The Heirloom Collard Project

Celebrating seed stories and seed saving traditions

Meet the Collards Watch Collard Week

<img src="https://i2.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Collards-Text.png?w=1080&ssl=1" alt="" title="Collards-Text" height="auto" width="auto" srcset="https://i2.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Collards-Text.png?w=1433&ssl=1 1433w, https://i2.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Collards-Text.png?resize=300%2C43&ssl=1 300w, https://i2.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Collards-Text.png?resize=768%2C111&ssl=1 768w, https://i2.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Collards-Text.png?resize=1024%2C148&ssl=1 1024w, https://i2.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Collards-Text.png?resize=800%2C116&ssl=1 800w, https://i2.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Collards-Text.png?resize=400%2C58&ssl=1 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" class="wp-image-105" data-recalc-dims="1" />

The Heirloom Collard Project is a collaboration between Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, Seed Savers Exchange, Working Food, and The Utopian Seed Project. This project aims to build a coalition of seed stewards, gardeners, farmers, chefs, and seed companies working to preserve heirloom collard varieties and their culinary heritage.

Heirloom Collard Project 21 Collards - The Utopian Seed Project

<img src="https://i2.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/21-Collards_Heirloom-Collards-Project_tusp-scaled.jpg?w=1080&ssl=1" alt="Heirloom Collard Project 21 Collards - The Utopian Seed Project" title="Heirloom Collard Project 21 Collards - The Utopian Seed Project" height="auto" width="auto" srcset="https://i2.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/21-Collards_Heirloom-Collards-Project_tusp-scaled.jpg?w=2560&ssl=1 2560w, https://i2.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/21-Collards_Heirloom-Collards-Project_tusp-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C180&ssl=1 300w, https://i2.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/21-Collards_Heirloom-Collards-Project_tusp-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C614&ssl=1 1024w, https://i2.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/21-Collards_Heirloom-Collards-Project_tusp-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C461&ssl=1 768w, https://i2.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/21-Collards_Heirloom-Collards-Project_tusp-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C922&ssl=1 1536w, https://i2.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/21-Collards_Heirloom-Collards-Project_tusp-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1229&ssl=1 2048w, https://i2.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/21-Collards_Heirloom-Collards-Project_tusp-scaled.jpg?resize=1080%2C648&ssl=1 1080w, https://i2.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/21-Collards_Heirloom-Collards-Project_tusp-scaled.jpg?resize=1280%2C768&ssl=1 1280w, https://i2.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/21-Collards_Heirloom-Collards-Project_tusp-scaled.jpg?resize=627%2C376&ssl=1 627w, https://i2.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/21-Collards_Heirloom-Collards-Project_tusp-scaled.jpg?resize=440%2C264&ssl=1 440w, https://i2.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/21-Collards_Heirloom-Collards-Project_tusp-scaled.jpg?w=2160&ssl=1 2160w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" class="wp-image-26331" data-recalc-dims="1" />

Collard Week

Binge Watch ALL The Presentations!

Michael Twitty, Ira Wallace, Amirah Mitchell and Ashleigh Shanti will lead presentations throughout a week of events celebrating collards!

Learn More

heirloomcollards

MEET THE COLLARD SEED STEWARDS! This year we are

MEET THE COLLARD SEED STEWARDS!

This year we are partnering with 15 collard seed stewards around the country to help regenerate heirloom collard varieties from the @seed_savers_exchange collection!

Meet Teresa Youngblood! @lemonbalmer

Teresa learned how to grow collards from her fellow community gardeners at Florida A&M in Tallahassee, Florida 15 years ago and has been growing collards ever since.

“I wanted to be part of the Collard Project to increase awareness of this truly wonderful food plant, and to carry forward the story of how seeds, and the people who select them, tell us who we were, who we are, and who we may yet be”

Thank you so much Teresa for growing with us this year! 🥬❤️

#heirloomcollards #seedsaving #biennials #collards

<img src="https://i2.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png?w=1080&ssl=1" alt="MEET THE COLLARD SEED STEWARDS! This year we are partnering with 15 collard seed stewards around the country to help regenerate heirloom collard varieties from the @seed_savers_exchange collection! Meet Teresa Youngblood! @lemonbalmer Teresa learned how to grow collards from her fellow community gardeners at Florida A&M in Tallahassee, Florida 15 years ago and has been growing collards ever since. “I wanted to be part of the Collard Project to increase awareness of this truly wonderful food plant, and to carry forward the story of how seeds, and the people who select them, tell us who we were, who we are, and who we may yet be” Thank you so much Teresa for growing with us this year! 🥬❤️ #heirloomcollards #seedsaving #biennials #collards" data-recalc-dims="1">

Collard seeds running through a #winnowwizard at @

Collard seeds running through a #winnowwizard at @gaiaherbs for @utopianseedproject

For many of us it's now time to be offering collards again for a fall/winter garden.

Are you planning a collard garden this year? What varieties are you planting?

#collards #gardening #planting #seedsaving #fallgardening

<img src="https://i2.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png?w=1080&ssl=1" alt="Collard seeds running through a #winnowwizard at @gaiaherbs for @utopianseedproject For many of us it's now time to be offering collards again for a fall/winter garden. Are you planning a collard garden this year? What varieties are you planting? #collards #gardening #planting #seedsaving #fallgardening" data-recalc-dims="1">

Repost @utopianseedproject I want to introduce y

Repost @utopianseedproject

I want to introduce you to Debra and Tommy who are taking a seed growing course with @organic_seed_alliance. I have the privilege to be their regional mentor, but it feels like a three way collaboration and we are all learning from each other.

They both came out to our #experimentalfarm to help harvest the collard seed last week and later we'll hopefully run the threshed seed through @gaiaherbs Winnow Wizard (Tommy is the farm manager at Gaia!).

We harvested seed from all 21 openly pollinating varieties that we grew in partnership with the @heirloomcollards project. Our plan is to develop a super collard tolerant and diversely delicious WNC landrace!

#seedsaving #seedmentor #seedsovereignty #seeds #collards #landrace #heirloom #farmers #farming

<img src="https://i2.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png?w=1080&ssl=1" alt="Repost @utopianseedproject I want to introduce you to Debra and Tommy who are taking a seed growing course with @organic_seed_alliance. I have the privilege to be their regional mentor, but it feels like a three way collaboration and we are all learning from each other. They both came out to our #experimentalfarm to help harvest the collard seed last week and later we'll hopefully run the threshed seed through @gaiaherbs Winnow Wizard (Tommy is the farm manager at Gaia!). We harvested seed from all 21 openly pollinating varieties that we grew in partnership with the @heirloomcollards project. Our plan is to develop a super collard tolerant and diversely delicious WNC landrace! #seedsaving #seedmentor #seedsovereignty #seeds #collards #landrace #heirloom #farmers #farming" data-recalc-dims="1">

#Repost @thecookinggene (@get_repost) ・・・ Ha

#Repost @thecookinggene (@get_repost)
・・・
Happy #nationalsoulfoodmonth
#collardgreens #TheCookinggene #highonthehog

<img src="https://i2.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png?w=1080&ssl=1" alt="#Repost @thecookinggene (@get_repost) ・・・ Happy #nationalsoulfoodmonth #collardgreens #TheCookinggene #highonthehog" data-recalc-dims="1">

Thanks to @seed_savers_exchange for their ongoing

Thanks to @seed_savers_exchange for their ongoing variety preservation work 💜

Here are some Nancy Malone Wheat Purple Collards. Grown offsite by Chris Inhulsen and packed by Seed Bank Inventory Technician, Sydney. Stored safely in our seed bank but available via the Exchange in 2022!

#collards #heirloomcollards #heirloom #purplecollard #seedsaving #seesdpreservation

<img src="https://i2.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png?w=1080&ssl=1" alt="Thanks to @seed_savers_exchange for their ongoing variety preservation work 💜 Here are some Nancy Malone Wheat Purple Collards. Grown offsite by Chris Inhulsen and packed by Seed Bank Inventory Technician, Sydney. Stored safely in our seed bank but available via the Exchange in 2022! #collards #heirloomcollards #heirloom #purplecollard #seedsaving #seesdpreservation" data-recalc-dims="1">

#Repost @melbelle206 (@get_repost) ・・・ Spend

#Repost @melbelle206 (@get_repost)
・・・
Spending time in the Collards! From the 2020 trial 3 varieties were saved for seed. Here I am in the Blue Collard varietys. The seeds will be a cross between Old Timey Blue and Tabitha Dykes. Looking forward to what may come of this.
Photo credit 📷 M.E. @m.e.thephd #HeirloomCollardProject

<img src="https://i2.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png?w=1080&ssl=1" alt="#Repost @melbelle206 (@get_repost) ・・・ Spending time in the Collards! From the 2020 trial 3 varieties were saved for seed. Here I am in the Blue Collard varietys. The seeds will be a cross between Old Timey Blue and Tabitha Dykes. Looking forward to what may come of this. Photo credit 📷 M.E. @m.e.thephd #HeirloomCollardProject" data-recalc-dims="1">

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This project is run by a collaboration of organizing partners and collard lovers. Learn more and support their organizations:

<img src="https://i0.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Tusp-logo-final-color.png?w=1080&ssl=1" alt="" title="Tusp logo final - color" height="auto" width="auto" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Tusp-logo-final-color.png?w=1920&ssl=1 1920w, https://i0.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Tusp-logo-final-color.png?resize=225%2C300&ssl=1 225w, https://i0.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Tusp-logo-final-color.png?resize=768%2C1024&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Tusp-logo-final-color.png?resize=1152%2C1536&ssl=1 1152w, https://i0.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Tusp-logo-final-color.png?resize=1536%2C2048&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Tusp-logo-final-color.png?resize=1080%2C1440&ssl=1 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" class="wp-image-25923" data-recalc-dims="1" />

<img src="https://i1.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/southern-exposure-seed-exchange-logo.jpg?w=1080&ssl=1" alt="southern-exposure-seed-exchange-logo" title="southern-exposure-seed-exchange-logo" height="auto" width="auto" srcset="https://i1.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/southern-exposure-seed-exchange-logo.jpg?w=474&ssl=1 474w, https://i1.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/southern-exposure-seed-exchange-logo.jpg?resize=284%2C300&ssl=1 284w, https://i1.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/southern-exposure-seed-exchange-logo.jpg?resize=171%2C180&ssl=1 171w" sizes="(max-width: 474px) 100vw, 474px" class="wp-image-89" data-recalc-dims="1" />

<img src="https://i2.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/6864_Seed-Savers-Exchange-logo-SMALL.png?w=1080&ssl=1" alt="seed savers exchange logo" title="6864_Seed-Savers-Exchange-logo-SMALL" height="auto" width="auto" srcset="https://i2.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/6864_Seed-Savers-Exchange-logo-SMALL.png?w=973&ssl=1 973w, https://i2.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/6864_Seed-Savers-Exchange-logo-SMALL.png?resize=300%2C105&ssl=1 300w, https://i2.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/6864_Seed-Savers-Exchange-logo-SMALL.png?resize=768%2C268&ssl=1 768w" sizes="(max-width: 973px) 100vw, 973px" class="wp-image-26213" data-recalc-dims="1" />

<img src="https://i1.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/logo.jpg?w=1080&ssl=1" alt="" title="logo" height="auto" width="auto" srcset="https://i1.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/logo.jpg?w=225&ssl=1 225w, https://i1.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/logo.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w" sizes="(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" class="wp-image-25925" data-recalc-dims="1" />

<img src="https://i1.wp.com/heirloomcollards.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/cbnlogo.jpg?w=1080&ssl=1" alt="" title="cbnlogo" height="auto" width="auto" class="wp-image-25924" data-recalc-dims="1" />