Seed Swap in the Ozarks - Feature Length Documentary

Seed Swap follows Dr. Campbell, an anthropologist living in the Ozarks, as he helps to organize a seed swap to be held March 1st 2008 in Mountain View, Arkansas. Hundreds of people and seed varieties attend the first Swap. Over a period of three years we watch as that first Seed Swap in 2008 sprouts seven new Swaps by 2010: six in the Ozarks and one in the Arkansas Delta. This documentary film uses the development of a seed exchange and agricultural biodiversity conservation project in the Ozark Mountains as an ethnographic lens to explore the seed saving subculture of the region. The Ozarks continue to be uniquely agrarian and rural, and throughout the film we meet diverse Ozarkers who maintain the agricultural traditions of saving and trading seeds. Many documentary films expose and emphasize problems with the industrial food system, but too few present practical solutions. The film showcases the utility of applied anthropology to get the public involved in more localized food systems, presents a wide range of open-pollinated, heirloom seeds of the Ozarks, and teaches the steps necessary to establish a community seed bank and host seed swaps.
This documentary film uses the development of a seed exchange and agricultural biodiversity conservation project in the Ozark Mountains as an ethnographic lens to explore the seed saving subculture of the region.
Copyright 2007-2015
"Seed Swap is a valuable documentation of how informal seed networks in Arkansas serve as powerful counter-narratives and everyday resistances against the hegemony of US agri-business as usual. And the old-time Ozark music is fantastic! Kudos to Dr. Brian Campbell and everyone involved in making this film and thank you to all the cantankerous and wonderful seed savers who are keeping our Southern agricultural heritage alive!"
James R. Veteto, PhD, Director, Southern Seed Legacy

[@redwhiteblue9866]

Don't know why I clicked on this, but I ended up watching the whole thing. Very well done

[@talkingaboutchange4973]

Seed saving and swapping is a small act individually, but if we do it collectively and on a significant scale, it can be subversive, even revolutionary, opening up a real, viable, sustainable alternative to corporate farming.

[@RayPierreWhit607]

I wish my grandmother was still here to see this. She lived all 104 years in Siloam Springs, Arkansas and fed her children and grandchildren on food she grew herself.

[@nibbler8309]

This is important. It's inspirational. This is a fine example of how to a community can preserve the future of the land and it's cultural history. This doc. shows that Americans are still willing to come together and share. Thank you people for making the time and taking the steps to make the country thrive once again. Well done. Don't stop. May you all be blessed with many Happy Harvests.

[@nicktube5860]

Am in Uk, came accross this by accident but so glad I watched it. Really appreciated what these guys are doing. Wonderful..... Have also seen utubes of seed swap and heritage seed banks in India.

[@rubywingo6030]

OMG! When he was talking about shelling peas with the family, I remember as a kid in the ‘70’s, gathering around a small plastic kiddie pool in the floor of our living room, everyone had their bowl and we would shell peas and throw the hulls in the pool. Dad would take it and dump it in the garden for mulch. Summertime meant SORE thumbs!! Anyone who has done it knows exactly what I mean! Lol!!!😅

[@charleschampion4682]

Cannabis seeds are exchanged in Colorado at the garden seed exchanges.

[@HeritageWealthPlanning]

“Growing your own food is a subversive act.” Great statement

[@shaallen8412]

Growing your own food is necessary for survival if you do not have foraging skills. You cannot live a very long, healthy life without fiber, vitamins, and minerals plants provide. Farmers are born, not made. No one in my family gardens.No one in my family hunts. Somehow I have yearned for acquiring the skills necessary to do both. I also fish, sew, can vegetables, fix “stuff” and enjoy woodworking. No one in my family taught me to do any of these things. I had to want to learn myself. I am sure glad I did as well because I can survive on my own if I want to or need to. It has nothing to do with the government.

[@davidm136]

This is so fantastic Very inspiring Thank you for caring about our future

[@spiceynanasim9256]

I'm still working on my green thumb. Hoping to turn half my backyard into a garden that we grow, can, eat and save seeds. Getting my kids involved as well. Starting from scratch since my great-grandparents, grandparents and parents didn't pass this info on to me. Even though we come from a long generation of farmers. Good luck to all who are attempting to do the same.

[@texas1949]

SpiceyNanaSim Good for you! It’s a beautiful thing you’re attempting! Bless you and your kids!

[@donaldritter2256]

This is cool. I have been keeping seeds for fifteen yrs now. It's worth it

[@music1nut]

Glad to see some people see the future.

[@ninascarpa1460]

Wonderful documentary. Very informative and thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you for the upload

[@heatherbowlan9822]

Well way back when people that had no money ,traded things that both traders needed buy both sides ! What a wonderful way of life

[@barbaradobson9298]

Great documentary.Dr. Campbell’s work is tremendously important on so many levels. This documentary gives me hope in the younger generation willing to listen and learn from these serious senior gardeners. Thank you.

[@bycrescentmoon8001]

Glad to see the movement is still alive. The ties we form to the land and community IS life. This is one of the most comprehensive videos that I’ve come across in a long time. congrats, from Canada🇨🇦

[@conradsutton]

It's great to see young people getting involved in sustenance farming and actually meeting their neighbors for events like this. Great job, Dr. Campbell! I'm originally from Stone County, AR, but currently live in Cabool, MO. My wife and I have gone to the Baker Creek festivals, but we had no idea these 'seed swaps' were going on....thank you so much!

[@chjwood]

keep the good and important work up thank you

[@texas1949]

Seeds are the answer to everything! Cuttings are cool. Transplants are great. But seeds are the answer! Please do not omit gardening, EVER! I’m so proud my daughter grows her brown veggies and flowers! From seeds!!! Tomatoes, cucumbers, okra, squash, strawberries, rosemary, basil, oregano, etc... so happy and proud!!!

[@heatherbowlan9822]

What a great way ,it was a hard times and these people worked from dust to don, but they all say they were the happiest times off THIER life ! Love to hear THIER stories of older times ! Wonder full God fearing great people !

[@thepynklynx]

watched this while processing my garden seeds and wild seeds :)

[@GuruRasaVonWerder]

MONSATAN & DUPUNKS

[@samboslc]

An absolutely beautiful presentation in my opinion. Shocked at the idiotic responses within. I drove a truck many times in the Arkansas area, and loved the countryside. Thank You.

[@elmerfox6872]

We use to do road trips on our bikes up to Branson back down through Heber Springs, real nice country

[@clintjohnson7023]

I thank you for this program. Never more truer words spoken than that people need to be less dependent on government and big corporations. That people need to be more self-sufficient. Know what's in your food. Save your seeds.

[@Caperhere]

Well, this is the best , most hopeful news I’ve heard in quite some time. Thank you so much for saving your seeds.♥️ And Thank you to Dr. Veteto. You people may be the healthiest population around. I hope more people around you get involved in growing crops from heirloom seeds, and spread your ability to feed folks home grown food.

[@seancassidy4812]

This video put me in very good humour. Good people doing the right things. The music was great too.

[@bobsgirl100]

Very well done!

[@lorettabrail7907]

I am moving from Alaska to Georgia and want to raise organic plants of all kinds. Collecting seeds is something I want to learn and how to cultivate them. How to take care of the soil... All of it! Monsanto has destroyed everything natural so need to learn these things and pass it along! Great knowledge and amazing amazing work being done here!

[@andranovak5362]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing! We'll be attending the Yellville, Arkansas, Seed Swap for the 3rd year. We always enjoy the amazing seeds and have lots of our own to share. It's great to meet new people and to see returning people from year to year.

[@melodyclark4347]

This is fantastic. Of course I had no idea this was available. Thanks!!

[@randlerichardson5826]

I’m so glad I found this one I get the old seeds from time to time but they’re getting hard to find round here there’s a little shop we get seed from every now and then but the old seeds are very hard to find since my granny and aunt passed away

[@kenjimac2211]

I used to attend a bluegrass festival every year in Mountain View. Had a great time!!!

[@johnallen2771]

This is great to see. I live in Northern California and would like to see something like that around here. Our agriculture is very diverse, from olives to wine and everything in between, and it would be nice to have some local species of seeds that you know are good. I would also like to see something like this in the small farmer marijuana community. We supply about half of the nation's pot and there are many small mom and pop operations that grow some good product. This way better marijuana would be grown and more people would benefit.

[@antonyandrerenaissanceart977]

Unfortunately your liberal millennial politicians and bureaucrats have destroyed the foundations of your beautiful countryside... I had recently someone from central area tell me how ttruly bad it is there...when politicians outlaw plastic straws, create homelessness, attack non liberals in public...the tell here is no hope for your state... The lady told me a salad was 17 bucks at any resturant.

[@toddtomaszewski6820]

I think that song at the could go gold. great video.

[@miahleissa9599]

Thank you so much for this video. :)

[@rayleeeastlick3989]

Klamath falls Oregon is listening and watching..

[@antonyandrerenaissanceart977]

This is living with nature Unlike most who live against

[@B2Hives]

Control the food and you control the people.

[@mamaluca1958]

Its so nice to see this still going on. I grow up with no stores we did all big gardens and canning..l still do canning... its the healthys way to eat.

[@jacobeksor6088]

I am Montagnard indigenous I was grown up on farm we planted different types of bean and other thing in our farm . Today we lost our property, community land to Vietnamese rubber, coffee plantation we lost all the seed no place to farm life getting harder.

[@donaldgreen7471]

Don't give up Jeremy✌

[@sarahblossomware3753]

I love this! I want to go!

[@brendaarchambault7014]

Love it. Would love to do a seed swap in my area.

[@shyamlynn243]

Get er started then, like that dude James said at 15:19 ... It could start with you. I'g going to look into it too in my area up here in Canada.

[@wakeandbakewithmaryjane1767]

@@shyamlynn243 Ours is held at our local library, check there, they just might know...OR...any program that runs a community garden of sorts. Good luck, I live in Canada too, its quite neat to see :)

[@cjburgess5682]

Very Cool!!

[@BLONDIE546]

Like this video!!

[@roscoeshepard]

I live in Northeast NC my family have been raising the same green bean since the 1840's . I don't know if they were grown before that time or not. I save seeds myself,I'm 59 years old. The younger generation doesn't seem to care about this kind of thing unless it is connected to a cell phone,lol.

[@demetriuspowell29]

Im 28 I'll take some seeds we can share I'm from Georgia

[@WolfmanMusic]

thanks

[@curtissmith2679]

My mom said she would take a live chicken to the country store and trade it for some store goods back in the 40s. She grew up by the Clinch river, River mountain, in Russell co. Va

[@breakingglass50]

There's an Amish community near Mansfield Missouri that host's a seed festival every year. It's like walking onto the set of Gun smoke when you go into the main part of the community. I love that place.

[@alianna8806]

Baker Creek seed fest?

[@jeanskilling708]

Variety's grown here in the states, are also grown in The UK.

[@itsme2365]

Dr. Campbell is soooo cute. I’d learn a lot from him😉💋

[@chjwood]

jan sheetrum hit the nail on the head when she described y she save,s seeds what a legend (ie the rise of global temperature,s )

[@riverhound8406]

I am very impressed and interested in this. I do collect a few I have some hundred year old peas and wild garlic ect. I am curious though I thought putting seeds in plastic bags was a no no. I use envelopes.

[@shirleyharrison2580]

Right..I only put seeds in envelopes or paper bags. Same with nut meats, pecans, put in brown paper bags & put in fridge or freezer.

[@rburgert2]

Good

[@jimschooler8468]

True Seed Savers Exchange Decorah, Iowa have a world wide program of like kind . JIM SCHOOLER

[@natebomb453]

whats going on in sharp county?? we just bought land and looking to get down there in next year or two.

[@mediasatchel]

+Nate Bomb The Mountain View Seed Swap in early spring would be a good one for you if you are in Sharp County. They host it at the Ozark Folk Center.

[@natebomb453]

thank you for the info. :)

[@theword4501]

What ! They stopped in 2010... I think Ill do a revival. Nice Mother Earth News Song...by the Way.

[@demetriuspowell29]

They stopped in 2010?

[@11UncleBooker22]

16 people dislike heirloom seeds.

[@17ladeeda]

Can anyone give me some info on starting a seed swap? I can't use a lot of what is grown too far north of the Gulf Coast, which means thousands upon thousands of gardeners down here miss out on a lot. We can grown all year long here but, what we can grow & when are two different things. It's the same everywhere. People up north can't grow semi- tropical & tropical outdoors. We can't grow foxgloves, hollyhocks or peonies. It's so hot in late spring here most of the time that we have to plant pansies & petunias, etc. in the fall & grow the through the winter to have a nice stand. If we have one of our unexpected winters that are in the twenties & teens we can lose a LOT of plants & even shrubs! I'm desperate! Can anyone even point me in the right direction for a start? It will be GREATLY appreciated,ladydi

[@violetviolet888]

+Dianne Acosta Look for garden organizations in your area, community gardens, clubs, seed swaps, plant sales, etc. How to host a seed swap: goo.gl/5uU2iZ

[@albakreuk5830]

Violet Z6 Thx, gonna check that out.

[@alasdairblackmore2592]

plant what will grow ... stop dreaming about / wasting your time growing what won't currently grow ... till the climate permits ... or move to a county / country where you can grow what you want to grow ! You can buy heritage / heirloom seeds on eBay ... Gardening should be by trial and error, till you get it right ! Gardening includes perfecting your own attitude too ... especially as the mind is like a garden ... !

[@albakreuk5830]

Alasdair Blackmore she's not looking for sarcasm, how about giving help & advice instead of being a prick.

[@alasdairblackmore2592]

@@albakreuk5830 : and your contribution [giving help and advise on this issue] is what exactly ?? Other than none / nothing / zilch / nada with a touch of verbal abuse to one that believes it wrong to wallow in delusions ... I can't fathom anything sane or helpful from your words ... I think your mental "knee jerk reaction" is very revealing ...

[@patricktravers8328]

The USA at its best.

[@randlerichardson5826]

I’ve eat rattlesnake beans and they are delicious

[@albakreuk5830]

36:19, when gas was still under 2 buck's a gallon, >barely

[@Jimlovescock]

BEDFORD WITHERSPOON IV I paid the same for gas today in Alabama.

[@mollyme4888]

Haha Funk’s G Hybrid seeds shown early on- nothing at all to do with the Ozarks...was developed in central Illinois (McLean Co to be exact)

[@MrCntryjoe]

I have 12 kinds of sunflower, 8 kinds of popcorn, 3 kinds of flint corn, 5 kinds of pole beans, 3 kinds of squash. lettuces and flowers. where can I get involved in trading

[@Soaptivated]

www.arkansas.com/event/9th-annual-ozark-seed-swap/146844

[@strykeghstbrnr4812]

Corporations done poison our true seeds, it ain't right. God bless our American farmers. Them taters done fed family back in thar depression. That goat milk is good. Where i used ter live thar neighbors raised lot of chickens. Sharing them eggs left an right. Good folks, God bless y'alls!

[@michellemills704]

My dad's family is from the ozarks & I'm wanting to know and find them ??? How I have little or no money and my father is dead ???? What to do ?? Michelle mills

[@albakreuk5830]

Michelle Mills if you have internet, try to google the Ozark folk centers number. When you contact them by phone, ask them if they have any suggestion's on who might have records of the most recent Ozark census. If your father had any possessions that would have leads on family names & places or if he mentioned any names, see if you could match any names. Most of the time you can do a little research by phone, internet or correspondence through mail. I'm not experienced in the matter, but I hope that will help. If you know where your father grew up, you might be able to speak with some neighbor's still there from that time which could lead you to his siblings or other relatives that might still lived there or use to live in the area. Might find quite a few who would love to revel in days of old, most of the time you'll get the best leads from that.

[@strykeghstbrnr4812]

Git them govt check

[@AndiH1969]

44:49 Valentimes day?

[@callahclan7456]

Don't let monsanto know 🤨

[@Caperhere]

23:00

[@elmerfox6872]

At 38 minutes, the lady spoke of global warming, There can not be global warming when the earth we live on is NOT a globe. Reading scriptures will explain in details just how our Father created our reality. Although there are patents on weather modification. All these people in this video are doing the best thing I have ever seen! Going back to the old way of life is the utmost important move on the face of the earth. Corporation desire our dependence on them for everything. More power to seed swap!!!

[@alianna8806]

'Discal warming' doesn't have quite the same ring to it

[@elmerfox6872]

@@alianna8806 it ain't a disk either

[@alianna8806]

@@elmerfox6872 I know 😅

[@meeksde]

Elmer Fox that’s you takeaway here? Your special huh?

[@elmerfox6872]

@@meeksde Nope

[@dennis1345]

New timers old seed Huggers Association of America

[@josephshaneferguson6561]

buddy what s happening

[@roysimmons9806]

ROY SIMMONS I LIVE IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA AND I HAVE SOME PEA SEED THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE FAMILY FOR SEVERAL GENERATIONS, THAT WE CALL RED RIPPERS. WONDER IF THEY ARE THE SAME PEA.

[@deewaggoner655]

I'm in the video and grew up out in NW GA. They're the same!

[@debjarvie-sexton1609]

ANYBODY WANTING TO SHARE SEEDS,GO LOOK UNDER SEED SHARING OR SEED SWAPING FACEBOOK GROUPS.....YW

[@melissamoseley9083]

X

[@roseherrington8913]

This is great but the fact is satan is rising. You don't believe in God, satan does and he is very afraid. His time is short and coming to an end. He would like to take as many human souls to hell with him as possible. Turn to Jesus, he loves you. No matter what you do are have done. Bible a great mountian falls in the sea. Before this you will hear voices, thunder lightening, and earthquake. There is more coming from God. Read rev. Kjv. May God be with you.

[@Caperhere]

Big Bill O'Reilly Nobody fits her description of Satan as much as Donald Trump. Among his many, many sins, his destruction of laws meant to protect the environment may be the worst. Please do your research. Just Google “environmental protection laws repealed by Trump”, or/and “ list of charges against Donald Trump”. Also a really good book called The Grapes Of Wrath can be listened to on KZbin. It’s a good story about the dust bowl in your area in the Great Depression years, and how people were thrown off their farms. They had to sell everything they owned for almost nothing, and move to California. There is so much to learn in that book about the history of your area.

[@strykeghstbrnr4812]

These good aryan God blessed folks are savin us

[@geraldmiller5260]

Fundamentalist religion is satan's best friend.

[@ww2067]

What about all the Chemtrails they're spraying what do you think they're doing to our dirt with that ask any dirt expert what they're doing ask a lot of people in Arizona what they've done to their dirt out there why don't they spray in Israel one of the only continents they don't chemtrail

[@markpaintner8365]

We still share seeds here in the Trailer Park! Yee Haw! Left Right for some....

[@strykeghstbrnr4812]

Y'all ain't right to be attackin ones home

[@kipppnippp4971]

Pot seed to

[@alianna8806]

That is not heirloom in the Ozarks

[@ronniepinson6670]

Be a lot of farting going on.

[@jerryjohnson9734]

you all could have lift the mexcans out !!

[@freebird1ification]

folks is folks and if you cant give every man a chance its your loss son

[@strykeghstbrnr4812]

God loves all good folks he aint make junk. Y'all git a problem with thar hard working folks you can answer to God.

[@geraldmiller5260]

Mexicans know English better than you.

[@quercus4730]

The seed companies call these heirloom varieties.Gee you can sit at home and order all your seeds without all the god blesses.

[@conradsutton]

Of course you can, but I think you're missing out on the societal value of these seed swaps. : )

[@albakreuk5830]

quercus what? Scared to get blessed by those who care more about others then u?

[@mroceans8336]

This is pure propaganda

[@dennis1345]

Grow up dude get real what you're doing is actually against the federal law and really really bad Distributing seeds like that around the world it's really bad for the environment you should do your research better like I said grow up dude get real Happy Days

[@seeDiersoilcrossrowds]

You are a dumb mask wearing F*ck.