When Systems Fail, Seeds Prevail
2026 Great American Seed Up
Returns to Phoenix November 6th & 7th

Two-Day Event Provides Locals with the Ultimate Resilience Tool—Seeds! Online FREE registration (limited time), Walk-Ins $7.50

Supply chains break. Grocery store shelves are sparse. Climate chaos accelerates. Corporations tighten their grip on the food supply. Tariffs drive up the cost of imported seed varieties. International mail to the U.S. disrupted.  Again and again, the systems we depend on reveal their fragility.

But one truth endures: "When systems fail, seeds prevail."

That's the rallying cry of the 11th annual Great American Seed Up, returning November 7th and 8th to North Phoenix Baptist Church. This year, to put more seeds in the hands of more people, registration is FREE. Everyone must register to reserve a spot. Walk ins are still $7.50.

More than a seed-buying pop-up, The Seed Up is a radical act of community resilience. Participants gain direct access to climate-hardy, open-pollinated seeds in bulk—along with the knowledge to grow, save, and share them.  Bypass the big box and mailorder distribution systems that comprise 90% of the cost of a normal packet of seeds.

"We're not just offering seeds—we're handing people food sovereignty," says Greg Peterson, Urban Farm founder and Great American Seed Up (GASU) cofounder. "Because if you think a couple racks of seeds at a big box store will save us when the trucks stop rolling—or when tariffs price small growers out of access—you haven't been paying attention. When systems fail, seeds prevail."

What You'll Find at the Seed Up

• The Seed Bazaar — bulk non-GMO, open-pollinated vegetables, herbs, grains, flowers & more at massive discounts

• Education, not sales pitches — classes and presentations on seed-saving, local adaptation, and climate-resilient growing

• A plan for the future — because fragile supply chains, corporate control, and trade wars leave us vulnerable

"Seed saving isn't optional anymore—it's survival," says Bill McDorman, seed educator and cofounder of Seed School. "Tariffs, climate shocks, supply breakdowns—all of it proves the same point: the only stable seed supply is the one we create locally."

Why Now?

• Grocery stores carry just a 3-day supply of food

• Corporate seed control is expanding

• Seed diversity is crucial to climate adaptation

• Climate change is destabilizing agriculture

•  Tariffs are inflating seed costs and shrinking access

When global systems are stretched thin, seeds offer local stability, sovereignty, and survival. GASU is rebuilding the local seed economy—an underground food movement rising up in plain sight.

Special Friday Night Feature – Stay tuned to find out what we have planned!

We will have education you can use in your gardens and to improve your food resilience.

Friday, November 7th

•  3:30 PM – Doors open for pre-registered attendees

• 4:00 PM – Walk-ins welcome ($7.50 per person)

• 6:00 PM – Keynote: PENDING

• 8:00 PM – Event ends

Saturday, November 8th

• 9:00 AM – Doors open for pre-registered attendees

• 9:30 AM – Walk-ins welcome ($7.50 per person)

• Classes

♦ 10:00 AM – PENDING

♦ 11:00 AM – PENDING

♦ 12:00 PM – PENDING

♦ 2:00 PM  – Event Ends

Registration

In an effort to get more seeds into the hands of more people, registration is free this year. However, all participants must register in advance for select access times to the Seed Room. Registrants will also have access to a library of online seed-saving classes & live presentations.

Register at GreatAmericanSeedUp.org.

Can't attend in person? Explore Seed Up In a Box, the bulk seed kit for community events and seed libraries everywhere.

The Great American Seed Up is presented by Seedsave.org, The Urban Farm, Two Peace in a Pod and Heritage Grain Alliance.