2025 Restock!
Many of you have been with us since the store first opened at the tail end of 2019. We saw each other through a pandemic, you have witnessed our major growth, and we owe all of our momentum to you. So, we want yall to be the first to know that we have restocked almost 400 varieties with more to be added! They'll start to move quickly once we drop ads soon - take a look at our shop now!
Did yall know that we hand pack each and every packet that we sell? We hope not for long but for now that's our reality. Trust us, every single sale makes a huge difference!
Making Moves - Meet Bertie County Seeds
When we first launched the Alliance of Native Seedkeepers in late 2019, we had no idea what was coming. We envisioned a small, humble venture, something supported by close friends and family, a place where we could quietly continue our work in culturally significant agriculture. We thought it would just help us keep going, never expecting it to become what it is today.
We didn’t start with land, resources, or money: we started with a dream and the determination to bring our traditional agricultural practices back to life. Many organizations that support Native people are limited to other regions, leaving southeastern communities like ours forgotten, misunderstood, and neglected.
We tried for years to carve out our own space. Doing so without the funds is nearly impossible. So we built the store, not because we wanted to, but because it was a necessity. We thought it would just help cover some of the costs of our work, and maybe, just maybe, give us a bit of breathing room.
Then came COVID, and suddenly, everything changed. People who never gave seeds a second thought were now eager to grow their own food. And there we were, one of the few stores that could stay open, running out of a tiny apartment in downtown Richmond. The support we received was overwhelming, and we are deeply grateful for it.
Yet, the growth in our name has brought confusion, too. People often misunderstand our mission, thinking it’s just about the Native seeds, not seeing the Native people behind them. Despite our best efforts to explain, many still don’t see the distinction. It’s exhausting, feeling like we have to prove our existence over and over again.
That’s one of several reasons why we’re shifting the store’s name to Bertie County Seeds. This does not mean we are getting rid of the Alliance of Native Seedkeepers. Instead, Bertie County Seeds will become a brand under the Alliance of Native Seedkeepers, allowing the organization to return to its true purpose - revitalizing our ancestral seeds and the culture that surrounds them. Meanwhile, Bertie County Seeds will serve as the economic engine, providing the tools and resources needed to support Alliance of Native Seedkeepers mission, as well as our Indigenous Grower's Program. Click here to directly support our Indigenous Grower's Program!
We can't wait to show you our new base of operations in the great little town called Colerain, located along the Chowan River. In August of 2024, we achieved a major milestone with the purchase of our first storefront! For now, we are still operating out of a shed in the yard as we impatiently wait our electrical work to be complete.
This building, and an industrious seed-packing machine soon to follow, will vastly increase our abilities to serve you better as well as serve our mission of protecting our ancestral seeds and traditional agriculture. And for those who’ve been with us from the beginning, here’s a little something—use code COLERAIN10 to take 10% off orders over $40 as a token of our gratitude.
It’s been a long road, and there’s still so far to go. But through all the struggles, through all the challenges, we hold on to hope. Hope that this new chapter will bring us closer to our vision. Hope that one day, we’ll have the space, the land, and the resources we need to truly flourish. And hope that, in time, more people will come to understand not just what we do, but why we do it.
Here's a look at the building at the time of closing. The same guys who owned and operated Colerain Appliances are now the ones replacing the electrical system. Their shop is just behind the store. The building was built in the 1950s and first used as a car dealership.
We are so fortunate to have community members like Stephen Hardy, Beth's tribal member from the Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia. Stephen has many skills and often supports our operations.
We were thrilled to finally get in here and clean up!
We painted the walls a blue color named "Surfer" for Beth's favorite pastime. The floors are called "Monarch's Wing" after a butterfly. We want you to feel welcome and happy in this space!
Stay tuned for more updates and look out for news of our grand opening in 2025!
2 comments
It’s so exciting to watch this come together!
You guys are almost there! 💛