At Organic Seed Alliance, we know that seeds carry stories, traditions, and the genetic diversity that will determine our agricultural future. We’re honored to share this message below from our partners at the Ujamaa Cooperative Farming Alliance. The Ira Wallace Seed School represents exactly the kind of community-centered, justice-oriented seed stewardship the seed movement needs. We encourage you to consider supporting their scholarship fund—together, we can ensure that critical seed stewardship training reaches every community that needs it.
Help Us Grow a Just and Sustainable Future—One Seed at a Time
Over the past century, we’ve lost nearly 75% of agricultural biodiversity—a staggering decline that threatens food security, cultural heritage, and environmental resilience. This loss is largely the result of industrialized agriculture, which has prioritized profit over diversity and sustainability. Once a seed variety disappears, it’s gone forever.
But there is hope—and it starts with seed stewards.
The Ira Wallace Seed School (IWSS), an initiative of the Ujamaa Cooperative Farming Alliance (UCFA) and a program of the nonprofit STEAM ONWARD, is reversing this trend by expanding agrobiodiversity and uplifting the next generation of ethical seed keepers. Our mission is to support Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) growers in reclaiming and cultivating culturally meaningful, heirloom seeds and food crops.
Rooted in the legacy of Ira Wallace, a visionary seed saver and beloved founding member of UCFA, the IWSS provides rigorous training in seed saving, organic plant breeding, agroecology, and the intersections of food justice, sovereignty, and land stewardship. Our curriculum equips aspiring seed stewards not only with practical skills, but also with a deep historical and political understanding of sustainable agriculture.
The Challenge: Access
For many in the communities we serve, the cost of tuition and training materials remains a significant barrier. That’s why we are asking for your support to expand our Ira Wallace Seed School Scholarship Fund.
Your donation will help provide full or partial scholarships to students who are ready to lead but lack the financial means to access this vital training. With your support, they will return to their communities with the tools and knowledge to protect biodiversity, preserve cultural heritage, and grow resilient local food systems.
How You Can Help
Every gift matters. Whether it’s $25 or $2,500, your contribution has a direct impact.
Donate today:
- Give online at GoFundMe.com
- Or send a check payable to UCFA with “Ira Wallace Seed School Scholarship Fund” in the memo line.
Your generosity will not only honor Ira Wallace’s powerful legacy—it will plant the seeds of a more equitable and sustainable future for us all.
