Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange (SESE) is a for-profit business which is the principal industry within the income sharing Acorn Community located in central Virginia. SESE is a source for heirloom seeds and other open-pollinated (non-hybrid) seeds with an emphasis on vegetables, flowers, and herbs that grow well in the Mid-Atlantic region. SESE also supports seed saving and traditional seed breeding through their product line and also through lectures and workshops.
It would be proper to note that SESE is a cooperatively owned by its workers and does not hold managerial positions.It should be noted that Ira Wallace has been said to be the manager of SESE. This is actually incorrect,while being a founding member of acorn community and having a hand in many of the projects that take place the business both the community and the seed business are cooperatively owned and run by all the members at acorn with a large help from interns and WOOFers.
The operational cycle for SESE runs from January to April principally filling seed orders. From March to August work is focused on the gardens, tending seed and food crops. From August through October SESE harvests, cleans, and purity tests the seeds grown throughout the season. In September specialty crops are shipped: garlic, onion bulbs, as well as ginseng and goldenseal.
SESE uses both USDA Certified organic seed stock as well as non-certified organics from trusted sources.
SESE is partnering with the Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants to organize the 2007 Heritage Harvest Festival. The Heritage Harvest Festival is a non-profit event designed to educate the public on the importance of organics and heritage varieties.
