Frøsamlerne is the Danish Seed Savers Association, founded in 1987. In 2020, it has around 1000 members.
The association is member of the European Coordination Let's Liberate Diversity!
The Danish seed Savers Association - Frøesamlerne
Frøsamlerne (or the Danish Seed Savers Association) is working to preserve the diversity of cultural plants. Its members volunteer to research, collect, describe, and preserve local plant genetic resources, threatened by extinction.
Their preservation is promoted through cultivation and propagation of seeds by members of the association, trained to select and store top-quality seeds from open-pollinated varieties.
Members' gardens thus compose home for a large decentralized gene bank, feeding Frøsamlerne’s own seed collection.
The approximately 1000 members of the association are geographically distributed all over Denmark. Important gatherings to exchange seeds and knowledge between members are regularly organized, contributing to the collective and community aspect of Frøsamlerne's action.
The association organizes seed swaps, gives free classes about seed saving and the importance of protecting the diversity of plant heritage, as well as conferences about genetic resources.
Seeds are primarily to exchange between members, but the association sells heritage seeds to non-members during markets and festivals.
These events can be followed on Frøsamlerne’s website and its social media, regularly updated.
The association is also working with the Nordic Gene Bank (NordGen) to provide the long-term registration and conservation of ancient Nordic varieties (cultivated for a minimum of 50 years) and with the Ministry of the Environment and Food to disseminate these traditional varieties, part of the national plant heritage.
The Danish Seed Savers collaborates with the national authorities, who have supported their activities through the years as part of the national strategy for Plant Genetic Resources.
Seed collection
The collection contains approximately 600 varieties of vegetables, aromatic herbs, agricultural plants, berries, fruit trees, and ornamental plants.
The documentation is open to the public but seed sharing lists only to members.
(no English version)
How to get seeds?
Members only can order and get free seeds from the Danish Seed Savers’ Catalogue.
The association offers different seed packets sizes, depending on how many seeds are available for how many people interested.
Every packet contains a minimum of 15 seeds (e.g. beans). As Frøsamlerne’s seeds are not yet available for professional farmers, seed packets are made to grow private little gardens though. The association would like to find a way to make its seeds available for professionals in the future.
When sold (during markets and festivals) seed packets cost between 3 and 4 euros.
How to join or support the organisation?
You are invited to directly contact the association to become a member.
A one-year membership fee costs around 25 € for a physical person. It is possible to end the membership anytime.
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