden (USBG) and an expert in the systematics of the cashew family (Anacardiaceae). She holds a B.S. in biology from St. Andrews University in North Carolina and a Ph.D. in plant biology from Louisiana State University. Susan has spent her career in public gardens as a botanist, educator, and leader, and she has traveled the world to collect plants for scientific study. At the USBG, she is committed to helping the Garden achieve its mission to inspire people to appreciate, study, and conserve plants to enrich society locally and globally. She is dedicated to diversifying the Garden’s collections and offerings and serving its diverse visitorship.