The Great American Seed Up, a pop-up bulk seed buying bazaar, is returning to the Valley this fall. The event, hosted by a nonprofit of the same name, aims to spur local gardening and seed saving efforts with climate-appropriate plants.

Along with the opportunity to buy seeds, the event will include educational resources and live video call presentations.

The 10th annual event is scheduled to take place at North Phoenix Baptist Church, 5757 N. Central Ave. Phoenix on the evening of Friday, Oct. 11, and during the day on Saturday, Oct. 12.

The Great American Seed Up returns Friday-Saturday, Oct. 11-12 at North Phoenix Baptist Church, 5757 N. Central Ave. Phoenix. (Courtesy The Great …

GASU's mission is to encourage seed-saving practices ultimately building the local Arizona seed economy, leading to stronger crops, enhanced pest resistance and more flavorful produce.

"Do you know that our grocery stores only have a three-day food supply?” The Great American Seed Up cofounder, Greg Peterson, asked in a news release. “And there may be only a couple of racks of seeds at the big box store. This event is about strengthening our local food system, by teaching our community how to grow and save open-pollinated seeds.”

Seed Up Schedule

Friday, Oct. 11: Doors open at 4 p.m. for those who are pre-registered for seed purchasing and will close at 7:30 p.m. Walk-ins are accepted after 5:30 p.m.

At 7 p.m. Don Guerra from Barrio Bread in Tucson and Gilbert will share his journey of starting his sourdough bread bakery in his garage in Tucson in 2010 and becoming a James Beard Award Winning Baker in 2022. Guerra, who calls himself a “yeast farmer”, helped launch the “fresh flour movement” in Arizona using locally adapted heritage grain varieties. Samples of his famous sourdough bread will be available for tasting.

Saturday, Oct. 12: Doors open at 9 a.m. for those who are pre-registered and close at 1:30 p.m. Walk-in registrations are accepted after 11 a.m. 

Registration: Registration is $7.50 per day, granting entry to the Seed Room for seed purchasing, as well as access to an abundance of online educational resources and live internet presentations. Early registration is now open on the event's website: GreatAmericanSeedUp.org.

Pre-registered attendees for either day will gain online access to recorded seed-related classes and an array of presentations focused on the art and techniques of seed-saving.

Attend virtually: For those unable to attend in person, an online bulk seed purchasing platform “Seed Up In a Box” was established during the pandemic, providing people worldwide with access to the same selection available at the in-person event in bulk amounts to encourage community events (GreatAmericanSeedUp.org).

The Great American Seed Up is presented by Seedsave.org, The Urban Farm, and Two Peace in a Pod and partners with the Uptown Phoenix Farmers’ Market.

Editor's note: The above was republished from a The Great American Seed Up news release.