Painters is delighted to introduce a collection of seeds from a regional team we truly respect and admire: Utopian Seed Project

“From seed saving and crop trials to community outreach and education, Utopian Seed Project is dedicated to fostering diverse and resilient foodways.”

 The Utopian Seed Project is a WNC non-profit dedicated to cultivating, researching, and celebrating agricultural biodiversity in the Southeast. Their work focuses on building resilient and equitable food systems by emphasizing crop diversity, seed sovereignty, and regional adaptation. 

They manage an experimental farm to research and grow diverse crops, selecting and breeding varieties specifically adapted to our regional environment. Their interest includes a wide range of produce, such as yacon, okra, taro, collards, bitter melon, and southern peas. We are thrilled to be carrying their seeds for sale at Painters! 

Whether you are looking to add to your garden this spring or stock up for fall or future seasons, find Utopian Seed Project seeds at Painters while we have ‘em!  

$5.50 each at Painters this spring. Supplies are limited!

And beyond growing, the Utopian Seed Project engages in broader community support, including projects like the Appalachian Growers Seed Collective (which focuses on seed sovereignty), the Heirloom Collard Project, and the Leicester Food Coalition. As well as storytelling!! Through their "Crop Stories" project and podcast, they document the cultural and emotional significance of seeds, exploring how saving seeds connects people to their heritage and one another. Read more about their seeds, their mission and all they have going on at www.utopianseed.org: