The Sacred Power of Seeds: Why Saving, Sharing, and Protecting Them Matters More Than Ever

Amanda Louise
May 31
3 min read

“Seed is not just the source of life. It is the very foundation of our being.” – Dr. Vandana Shiva

Every seed holds a story — a memory of the past, a map for the future. Inside each one lives the resilience of nature, the prayers of our ancestors, and the nourishment of generations yet to come. And yet, this ancient birthright — the ability to grow and share our own food — is under threat.

This is a call to remember, to act, and to honor the life-giving magic of seeds.

Why Save Seeds?

Saving seeds is an act of resilience, protection, and love. Here's why it's so vital:

Preserve Biodiversity: Each region has seeds adapted to its unique climate, pests, and soil. Saving local seeds protects this diversity from extinction.
Protect Food Sovereignty: When we save seeds, we preserve our right to grow food free from corporate or governmental control.
Regenerate Culture & Ancestral Memory: Seeds are cultural carriers. They remember songs, seasons, ceremonies, and tastes that reconnect us to lineage.
Ensure Resilience: Heirloom and criollo seeds are often more resilient to droughts, diseases, and changing climate than hybrid or GMO seeds.

Where to Get & Support Ethical Seed Sources

🇺🇸 In the United States:

Support seed networks that protect heirloom, open-pollinated, and culturally significant varieties:

Seed Savers Exchange – One of the largest public seed banks in the U.S., dedicated to preserving heritage seeds.
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds – Offers 100% non-GMO, open-pollinated seeds from around the world.
Native Seeds/SEARCH – Conserves seeds and agricultural knowledge from Indigenous communities in the Southwest.
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange – Specializes in varieties adapted to the Southeastern U.S., community-owned and operated.

These groups support seed freedom, regional adaptation, and regenerative agriculture.

What’s Happening in Costa Rica?

Costa Rica is home to countless criollo seeds — native, regionally adapted, and full of nutritional and ecological value. But many are at risk due to legislation and loss of traditional practices.

A proposed law — Bill No. 21.087 — claims to “modernize seed production.” But in reality, it could criminalize the use and sharing of native and ancestral seeds.

Here's what’s at stake:

🚫 Local seeds could be banned if they’re not registered with government systems.

🏢 Corporations could patent seeds, making farmers dependent on purchased, commercialized varieties.

💸 Traditional farmers could be fined for saving or exchanging seeds — a practice as old as agriculture itself.

🌱 Criollo (native) seeds may disappear, leading to a loss of biodiversity, food sovereignty, and cultural memory.

“Whoever controls the seeds, controls the food. And whoever controls the food, controls the people.” -- Dr. Vandana Shiva

Support & connect with:

Red de Guardianes de Semillas de Costa Rica – A grassroots network preserving native and criollo seeds through festivals, community gardens, and exchanges.
Festival de Semillas – An annual gathering (now in its 9th year!) community connection, educational talks about seed preservation and best practices, seed sharing, and sovereignty.
Proyecto Semilla Criolla – Community-driven effort to cultivate, document, and educate about native seed saving practices.

You can often find seed exchanges at local ferias (markets), eco-communities, or permaculture centers — especially in regions like Pérez Zeledón, Talamanca, and the Nicoya Peninsula.

What You Can Do to Keep Seeds Sovereign

Here’s how we reclaim our power and protect our future:

Save Your Own Seeds – Learn the basics. Start with easy crops like tomatoes, beans, or lettuce.
Share & Exchange Locally – Host or attend seed swaps. Exchange with friends and neighbors.
Support Seed Libraries & Seed Festivals – Attend events like the Festival de la Semilla Criolla or local seed-saving workshops.
Say No to GMOs & Patented Seeds – Only buy open-pollinated, heirloom, or native varieties.
Teach the Next Generation – Pass down this sacred skill to children, schools, and community gardens.
Advocate for Seed Rights – Stay informed and speak out against laws that criminalize saving or sharing seeds.
Grow Biodiversity – Cultivate unusual, native, or endangered plants to keep their lineage alive.

A Living Act of Resistance & Love

Saving seeds is a radical act of care. It says: “I trust in life. I remember where I came from. I will not allow this sacred cycle to be broken.”

As we hold these seeds, we are also holding stories, freedom, and futures. Let us tend them with reverence, and let them remind us — that we are not separate from nature, but part of its great unfolding.

🌱Join the Movement:

🎉 Come to the Festival de Semillas June 14th at Tinamaste Feria
📖 Read more about seed sovereignty here
🌬️ Support your Wellbeing and Take our 5-Element Quiz to reconnect with your own natural rhythms